Prevalence and Associated Factors for Four Sexually Transmissible Microorganisms in Middle-Aged Men Receiving General Prostate Health Checkups: A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Study in Korea

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) in first-voided urine samples and to determine the factors associated with positivity for sexually transmissible microorganisms in healthy, middle-aged Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred fifty-one men who came to the hospital for a general prostate health checkup were tested between August 2011 and December 2011. PCR assays for CT, NG, MG, and UU were done with first-voided urine samples and the prevalence of microorganism positivity and association with several clinical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the men studied was 50.8+/-4.7 years. Among the 551 men, 72 (13.1%) had a positive result for at least one microorganism; one (0.2%) had two different species. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections was 11.1% (61/551). The prevalence rates of CT, NG, MG, and UU infection in the general population were 0.4% (2/551), 0.0% (0/551), 1.0% (6/551), and 11.8% (65/551), respectively. CT-positive patients had a lower mean age than did CT-negative patients. There were no significant differences in symptoms by positivity of each microorganism. CONCLUSIONS: We checked the prevalence rates of four microorganisms, the proportion of symptomatic people, and the association of microbes, age, and symptoms, as the baseline data for Korean middle-aged men. In this population, CT, NG, MG, and UU infections do not seem to be symptomatic. However, the potential role of CT in young men and of UU in middle-aged men with a high rate of detection should be studied continuously as a source of opportunistic infection.

A Case of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Patient with Coombs' Negative Hemolytic Anemia and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Coombs' negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare disease which shares similar clinical and hematological features with Coombs' positive AIHA, but its exact frequency remains unknown. There have been few reports of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Coombs' negative AIHA associated with other lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). Since there is a well known association between LPDs and autoimmune phenomena, it is important to investigate the possibility of an underlying malignancy. We report a case of ITP and Coombs' negative AIHA associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

A case of chronic neutrophilic leukemia / 대한내과학회지

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of mature neutrophils, hepatosplenomegaly, elevated leukocyte alkaline phosphatase score (ALP score) and a negative Philadelphia chromosome. To date, approximately 150 cases have been reported in the literature, including some cases presenting with a 'leukemic' state reflected by a neutrophilic reaction. The term 'true' CNL, recently introduced by Reilly, highlights the need for more experience with CNL cases to improve the diagnostic criteria. In Korea, about 10 cases have been reported in the literature and some of those cases did not meet the WHO diagnostic criteria for CNL. We present a typical case of CNL in a 66-year-old man who complained of general weakness and weight loss. On admission, the white blood cell count from the peripheral blood was 175,600/L with 80% segmented neutrophils. The cytogenic study was negative for the Philadelphia chromosome and had a normal karyotype.

A Prospective Study for Comparing the Effects of Macrolide and Second-generation Cephalosporin on the Treatment of Pneumonia among Combat Policemen / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The study of pneumonia among young men living in a group is rare. prospective study was conducted to determine the etiology, and compare the effects of macrolide and second-generation cephalosporin on the treatment of pneumonia among combat policemen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2003 to April 2004, Fifty-two patients with pneumonia were treated with either azithromycin(n=25) or cefuroxime(n=27). In order to determine the cause of the pneumonia, culture studies and serologic tests for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were carried out. During the two weeks of medication, the Chest X-rays, blood tests and culture studies(if necessary) were followed weekly. A serologic study was followed at the end of the second week. RESULTS: The main pathogens for pneumonia among combat policemen were Mycoplasma pneumoniae(50.0%), Chlamydia pneumoniae(10.8%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae(3.8%). The treatment was successful in most cases(51/52 cases, 98.1%). The effects of azithromycin and cefuroxime were similar (96.0% vs 100%, p>5). In one patient who had taken azithromycin, the clinical and radiological findings did not improved until intravenous second generation ce?phalosporin had been infused. CONCLUSION: Atypical pathogens were the main causes of the pneumonia in the combat policemen, and the effects of macrolide and second generation cephalosporin for pneumonia were similar. However, further studies will be needed to determine if single therapy with macrolide is possible.

Hyperhomocysteinemia as a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered as a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma homocysteine concentration and coronary artery disease. METHODS: We measured plasma homocysteine concentration by fluorescent polarization immunoas-say (IMx, Abbott) in 58 healthy controls (39-72 years) and in 37 patients (42-84 years) who were diagnosed with stable angina (11), unstable angina (14), acute myocardial infarction (8), old myocardial infarction (1) and silent myocardial ischemia (3). RESULTS: The risk of CAD was independently associated with old age, decreased HDL cholesterol and hyperhomocysteinemia (P >or=12.8 nmol/L) and adjusted odds ratios were 2.8, 3.4, and 6.0, respec-tively. The risk for CAD in the upper two homocysteine quartiles (P >or=10.8 nmol/L and 8.1- 10.7 nmol/L) was 11.1 (95% CI, 2.5- 49.4) times and 6.3 (95% CI, 1.4- 27.7) times higher than in the lowest quar-tile (<6.9 nmol/L) (P=0.002 and 0.014, respectively). The mean plasma homocysteine values (M +/- SD) were higher in CAD patients (11.8 +/- 7.4 nmol/L) than in the control group (8.0 +/- 2.4 mol/L) (P=0.0006). In the control group, the mean plasma homocysteine concentration in men was signifi-cantly igher than in women (9.1 vs. 7.2 mol/L, P=0.002). Age and logarithmically transformed plasma homocysteine levels exhibited significant positive correlation in controls (r=0.43, P=0.001), ut no significant correlation in CAD patients (r=-0.024, P=0.9). Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the elderly, male subjects and smokers in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the independent risk factors for CAD.

Clinical Evaluation of HBeAg Quantitation Using Enzyme Immunoassay in the Follow-Up of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: The quantitative measurement of HBV DNA is useful in the follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, the disappearance of HBV DNA, which is not always followed by HBeAg seroconversion, may not predict the outcome of the treatment. We evaluated the usefulness of HBeAg quantitation in comparison with HBV DNA quantitation. METHODS: A total number of 89 blood samples from 34 patients who were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B were evaluated for HBeAg quantitation by the Murex HBeAg Standard and the Murex HBeAg/anti-HBe (Murex Biotech, Dartford, England). HBV DNA levels were measured by the Hybrid Capture System (Digene Corp., Beltsville, MD, USA). RESULTS: Among the total of 34 patients, the changes in the HBeAg level in 19 patients were parallel to those of the HBV DNA level in serial monitoring. In 5 patients, whose results showed discrepancy in the levels of HBeAg and DNA, the HBV DNA became undetectable earlier than did the HBeAg. Their HBeAg levels were less than 100 U/mL and were followed by HBeAg seroconversion after 1-4 months. And, in 1 patient, a progressive increase in HBeAg quantitation was not followed by HBeAg seroconversion after 8 months, even though HBV DNA was persistently undetectable. The concor-dance rate between quantitative HBeAg and HBV DNA results was 78.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that HBeAg quantitation can be helpful in predicting seroconver-sion, especially when HBeAg is positive and HBV DNA is negative.

Transient Elliptocytosis Associated with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

Elliptocytosis has been known to be a rare disease, especially in oriental people. Most of them are transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait but we experienced one case of transient elliptocytosis associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by morphologic examination of the peripheral blood and bone marrow biopsy. The results of the peripheral blood smears of the patient and his family are as follows : he showed about 50~60% of elliptocytes and anemia without hemolytic event; his family, however, showedno sign of elliptocytosis. The patient was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. On follow-up check after one month, the peripheral blood showed almost normal RBC morphology. Therefore, we diagnosed this case as transient elliptocytosis associated with acute leukemia. So we report a case of transient elliptocytosis associated with acute leukemia with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Transient Spontaneous Remission in A Case with Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 대한임상병리학회지

Spontaneous remission(SR) of acute leukemia is an extremely rare event. The precise incidence of SR in acute myeloid leukemia(AML) could not be assessed accurately because the majority of patients usually received induction chemotherapy within a few days after diagnosis. The mechanisms of SR are still not completely understood; therefore, the study of them is expected to contribute to the treatment of acute leukemia. We report a case of AML with SR, observed in a 23-year-old male who experienced severe infection and transfusions, with a brief review of the literature.

Evaluation of the BACTEC 460TB for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Clinical Specimens / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: The recent surge of tuberculosis in association with AIDS and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in the world has made even apparent the need for more rapid and accurate technologies of detecting and characterizing mycobacteria in the clinical microbiology laboratory. The BACTEC radiometric method which is known rapid alternative to traditional culture methods has been reported to be useful for the rapid detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. I report the experience for the use of the BACTEC 460TB for detection of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. METHODS: All clinical specimens received in the department of clinical pathology from July 1993 through August 1994 were used for this study. Smears were prepared and stained for acid-fast bacilli(AFB) by Ziehl-Neelson method Middlebrook 7H12 medium(BACTEC 12A) containing a 14C-labeled palmitic acid was used as the basal medium. Quantitation of the liberated 14CO2 was used as a measure of cell growth. A BACTEC 460TB instrument was used for the detection and quantitation of 14CO2 liberated in the culture bottle. NAP tests for differentiating the M. tuberculosis complex from mycobacteria other than tuberculosis(MOTT) were performed. RESULTS: A total of 111(9.6%) mycobacterial isolates were recovered from 1.151 clinical specimens. The sensitivity of the BACTEC 460TB for detecting M. tuberculosis in acid-fast smear-positive specimens was 93.8%. The mean time required for the primary isolation of mycobacteria(GI of > or =10) was 9.8 days and the mean detection time of M. tuberculosis complex was 19.3 days. In according to the acid-fast smear results, the mean detection times of M tuberculosis complex in smear-positive and smear-negative specimens were 14.9 days and 20.9 days, respectively. The mean detection time of M. tuberculosis complex in smear-positive specimens was better for respiratory specimens(14.7 days) than for extrapulmonary specimens(21 days). All 111 isolates were susceptible to rho-nitro-alpha-acetylamino-beta-hydroxypropiophenone(NAP) and the contamination rate was 4%. CONCLUSIONS: The BACTEC radiometric method for detecting and characterizing mycobacteria requires expensive instrument and reagents using radioisotope and additional expenditure of time and effort, but The BACTEC 460TB is extremely useful for the rapid detection, isolation and identification of clinically important mycobacteria in clinical laboratory.

A study on construction of reference intervals for blood cell countand size during the first day of life in the newborn infants / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.