A Case of a Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli

We encountered a patient with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) with persistent isolation of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) for 3 weeks despite of having no clinical symptoms. STEC has been recognized as an important food-borne pathogen that causes severe diseases such as HUS. We characterized this STEC strain via a polymerase chain reaction, reverse-passive latex agglutination and the slide agglutination method. In this STEC strain, stx2 (shiga toxin), eaeA, tir, iha (adherence genes), espADB (type III secretion genes), and hlyA, ehxA, clyA (hemolysin genes) were present. The O antigen of the strain was non-typable.

Surveillance of Stool Samples for the Presence of Enterobacter sakazakii among Korean People

PURPOSE: Enterobacter sakazakii (E. sakazakii) infections are an important cause of life-threatening meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. Dried infant formula milk is an important vehicle for E. sakazakii infection. E. sakazakii was isolated in Korea from dried infant formula milk. Although E. sakazakii infection of infants may occur in Korea, its prevalence has not yet been documented. Therefore, we determined the prevalence of E. sakazakii and documented symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March and October 2006, 1,146 stool samples were collected from patients at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital. Each fecal swab was dissolved in 10mL of buffered peptone solution, and enriched culture was streaked onto Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen (DFI) agar. Presumptive E. sakazakii colonies that exhibited a blue-green color during culture on DFI medium were selected. The identity of colonies that developed yellow pigment during culture on TSA was determined using the Vitek system and PCR. RESULTS: We isolated 4 E. sakazakii strains whose 16S rRNA sequence alignments had a similarity of 99% with those of 3 E. sakazakii ATCC strains. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on isolation of E. sakazakii from stool samples and to document the symptoms of Korean patients.

Integrated Cell Culture-PCR Detection of Enteroviruses and Reoviruses in Water Sources in Gyeonggi-do

The integrated cell culture-PCR (ICC-PCR) method has been suggested as an improved method for detection of viruses in water environments. We tested 57 source waters including finished water samples in Gyeonggi-do for enteric viral contamination using total culturable virus assay (TCVA) using BGMK cells and ICC-PCR. Nineteen of the 57 source water samples (33.3%) exhibited the cytopathic effect (CPE) on BGMK cells and no finished water did exhibited CPE. Nineteen samples (33.3%) of the 57 were positive for reoviruses. For the enteroviruses, only 3 samples (5.3%) of the 57 samples showed positive results. By using ICC-PCR method, 202 flasks from source water samples were positive for enteroviruses and reoviruses. Three samples from source water were positive for both viruses. However, any flasks tested was not co-infected with two types of viruses. While the enteric viral frequencies in TCVA and ICC-PCR were similar, the viral frequency for reoviruses at first passage in two type of method was higher in ICC-PCR (94.7%) than TCVA (56.9%).

A Phase II Study with Gemcitabine and Carboplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and carboplatin (GC) in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 1999 and April 2001, 34 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 66 (range: 52-74) years old and all were male. Sixteen patients demonstrated stage IIIB, 15 stage IV, and 3 recurrence of disease after surgery. Twenty-two patients showed a ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 and 12 had 2. Twenty patients presented with squamous cell carcinoma, 11 adenocarcinoma and 3 unclassified NSCLC. The treatment regimen consisted of intravenous carboplatin AUC of 6 on day 1 and gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8. The treatment was repeated every 28 days. Toxicities were evaluated according to WHO toxicity criteria. RESULTS: All thirty-four patients were evaluable. Partia responses were observed in 15 patients. The overall response rate was 44% (95% confidence interval: 27-61%) and the median response duration was 26 (range 8-60 ) weeks. The median survival of all patients was 50 (range 8-70 ) weeks. During a total of 144 cycles, granulocytopenia greater than WHO grade 2 occurred in 2%, thrombocytopenia in 2%, and anemia in 3%, respectively. Non- hematologic toxicities were minor and easily controlled. CONCLUSION: A combination chemotherapy of intravenous gemcitabine and carboplatin has a relatively high activity with acceptable toxicities in patients with advanced NSCLC.