No abstract available.
Interferons* ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal*

No abstract available.
Dislocations* ; Hip*

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the value of neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) in patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with suspected nursing home acquired pneumonia (NHAP). METHODS: From May 2011 to January 2013, 116 patients admitted to the ED with suspected NHAP were retrospectively studied. The clinical characteristics, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and NLCR were assessed. CURB-65 score was used to calculate disease severity. General ward or intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and 72-hour and 30-day mortality for each infection marker was assessed. RESULTS: The 116 patients had a median age of 77 years. As the CURB-65 score increased from 0-1 (low risk), to 2-3 (moderate risk), and to 4-5 (high risk), the NLCR consistently increased (mean, 6.9, 8.89, and 16.22, respectively). The difference between the moderate and high risk groups was significant (p=0.008). The NLCR (mean+/-standard deviation) was high in patients with NHAP (10.28+/-8.81) and increased even more for patients admitted to the ICU (15.69+/-14.81) or who died within 72-hour (15.63+/-9.57). NLCR showed the trend of higher value in ICU admission (p=0.072), and CRP was significantly different between ICU and general ward admission (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: NLCR at ED admission correlated with NHAP severity and was comparable to the traditional infection marker. NLCR can be assessed simply and added to the assessment tools to determine the severity of pneumonia during ED admission.
C-Reactive Protein ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mortality ; Neutrophils ; Nursing Homes* ; Nursing* ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Although bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic tool for lung disease, patients compliance is low due to discomfort. Recently, midazolam which has a favorable anterograde amnesia effect and short action duration, has been used to relieve patients discomfort during bronchoscopy. Midazolam was investigated in order to see the beneficial effect and safety during bronchoscopy. METHODS: The study design was single blind, randomized, prospective. 102 patients were included, in whom bronchoscopy was performed between June, 19% and October, 1995 at Samsung Medical Center. They were categorized into midazolam group and control group. Patients were asked about the amnesic effect, discomfort of procedure and the willingness to repeat procedure. The consciousness level of patients during procedure, patient cooperation during procedure and ease of procedure were also reported by bronchoscopists. RESULTS: 1) The difference of oxygen saturation between two groups: There was no significant difference in oxygen saturation between midazolam group and control group before and after bronchoscopy. During procedure, however, mean oxygen saturations in midazolam group (90+/-6.4%) was significantly lower than in control group (93+/-4.7%)(p<0.05). 2) Evaluations by patients (1) Effect of amnesia: 41 patients (82%) in midazolam group could not recall the procedure but 52 patients (100%) recalled the entire procedure in control group. A favorable amnesic effects could be found in midazolam group(p<0.05). {2) The discomfort during the procedure: 43 patents(86%) did not experience discomfort from procedure in midazolam group but 25 patients(48%) complained of discomfort in control group (p<0.05). (3) Most patients except two(96%) were willing to repeat fiberoptic bronchoscopy in midazolam group but 13 patients (25%) answered that they would never repeat bronchoscapy. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups in the willingness to repeat bronchocopy (p<0.05). 3) The evaluations by bronchoscopists Cooperations of the patients and ease of procedure were not different between two groups. The patients in midazolam group except eight could not respond to verbal stimuli but most patients were awakened during procedure in control group(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Midazolam is a good sedative agent for a patient to give a favorable amnesia, reduction of discomfort during bronchoscopy. We concluded that midazolam is a safe and useful sedative agent and midazolam may be used routinely during bronchoscopy. Monitoring of oxygen saturation, however, is essential to prevent severe hypoxia during procedure.
Amnesia ; Amnesia, Anterograde ; Anoxia ; Bronchoscopy* ; Compliance ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Midazolam* ; Oxygen ; Patient Compliance ; Prospective Studies*

PURPOSE: A pep27 mutant may be able to elicit mucosal immunity against pneumococcal diseases, and could be employed as an inexpensive attenuated vaccine. However, this particular mutant contains an erythromycin-resistance marker. The purpose of the current study is to develop a markerless pep27 mutant and assess whether this inactivated mutant is able to induce mucosal immunity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were vaccinated intranasally with the inactivated markerless pep27 mutant every 2 weeks for a total of three times, after which time serum samples were analyzed for antibody titers. The mice were then challenged with a lethal D39 strain and their survival time was measured. The cross-reactivity of the antisera against pep27 was also compared to other mutant serotypes. RESULTS: Intranasal immunization of mice with the inactivated markerless pep27 mutant provides effective protection and rapidly cleared bacterial colonization in vivo. Moreover, antisera raised against the pep27 mutant may cross-react with several other serotype strains. CONCLUSION: Intranasal immunization with the inactivated pep27 mutant may be able to provide mucosal immunity, and could represent an efficient mucosal vaccine.
Animals ; Colon ; Immune Sera ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunization ; Mice ; Sprains and Strains ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is an essential procedure for identifying the bleeding site and evaluating cause of hemoptysis. However, it is controversial regarding to the timing of bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis. Early bronchoscopy, which was performed during hemoptysis or with 48hour after cessation of bleeding, was better for identifying the site of bleeding compared with delayed bronchoscopy, which was performed 48 hours after cessation of bleeding. The diagnostic yield of identifying the bleeding site by bronchoscopy was variable in reported literature and the safety of early bronchoscopy was not mentioned in previous literature. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of early bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis. METHOD: From October 1994 to August 1996 in Samsung Medical Center, bronchoscopy was performed in patients with hemoptysis. Early bronchoscopy was performed prospectively during hemoptysis or within 48 hours after cessation of bleeding from May 1995 to August 1996. Delayed bronchoscopy group included patients who did not recieved early bronchoscopy at the same period or in whom bronchoscopy was performed 48 hour after cessation of bleeding from October 1994 to May 1995. RESULTS: Early bronchoscopy group was performed 73 times in 71 patients. Delayed bronchoscopy was performed in 57 times in 55 patients. There was no difference as to amount and underlying cause of hemoptysis between both groups. Indentification of bleeding site by visualizing active bleeding was significantly higher in early bronchoscopy(38.3%) than delayed bronchoscopy group (8.7%) (p<0.05). Indentification of bleeding site by bleeding after clot removal was 8 in early and 10 in delayed bronchoscopy. Indentification of bleeding site by visualizing active bleeding and bleeding after clot removal was 36 in early and 15 patients in delayed bronchoscopy(p>0.05). Causes of hemoptysis was found in 18 patients in early and 16 patients in delayed bronchoscopy group. patients who had early bronchoscopy underwent surgery. We diagnosed the site of bleeding in 4 patients preoperatively. In 3 patients we made a treatment plan promptly right after bronchoscopy. Among early bronchoscopy group, bleeding over 100cc during bronchoscopy occurred in 2 patients. In early bronchoscopy group there was no other major complication during bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: In patients with hemoptysis, early bronchoscopy which performed within 48 hours after cessation of bleeding was more effective procedure for indentifying the bleeding site than delayed bronchoscopy which was performed after 48 hour cessation of bleeding.
Bronchoscopy* ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Prospective Studies

In recent years, the synchronous occurrence of two adjacent but histologically distinct tumors arising in the same organ has been reported. The simultaneous development of gastric adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is very uncommon. The question raised was whether such a coexistence is a simple incidental finding or whether the two neighboring tumors are caused by a same unknown carcinogenic agent. Many doctors may have an interest in this rare condition and we expect further studies will be done in order to determine if there is any association between the two different tumors. We report a unique case of a synchronous, orthotopic occurrence of an early gastric cancer with GIST in the same location that mimicked advanced gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Incidental Findings ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the success rate of balloon dilation and the factors possibly influencing the outcomes of balloon dilation for the ureteric strictured portion of ureteroureterostomy (UUS) site in patients with post-gynecologic surgeries.METHODS: A single institution data base was screened for the patients who received balloon dilation for a treatment of ureteral stricture diagnosed after gynecologic surgery. Overall 114 patients underwent primary intra-operative UUS due to ureteral injury during gynecologic surgery. Among them, 102 patients received balloon dilation, and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Success of balloon dilation was defined as the condition that requires no further clinical interventions after 6 months from balloon dilation.RESULTS: The ureter injury rate of women treated with open radical abdominal hysterectomy was highest (32 cases, 31.4%). 60 patients (60.8%) showed successful outcomes regarding dilation. All patients underwent technically successful dilation with a full expansion of balloon during the procedure, but 40 patients (39.2%) were clinically unsuccessful as they showed a recurrence of ureteral stricture on the previous balloon dilation site after the first dilation procedure. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed that stricture length >2 cm was a significant predictor of successful dilation (odds ratio, 0.751; 95% confidence interval, 0.634–0.901; p-value, 0.030), but it failed to achieve independent predictor status in multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation can an effective alternative treatment option for strictured portion of the primary UUS in post-gynecologic surgery patients when its length is < 2 cm.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the success rate of balloon dilation and the factors possibly influencing the outcomes of balloon dilation for the ureteric strictured portion of ureteroureterostomy (UUS) site in patients with post-gynecologic surgeries. METHODS: A single institution data base was screened for the patients who received balloon dilation for a treatment of ureteral stricture diagnosed after gynecologic surgery. Overall 114 patients underwent primary intra-operative UUS due to ureteral injury during gynecologic surgery. Among them, 102 patients received balloon dilation, and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Success of balloon dilation was defined as the condition that requires no further clinical interventions after 6 months from balloon dilation. RESULTS: The ureter injury rate of women treated with open radical abdominal hysterectomy was highest (32 cases, 31.4%). 60 patients (60.8%) showed successful outcomes regarding dilation. All patients underwent technically successful dilation with a full expansion of balloon during the procedure, but 40 patients (39.2%) were clinically unsuccessful as they showed a recurrence of ureteral stricture on the previous balloon dilation site after the first dilation procedure. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed that stricture length >2 cm was a significant predictor of successful dilation (odds ratio, 0.751; 95% confidence interval, 0.634–0.901; p-value, 0.030), but it failed to achieve independent predictor status in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Balloon dilation can an effective alternative treatment option for strictured portion of the primary UUS in post-gynecologic surgery patients when its length is < 2 cm.

PURPOSE: The goal of this paper is to present the design and performance of a position encoding circuit for 16 x 16 array of position sensitive multi-anode photomultiplier tube for small animal PET scanners. This circuit which reduces the number of readout channels from 256 to 4 channels is based on a charge division method utilizing a resistor array. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The position encoding circuit was simulated with PSpice before fabrication. The position encoding circuit reads out the signals from H9500 flat panel PMTs (Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Japan) on which 1.5 x 1.5 x 7.0 mm3 L0.9GSO (Lu1.8Gd0.2SiO5:Ce) crystals were mounted. For coincidence detection, two different PET modules were used. One PET module consisted of a 29 x 29 L0.9GSO crystal layer, and the other PET module two 28 x 28 and 29 x 29 L0.9GSO crystal layers which have relative offsets by half a crystal pitch in x- and y-directions. The crystal mapping algorithm was also developed to identify crystals. RESULTS: Each crystal was clearly visible in flood images. The crystal identification capability was enhanced further by changing the values of resistors near the edge of the resistor array. Energy resolutions of individual crystal were about 11.6%(SD 1.6). The flood images were segmented well with the proposed crystal mapping algorithm. CONCLUSION: The position encoding circuit resulted in a clear separation of crystals and sufficient energy resolutions with H9500 flat-panel PMT and L0.9GSO crystals. This circuit is good enough for use in small animal PET scanners.
Animals ; Estrenes ; Fees and Charges ; Optics and Photonics ; Pyridinium Compounds