No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Female* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Vibrio parahaemolyticus belonged to the new 03:K6 serotype was demonstrated an unusual potential to spread and an enhanced propensity to cause infection in the worldwide. Recently, increased numbers of V. parahaemolyticus 03:K6 had been isolated in Korea, and we analyzed the prevalence and molecular genetic characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus 03:K6 isolates. METHODS: V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from clinical specimens of patients with diarrhea in Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from 1998 to 2005. The serovars of isolates were determined by slide agglutination test with specific antisera. All isolates were examined for the presence of tdh/trh genes. AGS-PCR method detecting the new 03:K6 clone was used in this study. We analyzed clonality of these isolates by infrequent restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (IRS-PCR). RESULTS: Thirty-six strains were isolated from 1998 to 2005. The main serotype of isolates were 03:K6 (24/36: 67%), All of them have tdh gene but not trh gene and an unique toxRS gene of the new 03:K6. The morphotypes of 03:K6 isolates show a same pattern of IRS-PCR, but can easily be differentiated from non-03:K6 and 04:K68 isolates. CONCLUSION: The 03:K6 was a main serotype of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from 1998 to 2005 and they show same molecular characteristics.
Agglutination Tests ; Clone Cells ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Korea ; Molecular Biology* ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio*

Clinical study was done on 119 patients with atrial fibrillation in the aspect of underlying diseases, particulary. The results were as follow : 1) In the underlying diseases of atrial finbrillation, rheumatic heart disease, hepertension and ischemic heart disease were common, which occupied 27.8%, 22.7% and and 15.1%, respectly. No apparent underlying disease was found in 21.0%, but in the transient atrial fibrillation, no apparent underlying disease in 42.9%. 2) There were no significant correlations between the ventricular rate, amplitude of f wave and underlying diseases of atrial fibrillation. 3) Complications were found in 29.4% of all cases, such as congestive heart failure(22.7%), embolism(6.7%). Otherwise, atrial fibrillation without underying cardiovascular diseases, congestive heart failure was found only(7.7%).
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Rheumatic Heart Disease

Background. Ultimate goal for the treatment of the deformities in the lower extremities is to minimize the energy requirement and conserve the energy on walking and daily living. The normal energy saving mechanism is usually broken down in the patients with the deformities in the lower extremity, and they need more energy consumption. This is the reason why they feel fatigue frequently. It is well known that the deformity in the lower extremity cause excessive energy consumption. Objectives. There is no report that compared the energy consumption according to the deformities of the lower extremity. When we decide the priority of the treatment in cases of multiple deformities, it will be important to understand the energy demand according to each deformity. Therefore, it is the purpose of this study that assess the energy consumption according to the various types of lower extremity deformities. Method. We induced the multiple deformities in ten normal adults with the brace artificially. The induced deformities are as follows: Equinus deformity; mild (10degrees), moderate (20degrees), severe (30degrees), Knee flexion deformity; mild (10degrees), moderate (20degrees), severe (30degrees), Hip flexion deformity; mild (10degrees), moderate (20degrees), severe (30degrees). For the control group, same braces were applied without any deformity. Oxygen consumption was measured for the energy consumption with the Oxygen Consumption Meter (Morgan Oxylog II, Morgan Ltd. England). Heart rate was checked with the Telemonitor (Dynascope, Fukuda Ltd, Japan). We evaluated the inspired volume, oxygen rate, oxygen cost, and heart rate in each group and compared the data among the groups. Result. Energy consumption was higher in the hip deformity group, in the knee deformity group, and in the ankle deformity group in that order. Conclusion. When there are concomitant deformities in hip, knee and ankle, the priority of treatment may be hip, knee and ankle, in that order in terms of energy consumption.
Adult ; Ankle ; Braces ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Equinus Deformity ; Fatigue ; Heart Rate ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints* ; Knee ; Lower Extremity* ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Walking

Actinomycosis is a rare entity which presents some difficulties in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis. Many actinomycotic pelvic infections in women are related to IUD use and the colonization rate appears to increase in accordance with the duration of IUD use. So, all women in IUD use are recommended to make cervicovaginal smear and pelvic infection associated with IUD use should be suspected to have actinomycoses. We report a case which presented painful mass on right upper and lower quadrant of abdomen of a 40-year-old women. We identified sulfur granules by histopathologic exam of surgically resected specimen. Eventually it proved to be pelvic and abdominal actinomycosis associated with the use of an intrauterine device. Because variable clinical pictures and infrequency of the disease make the diagnosis more difficult, increased alertness of clinicians and microbiologists to the presence of anaerobic organism as the cause of infection are needed to make an earlier and more correct diagnosis of actinomycoses and to further avoid any inappropriate treatment.
Abdomen ; Actinomycosis ; Adult ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Pelvic Infection ; Pelvis ; Sulfur

BACKGROUND: Local steroid injection is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological effects of local steroid injection in patients with CTS over a 3-months period. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (35 hands) with clinical and electrophysiological evidence of CTS were treated by injection of triamcinolone 40 mg to the carpal tunnel. Visual analog scale (VAS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), rates of paresthesia, night awakening, and electrophysiological studies were used as outcomes. Clinical and electrophysiological assessments were performed before, 1 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, 86% of patients complained of night awakening. At 1 and 3 months after injection, only 17% and 29% of the patients, respectively, had night awakening (p<0.001). All patients complained of paresthesia before the treatment. This symptom disappeared in 60% and 31% of the patients after 1 and 3 months, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to baseline, both BCTQ and VAS show significant improvement during the 3 months of the study (p<0.005). Although significant improvements in clinical parameters were shown, electrophysiological parameters were not significantly improved at 1 and 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Local corticosteroid injection for the treatment of CTS provides significant improvement in symptoms for 3 months. On the other hand, no significant improvement was observed in electrophysiological parameters.
Boston ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Electrophysiology ; Hand ; Humans ; Paresthesia ; Triamcinolone

Between January 1990 and February 1991, ureteroscopic removal of ureteral stone was performed in 40 cases at outpatient department under local anesthesia(36 cases) and epidural anesthesia(4 cases). The results were as follows. The success rate of ureteral stone removal was 82.1% (32 among 39 cases) in lower ureter, 86.7 %(26 among 30 cases) in female and 70.0%(7 among 10 cases) in male. Anesthetic methods were local(36 cases), and epidural(4 cases), Mean duration of hospitalization was 1.4 days(0-7 days). The associated complication rate was low, with most patients being treated conservatively. Therefore, we believe that the ureteroscopic stone removal at outpatient department can be done safely if we select patients properly(especially women). have adequate equipment and execute properly the basic technique.
Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients* ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopy

Dermatologists frequently perform a number of procedures without the aid of an assistant and have sometimes difficulty to obtain hemostasis during the biopsy or other minor surgery. A flat plastic cylinder made of a disposable syringe effectively stops bleeding and procedures are easily carried out with a clean surgical field. It is believed to be inexpensive, durable and easy to be sterilized.
Biopsy ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis* ; Plastics* ; Surgical Procedures, Minor ; Syringes*

Most thymomas are found in the superior and anterior mediastinum and malignant thymomas are exceedingly rare in the first 20 years of life. A child of malignant thymoma with invasion into the thoracic vertebra and spinal canal is reported. The tumor was originated from posterior mediastinum and involved posteriorly the D8, D9 vertebra resulting in paraparesis was improved. Computed tomography is mandatory in detecting the metastasis and evaluation of treatment.
Child ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Canal* ; Spine ; Thymoma*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical manifestation of acute herpes zoster associated pain (AHP) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and nerve block effect in AHP and PHN. METHOD: We assessed twenty eight patients by physical examination and pain questionairre, and nerve block effect in thirty one patients. We injected local anesthetics and triamcinolone into nerve root or trunk in study group, and saline in control group. The effect was assessed by visual analogue scale. RESULT: 1. Clinical manifestation: There was high incidence in thoracic dermatome. AHP and PHN patients expressed "sharp" pain. Pain rating index of AHP and PHN were 32.9, 33.0. 2. Nerve block effect: There was no nerve block effect in AHP (p>0.05) and PHN (p>0.05), but four patients of PHN patients in study group had significant pain relief, who suffered from pain during 2 month, 10 month, 6 years, 8 years. CONCLUSION: AHP and PHN had variable clinical manifestation but no difference between them. There was no nerve block effect in AHP and PHN but we can consider nerve block as a additive method for pain relief of PHN because some patients responded to nerve block and there was no significant complication in nerve block.
Anesthetics, Local ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nerve Block* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Physical Examination ; Triamcinolone