BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is important for patients with tuberculous meningitis because early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment improve the outcome of the disease. PCR techniques have been applied but are not yet well established for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. The Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Inc. ) can be used fur the detection of M. tuberculosis by PCR technique, but its use has not been recommended currently for extrapulmonary samples. We evaluated the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test for the direct detection of M. tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of patients suspicious of having tuberculous meningitis. METHODS: We examined a total of 103 CSF samples from 76 patients. Tuberculous meningitis was diagnosed by clinical history, chest X-ray, CSF chemistry, bacteriology, computed tomography and response to antituberculous treatment. Twenty-six samples were obtained from 13 patients with tuberculous meningitis. For the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test, 0.3 - 2.0 mL of CSF was centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 15 min and its pellet was treated as the instructions of the kit. RESULTS: Of the 103 CSF samples, none were smear-positive by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain, seven were culture-positive and twelve were PCR-positive. Of the 26 samples from 13 patients with tuberculous meningitis, seven from six patients were culture-positive and eleven from six patients were PCR-positive. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test for the patients compared to the clinical diagnosis were 46.2, 98.4, 85.7, and 89.9%, respectively, while the culture yielded 46.2, 100.0, 100.0, and 90.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test using CSF specimen for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is specific and is as sensitive as culture. The assay will provide rapid and valuable information for the diagnosis and control of tuberculous meningitis.
Bacteriology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chemistry ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal*

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is important for patients with tuberculous meningitis because early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment improve the outcome of the disease. PCR techniques have been applied but are not yet well established for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. The Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Inc. ) can be used fur the detection of M. tuberculosis by PCR technique, but its use has not been recommended currently for extrapulmonary samples. We evaluated the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test for the direct detection of M. tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of patients suspicious of having tuberculous meningitis. METHODS: We examined a total of 103 CSF samples from 76 patients. Tuberculous meningitis was diagnosed by clinical history, chest X-ray, CSF chemistry, bacteriology, computed tomography and response to antituberculous treatment. Twenty-six samples were obtained from 13 patients with tuberculous meningitis. For the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test, 0.3 - 2.0 mL of CSF was centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 15 min and its pellet was treated as the instructions of the kit. RESULTS: Of the 103 CSF samples, none were smear-positive by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain, seven were culture-positive and twelve were PCR-positive. Of the 26 samples from 13 patients with tuberculous meningitis, seven from six patients were culture-positive and eleven from six patients were PCR-positive. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test for the patients compared to the clinical diagnosis were 46.2, 98.4, 85.7, and 89.9%, respectively, while the culture yielded 46.2, 100.0, 100.0, and 90.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Amplicor(TM) M. tuberculosis test using CSF specimen for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is specific and is as sensitive as culture. The assay will provide rapid and valuable information for the diagnosis and control of tuberculous meningitis.
Bacteriology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chemistry ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Leukoplakia* ; Papilloma*

We report a case of trichorrhexis nodosa in a 27-year-old male. Scanning electron microscopic findings reveals those of typical trichorrhexis nodosa nodal swelling of affected hair showed longitudinal fissures and fractures in the cortex. A paintbrush effect was noted at the site of fracture. Simple avoidance of trauma gave some regrowth of hairs.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Male

No Abstract available.
Vancomycin Resistance* ; Vancomycin*

No Abstract available.
Vancomycin Resistance* ; Vancomycin*

The gray vibrissae of Korean males(n =189) between 15 and 75 years old and females(n =111) between-15 and 74 years old who visited the department of otorhinolaryngology, Konkuk university Chungju hospital during 1996 to 1998, were counted for the purpose of estimating approximate age range in individuals of unknown age . The lowest age appearing gray hairs in both sexes was 15-year-old. The Pearson's correlation coefficient in both sexes was 0.490 (p<0.01). The age appearing gray vibrissae in females was slightly earlier than that of males, however, the differences between right and left sides of nasal cavity were insignificant. This method of counting gray vibrissae would be useful to estimate age range in personal identification together with other methods available until now.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Hair* ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Otolaryngology ; Vibrissae*

Transhiatal gastric transpositions were performed in two case of long gap esophageal atresia without tracheoesophageal fistula. The patients were a 12 months old female and an 18 months old male. Stamm type gastrostomies were performed at other hospitals in both cases. The stomach was mobilized preserving the right gastric artery, the right gastroepiploic artery and spleen. The proximal and distal esophageal pouches were excised by transcervical and transhiatal route, respectively. The mobilized stomach was pulled up to the neck through esophageal hiatus and posterior mediastinal route. The esophagogastrostomy, the only one anastomosis of this procedure, was performed in the neck. There was no clinical evidence of anastomotic leakage, stricture, regurgitation, difficulty of gastric emptying, hoarseness or respiratory problem. Transhiatal gastric transposition seems to be a safe and easy alternative surgical procedure for esophageal replacement in long gap esophageal atresia.
Anastomotic Leak ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Atresia* ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastroepiploic Artery ; Gastrostomy ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neck ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula

No abstract available.
Endoderm* ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor*

Management of infantile and early childhood onset strabismus should be completed during early childhood to gain better binocular function and vision. The author experienced 38 adult patients who had horizontal strabismus without any adequate treatment lasting over 14 years with onset before 6 years of age. They showed large angle of deviation and deep amblyopia. After surgery, stereopsis was never developed in all of the 14 congenital strabismic patients, whereas 30% of the 24 patients with acquired onset showed gross stereopsis. There was abnormal muscular contracture requiring adjustable stutre. All of the patients showed abnormal character psychologically. This study revealed that the lunger the duration of misalignment, the greater the chance of deep amblyopia large angle of deviation, abnormal sensory and motor adaptation, psychological influence, and ahnormal muscular contracture. Therefore early initiation of therapy during early childhood should be emphasized.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult* ; Amblyopia ; Contracture ; Depth Perception ; Humans ; Strabismus* ; Telescopes