BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) is very important for patients because they are one of the most common etiologic agents of hospital infection. Conventional identification methods for MRSA are influenced by various factors such as pH, concentration of salt, conditions of media. METHODS: 53 methicillin resistant staphylococcus strains identified by ATB plus system (Biomerieux, France) were preformed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blot hybridization fort the detection of mec A gene, and subcultured in Meuller-Hinton media containing 4 microgram/mL oxacillin for the comparison. RESULTS: The correlation of detection rate of mec A gene PCR and ATB plus systems was 81.6%. The correlation of mec A gene PCR and MRSA on Mueller-Hinton media containing 4 microgram/mL oxacillin was 80%. We confirmed by Southern blot hybridization the amplified mer A gene originated from chromosome of MRSA. As the results of oxacillin sensitivity test, minimal inhibitory concentrations of MRSA were distributed between 40 microgram/mL and 320 microgram/mL. When compared with executing time, ATB plus system took 24 hours, but PCR took 5 hours for identification. CONCLUSION: We concluded that mec A gone PCR techniques were simple and rapid for detection of MRSA comparative to conventional methods.
Blotting, Southern ; Cross Infection ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Oxacillin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Staphylococcus

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal* ; Ultrasonics*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

Gitelman's syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive, inherited renal tubular disorder, first described by Gitelman et al. in 1966, and it is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, salt wasting, normal to low blood pressure and rather low urinary calcium excretion rates with elevated plasma renin activity. This syndrome is caused by inactivating mutation in the SLC12A3 gene coding for the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter in the distal convoluted tubule. In most of the patients with Gitelman's syndrome, the disease manifests with transient episodes of muscular weakness and tetany in the adulthood. Herein, we report a case of Gitelman's syndrome atypically presented with chest pain and syncope.
Alkalosis ; Calcium ; Chest Pain* ; Clinical Coding ; Gitelman Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Muscle Weakness ; Plasma ; Renin ; Sodium Chloride Symporters ; Syncope* ; Tetany ; Thorax*

Hallux valgus has been defined as a static subluxation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint with lateral deviation of the proximal phalanx on the first metatarsal head from the longitudinal axis of the first metatarsal with medial deviation of the first metatarsal. And first-second metatarsal angle is increased as well as bursal hypertrophy over the medial eminence of the first metatarsal head. Many procedures have been reported for the treatment of the hallux valgus ranging from resection arthroplasty to distal first metatarsal or basal first metatarsal osteotomy. Of these, Johnson and Corless have required sufficiently good results in the modifying Mitchell osteotomy into Chevron osteotomy. The Chevron procedure is an osteotomy involving the distal portion of the first metatarsal, lateral displacement of the metatarsal head with exostosectomy, and tightening of the medial capsular structures. Authors studied 17 cases in 10 patients with the hallux valgus deformity treated by Chevron osteotomy at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Capital Armed Forced General Hospital from September 1987 to September 1989. The results were as follows; 1. Seven patients (12 cases) were male and three patients (5 cases) were female. All patients had bilateral hallux valgus deformity. 2. The average first-second intermetatarsal angle was 11 degrees and average valgus angle was 32 degrees, preoperatively. They were corrected to 9 degrees and 14 degrees respectively. 3. The metatarsalgia of the great toe was subsided in all cases and they were satisfied with the result of their operations in respect to cosmetically and functionally. Avascular necrosis of capital fragment, nonunion, and dorsal angulation were not developed in any case. But, one case had marginal skin necrosis, presumably due to excessive compressive dressing. 4. Chevron osteotomy is a technically easy procedure and it can be obtained early bone healing with less complication.
Arm ; Arthroplasty ; Bandages ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Hallux Valgus ; Hallux ; Head ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Median Eminence ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Skin ; Toes

Achilles tendon injuries are one of the most common tendon injuries in the lower extremities, but spontaneous bilateral achilles tendon rupture without any external force is extremely rare. We present a case of a patient who had spontaneous bilateral achilles tendon rupture related to multiple steroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetes. According to this case, we suggest that we should take special precaution to use steroid to the diabetes though it is not applied to the achilles tendon directly.
Achilles Tendon ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries

Scabies is a skin disease involving infestation by Sarcoptes scabiei. The incidence of scabies in Korea has decreased during the past 20 years. Atypical cases can be misdiagnosed and can be a source of spreading in a family. A 2 month old infant had multiple erythematous papules, vesicles and yellowish crusted lesions on the trunk, extremities, face, palms and soles. It did not clear with treatments administered by local clinics. Clinical differential diagnoses included incontinentia pigmentii, erythema neonatorum, allergic contact dermatitis, and insect bite. Skin biopsy and mineral oil examination revealed scabies mites and eggs. A history from the family suggested that a nursery nurse taking care of the infant after his birth might be an infection source. His parents, his elder sister, his maternal grandmother and 2 other relatives were also infected from him.
Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eggs ; Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Korea ; Mineral Oil ; Mites ; Nurseries ; Ovum ; Parents ; Parturition ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Siblings ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: This current study examined the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with splenic flexure (SF) colon cancer and the association with the surgical outcomes to find the optimal procedure to treat this malady. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 167 operated patients with SF colon cancer were consecutively recruited between 1993 and 2003. The clinicopathological, operative and survival data was reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: For the SF colon cancer patients, the proportion of males was higher than that for the right-sided colon patients or the sigmoid-descending junction & sigmoid (SD & S) colon patients (p< or =0.05, respectively) and the age at the time of diagnosis was younger (p< or =0.05). Obstruction was more frequent in the patients with SF colon cancer than that for the patients with colon cancer at other sites (p< or =0.001). The incidence of mucinous adenocarcinoma for the SF patients was similar to that for the patients with right-sided colon cancer, but it was higher than that for the patients with SD & S colon cancer (11.4% vs. 6.5%, p=0.248 or 2.5%, respectively, p=0.001). Disease-free and overall survival did not differ between the patients who underwent a left hemicolectomy and extended surgery such as combined splenectomy or subtotal colectomy. Multivariate analysis showed that old age (> or =60 years) and a N1-2 and M1 status were the independent risk factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: The SF colon cancers exhibited exclusively different characteristics as compared to colon cancers at other site colon cancers. It appears that left hemicolectomy was generally sufficient for a satisfactory oncological outcome, obviating concurrent splenectomy.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Splenectomy

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects skin, mucous membranes, hairs, and nails. According to the site of involvement, lichen planus can be subdivided into palmoplantar, mucosal, nail, or scalp types. Palmoplantar lichen planus is a rare subtype of lichen planus which may create difficulty in diagnosis, as the lesion is limited to the palms and soles. We report a case of a 37-year-old male with lichen planus who presented with multiple erythematous, scaly, hyperkeratotic papules on his palms and soles mimicking secondary syphilis.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Lichens ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nails ; Scalp ; Skin ; Syphilis