BACKGROUND: It is difficult to control an outbreak of Shigella infection, because of the ease of transmission and the resistance to multiple antibiotics. Recently, there were outbreaks of Shigella infection in Chinju area. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology of the outbreaks using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE). METHOD: Thirteen S. flexneri strains, 25 S. sonnei strains from Chinju and 15 S. sonnei strains from Pusan were studied. All strains were isolated from stool cultures of diarrheal patients. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test those were tested by Vitek GNI and GNS-LH. Chromosomal DNA restricted with Xbal was resolved by PFGE. RESULT: All the S. flexneri strains and 23(92%)S. sonnei strains from Chinju were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. All the clinical isolates of S. flexneri showed the same PFGE pattern which was different from type strains(KTCC 2517). PFGE patterns of 25 (100%) S. sonnei strains from Chinju and 12 (80%) S. sonnei strains from Pusan were identical to those of type strain (KTCC 2009). Three S. sonnei strains from Pusan showed distinct PFGE patterns, respectively. CONCLUSION: PFGF demonstrated identical restriction pattern among most of Shigella isolates from Chinju and Pusan, indicating that an outbreak with genetically related strains had occurred. PFGE was useful in molecular epidemiology of Shigella outbreaks
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Busan ; Disease Outbreaks ; DNA* ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Shigella

No abstract available.
Lead Poisoning*

BACKGROUND: During normal wound healing the formation of scars and fibrous tissue occurs, which consists largely of collagen fibril, but excessive fibrosis and scar formation become clinical problems. Collagen remodelling during scar formation is dependent on both continued collagen synthesis and collagen catabolism. Halofuginone, a plant alkaloid, is known to inhibit collagen type I synthesis at the transcriptional level. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of topical application of halofuginone on the healing of wounds. METHOD: Topical solutions containing halofuginone of variable concentrations were applied on the full-thickness excisional wounds of hairless mice and 0.1% halofuginone ointments applied on the suture site of rats and the normal skin of hairless mice daily. In addition, we performed a one-time intradermal injection of 0.1% halofuginone solution on the normal skin of the hairless mice. We examined the collagen content of the skin of hairless mice and rats treated with halofuginone solutions and ointments during the healing process by performing hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stains. We assessed, from time to time, the change in the full-thickness excisional wound size of hairless mice treated with halofuginone solutions of variable concentrations during the healing process and observed clinically the healing process of hairless mice with the full-thickness excisional wound. RESULT: 1. The wound size after daily application of 0.001% and 0.1% halofuginone solutions on the full-thickness excisional wounds of hairless mice decreased more slowly in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05).
Animals ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Coloring Agents ; Fibrosis ; Injections, Intradermal ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Ointments ; Plants ; Rats ; Skin ; Sutures ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Loss of mandibular continuity can occur secondary to trauma, infection, or tumor resection. The basic goal of mandibular reconstruction is to restore bony continuity, arch form, osseous bulk, acceptable facial form. During the mandibular reconstruction is considered, surgical choices of using autogenous bone are divided into non-vascularized cortico-cancellous bone block graft, vascularized transfer of a cortico-cancellous bone block, and particulate marrow and cancellous bone(PMCB) graft. The PMCB has been successfully used for the reconstruction of mandibular osseous defect since introduced by Boyne, et al. This graft transplants a great density of osteocompetent cells, and promotes an early revascularization with vascular ingrowth with their particulate nature. However, because of their particulate nature, require tray or crib for containing PMCB. The Titanium mesh and Dacron-urethane trays have been used widely for this purpose, and allogenic mandible or rib, ilium have been also used. Recently, bioabsorbable polymer material is used to surgeon for treatment of craniofacial fracture and congenital anomaly of craniofacial skeleton in the form of plate, mesh and screw. In different natures to metal material, secondary operation is unnecessary due to biological degradation and resorption in the body with timing, and it can give adequate strength during the bone healing period. and it can be contoured easily during the operation. Especially, in pediatric applications, it can diminish the possibility of growth disturbance and back-scattering effects diminished when radiation therapy applied. Recently, the literature was reported for jaw reconstruction with PMCB and bioabsorbable polymer tray with animal study. In this case, 18-years old woman, who was diagnosed as ameloblastoma, was shown hemimandibular osseous defects. We performed secondary reconstruction using PMCB from posterior ilium, and rib bone with bioabsorbable poly(PLLA-PGA) mesh as a tray, and some favorable results were obtained and we report it preliminarily, with literature reviews.
Adolescent ; Ameloblastoma ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; Infant Equipment ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Mandibular Reconstruction ; Polymers ; Ribs* ; Skeleton ; Titanium ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Hair ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

The purine antimetabolite 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) has been in clinical use for over 30 years and is still a widely used agent in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The bioavailibility, clinical efficacy and toxicity of 6-MP administered orally for maintenance therapy of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are highly variable in many studies, as well as at differnt times in same patient. there are many factors affecting the bioavailibility of 6-MP. The most notably factor being that concomitantly administered drugs and foods might contribute to a decrease in the bioavailibity of this drug. In our sociocultural environment milk is a major constituent of child's foods. Cow's milk contains a high concentration of xanthine oxidase, which could potentially transform 6-TM into 6-thioxanthine (6-TX) and 6-thiouric acid (6-TUA) which have no more therapeutic effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of various milk products on the bioavailability of 6-MP. Incubation at 37degrees C for 30 min raw or pasteurized milk resulted in transformation of a large quantity of clinically relevant concentration of 6-MP into 6-TUA. The concomitant adminstration of folic acid and allopurinol has markedly inhibitory effect on the 6-MP destroying activity of milk at clinically relevant concentrations. These observations may help to optimize modalities of administration of 6-MP for the treartment of patients with childhood leukemia.
6-Mercaptopurine* ; Allopurinol ; Biological Availability* ; Child ; Complement Factor B ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Milk* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Xanthine Oxidase

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Intussusception*

BACKGROUND: Careful manipulation of hair grafts is essential for a good yield of transplanted hair. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the factors responsible for poor graft yield, such as dehydration of the graft and the temperature and duration of preservation. METHODS: First, for the dehydration study, isolated single hair follicles were left on dry gauze for 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes at room temperature. Secondly, to evaluate the effect of preservation temperature and time on the hair graft, follicles were preserved in saline for 5 minutes as a control, then for 6, 24, and 48 hours both at room temperature and at 4℃, respectively. Viability of preserved follicles was judged based on organ culture. RESULTS: Elongation of hair folliciles was seen in 96%, 94%, 94%, 83%, and 68% for 0-, 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-minute air-exposed groups, respectively. Survival was seen in 95%, 92%, 40% and 34% at room temperature and 96%, 94%, 76% and 50% at 4℃ for follicles preserved in saline for 5 min (control), then for 6, 24, and 48 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: We suggest that, alone with careful manipulation of hair units, high survival can be achieved with the avoidance of graft dehydration and preservation of the grafts at low temperatures if the operation time extends for more than 6 hours.
Dehydration* ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Transplants*

Purpose: This study examined the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center with acute-poisoning to investigate the variables related to the prognosis. Methods: The data were collected from poisoning patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center of a general hospital located in Seoul, from January 2014 to February 2020. The subjects of this study were 190 patients. The medical records were screened retrospectively, and the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in the emergency room (ER) and ICU were examined to investigate the contributing factors that influence the poor prognosis. Results: The study analyzed 182 patients who survived after being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The results are as follows. The mental change (87.4%) was the most common symptom. Sedative poisoning (49.5%) was the commonest cause.For most patients, pneumonia (26.9%) was the most common complication. Hypotension (23.7%), tachycardia (42.1%), fever (15.8%), seizures (10.5%), dyspnea (2.6%), high poisoning severity score (PSS), type of toxic material, mechanical ventilator application (39.5%), inotropes application (39.5%), and pneumonia (55.3%) were correlated the LOS over 5 days in the ICU. 8 patients died. In the case of death pesticides and carbon monoxide were the main toxic materials; tachycardia, bradycardia, and hypotension were the main symptoms, and a mechanical ventilator and inotropes were applied. Conclusion Patients with unstable vital signs, high PSS, and non-pharmaceutical poisoning had a prolonged LOS in the ICU and a poor prognosis.

Purpose: This study examined the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center with acute-poisoning to investigate the variables related to the prognosis. Methods: The data were collected from poisoning patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center of a general hospital located in Seoul, from January 2014 to February 2020. The subjects of this study were 190 patients. The medical records were screened retrospectively, and the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in the emergency room (ER) and ICU were examined to investigate the contributing factors that influence the poor prognosis. Results: The study analyzed 182 patients who survived after being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The results are as follows. The mental change (87.4%) was the most common symptom. Sedative poisoning (49.5%) was the commonest cause.For most patients, pneumonia (26.9%) was the most common complication. Hypotension (23.7%), tachycardia (42.1%), fever (15.8%), seizures (10.5%), dyspnea (2.6%), high poisoning severity score (PSS), type of toxic material, mechanical ventilator application (39.5%), inotropes application (39.5%), and pneumonia (55.3%) were correlated the LOS over 5 days in the ICU. 8 patients died. In the case of death pesticides and carbon monoxide were the main toxic materials; tachycardia, bradycardia, and hypotension were the main symptoms, and a mechanical ventilator and inotropes were applied. Conclusion Patients with unstable vital signs, high PSS, and non-pharmaceutical poisoning had a prolonged LOS in the ICU and a poor prognosis.