BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent nosocomial infections and are frequently associated with indwelling urinary catheters. It is known that adherence to standard infection control measures for urinary catheters can reduce UTIs in hospitals. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of education in reducing catheter-related UTIs (CR-UTIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) of a university hospital. METHODS: CR-UTIs were prospectively monitored for all patients with indwelling urinary catheters in ICUs from July 2006 through December 2007. Recommendations based on previously known guidelines for catheter insertion, catheter management, and specimen collection to prevent CR-UTIs were formulated and educated in March 2007. Knowledge and adherence level were evaluated before and after educating healthcare workers about the recommendations using questionnaire. Changes in knowledge and adherence level before and after education were compared by Chi-square test. Changes in the rate of CR-UTIs and urinary catheter utilization ratios were also analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: After education, knowledge level of and adherence level to most of the recommendations were improved significantly. The rate of CR-UTIs significantly decreased by 48% from 7.43/1,000 catheter-days before intervention to 3.87/1,000 catheter-days after intervention (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Surveillance for nosocomial infections and education for standard infection control measures are very important in preventing CR-UTIs in ICUs.
Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Prospective Studies ; Specimen Handling ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Pregnancy*

The objectives of this study was to evaluate current visible light curing units regarding microhardness and microleakage. Fourty samples of composite resin(Z-250, 3M) were cured by different light curing units(Flipo, LOKKI; Credi II, 3M; XL 3000, 3M; Optilux 500,Demetron) in acrylic blocks. Microhardness was measured using a calibrated Vickers indenter on both top and bottom surfaces after 24 hours of storage in air at room temperature. Class V cavities were prepared on buccal and lingual surfaces of fourty extracted human molars. Each margin was on enamel and dentin/cementum. Composite resin(Z-250, 3M) was filled in cavities and cured by four different light curing units(Flipo, LOKKI; Credi II, 3M; XL 3000, 3M; Optilux 500, Demetron). The results of this syudy were as follows: Microhardness 1. Flipo showed low microhardness compared to Optilux 500, Credi II significantly in upper surface. Flipo didn't show a significant difference compared to XL 3000. 2. The microhardness resulting from curing with Flipo was lower than that of others on lower surfaces. Microleakage 1. Dentin margin showed significantly high dye penetration rate than enamel margin in all groups(p<0.05). 2. No significant differences were found on both enamel and dentin margin regarding curing units.
Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Humans ; Light ; Molar

No abstract available.
Gynecology*

Congenital chloridorrhea is a rare autosomal recessive disease and results from impairment of active transport of chloride in the ileum and colon. Absence of the Cl-/HCO3-, exchange pump causes polyhydramnios, distended bowel loop and absence of meconium before birth. Prenatal ultrasound examination shows a great number of circular anechoic area in the fetal abdomen, as well as polyhydramnios. Massive watery diarrhea is apparent from the first days of life. This fluid loss, with its attendant impairment of electrolyte homeostasis, is life threatening. Exact replacement of water, NaCl and KCl can prevent the growth and psychomotor retardation and the development of progressive renal damage. We experienced one case of congenital chloridorrhea and present it with brief review of literatures.
Abdomen ; Biological Transport, Active ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Homeostasis ; Ileum ; Meconium ; Parturition ; Polyhydramnios ; Ultrasonography ; Water

Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare and chronic progressive disease, especially in children. Clinically, it has non-specific symptoms and diagnostic findings as well as low prevalence, making it very difficult to diagnose prior to intraoperative pathological confirmation. For this reason, abdominal actinomycosis is commonly misdiagnosed as appendicitis. After the histopathological diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis is made, patients should be administered an appropriate antibiotic such as penicillin. Here we describe a case of appendiceal actinomycosis in an 18-year-old girl who was initially diagnosed with acute appendicitis.
Actinomycosis* ; Adolescent ; Appendiceal Neoplasms ; Appendicitis* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Penicillins ; Prevalence

Objectives: . Although unilateral hearing loss (UHL) has been proven to be associated with educational and behavioral problems, few studies have investigated psychopathological abnormalities in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychopathological influence of UHL among Korean 19-year-old males. Methods: . The authors retrospectively compared the objective personality test profiles of 602 subjects with UHL with those of 23,790 peers with normal hearing. All participants in the current study were 19-year-old males who underwent a physical examination and completed the Korean Military Multiphasic Personality Inventory for conscription at the Military Manpower Administration from February 2015 to December 2016. Results: . Significantly higher scores were found on neurosis scales in the UHL group than in the normal-hearing group (50.9± 10.8 vs. 44.9±6.0 for anxiety; 51.0±10.5 vs. 44.9±5.2 for depression; 51.1±10.4 vs. 45.1±6.81 for somatization, all P<0.001). The psychopathy scales were also significantly higher in the UHL group than in the normal-hearing group (49.3±9.4 vs. 46.3±5.7 for schizophrenia; 51.1±11.2 vs. 44.3±5.8 for personality disorders; 51.1±10.5 vs. 45.7±3.7 for paranoia, all P<0.001). Conclusion . Nineteen-year-old males with UHL tended to have more abnormal results on personality tests than controls with normal hearing, suggesting that UHL may be related with a higher risk of psychopathology.

Colonoscopy is a frequently performed procedure used for colorectal cancer screening. Most frequent complication is colonic perforation and bleeding. Other visceral injuries are very rare, but injuries to the spleen and liver have been described. We report on 66-yr-old female who presented with abdominal pain after uneventful colonoscopy. Abdominal CT scan revealed a band at previous hysterectomy site and dilated small bowel suggesting strangulated loop. A broad based knowledge of the different complication is necessary to decrease the risk of associated morbidity and mortality.
Abdominal Pain ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: A tumor must continuously stimulate the growth of new capillary blood vessels for the tumor itself to grow and metastasize. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes vascular permeability and endothelial cell growth. A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular tumor. METHODS: We evaluated the expression of VEGF in 36 cases of HCC by using immunohistochemical staining in order to define its prognostic value. RESULTS: The expression rate of VEGF was 44.4% (16/36) in tumor cells and 0% (0/36) in non- tumorous liver parenchyme. VEGF expression did not correlate with any clinicopathological characteristics. And patients with expression of VEGF in tumor cells had no survival difference in comparison to those without VEGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the expression of VEGF in HCC cells by itself may not be a significant factor in the prognosis of HCC.
Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Capillary Permeability ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Objective: Patients are taken to the emergency department (ED) via a variety of transport systems. Proper ambulance use is important for improving patients’ transport quality and using limited resources allotted by the system effectively. Korea is a country with a well-developed public ambulance system established by the government. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the overuse or underuse of the ambulance system by patients who visited the ED. Methods: This study was conducted at the ED in three hospitals. A total of 459,647 patients visited these EDs over the three-year study period from 2016 to 2018. Medical records were investigated retrospectively. The study subjects were divided into three groups based on their triage score and ambulance use. Patients were classified into adequacy (Korean Triage and Acuity Scale [KTAS] 1-3, ambulance use or KTAS 4-5, non-ambulance use), underuse (KTAS 1-3, non-ambulance use) and overuse (KTAS 4-5, ambulance use) groups. Results: The mean age of patients was 46.7±26.0 years, and 237,118 (51.6%) were male. The adequacy group included 269,046 patients (58.5% of the patients). The underuse group had 162,575 patients (35.4%), and the overuse group included 328,026 patients (6.1%). Despite having KTAS level 1 or 2, the number of patients who did not use an ambulance was 14,792. Ambulances were used by 5,154 patients at KTAS 5 level. Conclusion Many patients use ambulances appropriately, but overuse and underuse of ambulances can still be observed. Guidelines on ambulance use are necessary for the efficient use of emergency medical resources and the safety of patients.