No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Child* ; Growth and Development* ; Humans

Failure in the formation of a hymeneal orifice is a rare congenital malformation. There are many cases of imperforated hymen with hematocolpos in literature. However this condition associated with obstructive uropathy such as acute urinary retention is rare. We experienced a case of imperforated hymen with hematocolpos which caused acute urinary retention in a 16-year-old girl. Herein we report this case with brief review of literature.
Adolescent ; Female ; Hematocolpos ; Humans ; Hymen* ; Urinary Retention*

BACKGROUND: During the last three decades, the resistance of S. pneumoniae to penicillin has been rapidly increasing in many parts of the world, especially in Korea. To characterize the clinical features and epidemiology of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) infections in the community and hospital, as well as to investigate the possible spread of resistant clone, we performed the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, pulsed filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and penicillin-binding protein (PBP) profile analysis of PRSP isolates. METHODS: A total 48 PRSP isolates from patients who visited or were admitted to Korea University Guro hospital during the period form July 1998 to June 1999 were studied. Anitimicrobial susceptibility tests for 48 isolates were performed with microbroth dilution method to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of 11 antibiotics. 39 isolates and 35 isolates were subjected to PFGE and PBP profile analysis, respectively to investigate the genetic relatedness between PRSP isolates. RESULTS: Pneumonia was most common site of infection in the community and the hospital as 50%. There were no significant differences of clinical features and prognosis between community and hospital isolates. But, patients with serious underlying diseases had poor prognosis despite of acquisition site. High level penicillin resistance were observed in 69%, multi-drug resistance were 64.6% of isolates. PFGE showed that 13 of 29 community acquired infection were identical PFGE pattern but not that of 23F Spanish clone. There were various PFGE patterns were observed from community and hospital acquired infection isolates. Some of them were existed in both. PBP profiles showed more diverse, even if in isoaltes of the same PFGE pattern. CONCLUSOIN: In our study, high level penicillin resistance and multi-drug resistance were observed in PRSP clinical isolates. No clinical and prognostic differeces were observed between community and hospital acquired infections. Molecular epidemiology study were suggest the there were various genotypes of PRSP within our society. Some of them were observed in the hospital and community. Therefore, there was an evidence of communication of PRSP clones between the community and hospital.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clone Cells ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Electrophoresis ; Epidemiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Penicillin Resistance ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; Penicillins ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

OBJECTIVE: Dopamine transporter is member of family of Na/Cl dependent neurotransmitter transporter, 12 transmembrane domain that has high substrate specificity, affinity. It is related with dopamine reuptake in presynaptic vesicle. DAT has a VNTR in its 3'-untranslated region(UTR), 3'-UTR VNTR polymorphism is related with modification of dopamine transmission. The association between with VNTR polymorphism and neuropsychiatric disorders such as alcohol dependence, and low activity ALDH has been studied but their relationship is unclear. We study about association of 3'-UTR VNTR of DAT gene and G2319A and alcohol dependence. METHOD: Group of Korea subjects were studied with alcohol dependence(n=49 male) compared to mentally healthy controls(n=53 male). The peripheral blood sample was acquired. and Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) amplification, Mspl procedure was done. RESULT: There was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(genotype frequency p<0.05 allele frequency p<0.05) Allele A frequency and genotype(GG,GA) frequency was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(p<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our study showed that genetic polymorphism of DAT1 G2319A had relation with alcohol dependence.
Alcoholism* ; Alleles ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Dopamine* ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Korea ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Substrate Specificity

Infectious disease took the leading cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Especially Salmonella infection occurs more common in SLE patients. We report a case of thyroid abscess caused by Salmonella Group D in a patient with SLE. A patient, 29-year-old female, with SLE was admitted with a painful swelling of the left neck and diarrhea. The painful swelling of neck was revealed as an abscess of the thyroid and Salmonella Group D was isolated from the aspirated material of the thyroid abscess. The patient recovered after surgical drainage and administration of intravenous 3rd cephalosporin.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Cause of Death ; Communicable Diseases ; Diarrhea ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Neck ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella* ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND: For the treatment of primary varicose vein of greater saphenous vein(GSV) due to reflux from incompetent saphenofemoral junction(SFJ), several methods such as ligation and stripping, or duplex-guided sclerotherapy have traditionally been introduced. As for sclerotherapy, the recurrence rate has been reported to be very high. In spite of higher success rate, traditional high ligation with stripping of GSV requires several days' admission with general anesthesia and several more days before returning to normal daily life. New modalities, which are less invasive and possibly have lower recurrence to rate with a chance for early ambulation, are being proposed. They are such as endovenous radiofrequency(RF) therapy, endovenous laser therapy, etc. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovenous RF therapy as an alternative to high ligation and stripping in case of GSV varicosity in mild to moderate degrees. METHODS: Both GSV varicosities and varicosed tributaries are marked by doppler and/or ultrasonic imaging. A catheter connected to RF generator is inserted proximally through the incision of vein wall percutaneously, usually above or below the knee. After confirming position of the SFJ using ultrasound, the catheter is progressed as far as to 1-2cm below the SFJ. Then, the generator is activated and the catheter withdrawn slowly for complete heating and occlusion of the target vein. Additional ambulatory phlebectomy or sclerotherapy is optional. We wrap the limbs with self-adhesive short stretch bandage for 2-3 days and encourage the patient to walk regularly and wear compressive stocking later. RESULTS: We performed endoluminal RF treatment on 10 legs of 9 patients(5 males and 4 females). Follow-up intervals varied from 2 to 10 months. Patients were generally satisfied with improvement of symptom. On the clinical evaluation with doppler and duplex examination, there were a few blood flows except only some segments of GSV in 7 patients CONCLUSION: Although endoluminal RF therapy may have a somewhat higher recurrence rate than that of traditional high ligation with stripping of GSV, endoluminal RF therapy is expected to have several advantages over traditional surgery, including less invasiveness, no need for admission or general / spinal anesthesia, earlier return to normal daily life, and finally easy performance, especially for the dermatologist.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bandages ; Catheters ; Early Ambulation ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heating* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Knee ; Laser Therapy ; Leg ; Ligation ; Male ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein* ; Sclerotherapy ; Ultrasonography ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

BACKGROUND: There is no clear dermatologic definition to describe sensitive skin which usually includes subjective and psychological meanings. Some individuals exhibit exaggerated response, especially on the face, ranging from itching to intense adverse reaction like erythema, wheal, and eczema in comparison to normal ones when exposed to external irritants, allergens, environmental changes or internal stimulants. OBJECTIVE: To diagnose sensitive skin, lactic acid sting test is well known to represent a person who has subjective symptoms like itching, burning, prickling and stinging. We tried to compare several lactic acid sting tests to search for sensitive skin conveniently and rationally. METHODS: A total of 50 panelists (25 people of sensitive group and 25 people of control group, respectively) were selected by the method of self-assessment questionnaires related to sensitive skin. The panelists were tested on face, by conditioning 3 variances (5% or 10% Lactic acid, Hydration, Hilltop chamber), in 2 week intervals, 8 times totally. RESULTS: When lactic acid sting tests were performed using Hilltop chamber, there were more positive responders in sensitive group(p<0.05). There was statistically a significant difference between the 2 groups in the comparison of mean values of lactic acid sting scores (p<0.05). Sensitive group showed higher sting scores and exhibited much more difference with time (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our experiment showed that occlusive technique using Hilltop chamber was an inspiring and useful method of several lactic acid sting tests to find out sensitive skin.
Allergens ; Bites and Stings* ; Burns ; Eczema ; Erythema ; Humans ; Irritants ; Lactic Acid* ; Pruritus ; Self-Assessment ; Skin* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A woman aged 40 years presented with symmetric band of depigmented patches on her hand dorsum and forearms. Under the diagnosis of focal vitiligo, we initially treated her with oral and topical steroids and local UVB irradiation. However, the wrist lesions were recalcitrant. Therefore, we tried a non-cultured epidermal cellular graft using autologous melanocyte-keratinocyte suspension. Twelve months after the procedure, higher than 70% of repigmentation was observed. This procedure seems to be an effective and practical treatment for recalcitrant vitiliginous lesions.
Aged ; Female ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Steroids ; Transplants ; Vitiligo ; Wrist

Acyclovir is a remarkably safe drug with potent antiviral effect against herpes virus. The two most serious adverse effects are neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. We here report the case of a 64-year old woman with acyclovir induced acute interstitial nephritis. She developed non-oliguric acute renal failure following the administration of oral acyclovir(800mg five times per day) to treat herpes zoster of left 2nd and 3rd thoracic nerves. We documented a normal serum creatinine level just before exposure to the drug. On admission, serum creatinine level was 2.4 mg/dL(baseline level; 0.8mg/dL). Percutaneous renal biopsy revealed interstitial infiltration of lymphocyte and eosinophil with interstitial edema, but there was no crystal formation in the tubules or collecting ducts. After withdrawal of the acyclovir, renal function returned to normal within 1 week.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Acyclovir* ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Edema ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Thoracic Nerves

BACKGROUND: The appropriate usage of antibiotics needs informations such as its effectiveness for a given infection, administration route, the amount of effective dose, and the dose intervals. In this study, in order to find any significant discrepancy regarding to the details of explanation of the necessary information for appropriate antibiotic usages, we compares informations about 51 antibiotics, one from package inserts in Korea and the other from physician's desk reference (PDR) certified by FDA in the United States of America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Package inserts about antibiotics, only oral or parenteral agent, were perused to collect three categories of data: the recommended dosage, dose interval, and adjustment of dose to indications or the severity of infection. These data available in Korea were compared with 61 antibiotics (32 oral and 29 parenteral agents) cited in PDR. RESULTS: Package inserts for 51 antibiotics were gathered, because the remaining 10 antibiotics in PDR are not domestically commercialized. Among data on antibiotics comparable with those in PDR, 59% (30 cases:15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) suggested the dose similar to that of PDR, 37% (19 cases:8 oral and 11 parenteral agents) recommend less dose, and 4% in only 2 oral agents showed more dose. About half of the drugs recommending lower dosage were imported from Japanese pharmaceutical company, and the recommended doses of these antimicrobial agents were similar to those in Japan. About 59% (30 cases: 15 oral and 15 parenteral agents) directed dose interval or duration similar to those of PDR and 17% (9 parenteral agents) suggested less administration or longer duration. Surprisingly, in contrast to only 6% (3 cases) of PDR, 24% (12 cases:10 oral and 2 parenteral agents) recommended more administration or shorter duration. About 39% (24 cases:13 oral and 7 parenteral agents) revealed no information for dose adjustment commens to indications or the severity of infection. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that many guidelines in Korea recommend lower doses and/or unreasonable dose intervals. In future studies, improved antibiotic usage guidelines should be established based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic researches, on the aspect of optimal dosage, dose interval, and dose adjustment commensurate to the indications and the severity of the infection.
Americas ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea* ; Product Labeling* ; United States