Antifungal bacteria for biological control of plant diseases or production of novel antibiotics to plant pathogens were isolated in 1997 from various soils of Ansung, Chunan, Koyang, and Paju in Korea. Sixty-four bacterial strains pre-screened from approximately 1,400 strains were tested on V-8 juice agar against eight plant pathogenic fungi using in vitro bioassay technique for inhibition of mycelial growth. Test pathogens were Alternaria mali, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. orbiculare, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Magnaporthe grisea, Phytophthora capsici, and Rhizoctonia solani. A wide range of antifungal activity of bacterial strains was found against the pathogenic fungi, and strain RC-B77 showed the best antifungal activity. Correlation analysis between inhibition of each fungus and mean inhibition of all eight fungi by 64 bacterial strains revealed that C. gloeosporioides would be best appropriate for detecting bacterial strains producing antibiotics with potential as biocontrol agents for plant pathogens.
Agar ; Alternaria ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; Biological Assay ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colletotrichum ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Magnaporthe ; Mali ; Mass Screening* ; Phytophthora ; Plant Diseases ; Plants* ; Rhizoctonia ; Soil*

No abstract available.
Carcinogenesis* ; Colorectal Neoplasms*

Rupture of the trachea as a result of external trauma is well documented. But, rupture of the membranous trachea following tracheal intubation has been infrequently noted. Risk factors associated with tracheobronchial rupture include inexperienced endoscopists, intubating stylets, multiple vigorous attempts at intubation, tracheal abnormalities, overdistension of tracheal or bronchial cuff with high pressure, low volume cuffs, and old age. We report a case of tracheal rupture occurred during one lung ventilation using Robertshaw double-lumen endotracheal tube for right upper lobe lobectomy. The etiology and treatment are discussed and the recent literature is reviewed.
Intubation ; One-Lung Ventilation* ; Risk Factors ; Rupture* ; Trachea

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to evaluate effect and efficiency of selective spinal nerve root block for neuropathic pain patients with lower leg radiating pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 113 patients were evaluated and follow-up periods were a minimum of 12 months. They were divided into two groups: group A included 41 patients with neuropathic pain and group B included 72 patients with simple lower leg radiating pain. RESULTS: Fourteen (34.1%) patients in group A and 45 (62.5%) patients in group B had favorable results for selective spinal nerve block (p<0.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) was improved from 7.57 to 5.23 at 12 months in group A and from 7.11 to 3.49 at 12 months in group B. CONCLUSION: The initial treatment period for group A was significantly later than in group B. For patients with neuropathic pain and radiculopathy, early assessment was recommended and early selective spinal nerve block could be a good treatment option for neuropathic pain patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg ; Neuralgia* ; Radiculopathy* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Spinal Nerves ; Visual Analog Scale

The current authors performed two-stage ear reconstruction of microtia using autogenous costal cartilage combined with canaloplasty of the acoustic meatus in a team approach. In the first stage, lobule transposition, fabrication of the cartilage framework, and implantation of the framework were peformed. In the second stage, elevation of the auricle, cartilage graft for posterior auricular sulcus, coverage with the mastoid fascia flap and skin graft, and concha excavation were performed. The canaloplasty was combined simultaneously in patients with radiologic and audiometric evidence of cochlear function in the second stage. A total of 36 consecutive patients with congenital microtia were treated from 1998 to 2003. Among them, 27 patients(male: 18, female: 9) ranging from 7 to 43 years old were combined with canaloplasty. The follow-up period was one year to 5 years. Thirteen patients exhibited improved hearing over 30 dB PTA(pure tone average), 9 patients below 30 dB, and 5 patients with no improvement. Complications related to the canaloplasty were chronic drainages of the auditory meatus and meatal stenosis. Lobule type deformity combined with the canaloplasty showed higher complications than concha type. Therefore, in the lobule type, meticulous manipulation is necessary to reduce complications after the canaloplasty.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ear* ; Fascia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Skin ; Transplants

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomic and functional changes of submucous cleft palate operated with Furlow palatoplasty. A total of 36 patients with submucous cleft palate underwent Furlow palatoplasty from 1993 to 1998. The mean follow-up period was 5 years 3 months. Midfacial growth was measured using lateral cephalograms in 18 patients, whose age was older than 8 years of age. Speech analyses were performed in 25 patients by the same speech pathologist for the degrees of nasality and articulation. The parameters obtained in the lateral cephalogram were compared with a healthy population in Korea. ANS-PNS was in 61.1% within the clinical normal range for the age group. SNA and SNB were in 55.6% within the normal range. ANB was in 72.2% and Ba-PNS was 50.0% within the range. The postoperative nasality scores of open vowels and round vowels were 24.2% and 25.2%, respectively, which were lower than preoperative scores. The mean articulation accuracy value was 92.9% which was higher than preoperative value. Our results suggest that Furlow palatoplasty is a useful procedure as the initial treatment of the submucous cleft palate and has the advantages in both aspects of speech results and facial growth.
Cleft Palate* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Reference Values

A 17-year-old man was admitted with a complaint of knee pain. He was diagnosed with Wilson disease by ophthalmologic and laboratory studies during hospitalization. Initial plain radiography of both knees showed multiple osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) on the medial and lateral femoral condyles of both knees. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple OCDs, which were symmetric on both knees. Subchondral cysts on the medial condyle and trochlear dysplasia were additionally evident on both femurs. We report this case with a focus on the imaging findings.
Adolescent ; Bone Cysts ; Femur ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteochondritis Dissecans ; Osteochondritis ; Radiography

The prevalence of aneurysm formation in adults with Moyamoya disease (MMD) is higher than that in the general population. The treatment strategy is often individualized based on the patient’s disease characteristics. A 22-year-old man was diagnosed with MMD after presenting a small thalamic intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the quadrigeminal cistern. Cerebral angiography revealed a small aneurysm (2.42 mm) in the left anterior choroidal artery. Since the hemodynamics in the left hemisphere was compromised, an indirect bypass surgery was performed. The patient’s condition deteriorated postoperatively because of poor perfusion of the internal carotid artery, and massive hydration was required. During neurocritical care, the aneurysm increased in size (5.33 mm). An observation strategy was adopted because of the distal aneurysmal location and the high risk involved. Subsequently, the patient recovered, and newly developed collateral flow appeared from the external carotid artery. Additionally, a dramatic size reduction of the aneurysm (1.51 mm) was noticed. Our case suggests that MMD-related dissecting aneurysms on a distal cerebral artery, which present a high risk of embolization, could be managed by indirectly reducing the hemodynamic burden. Massive hydration in such cases should be avoided or balanced to avoid the risk of rapid growth and aneurysm rupture.

Objectives: To assess the trends and disparities in the utilization of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in Korea between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on disease classification, patient demographics, and regional distribution. Methods: This national surveillance retrospective study uses data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database, which includes all FDG PET/CT examinations conducted in Korea from 2018 to 2022. Disease classifications, cancer types, age groups, gender, and geographic regions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Utilization rates per 100,000 population were calculated for regional comparisons. Results: FDG PET/CT utilization increased by 25.4%, from 174,885 examinations in 2018 to 219,377 in 2022. Older age groups (60 years and above) accounted for the majority of examinations, with males undergoing more examinations than females. Oncology remained the primary indication, with lung, colorectal, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma leading in examination numbers. The number of examinations performed on patients aged 60 and above increased at a higher rate compared to those under 60. Significant geographic disparities were found, with Seoul reporting the highest utilization rate (1,114.3 examinations per 100,000 population), while Gyeongbuk exhibited much lower rate (26.2 examinations per 100,000 population). Conclusions This study highlights the growing utilization of FDG PET/CT in Korea, particularly among older adults, with significant gender differences in cancer types. The findings also reveal disparities in FDG PET/CT utilization across regions, indicating varying access to advanced imaging technology.

Objectives: To assess the trends and disparities in the utilization of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in Korea between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on disease classification, patient demographics, and regional distribution. Methods: This national surveillance retrospective study uses data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database, which includes all FDG PET/CT examinations conducted in Korea from 2018 to 2022. Disease classifications, cancer types, age groups, gender, and geographic regions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Utilization rates per 100,000 population were calculated for regional comparisons. Results: FDG PET/CT utilization increased by 25.4%, from 174,885 examinations in 2018 to 219,377 in 2022. Older age groups (60 years and above) accounted for the majority of examinations, with males undergoing more examinations than females. Oncology remained the primary indication, with lung, colorectal, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma leading in examination numbers. The number of examinations performed on patients aged 60 and above increased at a higher rate compared to those under 60. Significant geographic disparities were found, with Seoul reporting the highest utilization rate (1,114.3 examinations per 100,000 population), while Gyeongbuk exhibited much lower rate (26.2 examinations per 100,000 population). Conclusions This study highlights the growing utilization of FDG PET/CT in Korea, particularly among older adults, with significant gender differences in cancer types. The findings also reveal disparities in FDG PET/CT utilization across regions, indicating varying access to advanced imaging technology.