PURPOSE: An attempt was made to determine if the pre-LASIK operative BAC-STAT LASIK Ring plays a role in reducing postoperative infection. METHODS: Candidates for this study were 72 eyes of 36 patients, scheduled to undergo LASIK operation. Eyes were divided into two groups: right eyes with preoperative BAC-STAT bacteriostatic LASIK Ring (BAC-STAT LASIK Ring: American Optisurgical Inc., Lake Forest, California, U.S.A.) and one minute of irrigation (experimental group), and left eyes with only preoperative BSS irrigation (control group). The authors tried to demonstrate a difference of identified pathogens between the two groups after a growth of bulboconjunctival lesion in blood agar plate (BAP), MacConkey agar plate (MCA), Thioglycolate medium broth (TG), and Ogawa egg medium. RESULTS: Among the patients receiving only BSS irrigation, pathogens were identified in eight eyes before surgery and in four eyes after surgery in BAP and MCA medium. Among the patients receiving BAC-STAT LASIK Ring and irrigation, pathogens were identified in nine eyes before surgery and in three eyes after surgery in BAP and MCA culture medium. In addition, among the control population, pathogens were found in 21 eyes both before and after surgery in TG culture medium. However, among the experimental population, pathogens were grown in 23 eyes before surgery but in only 14 eyes after surgery. No growth of pathogens was reported in all patients before and after surgery in a 4-week Ogawa egg culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that preoperative BAC-STAT LASIK Ring insertion followed by irrigation decreases the incidence of postoperative infection.
Agar ; California ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lakes ; Ovum ; Thiram

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is particularly associated with progressive and ultimately chronic recurrent respiratory infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, chronic destroyed lung disease, and cystic fibrosis. Its treatment is also very complex because of drug resistance and recurrence. METHODS: Forty eight cultures from 18 patients with recurrent P. aeruginosa pneumonia from 1998 to 2002 were included in this study. Two or more pairs of sputum cultures were performed during 2 or more different periods of recurrences. The comparison of strains was made according to the phenotypic patterns of antibiotic resistance and chromosomal fingerprinting by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the genomic DNA of P. aeruginosa from the sputum culture. RESULTS: Phenotypic patterns of antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa were not correlated with their prior antibiotic exposition. Fifteen of 18 patients (83.3%) had recurrent P. aeruginosa pneumonia caused by the strains with same PFGE pattern. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the most of the recurrent P. aeruginosa infections in chronic lung disease occurred due to the relapse of prior infections. Further investigations should be performed for assessing the molecular mechanisms of the persistent colonization and for determining how to eradicate clonal persistence of P. aeruginosa.
Bronchiectasis ; Colon ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Dermatoglyphics ; DNA ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Lung Diseases* ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Recurrence* ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Sputum

Cholesteatoma is common disease entity within the middle ear cavity but is rarely found in the paranasal sinuses, especially the maxillary sinus. We experienced a case of cholesteatoma of the maxillary sinus without history of previous trauma or operation. The patient was not improved by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The mucosa of the maxillary sinus was removed through the Caldwell-Luc approach, and heavy saline irrigation was performed. After reoperation, the postoperative period was uneventful, and there was no sign of recurrence on endoscopic examination.
Cholesteatoma ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Mucous Membrane ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Reoperation

This study was conducted to derive core and detailed competencies of dental hygienists to be utilized as educational targets to be reached by graduation as well as basic data that can be reflected in the development and improvement of dental hygiene curricula. This study analyzed publication reports from the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, the International Federation of Dental Hygienists, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the American Dental Education Association. Based on the academic classification system for dental hygiene studies, the components of core and detailed competencies of dental hygiene school at the time of graduation were extracted and developed through expert panel discussions. This study defined competencies at the graduation level of dental hygiene school and derived eight core competencies and their 52 detailed competencies to serve as educational objectives from four areas: professionalism, communication, clinical practice, and community and health promotion. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct self-assessments of competencies based on those developed in this study, at time of the graduation from dental hygiene school, as well as to continuously develop competency-based curricula according to entry level, knowledge level, and graduation level. Thus, it is urgently necessary to develop a system that can evaluate the competencies of dental hygienists after graduation and put this system into practical use.
Accreditation ; Classification ; Competency-Based Education ; Curriculum ; Dental Hygienists ; Education, Dental ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Oral Hygiene* ; Professionalism ; Publications ; Self-Assessment

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have investigated the effects of serum uric acid (SUA) levels on chronic kidney disease (CKD), with discrepant results. The effect of SUA levels on CKD development was studied in the Korean rural population. METHODS: A total of 9695 participants aged ≥40 years were recruited from 3 rural communities in Korea between 2005 and 2009. Of those participants, 5577 who participated in the follow-up and did not have cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction, cancer, or CKD at baseline were studied. The participants, of whom 2133 were men and 3444 were women, were grouped into 5 categories according to their quintile of SUA levels. An estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the time of follow-up was considered to indicate newly developed CKD. The effects of SUA levels on CKD development after adjusting for potential confounders were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Among the 5577 participants, 9.4 and 11.0% of men and women developed CKD. The hazard ratio (HR) of CKD was higher in the highest quintile of SUA levels than in the third quintile in men (adjusted HR, 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 2.51) and women (adjusted HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.15). Furthermore, CKD development was also more common in the lowest quintile of SUA levels than in the third quintile in men (adjusted HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.90). The effect of SUA was consistent in younger, obese, and hypertensive men. CONCLUSIONS: Both high and low SUA levels were risk factors for CKD development in rural Korean men, while only high levels were a risk factor in their women counterparts.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Cohort Studies* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Uric Acid*

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 4 can give rise to 2 alternate recombinant (rec) chromosomesby duplication or deletion of 4p. The deletion of distal 4p manifests as Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS). Here, we report the molecular cytogenetic findings and clinical manifestations observed in an infant with 46,XX,rec(4)dup(4q)inv(4)(p16q31.3)pat. The infant was delivered by Cesarean section at the 33rd week of gestation because pleural effusion and polyhydramnios were detected on ultrasonography. At birth, the infant showed no malformation or dysfunction, except for a preauricular skin tag. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of neonatal peripheral blood samples showed a gain of 38 Mb on 4q31.3-qter and a loss of 3 Mb on 4p16.3, and these results were consistent with WHS. At the last follow-up at 8 months of age (corrected age, 6 months), the infant had not achieved complete head control.
*Chromosome Deletion ; *Chromosome Duplication ; *Chromosome Inversion ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Pleural Effusion/ultrasonography ; Polyhydramnios/ultrasonography ; Pregnancy ; Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome/*genetics

Enterocolic fistulas are commonly associated with previous surgery, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, radiation therapy, and malignancy. Here, we report a rare case of enterocolic fistula caused by acute colitis in a hemodialysis patient. A 62-year-old man on maintenance hemodialysis underwent a radical nephrectomy via a paramedian incision due to spontaneous right kidney rupture and was treated with prophylactic antibiotics. On the 16th day of antibiotic therapy, he complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and ascitic fluid culture revealed acute bacterial peritonitis and sigmoidoscopy showed acute colitis. After treating these diseases with adequate antibiotics, the abdominal pain and ascites were relieved, but the diarrhea persisted. Abdominal CT obtained 7 days later showed an enterocolic fistula. To our knowledge, this is the first case of enterocolic fistula due to acute colitis in Korea.
Abdominal Pain ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Colitis* ; Crohn Disease ; Diarrhea ; Diverticulitis ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Peritonitis ; Renal Dialysis* ; Rupture ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pasteurellae are aerobic gram-negative coccobacillary organism and usually pathogenic to domestic animal, but rarely to human beings. Human Pasteurella infections are mostly caused by animal but occasionally happens without known history of animal contacts. Pasteurella infection of human has been reported in numerous systems including pneumonia, empyema, meningitis, peritonitis, bone and joint infection and septicemia. This organism was difficult to identify because of its superficial resemblance to other organism, until recently a new technique used a requirement of X, V factor is developed. This organism is susceptible to many antimicrobial agents. A 55-year-old man was admitted to Seoul Paik Hospital Inje University due to fever and pleuritic chest pain for 2 weeks. He denied any animal contact history. Pasteurella hemolytica was recovered from pleural effusion. This is the first case report of empyema caused by Pasteurella hemolytica in Korea and provides another definitive causative organism of empyema.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Chest Pain ; Empyema* ; Fever ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Mannheimia haemolytica* ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Pasteurella Infections ; Pasteurella* ; Peritonitis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Seoul ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: Human astrovirus (HAstV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. However, the prevalence of HAstV infection varies according to geographic region and patient age. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of HAstV infection among hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children up to five years of age with acute gastroenteritis. A total of 812 fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis between February 2004 and January 2005. Fecal specimens were screened for rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and norovirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HAstV positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Rotavirus was detected in 16.9% (138/812), norovirus in 11.6% (94/812), and adenovirus in 4.0% (33/812) of the study population. HAstV was detected in 4.0% (33/812) samples by RT- PCR. The age distribution of HAstV positive patients was as follows: <12 month old, 82.0% (27/ 33); 1~2 years old, 6.0% (2/33); 2~5 years old, 12.0% (4/33). The seasonal distribution of HAstV positive samples was as follows; April (3), May (5), June (4), August (12), September (4), October (2), November (2), and December (1). The peak rate of HAstV infection was observed during the summer season, 2004. A mixed infection of viral agents was confirmed in 2.7% (22 /812) of the study population, most commonly with rotavirus and norovirus, and with rotavirus and HAstV. Genotype 1 was the predominant type (91%, 20/22) and genotype 8 was detected in two cases. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HAstV infection was 4.0% in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis, and was especially high in infants. HAstV can be considered as an important etiologic agent of gastroenteritis in children.
Adenoviridae ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Coinfection ; Gastroenteritis* ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Infant ; Mamastrovirus* ; Molecular Epidemiology* ; Norovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: Osteoma is one of the common benign tumors of the skull vault and facial skeleton. Although most of the osteomas cause no symptoms, forehead osteomas may lead to facial disfigurement. Osteoma usually happens in solitary lesion and multiple osteomas which don't combine with syndrome are very rare. We report an experience of treatment of non-syndromic multiple osteomas in the skull. METHODS: A 54-year-old female patient visited due to the multiple palpable hard masses on her forehead in 2010. In 2002 of her first visit, masses started to appear on her forehead and she was diagnosed as the osteoma by excisional biopsy. She visited again because the mass size and number increased. In preoperative CT scanning, there were above 160 of osteomas, so surgery was planned. Enterogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy was conducted to rule out Gardener's syndrome, however there was no abnormality such as multiple polyposis. RESULTS: Under general anesthesia, coronal approach was conducted. There were numerous osteomas in frontal and parietal bone. The multiple osteomas were removed by burring and the patient recovered without any postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Multiple osteomas in the skull were rarely reported, although it can accompanied with Gardener's syndrome. We report a case of non-syndromic multiple osteomas in skull vault.
Anesthesia, General ; Biopsy ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoma ; Parietal Bone ; Skeleton ; Skull