No abstract available.
Humans ; Nitroblue Tetrazolium* ; Skin* ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous*

Several investigators have attempted to clarify th well-known phenomenon of anergy in lepromatous leprosy during past two decades, utilizing various methods of immunologic assessrvent, including response to skin test antigens, active skin sensitization with strong allergens, skin homograft survival rate, imrnunopathology of lymphnodes, in vitro blastogenic response by antigens or mitogens of lymphocytes, lymphokine production in vitro and measurement of peripheral T and B cell ratio. Howcver, there is no general agreement as to the cellular irnmunologic status of leprosy patients b tween various investigators. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ability to mount cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to various skin test antigens and to investigate active sensitization with DViCB in patients with leprosy. Ten polar lepromatous (LL) and 12 polar tuberculoid (TT) p-tients who have been treated at Department of Dermatology, National Iviedical Center and Seoul Nationa,l University Hospital were the subjects. The subjects have rcceived regular antileprosy chemotherapy with DDS and the average duration of treatment in LL and TT groups was 6. 2 and 4. 7 years, respectively. The control group included 10 healthy physicians and nurs-s. Skin test antigens includ=d lepromin (1 x10' bacilli,ml'), PPD (Parke-Davis 5ppJ/0.1ml), SK-SD (Lederle, 40 u SK and 10 u SD/0.1 ml), Candidin (Hollister stier Lab 1: 1000 dilution) and DNCB aceton solution in the concentrations of 1000ug,/0.1ml for sensitization and 100ug/0.1ml for challenge, respcctively. Skin reactions were read 48 hours after intraderrnal injection of 0.1 rnl of each antigen anci th.' metho4 of DNCB sensitization was same as described elsewhere. The result showed that in polar lepromatous leprosy patients, the skin reactivity to various antigens were generally decroased, as cornpared to both th healthy control group and polar tuberculoicl patients, especially to lepromin, PPD and I')NCB sensitization (p<0.05, respectively). We concluded thxt lepromatous leprosy patients were especially unresponsive to mycobacterial antigcns(lepromin and PPD) and to newly administered antigen (DNCB) and tbe possible mechanism was discussed.
Allergens ; Allografts ; Antigens ; Dermatology ; Dinitrochlorobenzene ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lepromin ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Lymphocytes ; Mitogens ; Research Personnel ; Seoul ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy and patient satisfaction between shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopic removal of stone (URS) for the treatment of lower ureteral stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 223 patients who were treated for lower ureteral stones from August 2006 to January 2009. SWL and URS were performed in 47 and 176 patients, respectively. After treatment, the patients' subjective inconvenience/pain and their satisfaction with the treatment process were estimated by questionnaire. We analyzed success rates, complication rates, inconvenience/pain scores, and satisfaction scores for each group of patients. RESULTS: The overall success rates of SWL and URS were 82.9% and 97.7%, respectively (p=0.001). The complication rates of SWL and URS were 8.5% and 10.8%, respectively (p=0.162). The satisfaction scores of SWL and URS were 7.4 and 9.2, respectively (p=0.001). Whereas 87.5% of the URS group preferred the same treatment in case of a recurrence of ureteral stones, only 68% of the SWL group preferred the same treatment in the future (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: URS was more successful and satisfactory to the patients with lower ureteral stones. Although both SWL and URS were highly effective for treatment of distal ureteral stones, we believe that URS is the first-line treatment modality for lower ureteral stones.
Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Recurrence ; Shock ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter ; Ureteroscopy

BACKGROUND: The usage of appropriate disinfectants is essential for infection control in a hospital. Inadequate use of disinfectants is the cause of human or environmental toxicity and is a waste of cost. The objective of this study was to describe the status of the usage of disinfectants in Korean hospitals. METHOD: One hundred and eighty three hospitals of over 300 beds were investigated by a questionnaire distributed by mall. Data collection was done on November 1999. The questionnaire was made by the Association of Infection Control Nurses in Korea, based on references and protocols of the Korean Society of Nosocomial Infection Control. Numerical and percentage data were analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: The collection rate of the questionnaire was 43.7% (80/300). Thirty five hospitals (46.7%) had an official process in selecting disinfectants in their hospitals. Regarding skin antiseptics, 10% povidone iodine and 70% alcohol were commonly used in skin preparation for intravenous catheterization or pre-operative skin disinfection, For disinfection of mucosal membranes such as mouth and periurethral area, 3% boric acid solution or 3% H202 were used. Most of the hospitals decontaminated contaminated medical instruments manually with dodecyl diamino ethyl glycine (20.8%). glutaraldehyde (15.6%). quaternary ammonium compounds (13.8%), virkon (12.3%) and sodium hypochlorites (11.7%). Glutaraldehyde and virkon were frequently used for disinfection of endoscopes. Sodium hypochlorites (48.9%) and quaternary ammonium compounds (19.8%) were the most commonly used environmental disinfectants. Some noticeable problems in disinfectants were as follows. First, for mouth care, many hospitals (41.7%) over-used boric acid, which has cumulative toxicity for humans. Second, many hospitals had an incorrect protocol of disinfecting endoscopes. Third, for environmental decontamination and instrument cleaning, some hospitals used high level disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde, which is too costly and provides unnecessary safety problems. Fourth, after patient discharge, many hospitals did not use disinfectants at all. Considering the specific Korean medical environment of high incidence of multi-drug resistant microorganisms, use of disinfectants for discharged environments may be warranted. CONCLUSION: This study included only hospitals of over 300 beds, which has a limitation in representing the status of disinfectants usage in a country. However, significant problems from misunderstanding the basic principles of disinfectants and misusages of disinfectants were observed in this investigation. These observations will provide useful information for designing a guideline for the appropriate uses and for efficient education of disinfectants, and also for planning a national control program for proper disinfectants usage in this country.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Data Collection ; Decontamination ; Disinfectants* ; Disinfection ; Education ; Endoscopes ; Glutaral ; Glycine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Korea* ; Membranes ; Mouth ; Patient Discharge ; Povidone-Iodine ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Skin ; Sodium ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Urachus*

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection(SCD) is a rare entity that is infrequently diasnosed antemortem. The majority of patients have presented with acute myocardial infaction or sudden death. the etiology, prognosis and treatment of this entity remain ill-defined. We report two cases of SCD which were diagnosed by coronary agniogram and intracoronary ultrasound.
Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*

The authors presented 9 cases of surgically treated CSF rhinorrhea, two of which were spontaneous and 7 were traumatic delayed. The duration of leakage was longer than 1 month in most cases and seven of the nine cases were complicated by meningitis. The leakage site was most accurately detected by metrizamide computed tomographic cisternography(MCTC) and the most frequent leakage site was the cribriform plate. Good surgical results were obtained by direct repair and/or shunt without recurrence during follow-up period from 7 months to 2 years.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; Ethmoid Bone ; Follow-Up Studies ; Meningitis ; Metrizamide ; Recurrence

An accurate preoperative evaluation of lymph nodes(LNs) in gastric cancer is a prerequisite for successful surgery and favorable prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the Ct accuracy in perigastric LN localization and LN staging of gastric cancer as well as the size criteria for the metastasized LN in 64 patients who hed undergone a surgery for gastric cancer. The results of perigastric LNs evaluation by CT are as follows; sensitivity 67%(64/95), specificity 90%(839/929), accuracy 88%(903/1024). Of 95 pathologically metastasized LN groups, 66 could be retrospectively identified on Ct scans(69%). In LN staging, CT was correct in 60%(38/64), overstaged in 32%(21/64), and understaged in 8%(5/64). The perigastric LN groups which were easily localized on CT were #3, 7, 8, and 13. The mean size of metastasized LNs on CT according to the I.N group was #3 (13mm), #4(9mm), #6 (10mm), #7(10.5mm), #8 (10mm), #9 (11mm), #13 (9mm).
Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery has become a common and routine procedure because it provides several advantages for the diagnosis and therapy of shoulder injuries. However, shoulder arthroscopy is not a technique that's void of complications. We describe here a unique case of a patient who experienced pleural effusion caused by extravasation of irrigation fluid during arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and this surgery was done under general anesthesia.
Anesthesia, General ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Shoulder