PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, contact history, and status of tuberculosis contact investigations in school-age children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at two centers. METHODS: This study was conducted with 54 patients in the age ranging from 10 to 18 years, who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB at the Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Children's Hospital, January 2008 to December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 16 years old; 11 patients were aged 10 to 14 and 43 patients were aged 15 to 18. Among 54 patients, 19 had history of contact with pulmonary TB, 10 had contact with house members (household), and remaining 9 had contact with classmates (non-household). One out of 10 patients who had household contacts and 6 out of 9 patients who had non-household contacts were evaluated with contact investigation after the exposure to pulmonary TB. Among 7 patients who were evaluated with contact investigation, 3 were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 1 had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 3 had no evidence of TB or LTBI. The median period of diagnosis after the exposure to active pulmonary TB was 2 years in patients with household contacts and 0.23 years in patients with non-household contacts. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that if the contact investigation conducted properly, it would be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary TB.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

OJECTIVE: To explore the changes of serum IgE and tryptase caused by anaphylactic shock rats and discuss the relation to PMI and preservative environment of corpse and specimen. METHODS: Rats were used for establishing anaphylactic shock models and randomly divided into room temperature group, refrigeration group, frozen group, manual hemolysis group, specimen preservation group. And the control group was also established. The blood samples were collected after rats were sacrificed. The degree of hemolysis was graded according to the color of the upper layer of the serum. The mass concentration of IgE and tryptase in each group was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in anaphylactic shock dead rats were higher than that of the control group. Room temperature and frozen made obviously differences on the levels of serum IgE and tryptase with various PMI. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in refrigeration group showed relatively stable. The levels of serum tryptase and IgE were elevated with differently increasing hemolysis. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase showed no obvious changes during the specimen kept under different temperature conditions for 25 days. CONCLUSION Serum IgE and tryptase obviously increased in anaphylactic shock rats. However, the levels were influenced by PMI and environmental temperature, especially under the conditions of room temperature and frozen.
Anaphylaxis/blood* ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunoglobulin E/blood* ; Rats ; Temperature ; Tryptases/blood*

Continuous epidural analgesia has been used for decades to treat acute herpes zoster pain and to prevent postherpetic neuralgia. However, many technical problems can arise during chronic treatment with epidural medications. These complications include catheter dislodgement, infection, injection pain, leakage, and occlusion. Epidural catheter placement utilizing subcutaneous injection port implantation has gained widespread acceptance as a method to overcome such complications. The technique reduces the risk of infection, the most feared complication, compared to the use of a percutaneous epidural catheter. Herein, we present 2 cases in which the continuous thoracic epidural administration of opioids and local anesthetics through an implantable subcutaneous injection port for over 2 months successfully treated zoster-associated pain without any technique- or medication-related complications in patients with risk factors for epidural abscess.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesics, Opioid* ; Anesthetics, Local* ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Epidural Abscess ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Injections, Subcutaneous* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Risk Factors

Intraabdominal abscess usually causes distress with fever, leukocytosis, pain and toxicity. Diagnosis of intraabdominal abscess is occasionally difficult and it has high morbidity. However radiologic method, such as ultrasonography, CT scan, or RI scan are helpful to early detection of intraabdominal abscess. Among these methods, ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique and performed without discomfort to patient. And also differential diagnosis between cystic and solid lesion is very easy and sequential ultrasonography in same patient is valuable for the evaluation of treatment effect. We analyzed the ultrasonic features of 48 cases with intraabdominal abscesses and the results are as follows; 1. In total 48 cases, the intraabdominal abscesses were 30 cases, the retroperitoneal abscesses, 5 cases, and the visceral abscesses, 13 cases. 2. The causes of the intraabdominal abscesses were perforating appendicitis (25 cases), postoperative complications (5 cases), pyogenic and amebic hepatic abscesses (13 cases), and the other (5 cases). 3. Round or oval shaped lesions were 26 cases (54%), irregular shape, 18 cases (38%), and multiple abscess formation in 4 cases (8%). 4. The size of the lesions were between 5 and 10cm in diameter in 54% of total 48 cases, and the most frequent feature of the echo pattern of the lesions was cystic with or without internal echogenicity (69%).
Abdominal Abscess* ; Abscess ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Abscess ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

Fatal anaphylactic shock is common in forensic practice. However, it is difficult to diagnose for lacking specific pathological and morphologic changes in forensic autopsy. The application of some biochemical indicators is of great significance. This paper reviews the biological characteristics of some biochemical indicators and detection methods. The forensic application, problems and prospects of these indicators are also introduced in details. The stable biochemical indicators, IgE, tryptase and chymase, show great potential and advantages in the identification of fatal anaphylactic shock in forensic medicine.
Anaphylaxis/metabolism* ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers ; Chymases ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Tryptases

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a forest healing program on psychological and physiological changes in employees exposed to work-related stress. Methods: This study included 38 employees whose workplaces were located in Naju and Jeonnam. They were given a set of forest healing programs. They completed self-rating scales to assess changes in anxiety, depression, and workrelated stress. Salivary cortisol levels, electroencephalography changes, and photoplethysmography components were also assessed. The mean differences in these parameters before and after treatment were analyzed. Results: The mean ages of male and female employees were different (p<0.010). After controlling for age as a covariate, all variables were examined for main and sex-associated effects using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Although the mean changes in saliva cortisol levels were significantly lower after treatment, the sex-associated and interaction effects were found to be insignificant. Conclusion Although the short-term forest healing program did not provide notable results, it may have beneficial effects on certain psychological and physiological aspects. Further studies are warranted to determine the feasibility of the forest healing program as a suitable stress management strategy for employees.

PURPOSE: We examined the success rate and adverse effects of ultrasound-guided axillary and supraclavicular approach brachial plexus block. METHODS: From December 2013 to February 2014, 580 cases of patients received ultrasound-guided axillary approach or supraclavicular approach brachial plexus block. All blocks were performed by one anesthesiologist under ultrasound visualization using 0.2% or 0.75% ropivacaine 1% lidocaine with epinephrine in 1:200,000 as the anesthetic mixture. RESULTS: Failure rate of ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block was 1.2% and 0.2% in axillary and supraclavicular approach, respectively. In supraclavicular approach brachial plexus block, Honer's syndrome was observed in 17.9%, chest discomfort in 14.9%, and arterial puncture in 1%. There was no adverse effect in axillary approach brachial plexus block. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block serves higher success rate and lower occurrence rate of adverse effect and makes it useful for hand and upper extremity surgery. Supraclavicular approach has relatively higher success rate and lower rate of adverse effect than axillary approach.
Brachial Plexus* ; Epinephrine ; Hand ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Punctures ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: In Korea, clinical performance examination (CPX) has been included in license examination for medical doctors since 2009 in order to improve clinical performance of medical students. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of CPX to medical education. METHODS: Clinical competency in the differential diagnosis of secondary headache was compared between the incoming interns in 2009 unexposed to CPX and the incoming interns in 2010 exposed to CPX, using the data of patients who visited the emergency department due to headache (181 patients seen by 60 CPX non-exposed interns and 150 patients seen by 50 CPX-exposed interns). We obtained the data by reviewing electronic medical records and nominal lists of doctors. Clinical competency was assessed by sensitivity and specificity between the diagnostic impression by interns and the final diagnosis. The association between CPX exposure and clinical competency in secondary headache diagnosis was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: When we assessed clinical competency on the basis of all listed diagnostic impressions, sensitivity and specificity were 67.9% and 80.0%, respectively, for headaches seen by CPX-exposed interns, and 51.7%, and 71.7%, respectively, for headaches seen by CPX non-exposed interns. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis showed exposure to CPX was not associated with increased competency for identifying secondary headache. CONCLUSION: Exposure to CPX as a part of the medical license examination was not effective for the improvement of clinical competency of interns in identifying secondary headache.
Competency-Based Education ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Education, Medical ; Electronic Health Records ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Headache* ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea ; Licensure ; Logistic Models ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: We evaluated the changes in quality of life after administering an oral testosterone supplement to men with testosterone deficiencies. MATERIALS and METHODS: The changes of subjective symptoms were estimated in 39 cases (33 cases in the experimental group and 6 cases in the placebo group) of testosterone definiency,in men who were treated with oral testosterone undecanoate (Andriol(R)) or a placebo by the single blind method from March 2001 to January 2002. The 80mg dose of oral testosterone was administered twice daily in a period of three months. Digital rectal examinations and laboratory tests including serum testosterone, PSA, cholesterol, AST and ALT were conducted on pretreatment and during the 1st and 3rd months after treatment. The changes in quality of life were evaluated on pretreatment and monthly after treatment by the PNUH QOL Scoring System, which consisted of 21 question sinquiring about the following 7 functions: metabolic, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastroinestinal, neurologic and psychiatric and sexual. The Saint Louis University Questionnaire was used simultaneously to evaluate the changes in quality of life. RESULTS: The 39 cases showed a 19~64 years old age distribution (mean 45.9 years old). Underlying causes of testosterone deficiency were primary hypogonadism and andropause in 10 and 29 cases, respectively. During the follow-up period, the drop-out after treatment in the experimental group was 4 cases due to low compliance or personal reasons. Serum testosterone was significantly increased in the each month of posttreatment compared to pretreatment levels only in the experimental group (p<0.05). No abnormal finding was detected on digital rectal examination or in serum PSA, cholesterol, AST and ALT levels in either guoup. Sexual dysfunction was the most common problem prior to treatment, followed by metabolic, psychatric, musculoskeletal, neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary dysfunction, in order. After treatment, sexual dysfunction showed the most improvement in symptom score followed by cardiopulmonary, metabolic, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal functions showed significantly more improved symptom scores in the experimental group than in the control group. The positive rate of Saint Louis University Questionnaire significantly decreased in the posttreatment compared to pretreatment levels only in the experimental group (p<0.05). The complications were nonspecific symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems and fatigue in 3 cases, and acne, urticatria and joint pain in 1 case of the experimental group. But, they were self-limited and did not cause drop-out. CONCLUSIONS: Androgen supplement therapy with oral testosterone undecanoate (Andriol(R)) enhanced the quality of life through the improvement of general body functions including physical functions and mental functions in men with testosterone deficiencies.
Acne Vulgaris ; Age Distribution ; Aging ; Andropause ; Arthralgia ; Cholesterol ; Compliance ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Fatigue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Saints ; Single-Blind Method ; Testosterone*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis* ; Takayasu Arteritis*