Detection of JC Virus in the Brains of Korean Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients

OBJECTIVE: The ubiquitous human polyomavirus, JC virus(JCV) is the etiologic agent of the fatal demyelinating central nervous system(CNS) disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy(PML). Recent studies have reported the detection of the JCV in samples derived from several type of human neural tumors and suggested the possible association of JCV with CNS tumors. Here we report for the first time, the presence of JCV in Korean glioblastoma multiforme(GM) patients. METHODS: Two Korean GM patients were assayed for JCV. To detect JCV, we performed immunohistochemical analysis using anti-JCV and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) serum and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using primers. RESULTS: JCV antigen was detected in cytoplasm abundantly in cells of this tumor case. Also, GFAP immunoreactivity was predominantly observed in cytoplasm of the cells that were morphologically bizarred appearing astrocytes in GM. In addition, both of the large T antigen gene and the VP1 gene were detected and this result correspond with previous result of immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: Although it is not certain that GM is associated with the JCV, we are attempted to elucidate the possible implication of JCV in the tumorigenesis of certain human malignant gliomas.

Cervical Spinal Epidural Abscess due to Salmonella Group D

We report a case of cervical spinal epidural abcess due to Salmonella group D. A 58-year-old man complained of progressive neck pain and right arm weakness with fever. Clinical and radiographic findings including cervical magnetic resonance(MR) image showed paraspinal soft tissue inflammation of neck and abcesses in prevertebral and epidural space at C3-5 level. The patient underwent a C4 corpectomy and adjacent diskectomy and continous irrigation suction drainage. A MR image taken at second postoperative day revealed diffuse cord swelling from C2 to T1 suggesting edema and/or myelitis and then laminectomy from C3 to C6 was performed immediately to decompress the spinal cord. The patient recovered excellently and the abscess culture revealed Salmonella group D.