PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the bone regenerative capacity of absorbable collagen sponge (ACS), biphasic calcium phosphate block (BCP) and collagenated biphasic calcium phosphate (CBCP) loaded with a low dose of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). METHODS: The CBCP was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In rabbit calvaria, four circular 8-mm-diameter defects were created and assigned to one of four groups: (1) blood-filled group (control), (2) rhBMP-2-soaked absorbable collagen sponge (0.05 mg/mL, 0.1 mL; CS group), (3) rhBMP-2-loaded BCP (BCP group), or (4) rhBMP-2-loaded CBCP (CBCP group). The animals were sacrificed either 2 weeks or 8 weeks postoperatively. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were performed. RESULTS: The CBCP showed web-like collagen fibrils on and between particles. Greater dimensional stability was observed in the BCP and CBCP groups than in the control and the CS groups at 2 and 8 weeks. The new bone formation was significantly greater in the BCP and CBCP groups than in the control and CS groups at 2 weeks, but did not significantly differ among the four groups at 8 week. The CBCP group exhibited more new bone formation in the intergranular space and in the center of the defect compared to the BCP group at 2 weeks, but a similar histologic appearance was observed in both groups at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The dose of rhBMP-2 in the present study enhanced bone regeneration in the early healing period when loaded on BCP and CBCP in rabbit calvarial defects.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium ; Collagen ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteogenesis ; Porifera ; Skull ; X-Ray Diffraction

PURPOSE: The introduction of the mumps vaccine has dramatically reduced the number of mumps cases, but outbreaks have recently occurred among highly vaccinated populations in developed countries. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with mumps admitted between 1989 and 2012 in a single hospital in Korea are described in the present study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated inpatients with mumps between 1989 and 2012 and outpatients and inpatients with mumps in 2011-2012. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients with mumps were admitted between 1989 and 2012, and 163 patients were recorded in 2011-2012. The highest number of admitted cases occurred in 1998 and 2012 (35 and 34 cases, respectively). Among the patients admitted in 2011-2012, the highest frequency was observed among people aged 15-19 years, and low frequency was observed in those aged <4 years and >20 years, compatible to the city data and national data. In patients admitted to our department in 1998 (35 cases) and in 2010-2012 (27 cases), there were significant differences in the mean age and the rate of secondary measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, but had similar clinical features, including complications, except aseptic meningitis. Antimumps immunoglobulin (Ig) G was positive in 83% and 100%, and IgM was positive in 67% and 41%, respectively, in the two periods. CONCLUSION: In Korea, recent mumps outbreaks have occurred mainly among secondary school students who received two doses of the MMR vaccine. The vaccinees might have a modified immune reaction to viral insults, manifesting modified epidemiological and clinical features.
Antibodies ; Developed Countries ; Disease Outbreaks* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mumps Vaccine ; Mumps* ; Observational Study* ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Vaccination

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare, benign tumor of the bone that represents fewer than 2% of all benign tumors of bone. CMF is most often found in the long tubular bones, especially the tibia and femur near the knee joint. Less common sites included the pelvis, fibula, calcaneus and rib. A 54-year-old male patient presented to us with history of swelling and mild, intermittent local pain without any rise in overlying skin temperature in lateral portion of left 7th rib for one-month duration, which was diagnosed as benign rib tumor by plain chest X-ray and CT scan, and treated successfully by excision of rib with good result. Pathologic diagnosis of this tumor was CMF. Without any medical therapy, there was no evidence of recurrence after operation. We report this case and follow-up of the patient.
Calcaneus ; Chondroma ; Diagnosis ; Femur ; Fibroma* ; Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Recurrence ; Ribs* ; Skin Temperature ; Thorax ; Tibia ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This paper is presented to report the results of urinary quantitative culture and sensitivity tests of certain antibiotics. Studies were done on 331 cases from the Department of Urology. Woo Sok University Medical College Hospital during the period from May 1962 up to September 1970. 1) Urine specimens from 331 cases were cultured and, of these, 115 cases grew micro-organism while the remaining 216 cases showed no growth. Among the 115 cases, 84 cases(73%) revealed significant bacteriuria with counts over 10s/ml. colonies in urine while 31 cases(27%) were below 10(5)/ml. 2) Only 74 cases(88. 1%) among the 84 cases with significant bacteriuria could the bacteria be identified after centrifuging the specimens and doing a smear and Gram stain. 68 cases(81%) of the total 84 significant bacteriuria cases had shown urinary leukocyte count of more than 4/HPF while 16 cases(19%) were below 4/HPF. 3) 77 cases(92%) of the total 84 cases with significant bacteriuria had Gram negative bacilli while 4 cases had Gram positive cocci by direct smear. 4) There were no significant differences between male and female patients in colony counts except the female group revealed some preponderance of E. coli. 5) In the sensitivity testing if the cultured significant bacteriuria in the group with Gram negative bacilli, 36 cases(49.3%) were sensitive to Kanamycin and 22 cases(30.1%) were resistant, while all cases were resistant to leucomycin and only one case was sensitive to penicillin among the total 73 cases of Gram negative bacilli cultured.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Bacteriuria ; Female ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Kanamycin ; Kitasamycin ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Penicillins ; Urology

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

Colonoscopy is a safe and standard procedure for diagnosis and therapy of colonic disorders. Iatrogenic colonic perforation during diagnostic colonoscopy, a rare abdominal emergency, has an 0.3~0.8% incidence rate. The choice of treatment for this complication remains controversial. Prompt operative intervention is preferred to minimize morbidity and mortality. However, operative intervention is invasive and needs a long-term recovery period. Conservative treatment is less invasive but can lead to more extensive surgery in case of treatment failure. Very important point on the treatment of iatrogenic perforation of the colon during diagnostic colonoscopy is to avoid the leaking of intestinal contents into the intraperitoneal cavity. We report here a case in which an iatrogenic perforation of the colon during diagnostic colonoscopy was successfully treated by endoscopic clip therapy.
Colon* ; Colonoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Treatment Failure

We shoud give attention to Wernicke's encephalopathy as a cause of sudden coma & respiratory arrest in patients, who are not usually suspected to develop the disorder and empirical treatment with thiamine in cases of coma of unknown cause is recommended. Respiratory stimulants, doxapram & aminophylline have an effect in assisting ventilatory weaning in patient with central hypoventilation as a complication of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy No previous reports where doxapram had been used to assist weaning from mechanical ventilation in adults were noted. Nor has newly developed central hypoventilation been identified as an impediment to weaning in literature to date in Korea. We reported a rare case of Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by poor oral intake & inadequate nutritional suppliment after car accident, showing acute coma & respiratory arrest and treated adequately by thiamine replacement & mechanical ventilation with respiratory stimulant.
Adult ; Aminophylline ; Coma* ; Doxapram ; Humans ; Hypoventilation ; Korea ; Malnutrition* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System Agents ; Thiamine ; Weaning ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the possible paracrine effect of bone morphogeneticprotein-2 (BMP-2) at the experimental site on the adjacent control site for validating a rabbit calvarial defect model as a means of verifying the effect of BMP-2. METHODS: Sixteen rabbits were divided into two groups (n=8 in each) according to whether or not BMP-2 would be used. Two circular defects (8 mm in diameter) were created side by side, 2 mm apart, in the calvarium of all of the rabbits. In each animal, one of the defects was grafted with either BMP-2-loaded carrier or carrier material alone. The control defects adjacent to these grafted defects, designated CB (the nongrafted defect adjacent BMP-2-loaded carrier-grafted defect) and CC (the nongrafted defect adjacent to carrier only-grafted defect), respectively, were the focus of this study, and were filled only with a blood clot in all of the animals. Histologic observation and histomorphometric analysis were performed at 2 and 8 weeks (n=4 animals per point in time) after surgery. RESULTS: There was no noteworthy difference in the healing pattern, and no statistically significant differences in histomorphometric parameters such as the defect closure, new bone area, or total augmented area between the CC and CB groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that rabbit calvarial defects separated by a distance of 2 mm are suitable for evaluating the effects of BMP-2 and the control defect can be regarded not to be affected by BMP-2 applied defect.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Regeneration ; Rabbits ; Research Design ; Skull ; Transplants

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a non-infectious opportunistic or silent infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. It enters the body through the respiratory tract and spreads to lung, skin, liver, and lymphoid organs. Recently its incidence has been gradually increasing because of developing diagnostic tools, increased use of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, increased survival rate of patients with chronic diseases, and increased incidence of immunodeficiency syndrome. We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was being treated with low dose glucocorticoid, methotrexate and cyclosporine for 14 months.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Chronic Disease ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cyclosporine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lung ; Methotrexate ; Respiratory System ; Skin ; Steroids ; Survival Rate