• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.134-136
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• 2007

Purpose: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the dermis and hypodermis, mostly of streptococcal origin, and erysipelas of upper extremity following breast cancer treatment has never been reported in the Korean literature. Methods: 39-year-old female presented to our hospital complaining of fever and painful swelling of her left upper extremity. She had a history of breast cancer and was treated with breast conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation. On physical examination, her left upper extremity showed vesicle, bullae, local heatness and erythema with well-defined margin. With these distinctive features of a skin lesion, we gave a diagnosis of erysipelas and started treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Results: Resolution of the signs and symptoms of erysipelas occurred after 7 days of treatment. Conclusion: The diagnosis of erysipelas with distinctive feature of skin lesion is essential and we emphasize that the prevention of any trauma are very important in these patients for prophylactic measures.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.420-429
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• 2023

This study was designed to examine the immune response in Korean rockfish during water temperature fluctuation and to elucidate the factors contributing to streptococcal pathogenesis in cultured Korean rockfish, S. schlegeli. We investigated cumulative mortality against Streptococcus iniae (FP5228 strain) infection in the exposed Korean rockfish (39.7±5.8 g) to environmentally relevant temperature (Control, 23℃; High temperature, 28℃ and 23℃ and 28℃ with 12 hours interval exchange, 23↔28℃) for 48 hours. Also, the expression of the mRNA related to the immune response genes (heat shock protein 70, interleukin1β, lysozyme g-type and thioredoxin-like 1) were measured in spleen and head kidney by real-time PCR analysis in the exposed fish to thermal stress. In this study, the combined stress with bacterial challenge in fishes exposed to thermal stress lowered the survival rate than that of control (23℃). The cumulative mortality in the group of control, 28℃ and 23↔28℃ was 24%, 24% and 40% (P<0.05), respectively. Also, thermal stress modulated the mRNA level of immune related genes; heat shock protein 70, interleukin-1β, lysozyme g-type and thioredoxin-like 1 in Korean rockfish. The present study indicates that a high and sudden water temperature change affect immune responses and reduce the disease resistance in Korean rockfish.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2007

Streptococcus pyogenes, which is classified to Group A streptococcus (GAS), is one of the most common bacterial pathogens of the childhood infection. This organism can cause acute bacterial pharyngitis, impetigo, peritonsilar abscess or scarlet fever. It can also cause severe invasive diseases such as toxic shock syndrome, sepsis, septic arthritis, necrotizing pneumonia or necrotizing fasciitis. Usually, invasive GAS infections are accompanied by systemic symptoms and signs. Necrotizing pneumonia presents with acute fever, pleuritic chest pain and cough. The progress of disease is usually rapid and typically, pleural effusion develops in the early course of disease. Necrotizing fasciitis is relatively rare but once it has developed, it may be life threatening and cause necrosis of adjacent soft tissues with rapid progress. Clinical manifestations of parapharyngeal abscess are fever, dysphagia or bulging of pharyngeal wall. We experienced three cases of GAS infections which were presented atypically.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2015

Purpose: The incidence of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in Korea has changed. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical changes of APSGN observed in a single Korean institution over two decades. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 99 children (0-15 years of age) who were admitted to our institution with APSGN between 1987 and 2013. The patients were selected based on the depression of serum complement 3 (C3, <70 mg/dL) and elevated titer of antistreptolysin O (ASO, >250 IU/dL) as evidence of previous streptococcal infection. Results: In the 99 patients, the mean age was $8.3{\pm}2.7$ years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2.2:1 (66:30). The annual number of cases fluctuated markedly, and most cases were observed during the late autumn and winter months. However, there have been few cases reported in the past 5 years. Clinical manifestations at presentation, including hypertension and generalized oedema, and the duration of hospitalization were higher and longer in patients admitted during the first half of the study period than during the most recent half-period, suggesting a more severe clinical course in the former group. Conclusions: APSGN has become a rare disease in Korea with a trend towards a less severe clinical course. This finding suggests that the prevalence of infection-related immune-mediated diseases could change over-time, together with environmental and possibly pathogen-host relationship changes.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2017

Group A streptococcus is a common cause of upper respiratory infection in children; however, it is a rare cause of pseudoaneurysm in pediatrics with only limited reports of cases associated with cardiac surgery and underlying disease. We report a case of infectious pseudoaneurysm of the right internal iliac artery caused by group A streptococcus in a previously healthy 5-year-old boy who presented with scarlet fever and group A streptococcal bacteremia. He was admitted to the hospital with fever, rash on the whole body, and sore throat, accompanied by severe leg pain. He was treated with surgical removal and antibiotics. Because a pseudoaneurysm may develop in children without vascular-related underlying diseases, we should consider the possibility of this important clinical diagnosis in patients with scarlet fever.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2014

Purpose: To compare the clinical characteristics and laboratory finding between adenoviral and group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed in the patients with adenovirus infection among those who were admitted for febrile respiratory disease from January 2011 to July 2013 and GAS pharyngitis among those who visited for symptoms of scarlet fever from August 2006 to July 2013. Results: 179 patients (AV1 group) were diagnosed with adenoviral pharyngitis and 37 (AV2 group) of these patients had adenovirus single infection. 26 patients (GAS group) were diagnosed with scarlet fever. Adenoviral infection (AV2 group) developed in younger patients compared to GAS group ($2.8{\pm}2.1$ years vs. $5.4{\pm}1.8$ years, P =0.000). Total durations of fever and admission were longer in AV2 ($6.3{\pm}2.6$ days vs. $3.3{\pm}1.9$ days, P =0.000; $4.1{\pm}1.2$ days vs. $1.9{\pm}1.8$ days, P =0.000, respectively). WBC counts were higher in AV2 ($11,449{\pm}5,680$ cells/$mm^2$ vs. $6,722{\pm}6,941$ cells/$mm^2$, P =0.000). CRP was not significantly different between AV2 and GAS group ($3.8{\pm}3.2$ mg/dL vs. $5.2{\pm}5.1$ mg/dL, P =0.368). No difference was found between two groups in the percentage of antibiotics use (91.9% vs. 100%, P =0.261). Conclusion: Clinical characteristics and measures of inflammation in the laboratory findings were similar between adenoviral and GAS pharyngitis group. It is necessary to conduct the test for respiratory virus and bacteria in early stage to differentiate in the pharyngitis patients with leukocytosis and elevation of CRP level.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2001

After the fact that obsessive-compulsive symptoms or tic symptoms are common in Sydenham's chorea which is a sequale of rheumatic fever produced by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was reported, the association between group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus and a subgroup of obsessivecompulsive disorder(OCD) or tic disorder has been attentioned. This subgroup shared a unique clinical course, characterized by an abrupt onset of symptoms and/or dramatic exacerbations. And this subgroup was distinguished by pre-pubertal onset of symptoms, neurological abnormalities(choreiform movements and a unique pattern of motoric hyperactivity), as well as by relapsing and remitting symptom course. Acronym PANDAS(pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection) was used to denote a subgroup of OCD or tic disorder patients with these clinical characteristics. Then, there was a report suggesting that PANDAS category include some of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and were two case reports of anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder with characteristics of PANDAS. This case is a patient who developed normally until age of 7, but after pharyngeal inflammation with high fever, he showed disturbance of cognition, social relationship, and language and communication, as well as tic symtoms and abnormal movement on face, hand, and foot. We report this case with review of literatures, because we think that this case belongs to the PANDAS category. Based on this observation, we suggest that PANDAS category include some of childhood disintegrative disorder as well as OCD, tic disorder, and ADHD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2002

Purpose : Proper diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis that may cause chronic diseases in childhood is not easy because its signs and symptoms would be nonspecific. Because results of classical throat culture delays for one to two days, we'd like to determine whether early antibiotics would be introduced with according to the clinical score system. This study was undertaken to evaluate of clinical usefulness of scoring system based on the clinical and laboratory findings. Methods : From Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2000, 10 clinical items based on modified 9 items by Breese in 1977 were checked in patients with pharyngitis who visited on outpatients clinic of pediatrics, Kyunghee University Hospital. We compared the results of throat culture with the points of clinical score system. Results : Out of 45 cases, the positive culture for Group A Streptococcus was 20 and negative culture was 25. When we applied more than 30 points of score, which correspond to 70 percentile of study population, the sensitivity and specificity were 35.0% and 96.0%, respectively. Conclusion : Although sensitivity was relatively low this scoring system, but the high specificity may be useful diagnostic tool in the areas where the rate of isolation of Group A Streptococcus is low.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2000

Ninety two strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were isolated from patients with pharyngitis, scarlet fever, skin infection, and invasive streptococcal infections in Seoul, Korea from January to December, 1998. All isolates were epidemiologically characterized by T protein serotype, and serum opacity factor (OF) detection to phenotypes. To analyze the genetic relationship, fifty two isolates including 32 erythromycin-clindamycin (Em-Cm) resistant strains, 20 antimicrobial susceptible strains were attempted to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). T protein serotype showed 16 kinds in distribution including T12 and T4. Among the total isolates, 40 strains (43.5%) belonged to the T12 serotype and twenty strains (21.7%) to T4 serotype. On the other hand, when infection aspect of S. pyogenes isolates were analysed by T serotype distribution, T12 type was predominant for pharyngitidis which contributed to 21 strains (53%) and for skin infection isolates which contributed to 11 strains (28%), respectively. In case of T4 type, it was the most predominant pharyngitidis isolates which contributed to 8 strains (40%). In T serotype distribution of Em-Cm resistant strains, 27 strains (84%) of the thirty two showed T12 serotype. In minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Em-Cm resistance isolates, thirty two isolates showed resistant to erythromycin 27 strains (84%), had high MIC of >$128\;{\mu}g/ml$. And also to clindamycin, twenty two strains (69%) had high MIC of >$128\;{\mu}g/ml$. When OF detection of Em-Cm resistance of S. pyogenes isolates were analyzed by T serotype distribution, T12 serotype isolates revealed that all of the isolates except one strain were OF negative. In PFGE profile analysis to Em-Cm resistance isolates, of the twenty seven, Em-Cm resistance of T12 serotype isolates, 26 strains showed identical PFGE profile and all of these isolates revealed that OF negative. Eighty four percent of Em-Cm resistance S. pyogenes isolates had identical phenotype and PFGE profile. These results strongly suggested that the Em-Cm resistant S. pyogenes isolates from Seoul area showed close genetic correlation and PFGE could be available tool for molecular epidemiology.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.124-134
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• 2005

Purpose : It has been known that the diagnostic confirmation of group A streptococcal pharyngitis is accompanied with the results of throat culture and/or rapid antigen detection test(RADT). This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness and cost benefits of the RADT in patients with a sore throat compared the empirical antibiotic treated group without using RADT or throat culture with the antibiotic treated group according to the results of RADT test and/or throat culture. Methods : From April 2003 to August 2003, total 369 patients were enrolled this study. They were redistributed into two groups. In one group, the RADT test and throat culture were used and the patients received antibiotic treatment according to the results of test and in the other group, no diagnostic examinations were used and the patients were treated with antibiotics which were chosen empirically. The flow sheet with questionnaire was drawing up and obtained the clinical symptoms, signs and the name of antibiotics that were administered. Results : A total of 244 patients were treated after the throat culture and/or RADT, and 125 patients were treated empirically. The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed group A streptococcal pharyngitis was 20.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of RADT were 89.8% and 86.1%, respectively. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 62.0% and 97.1%, respectively. The rate of antibiotic use was high in both groups. Because the physician used the antibiotics even if the result of RADT was negative. So about 37% of reduction of antibiotics use might be possible if we used antibiotics according to the results of RADT. There were no cost differences between the RADT applied group and the empirically treated antibiotic group if we could reduce the price of RADT to 63% of the current price. Conclusion : The RADT could be applied for the easy and rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and RADT could reduced the number of antibiotics used if the price of RADT was reduced to 63% of current price. For accurate evaluation of efficacy and cost effect, further controlled study is needed.