The Genetic Diversity of Norovirus from Children with Diarrhea in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea: 2008-2012

In order to study the characteristics of norovirus in Gwangju metropolitan city, We examined norovirus in 13,931 fecal specimens collected through five years (2008-2012) from children admitted with a chief complain of acute diarrhea. Among a total of norovirus (NoV) was most frequently detected (3,025 cases, 21.7%). Concerning the frequency of virus detected by month, NoV tended to break out frequently from October to March in the following year. NoV was detected most highly in 0~3 year infants. Through examinations on NoV genotypes, among 3,025 cases that turned out to be positive, the genotypes of 2,652 cases were determined with various results including 13 types of GI and 17 types of GII. The results of analysis on GI genotypes were as follows: GI-4 (21.9%), GI-2 (15.2%), and GI-6 (10.5%). GII genotypes were as follows: GII-4 (63.9%), GII-3 (18.9%), GII-8 (4.2%), GII-2 (3.9%), GII-6 (3.3%), and GII-1 (1.9%). Eight types of variants for GII-4 genotype (427 cases) were identified. The majority of the GII-4 variants was GII-4_Farmington (181 cases, 42.4%), which peaked in 2012, while GII-4_2008b (173 cases, 40.5%) showed a high prevalence in 2011. Concerning the circulation of variants, as many as eight types of GII-4 variants were identified in 2012, showing more varieties than in other years. Therefore, this study can be used as fundamental data for the development of vaccine candidate for the prevention of viral diarrheal diseases with high-incidence.

Analysis of Death due to Poisoning in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do Areas / 대한법의학회지

This study examined 190 cases of confirmed poisoning, as determined by autopsy findings, as well as alcohol and toxicant concentrations in post-mortem specimens. Judicial autopsies were performed from January 2007 to December 2014 at Department of Legal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, the National Forensic Service Gwangju Institute, and St. Carollo Hospital. We analyzed the incidence of poisoning according to region and season in terms of year, sex, age, and classification of toxicants. In the regional classification, the number of deaths due to poisoning in Jeollanam-do and Gwangju areas was similar when considering autopsy numbers. The incidence was higher in autumn and spring than in summer and winter, and a large number of deaths occurred in 2008 and 2014. Additionally, the number of male deaths was approximately twice the number of female deaths, with the age of 50-59 being the most common age group. Pesticides comprised the largest number of deaths due to poison, followed by alcoholism, carbon monoxide, treatment drugs, and cyanic acid, in that order.

The Molecular Epidemiology of Circulating Group A Rotavirus in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea: 2008~2012

Group A rotaviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. For the proper management of rotavirus infections, knowledge of the distribution of G and P genotypes including detection of emerging genotype is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe epidemiological changes in rotavirus gastroenteritis in Gwangju metropolitan city, South Korea. Stool samples were collected from 14,314 patients with diarrhea, who visited hospitals in Gwangju from 2008 to 2012. Samples were screened for rotavirus with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method and rotavirus P (VP4), G (VP7) genotypes were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. And we performed nucleotide sequencing analysis. Among a total of 14,314 samples investigated 1,982 samples (13.8%) were ELISA positive. Genotyping of Rotavirus was performed using 526 rotavirus samples. The most prevalent circulating G genotype was G1 (40.5%), followed by G2 (27.6%), G3 (19.4%), G9 (9.7%), G4 (2.5%) and G12 (0.4%). The predominant type of P genotypes was P[8] (69.6%), followed by P[4] (27.8%) and P[6] (2.3%). In this study, 13 G-P combinations were detected. From 2008 to 2010, G1P[8] was the most prevalent, followed by G3P[8]. Whereas, 2011 and 2012, G2P[4] was the most common, followed by G1P[8]. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a common disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Ongoing rotavirus surveillance to understand the distribution of G and P genotypes will be critical for the development of effective prevention measurements.

Incidence rate of Aneurysmal SAH in Gwangju City and Jeollanamdo Province in 2007

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) worldwide varies considerably. In spite of many reports about the incidence of SAH, there has been no report about the incidence of SAH on the basis of the Korean population. The purpose of this hospital-based study was to assess the actual incidence rates of aneurysmal SAH in Gwangju city and Jeollanamdo province. METHODS: All cases of SAH confirmed by computerized tomography (CT) between January 2007 and December 2007 were selected for analysis. For the data collection, three major training hospital and ten general hospitals working the CT in Gwangju city and four major general hospitals in Jeollanamdo province participate in this study. RESULTS: According to the official census of Korea, the population was 1,413,444 in Gwangju city and 1,929,836 in Jeollanamdo province in 2007. There were 163 patients in Gwangju city and 266 patients in Jeollanamdo province confirmed SAH by CT in 2007. The crude and the age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates per 100,000 population for all ages in Gwangju city were 11.5 and 12.4 for aneurysmal SAH and in Jeollanamdo province were 13.8 and 10.8. The incidence was higher in women and increased with age. The gender distribution varied with age. At young ages, the incidence was higher in men while after the age of 40 years, the incidence was higher in women. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates is 11.8 in Gwangju city and Jeollanamdo province. The incidence was higher in women and increased with age.

The Statistical Analysis on the Legal Autopsy Cases in Gwang-ju and Chonnam Area of Korea in 2007 and 2008 / 대한법의학회지

The overall data associated with the causes and the manners of death of individuals are necessary to make policies for the public health or judicial system in the society. To obtain basic data of the causes and the manners of death, the 206 autopsy cases performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine of Chonnam National University Medical School in 2007 and 2008 were statistically analyzed according to the cause of death and the manner of death. The results are as follows ; 1. The total number of forensic-legal autopsy was 206 (139 males and 67 females). The number of the 5th decade (58 cases) and the 6th decade (54 cases) occupied over 50 percent (54.4%) of total cases. 2. Unnatural deaths were 127 cases (61.7%), and natural deaths were 79 cases (38.3%). Of 127 cases of unnatural deaths, suicides were 33 cases (26.0%), homicides were 46 cases (36.2%), accidental deaths were 37 cases (29.1%), and undetermined deaths were 11 cases (8.7%). 3. Among 79 natural deaths, deaths of cardiac origin were 46 cases (58.2%) and it was a leading cause of death in natural deaths. Deaths due to disease of vascular system were 10 cases (12.7%), deaths due to respiratory system were 8 cases (10.1%), deaths due to digestive system were 6 cases (7.6%), and other causes were 10 cases (12.4%). 4. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 8 cases (3.9%). Three cases were homicide, 3 cases were accident, and 2 cases were natural deaths.

A Clinical Study of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis over the Last Five-year Period in the Gwangju-Chonnam Area / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe mucocutaneous reactions which are most frequently caused by drugs. The incidence of SJS and TEN is known to be relatively low, however the outcomes may be fatal. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical feature and outcome of 32 patients diagnosed with SJS and TEN. METHODS: Thirty two patients (17 males, 15 females, mean age 50.8 years) with SJS and TEN, diagnosed at the Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2005, were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty two patients were clinically classified with SJS (n=15, 46.9%), overlap SJS/TEN (n=3, 9.4%) and TEN (n=14, 43.7%). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were most commonly suspected as the causative drug in this series. All patients had involvement of the mucosa, except two. More than two sites were affected in 68.8 percent of cases. Nineteen patients (59.4%) showed abnormal liver function and three patients (9.4%) showed abnormal renal function. Five patients (15.6%) showed leukocytopenia and twenty four patients showed increased lactate dehydrogenase activity. Complications, mainly in the TEN group, included pneumonia, toxic hepatitis, wound infection, septicemia and multiorgan failure. Two patients died from septicemia and multiorgan failure. CONCLUSION: The mortality from SJS and TEN has been quoted as being about 5% and 30%, respectively. However, the mortality in our study was relatively low (SJS 0%, TEN 14.3%). Early intensive treatment is important for reducing the mortality rate in SJS/TEN.

Clinico-epidemiologic and Virologic Study of Measles Outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City During the 2000~2001 Epidemic / 감염

BACKGROUND: Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by measles virus. Although the introduction of live attenuated measles vaccines has dramatically abrogated the endemic incidence of measles in world-wide, there are still 30 million measles cases and nearly one million deaths from measles annually. In this study, we characterized the measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City during the 2000~200 1 epidemic. METHODS: Study population included measles patients in Gwangju Metropolitan City from April, 2000 to May, 200 1. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the patients and analyzed the records based on the clinical guideline of World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, we isolated the measles viruses from clinical specimens of patients and analyzed the nucleotide sequences of nucleoprotein (N) gene. RESULTS: During the April 2000 to May 2001, measles epidemic, a total of 3,2 17 measles patients were reported in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The first patient of measles was reported on April, 2000. The incidence reached its peak in November, 2000 and decreased thereafter. The age distribution of the patients were various, which was ranged from 1 month after birth to 30 year adult and the peak incidence was observed at 7~13 year old. Various complications were developed in 232 patients and 2 of them died. Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the N genes of isolated viruses revealed that all viruses isolated in Gwangju Metropolitan City were grouped into the clade H1. This suggests that a single, predominant viral genotype was responsible for the measles epidemic in Gwangju Metropolitan City. CONCLUSION: In this study, we characterized the measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City during 2000~200 1. The measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City was considered to be caused by single genotype of measles virus (clade H1). After a massive vaccination campaign among 7~16 years old children to eliminate indigenous measles from this country, it is important to continue measles vaccination and intensive surveillance clinically as well as virologically.

Isolation of Causative Viruses from Patients with Aseptic Meningitis in Gwangju Area / 감염

BACKGROUND: Aseptic meningitis is a common illness of children. It seems that viruses are the usual etiologic agents. The distribution of these agents mainly depends on the isolated time and region area. This study was performed to isolate the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis in Gwangju area during recent one year. METHODS:A total of 130 patients with aseptic meningitis were evaluated. Stool and/or cerebrospinal fluid specimens from patients were inoculated into rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEp2 and Vero cell lines. The virus propagation was examined by the presence of cytopathic effects. Neutralizing tests using enterovirus serum pool were done on each viral isolates. RESULTS: The isolation rate of enterovirus was 24.6% (32/130). The enterovirus isolates were obtained mostly from stool specimens (29/32). Twenty-two isolates were identified by neutralizing test. Ten isolates disclosed 'untyping' by neutralizing test. The distribution of isolates was coxsackievirus group B2 (11 stains, 34.4%), echovirus 30 (4 strains, 12.5%), echovirus 6 (3 strains, 9.4%), echovirus 9, 11, 25 and coxsackievirus group A16 (1 strain, respectively). These strains were predominantly isolated during summer season (June to July). CONCLUSIONS: The causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis in Gwangju area during recent 1 year were coxsackievirus group B2, echovirus 30, 6, 9, 11, 25 and coxsackievirus group A16 which were mostly isolated from stool specimens in summer season.

An Anthropolgical Study on the Human Skeleton Excavated from Dugmoe Tomb of the Technopols of Kwang Ju City / 체질인류학회지

Authors have anthropologically measured the human skeleton from a Dugmoe Tomb of the technopolis of Kwang-ju city. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The human skeleton was thought to be constructed at the beginning of the period of the Chosun, judging from the Dugmoe Tomb. 2. It is female and its stature is estimated as about 163-165cm. The age of the skeleton is estimated to be late 50. 3. The cranial index is 77.09mm and the type is mesocephaly. 4. The cranial length-height index and the cranial breadth-height index were hypsicrane and acrocephaly. 5. The orbital index 95.0mm and the type is hypsiconch. 6. The humerus is comparatively long, slender and has more rounded diaphysis. 7. The femur is similar that of present day, and the type is platyer. 8. The abrasion of the occlusal surface of the teeth was 2.5 point.