BACKGROUND: Cellulitis is one of the most common infectious skin diseases in primary care units of military service in which personal hygiene could be easily neglected under special circumstances such as outdoor training. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to elucidate the probable causes of the high incidence rate of cellulitis in military service. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the clinical findings of 59 patients with cellulitis who were hospitalized in the medical detachment of the 1st Infantry Division of the ROK Army from May, 1995 to April, 1996. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 21(19-25). Analysing the rank of the patients, the number of recruits was 3(5%), private 26(44%), private first class 17(29%), corporal 11(19%) and sergeant 2(3%). Seventy eight percent of them were included in ranks below corporal. The recurrence rate of cellulitis during the 2 1/2 year follow-up period was only 4%. Skin lesions noted were erythema(100%), tenderness(98%), swelling(98%), local heating(97%), lymphadenopathy(73%), pus (63%), fluctuation(32%), ulcer(27%), lymphangitis(14%), bullae(8%), etc. The most common route of infection was the previous wounds(46%) which allows a portal for invasion of microorganisms. Tinea pedis was also found to be in 39% of patients with cellulitis of the lower leg. The pus culture performed on 7 patients who had not been responsive to primary antibiotics resulted in 6 positive cases of Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSION: Considering the ranks of the patients and the routes of infection, we found that the incidence of cellulitis in the military service of the ROK Army could be reduced if more attention would be paid to preventive counterplans for secondary infection and tinea pedis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cellulitis* ; Coinfection ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Leg ; Military Personnel ; Primary Health Care ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Infectious ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Suppuration ; Tinea Pedis

A clinical analysis was performed on 326 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures experienced in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chosun University Hospital and 102 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures those has been admitted and treated in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Jeonnam Hwasoon Jung-ang Hospital during a period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995. 1. Sex ratio was 3.4:1 in urban and 3.6:1 in rural communities with male predominance. 2. Most common cause were traffic accident in both communities. 3. Hemothorax, pneumothorax and hemopneumothorax which needed thoracostomy were observed in 146 cases(44.7%) in the urban and 12 cases(11.7%) in the rural communities. 4. Left thorax was the spell site of rib fractures in both communities. 5. Rib fracture was prevalent from 3rd to 6th rib in both communities. 6. Open thoracotomy was performed in 37 cases(11.3%) in urban and 3 cases(2.9%) in rural communities. 7. Overall mortality was 4.29%(14 cases) in urban area and, 1.96%(2 cases) in rural communities, and cause of death were hypovolemic shock, brain edema, sepsis, respiratory failure, asphyxia, and cardiogenic shock.
Accidents, Traffic ; Asphyxia ; Brain Edema ; Cause of Death ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumothorax ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs* ; Rural Population* ; Sepsis ; Sex Ratio ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Thoracostomy ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

PURPOSE: A number of genes and their products are induced early or late following exposure of cells to ionizing radiation. These radiation-induced genes have various effects on irradiated cells and tissues. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) based on PCR was used to identify the differentially expressed genes by radiation in cervix carcinoma cells. MATERIASL AND METHODS: Total RNA and poly (A)+ mRNA were isolated from irradiated and non-irradiated HeLa cells. Forward- and reverse-subtracted cDNA libraries were constructed using SSH. Eighty-eight clones of each were used to randomly select differentially expressed genes using reverse Northern blotting (dot blot analysis). Northern blotting was used to verify the screened genes. RESULTS: Of the 176 clones, 10 genes in the forward-subtracted library and 9 genes in the reverse-subtracted library were identified as differentially expressed radiation-induced genes by PCR-select differential screening. Three clones from the forward-subtracted library were confirmed by Northern blotting, and showed increased expression in a dose-dependent manner, including a telomerase catalytic subunit and sodium channel-like protein gene, and an ESTs (expressed sequence tags) gene. CONCLUSION: We identified differentially expressed radiation-induced genes with low-abundance genes with SSH, but further characterization of theses genes are necessary to clarify the biological functions of them.
Blotting, Northern ; Cervix Uteri* ; Clone Cells ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Gene Library ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radiation, Ionizing ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium ; Telomerase

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To detect differentially expressed genes in the patients with uterine cervical cancer during the radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients with biopsy proven uterine cervical cancer, we took a tumor tissue just before radiation therapy and at 40 minutes after external irradiation of 1.8 Gy. Total RNAs isolated from non-irradiated and irradiated tumor tissue samples were analyzed using the differential-display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR). Complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments corresponding to differentially expressed messenger RNAs(mRNAs) were eluted, and cloned. The differential expression of the corresponding mRNAs was confirmed by reverse northern blot. Differentially expressed cDNA bands were sequenced. Nucleotide sequence data were analyzed in the Gene Bank and EMBL databases via the BLAST network server to identify homologies to known genes or cDNA fragments. Expression pattern of down-regulated clone was examined using RT-PCR in 5 patients undergoing radiotherapy. RESULTS: We identified 18 differentially expressed bands by DDRT-PCR, which were eluted and cloned. There were 10 up-regulated clones and 1 down-regulated clone in reverse northern blot. One cDNA fragment had homology to chemokine receptor CXCR4, four were identified as Human ESTs in the EMBL database in EST clones. Down-regulated CxCa-11 was also down regulated in all patients. CONCLUSION: Using the DDRT-PCR, we have identified 10 up-regulated and 1 down-regulated clone(s) in the patients with uterine cervix cancer during the radiation therapy. The clinical relevance and the functions of these genes will be further investigated.
Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Blotting, Northern ; Cervix Uteri* ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Humans ; Radiotherapy* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Survival sepsis campaign recommends that vasopressor therapy is required to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) > or = 65 mmHg. However, the absolute maximum dose of vasopressor is difficult to determine. Herein, we report 2 cases of severe skin necrosis after high dose vasopressor infusion to maintain the recommended MAP in septic shock. In our first case, norepinephrine 1.0-2.0 microg/kg/min and vasopressin 0.03-0.1 U/min were infused for 5 days; in the second case, dopamine 10-20 microg/kg/min and norepinephrine 0.25-2.5 microg/kg/min were infused for 7 days. Severe ischemic skin lesions, which required amputations, developed in both cases. The clinical appearance of the skin lesions in the 2 cases was different because of the unique distribution of target receptors for different vasopressors. Thus, when high dose vasopressors are required to achieve recommended MAP, extra vigilance is required. Further studies for dose adjustment are needed.
Amputation ; Arterial Pressure ; Dopamine ; Gangrene ; Necrosis ; Norepinephrine ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic ; Skin ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; Vasopressins

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop an empowering education program for Maternal-Fetal Intensive Care Unit (MFICU) nurses who provide intensive care to high-risk mother and fetus at hospitals, to test effects of the education program on nursing care confidence and nursing knowledge, and to examine program satisfaction. METHODS: This study comprised of 2 phases: program development and evaluation. First, we have followed a process of program development to develop and refine an empowering education program for MFICU nurses through collaborative works among clinical obstetrics and gynecology doctors and nurses and academic nursing professors. Second, the empowering education program was provided to 49 nurses and evaluated from July 5 to 6, 2019. Levels of MFICU nursing care confidence and knowledge were measured. RESULTS: The empowering education program included 18 hours of lectures, discussion, and Q & A, which continued for 2 days. This program significantly improved high-risk maternal-fetal nursing care confidence and knowledge of nurses. The program was well met with nurses' education need and goals, and found to be highly satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The empowering education program was observed to be effective in terms of improve nursing care confidence and knowledge of nurses in MFICU. It is proposed that this program should be open regularly for nurses to obtain and improve their clinical knowledge, confidence, and competency. Further study is needed to develop and run 2-levels of education such as basic and advanced levels based on nurses' clinical background and competency.
Critical Care ; Education ; Fetus ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lectures ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Program Development

Objective: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is widely used as a screening tool of prostate cancer, although there has been a controversy about efficacy. In Korea, rapid growth of obesity prevalence in adult men is a one of the biggest health problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential association between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and PSA. Methods: We calculated BMI and WC of a total of 25,603 males who visited the Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital Health Promotion Center from January 2016 to December 2020. This was categorized as follows: BMI < 23 kg/m2 (normal), 23 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 (overweight), BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (obesity) and WC < 90 cm (normal), WC ≥ 90 cm (abdominal obesity). We analyzed the association between BMI, WC and PSA. Results: The mean PSA value was 1.08 ng/mL, 1.03 ng/mL, and 0.97 ng/mL at normal, overweight, and obesity group, respectively. The mean PSA value was 1.04 ng/mL and 0.96 ng/mL at normal and abdominal obesity group. Thus, the mean PSA value decreased with an increase in BMI and WC category (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between BMI, WC and PSA was -0.055, -0.044 and they were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion We observed a significant negative correlation between BMI, WC and PSA value. Therefore, PSA value should be considered in relation to BMI and WC.

Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), synthesized by cGAMP synthase (cGAS), serves as a secondary messenger that modulates various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, cell death, immune response, and inflammation. cGAS is activated upon detecting cytoplasmic DNA, which may originate from damaged genomic and mitochondrial DNA or from viral and bacterial infections. The presence of DNA in the cytoplasm can trigger a substantial inflammatory reaction and cytokine production via the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Consequently, specific inhibitors targeting this pathway hold significant potential as chemopreventive agents. In this review, we explore the potential effectiveness of modulating cGAS activity. We discuss the role of cGAMP, the mechanism of action for distinguishing between self and foreign DNA, and the possible functions of cGAS within the nucleus.

Malaria is a protozoan disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Since Plasmodium vivax malaria reemerged in the north west areas of South Korea in 1993, many cases with various manifestations have been reported. Clinicians should be aware of the rare and severe complications as well as the common complications. Splenic complications such as hematoma formation, rupture, torsion, cyst formation, and infarction are unusual manifestations of tertian malaria; therefore, we present two cases of P. vivax malaria with severe splenic complications with review of literature. One had a splenic infarction and the other had a splenic rupture, which was diagnosed by computed tomography. Both patients were successfully treated with a conservative approach.
Anopheles ; Culicidae ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Infarction ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax ; Plasmodium vivax ; Republic of Korea ; Rupture ; Splenic Infarction ; Splenic Rupture