Objective To investigate the relationship between nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus(SA) and nosocomial infection in intensive care unit(ICU), and observe the therapeutic effect of Anerdian III in nasal decolonizaion. Methods Bacterial cultures were made by means of nasal swabs among inpatients whom the occurrence of nosocomial infection were observed.Patients with SA colonization were randomly divided into two groups:control and treatment.Control group were given regular treatment, and treatment group were administered Anerdian III in addition to regular treatment.Then the clearance rate of SA and the occurrence of nosocomial infection of two groups were observed. Results A total of 751 patients were enrolled, of whom 108(14.4%) were with nosocomial infection and 85(11.3%) with SA nasal colonization. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) was detected in 33 patients (4.4%).The nosocomial infection rate of patients with MRSA colonization was 51.5%, which was significantly higher than those in patients with other bacterial colonization(P<0.05).The SA clearance rate in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group(81.4% vs.42.8%,P<0.05).The nosocomial infection rate in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group ( 16 .3% vs. 40.5%,P <0.05).After decolonization treatment,the nosocomial infection rate of patients with MRSA colonization was significantly lower than that in control group(25.0% vs.76.5%,P <0.05). Conclusion The incidence rate of nosocomial infection in patients with MRSA nasal colonization is markedly increased in ICU, and the decolonization treatment by Anerdian III increases the clearance rate of nasal SA and decreases the incidence rate of nosocomial infection.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of internal fixation using a Polarus humeral nail for treatment of a humeral shaft fracture according to fracture types. METHODS: From 43 patients, 13 were excluded and 30 patients were included. The 30 patients were divided into 2 groups: 15 in group I (Orthopaedic Trauma Association/Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification type A and B) and 15 in group II (type C). The mean age was 63.1 years (range, 20–87 years), and mean follow-up period was 2.3 years (range, 1.0–6.1 years). The causes of injuries were as follows: 12, traffic accidents; 14, simple slips; 2, simple falls; 2, contusions after lower energy trauma. Radiological and clinical evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Radiological union was confirmed by plain anteroposterior and lateral radiographs on average of 5.0 months in group I, and 8.4 months in group II, respectively. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.01). The clinical union value was 1.6 in group I, and 2.0 months in group II, but these values did not differ significantly (p=0.441). The mean Korean shoulder scoring system scores were 89.7 and 90.6, which did not differ significantly (p=0.352). CONCLUSIONS: Intramedullary nailing using the Polarus humeral nail is considered to be a good treatment modality for all types of humeral shaft fractures. Additionally, the Polarus humeral nail can be an optimal choice for the treatment of complex type fractures such as segmental or comminuted humeral shaft fractures.
Accidental Falls ; Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Contusions ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of internal fixation using a Polarus humeral nail for treatment of a humeral shaft fracture according to fracture types. METHODS: From 43 patients, 13 were excluded and 30 patients were included. The 30 patients were divided into 2 groups: 15 in group I (Orthopaedic Trauma Association/Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification type A and B) and 15 in group II (type C). The mean age was 63.1 years (range, 20–87 years), and mean follow-up period was 2.3 years (range, 1.0–6.1 years). The causes of injuries were as follows: 12, traffic accidents; 14, simple slips; 2, simple falls; 2, contusions after lower energy trauma. Radiological and clinical evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Radiological union was confirmed by plain anteroposterior and lateral radiographs on average of 5.0 months in group I, and 8.4 months in group II, respectively. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.01). The clinical union value was 1.6 in group I, and 2.0 months in group II, but these values did not differ significantly (p=0.441). The mean Korean shoulder scoring system scores were 89.7 and 90.6, which did not differ significantly (p=0.352). CONCLUSIONS Intramedullary nailing using the Polarus humeral nail is considered to be a good treatment modality for all types of humeral shaft fractures. Additionally, the Polarus humeral nail can be an optimal choice for the treatment of complex type fractures such as segmental or comminuted humeral shaft fractures.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the overrepresentation of specific gene segments of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgVH) among unmutated and mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and its prognostic implication.

METHODSMultiplex PCR was used to identify the expression of IgVH segment and its mutation status in CLL.

RESULTSAnalyses were successfully performed in 80 of 85 samples. Marked skewed IgVH families were disclosed. The most commonly used VH was VH3 (40.0%), followed by VH4 (30.0%), VHI (13.8%), VH2 (10.0%) and VH5, VH7 (2.5%). Fifty-six patients (70.0%) had mutated VH, 24 (30.0%) unmutated VH. Nine cases (11.3%) were with 100% germline sequence. Fifteen cases (15/24, 62.5%) in VH4, 29 (29/32, 90.7%) in VH3, and 4 (4/11, 36.3%) in VH1 had mutated VH. The most frequently used IgVH gene was VH4-39 (13.8%), and VH4-34 (8.8%). J4 (36/66, 54.5%) and D3 (25/66, 37.8%) were the most frequently used in J and D genes. The progression-free survival (PFS) was 82 and 17 months (P = 0.000), and the overall survival (OS) was 90 and 41 months (P = 0.009), respectively, for mutated and unmutated cases. Recurrent CDR3 sequences were found in our patients and 2 patients with VH1-69 had CDR3 sequences highly similar to those reported in literature.

CONCLUSIONThere is difference in IgVH gene segment usage and mutational status in different area CLL patients. Recurrent CDR3 sequences were found in specific IgVH gene segments, which highlights the importance of immunoglobulin mediated stimulation in the development of CLL.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Genes, Immunoglobulin ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

The effect of lanthanum carbonate on abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in the elderly maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients was investigated. Fifty-four cases subjected to routine MHD complicated with skin pruritus admitted to our hospital were selected and randomly divided into case group (n=28) and control group (n=26). The control group was given routine MHD alone. The case group was given lanthanum carbonate additionally on the basis of routine MHD. The changes of itching degrees at first and third month, and serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels and AAC scores at third month after treatments were compared between the two groups. The correlation between calcium-phosphorus products and AAC scores was also analyzed. There was no significant difference in the baseline of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), uric acid, albumin, hemoglobin, C reactive protein (CRP), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol between case group and control group (P>0.05 for all). There was also no significant difference in the baseline itching scores between the case group and the control group (P>0.05). At 1st and 3rd month after treatment, the itching scores in the case group were 14.2 ± 3.2 and 10.5 ± 2.3, respectively, which were significantly lower than the baseline and those in the control group (P<0.05 for all). At 1st and 3rd month after treatment, the itching scores in the control group were 23.6 ± 5.9 and 24.8 ± 6.3, respectively, which were significantly higher than the baseline (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the baseline of serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, iPTH levels between the case group and control group (P>0.05). At 3rd month after treatment, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products and iPTH levels in the case group were decreased significantly as compared with the baseline (P<0.05), and the serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, and iPTH levels were statistically decreased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). The AAC scores showed statistically significant difference between the case group and the control group (P<0.05). The serum phosphorus and AAC scores showed a positive correlation in both two groups. It was suggested that the administration of lanthanum carbonate in the elderly MHD patients can effectively relieve itching, and simultaneously reduce serum phosphorus and iPTH levels, resulting in the attenuation of vascular calcification.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lanthanum ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone ; analysis ; Phosphates ; blood ; Pruritus ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Calcification ; blood ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression level of SOX11 mRNA in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and other B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) and its prognostic value in MCL.

METHODSThe expression level of SOX11 mRNA in 80 B-NHL patients were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, GAPDH was used as internal control. The dispersion of SOX11 expression ratio of groups with different prognostic factors was described by Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTSThe SOX11 mRNA expression level was 2.90 (0.75 - 4.63) in 80 B-NHL patients, and the expression level was significantly higher in MCL than that in other B-NHL (P = 0.014). The SOX11 expression level was statistically lower in the group of MCL with hyperleukocytosis, 12 trisomy, MYC amplification and therapeutic effect < PR (P = 0.042, 0.013, 0.028, 0.009) than that of MCL in other group. But SOX11 expression was not associated with MCL international prognostic index (MIPI) (P = 0.333), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P = 0.790), ATM mutation (P = 0.865) and P53 deletion (P = 0.116). The progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly longer in the MCL patients with high level of SOX11 than that of other MCL patients.

CONCLUSIONThere was statistically significant differences in SOX11 mRNA expression between MCL with other B-NHL. SOX11 maybe a good prognostic factor in MCL.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rural area of Korea and to examine the relationship between the prevalence and correlates of subjects. METHOD: This study was done as a part of the chronic disease survey of rural area by the Asan Foundation. Among 30 years or older population from Jung Eup, a rural area of Korea, 711 male subjects were sampled using a cluster probability sampling method. Trained interviewers visited and interviewed subjects aged 30 years or older with a structured interview. ED was categorized as 'none', 'mild', 'moderate', or 'severe' according to the ability to 'attain and/or maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse'. Response rate was 54.3% (N=386). RESULTS: The age weighted prevalence of ED was 27.2% (minimal 14.1%, moderate 7.6%, severe 5.5%). Prevalence and severity increased with age. Liver disease and underweight were significantly (p<0.05) associated with ED. Smoking seemed to be correlated with ED, but did not reach statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: ED was highly prevalent in the rural community of Korea. Medical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle variables associated with ED may alert physicians to patients at risk for ED and offer insight to its etiology.
Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Epidemiology* ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thinness

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and related factors of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN-2a) treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved partial viral response with nucleoside analogue (NA) therapy.

METHODSPatients with HBeAg-positive CHB and partial viral response to NA treatment were administered a PEG-IFN-2a therapy regimen of 180 g subcutaneous injection once weekly for a personlized duration of time. The existing NA therapy was continued in combination with the new PEG-IFN-2a treatment for 12 weeks. Measurements of serum HBV DNA load, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), HBeAg and hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) were taken at baseline (prior to addition of the PEG-IFN-2a therapy) and every 3 months afterwards.For determining response to treatment, primary efficacy was defined as undetectable HBsAg and seroconversion, and secondary efficacy was defined as HBsAg less than 10 IU/mL and HBeAg seroconversion.Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software.

RESULTSA total of 81 consecutive patients with an average of 12.0 months (range: 6.0-24.0 months) of NA therapy were included in the study and received an average of 19.6 months (range: 15.5-33.3 months) of PEG-IFN-2a treatment. At the end of PEG-IFN-2a therapy, 7 (8.6%) of the patients achieved undetectable HBsAg and seroconversion, and 14 (17.3%) showed HBsAg less than 10IU/mL. In addition, 40.7% achieved undetectable HBeAg and seroconversion, a rate that was slightly higher than that (38.3%) seen in treatment-naive patients who received PEG-IFN-2a. Statistical analyses suggest that baseline level of HBsAg at less than 1500 IU/mL may predict end of PEG-IFN-2a treatment response for HBsAg less than 10 IU/mL, as evidenced by the area under the curve measure of 0.747, sensitivity measure of 87.3%, specificity measure of 33.3%, positive predictive value of 82.1% and negative predictive value of 42.8%.

CONCLUSIONPatients with HBeAg-positive CHB and partial viral response to NA therapy can achieve undetectable HBsAg and HBeAg seroconversion after switching to PEG-IFN-2a treatment. Baseline HBsAg level may be predictive of response to this therapeutic strategy.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load

Tinea incognito (TI) is a dermatophytic infection which has lost its typical clinical appearance because of improper use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of TI is increasing nowadays. We conducted retrospective review on 283 patients with TI from 25 dermatology training hospitals in Korea from 2002-2010 to investigate the demographical, clinical, and mycological characteristics of TI, and to determine the associated risk factors. More than half (59.3%) patients were previously treated by non-dermatologists or self-treated. The mean duration of TI was 15.0 +/- 25.3 months. The most common clinical manifestations were eczema-like lesion, psoriasis-like, and lupus erythematosus-like lesion. The trunk and face were frequently involved, and 91 patients (32.2%) also had coexisting fungal infections. Among 67 isolated strains, Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently detected (73.1%). This is the largest study of TI reported to date and the first investigational report concerning TI in Korea. We suggest that doctors should consider TI when a patient has intractable eczema-like lesions accompanied by tinea pedis/unguium. Furthermore, there should be a policy change, which would make over-the-counter high-potency topical steroids less accessible in some countries, including Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Demography ; Eczema/pathology ; Face/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/pathology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tinea/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Trichophyton/isolation & purification ; Young Adult