Potential application of adipose-derived stem cells and their secretory factors to skin: discussion from both clinical and industrial viewpoints.

Importance Of The Field: Adipose tissue is one of the richest sources of mesenchymal stem cells. Even more interesting is the fact that adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) show an outstanding ability to regenerate damaged skin. Thus, ASCs are a popular and feasible treatment in clinical dermatology.

Epidemiological and genetic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the ear discharge of outpatients with chronic otitis media.

The origin of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from otolaryngology outpatients has not been evaluated yet in Korea. We analyzed epidemiologic and genetic characteristics of MRSA isolates from the ear discharge of 64 outpatients with chronic otitis media in a Korean University Hospital during 2004. MRSA strains were grouped as either from the initial visit (n=33) or the follow-up visit (n=31) based on the timing of isolation.

Molecular analysis of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase mutations in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with low-level mupirocin resistance.

Emergence and spread of low-level mupirocin resistance in staphylococci have been increasingly reported in recent years. The aim of this study was to characterize missense mutations within the chromosomal isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (ileS) among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with low-level mupirocin resistance. A total of 20 isolates of MRSA with low-level mupirocin resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration, 16-64 microg/mL) were collected from 79 patients in intensive care units for six months.

Risk factors for isolation of low-level mupirocin-resistant versus -susceptible methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from patients in intensive care units.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for the recovery of low-level mupirocin-resistant (mup(r)) or -susceptible (mup(s)) MRSA from patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: A case-case-control study was conducted from November 2003 to April 2004. Two case groups consisted of patients with low-level mup(r) MRSA and mup(s) MRSA.

Novel PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for rapid typing of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec elements.

We developed a novel PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism test for the ccrB gene by using HinfI and BsmI for rapid typing of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). When tested with reference strains and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, the method proved to be valid and useful for rapid identification of four SCCmec types, especially type IV.