Genetic variation of aldolase from Korean isolates of Plasmodium vivax and its usefulness in serodiagnosis

Background: The malaria aldolase is widely used as rapid diagnostic test (RDT), but the efficacy in aspect of its serological effectiveness in diagnosis is not known. The genetic variation of Korean isolates was analysed and recombinant aldolase was evaluated as a serological antigen in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Methods: Genomic DNA was purified and the aldolase gene of P. vivax from 25 patients’ blood samples was amplified. The samples came from 5 epidemic areas; Bucheon-si, Gimpo-si, Paju-si of Gyeonggido, Gangwha-gun of Incheon metropolitan city, and Cheorwon of Gangwon-do, South Korea. The antigenicity of the recombinant aldolase was tested by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Sequence analysis of 25 Korean isolates of P. vivax showed that the open reading frame (ORF) of 1,110 nucleotides encoded a deduced protein of 369 amino acids (aa). This ORF showed 100% homology with the P. vivax Sal I strain (XM_00165894) and P. vivax WDK strain (AF247063), 87.4% homology with Plasmodium falciparum (AF179421), 90.6% homology with Plasmodium chabaudi (AF247060), 89.5% homology with Plasmodium vinckei (AF247061), and 96.7% homology with Plasmodium knowlesi. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at nucleotide 180 (G to A, n = 5) was also observed in the isolates. The expressed recombinant protein had a molecular weight of approximately 31 kDa (monomeric form) and 62 kDa (dimeric form) as analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. Among 109 P. vivax patients, 32 (29.4%) had positive in an enzyme-linked absorbance assay (ELISA). This result showed significant correlation between ELISA and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The aldolase gene from Korean isolates of P. vivax showed one SNP at nucleotide position 180; this SNP mutant was discovered in only the western part of Han River, and included the regions of Ganghwa, Gimpo, and Bucheon. Based on the results, the relationship between antibody production against aldolase and the pattern of disease onset should be more investigated before using aldolase for serodiagnosis

Prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis among Preschool Children in Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea

The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis among preschool children in Gimhae-si, Korea. A total of 6,921 preschool children in 76 kindergartens were examined using the cellotape perianal swab method. The overall egg positive rate (EPR) was 10.5%. The EPR in boys was higher than that in girls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.5, P<0.001), and it was higher in rural than in urban children (AOR: 1.2, P=0.022). The present study confirmed that the prevalence of E. vermicularis infection is fairly high among preschool children in Gimhae-si. Therefore, systematic control and preventive measures should be adopted to reduce morbidity associated with this nematode infection

Favored serum albumin level and ICF volume after use of 1.1% aminoacid based peritoneal dialysis(PD) solution

Aminoacid based PD solution (AAD) has been shown to induce positive nitrogen balance and improve nutritional markers of malnourished patients. But its effcets on body fluid composition and various nutritional markers are contradictory. Nutritional markers may influenced by patient's ECF volume status. So we evaluate effects of AAD on nutritional markers and body composition by analysis using multi-frequency bioimpedance analyzer. 35 PD patients(>6months duration of CAPD) were prospectively randomized to 17 AAD(Nutrineal, one time use/day) and 18 GD group(keep their glucose based PD solution). After 3 months follow up, AAD group showed marginally increased body weight and fat mass, decreased ECF volume(12.45±0.54Lvs 12.10±0.57L, p=0.06), no changed ICF volume(22.2±0.9Lvs 22.3±0.9L, p>0.05) and marginally increased drainage volume(8.77±0.76Lvs 9.12±0.83L, p=0.09). AAD group also showed favored several markers include nPCR(1.59±0.07vs 1.98±0.08, p=0.00), BUN and albumin level (3.54±0.11 vs 3.74±0.11, p=0.02). Although serum albumin level was increased, correction with ECF volume(albumin level X ECF volume) makes it no difference (43.45±2.13vs 44.80±2.28, p=0.14). Furthermore △albumin vs △ECF showed negative correlation pattern(r=-0.46, p=0.07) that means serum albumin change was influenced by ECF volume change. In conclusion, AAD treatment improved markers of better nutritional status. However the change in serum albumin level was influenced by patient's ECF volume status, which can partially explain contradictory effect of aminoacid based PD solution on serum albumin level

Magnetic anisotropy study of ion-beam synthesized cobalt nanocrystals

The magnetic properties of Co nanocrystals in crystalline Al2 O3 and amorphous Si O2 are investigated. In contrast to the Si O2 matrix, the Al2 O3 matrix provides higher magnetic anisotropy and coercive field for Co nanocrystals. Using x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, it is found that a Co Al2 O4 layer forms in Co implanted region. Transmission electron microscopy shows that this Co Al2 O4 layer is grown epitaxially around Co nanocrystals. The higher coercive field of the Co nanocrystals in Al2 O3 is attributed to the presence of antiferromagnetic Co Al2 O4 layers. © 2006 American Institute of Physics

Reversible Symptomatic Myocarditis Induced by All-Trans Retinoic Acid Administration during Induction Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Rare Cardiac Manifestation as a Retinoic Acid Syndrome

Treatment by All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) followed by anthracycline-AraC chemotherapy has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia. ATRA is usually well tolerated, but a few major side effects can be observed. Retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) often occurs during the induction chemotherapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia. A pericardial effusion is a common cardiac manifestation but myocarditis has been rarely documented. Here we reports a very rare case of fully recovered myocarditis as a result of RAS related to ATRA administration during induction treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia which documented by echocardiographic evidence

Fatty liver disease and the risk of erosive oesophagitis in the Korean population: a cross-sectional study

Objectives To investigate an association between fatty liver disease (FLD) and erosive oesophagitis. Design and setting This was a cross-sectional study of subjects selected from examinees who underwent health check-up, including oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in one hospital between 2004 and 2011. Erosive oesophagitis was classified according to the Los Angeles classification and FLD was diagnosed with ultrasonography. The anthropometric and laboratory data of the subjects were analysed using X-2 test and multivariate logistic regression. Additionally, we have analysed our data with two-stage least square estimation using the Baltagi-Chang one-way model to clarify unobserved confounding variable. Primary outcome measure The effect of FLD on erosive oesophagitis. Results Among the 14 723 eligible subjects, 4232 (28.7%) subjects diagnosed with FLD were classified into the fatty liver group and 10 491 (71.3%) subjects without FLD were classified into the non-fatty liver group. The incidence rate of erosive oesophagitis was significantly higher in the fatty liver group than in the non-fatty liver group (10.4% vs6.1%, p< 0.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the fatty liver group was significantly associated with erosive oesophagitis (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.37, p= 0.016). Conclusion FLD diagnosed by ultrasonography is an independent risk factor of erosive oesophagitis. It suggests that FLD-related metabolic abnormality may be associated with erosive oesophagitis

Eosinophilic Otitis Media: CT and MRI Findings and Literature Review

Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is a relatively rare, intractable, middle ear disease with extremely viscous mucoid effusion containing eosinophils. EOM is associated with adult bronchial asthma and nasal allergies. Conventional treatments for otitis media with effusion (OME) or for chronic otitis media (COM), like tympanoplasty or mastoidectomy, when performed for the treatment of EOM, can induce severe complications such as deafness. Therefore, it should be differentiated from the usual type of OME or COM. To our knowledge, the clinical and imaging findings of EOM of temporal bone are not well-known to radiologists. We report here the CT and MRI findings of two EOM cases and review the clinical and histopathologic findings of this recently described disease entity