Emergence of 16S rRNA methylase gene armA and cocarriage of bla(IMP-1) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from South Korea

Of the 100 multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a Korean hospital, 14 isolates that were resistant to all aminoglycosides tested carried 16S rRNA methylase gene armA. Fourteen armA-positive isolates were classified into 8 pulsotypes. Seven armA-positive isolates cocarried bla(IMP-1). This study is the first report of occurrence of armA in P. aeruginosa.     

Narrower surgical margins might be sufficient in invasive horizontal growth phase melanoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The delineation of horizontal and vertical growth phases in primary cutaneous melanoma has contributed to our understanding of melanoma progression. Horizontal growth phase invasive melanomas are now believed to metastasize very rarely. Consequently, some of us have started to treat these lesions with very limited surgical margins, assuming that in terms of biological behavior this type of melanoma is more similar to an in situ than an invasive lesion. METHODS: Between January 1997 and December 2001 42 lesions of this type in 41 patients (24 women and 17 men) were treated in the outpatient clinic under local anesthesia. The excision margin was half a centimeter and the subcutaneous fat was cleared in most cases to the deep fascia, which was conserved. Loss was made good by direct tissue closure. All patients had undergone an excisional biopsy before definitive surgery. The size of the lesions ranged from 2 mm to 19 mm in maximum linear extent (median 7 mm). Lesion thickness ranged from 0.11 mm to 0.58 mm (median, 0.27 mm). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 47 months (range, 26-83). During this period none of the patients had locoregional or distant relapses. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report seems to corroborate the assumption that horizontal growth phase melanoma is not an aggressive lesion and might therefore be cured by non-aggressive surgery. The proper treatment of such lesions might be a surgical excision at half a centimeter distance from the biopsy scar. This approach may produce very good cosmetic results, while keeping the costs and required resources to a minimum.     

Bilateral retinal detachment in Goldenhar syndrome

The ocular features of Goldenhar syndrome (GS) are typically external, like surface dermoids and lid coloboma. Retinal detachment (RD) is rare and has not been reported in absence of other concomitant predisposing congenital ocular disorders. We present a unique case of bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with GS. To the best of our knowledge, this association of GS with RRD is novel and has not been reported earlier in ophthalmic and systemic literature on RRD.     

Why does a natural myringostapediopexy cause minimal hearing loss?

Natural myringostapediopexy is a result of tympanic membrane retraction with automastoidectomy that causes the tympanic membrane to plaster onto the stapes directly. It causes minimal conductive hearing impairment.     

Intimate partner violence with vaginal insertion of a partial chili pod (Capsicum annuum): A case report

A case of intimate partner violence (IPV) with vaginal insertion of an irritant foreign body, chili pod of Capsicum annum, in a 36‐year‐old woman. She presented with severe burning sensation in the lower abdomen and vulva. This highlights the unique role of gynecologists in the recognition and treatment of IPV.     

Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from stray dogs in South Korea

A total of 47 extended-spectrum-cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from stray dogs in 2006 and 2007 in the Republic of Korea were investigated using molecular methods. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC β-lactamase phenotypes were identified in 12 and 23 E. coli isolates, respectively. All 12 ESBL-producing isolates carried bla(CTX-M) genes. The most common CTX-M types were CTX-M-14 (n = 5) and CTX-M-24 (n = 3). Isolates producing CTX-M-3, CTX-M-55, CTX-M-27, and CTX-M-65 were also identified. Twenty-one of 23 AmpC β-lactamase-producing isolates were found to carry bla(CMY-2) genes. TEM-1 was associated with CTX-M and CMY-2 β-lactamases in 4 and 15 isolates, respectively. In addition to bla(TEM-1), two isolates carried bla(DHA-1), and one of them cocarried bla(CMY-2). Both CTX-M and CMY-2 genes were located on large (40 to 170 kb) conjugative plasmids that contained the insertion sequence ISEcp1 upstream of the bla genes. Only in the case of CTX-M genes was there an IS903 sequence downstream of the gene. The spread of ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamases occurred via both horizontal gene transfer, accounting for much of the CTX-M gene dissemination, and clonal spread, accounting for CMY-2 gene dissemination. The horizontal dissemination of bla(CTX-M) and bla(CMY-2) genes was mediated by IncF and IncI1-Iγ plasmids, respectively. The clonal spread of bla(CMY-2) was driven mainly by E. coli strains of virulent phylogroup D lineage ST648. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bla(DHA-1) in E. coli strains isolated from companion animals. This study also represents the first report of CMY-2 β-lactamase-producing E. coli isolates from dogs in the Republic of Korea.     

Progress and delivery of health care in Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon and Gross National Happiness

The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is rapidly changing, but it remains relatively isolated, and it tenaciously embraces its rich cultural heritage. Despite very limited resources, Bhutan is making a concerted effort to update its health care and deliver it to all of its citizens. Healthcare services are delivered through 31 hospitals, 178 basic health unit clinics and 654 outreach clinics that provide maternal and child health services in remote communities in the mountains. Physical access to primary health care is now well sustained for more than 90% of the population. Bhutan has made progress in key health indicators. In the past 50 years, life expectancy increased by 18 years and infant mortality dropped from 102.8 to 49.3 per 1000 live births between 1984 and 2008. Bhutan has a rich medical history. One of the ancient names for Bhutan was 'Land of Medicinal Herbs' because of the diverse medicinal plants it exported to neighbouring countries. In 1967, traditional medicine was included in the National Health System, and in 1971, formal training for Drungtshos (traditional doctors) and sMenpas (traditional compounders) began. In 1982, Bhutan established the Pharmaceutical and Research Unit, which manufactures, develops and researches traditional herbal medicines. Despite commendable achievements, considerable challenges lie ahead, but the advances of the past few decades bode well for the future.     

Novel Human Bufavirus Genotype 3 in Children with Severe Diarrhea,Bhutan

We identified a new genotype of bufavirus, BuV3, in fecal samples (0.8%) collected to determine the etiology of diarrhea in children in Bhutan. Norovirus GII.6 was detected in 1 sample; no other viral diarrheal pathogens were detected, suggesting BuV3 as a cause of diarrhea. This study investigates genetic diversity of circulating BuVs.In 2012, a novel parvovirus, bufavirus (BuV), was discovered in fecal samples of children with diarrhea in Burkina Faso (1). The virus belongs to the species primate protoparvovirus 1 of the genus Protoparvovirus (2). BuV has a single-stranded DNA genome and encodes nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) and viral structural proteins 1 and 2 (VP1 and VP2). Two genotypes, BuV1 and BuV2, have been described; the highly diverse capsid gene indicates the possibility of further genotypes of this virus (1).One research group, which used PCR to test fecal samples collected in 3 countries, had previously found various proportions of specimens positive for BuV: 4 of 98 (4%) in Burkina Faso, 1 of 63 (1.6%) in Tunisia, and none of 100 in Chile (1). Fecal samples from Tunisia were from children with acute flaccid paralysis; samples from Burkina Faso and Chile were from children with diarrhea. It is not known whether BuV is pathogenic in humans.Bhutan is a small landlocked country between India and China; an estimated 23% of the people of Bhutan live below the poverty line (3). The population is mainly concentrated in the capital, Thimphu (altitude 2,248–2,648 m), and is otherwise sparsely distributed throughout the country. Diarrhea is a major cause of illness and death among children in Bhutan. Irrespective of severity, hospitalization, or causative agents, the annual morbidity rate for children <5 years of age with diarrhea is 168.8/1,000 (17%) (4); however, the etiology of diarrhea in this country has not been studied in detail. We conducted this study to investigate the genetic diversity of circulating BuVs and to clarify the public health significance of BuV in Bhutan.