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

This is to report a case of immediate reconstruction after hemimandibulectomy by using of bicorticocancellous block bone harvested from the iliac crest in the case of an ameloblastomaon the mandible. Because the lesion involved condylar area, it was reconstructed with titanium artificial condyle attached to A/O metal plate. Three weeks after the operation, infection developed with suppuration and was well treated with adequate antibiotic therapy and drainage. The patient has been followed up over a four-year period and taken an orthopantomogram every three or six month for the examination of mandibular movement, the potentiality of recurrence and the remodeling of the grafted bone. At present, the patient is satisfied with her appearence and has a normal occlusion with proper masticatory function, and there is no sign of recurrence.
Ameloblastoma* ; Drainage ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Osteotomy ; Recurrence ; Suppuration ; Titanium ; Transplants*

Segmental testicular infarction is a rare cause of an acute scrotum. The etiology can be related to sickle cell anemia, hypersensitivity angiitis and polycythemia in some cases, but the condition is usually an idiopathic phenomenon. Because making the differential diagnosis between segmental testicular infarction and testicular tumor can be difficult, most authors have recommended surgery in the past. We report here on cases of testicular segmental infarction that were treated by conservative management and we describe the radiologic findings.
Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Infarction ; Polycythemia ; Scrotum ; Testis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

Absence of one tube and a corresponding ovary is very rare anomaly.We reported a case of absence of one tube and a corresponding ovary and reviewthe literature briefly.
Female ; Ovary*

An increase in the dose of chemotherapy enhances the response of many experimental and clinical cancers, but the extent of chemotherapy dose escalation and repeated use is often limited by myelosuppression. The side effects of chemotherapy including bleeding and infection due to myelosuppression have resulted in delayed therapy and a reduction in the therapeutic dose, therefore it is necessary to overcome myelosuppression especially leukopenia in patients with gynecologic malignancies who recieved chemotherapy. This study is undertaken to investigate the clinical effects of rhG-CSF(recombinant human Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) in 29 patients with gynecologic malignancy who recieved chemotherapy. It was given at a dose of 100 microgram bid/day subcutaneously until significantly increase of leukocyte count in leukopenic patient. The results showed, the rhG-CSF has significantly increased the number and function of leukocyte. The use of rhG-CSF was effective and useful to treat chemotherapy induced leukopenia and to accelerate the recovery from this complications.
Drug Therapy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans* ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Leukopenia*

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) has been developed to analyze the metabolites of arachidonic acid based on the specificities of ultraviolet absorption of these various metabolites and is sensitive to the nanogram level. This procedure makes it possible to extract complex mixtures of eicosanoids efficiently with a single step and to analyze them simultaneously by RP-HPLC from biological samples using octadesylsilyl silica extraction column and PGB2 as an internal standard. The cyclooxygenase, products (prostaglandin (PG)D2, PGE1, PGE2, PGF1alpha, PGF2alpha, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2)) and lipid peroxidation product, isoprostanes, of arachidonic acid were monitored by one isocratic HPLC system at 195 nm wavelength. The lipoxygenase products (leukotriene(LT)B4, LTC4, LTD4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), 12-HETE, 15-HETE) were measured by another isocratic HPLC system at 280 nm for LTs and 235 nm for HETEs. This method provides a simple and reliable way to extract and assess quantitatively the final arachidonic acid metabolites.
12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid ; Absorption ; Alprostadil ; Arachidonic Acid* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Complex Mixtures ; Dinoprost ; Dinoprostone ; Eicosanoids ; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids ; Isoprostanes ; Leukotriene C4 ; Leukotriene D4 ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipoxygenase ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Silicon Dioxide ; Solid Phase Extraction* ; Thromboxane B2

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing impingement syndrome without rotator cuff tear usually depends on the physical examination and roentgenography, and obtaining objective evidence for this condition is at best difficult. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether quantitatively assessing this condition with using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) can diagnose impingement syndrome and predict the postoperative results. METHODS: Before executing arthroscopic or open treatment, SPECT was performed on 73 patients and 24 volunteers and these people were followed up for 2 years. Any increased uptake on SPECT was investigated by using the axial view, which demonstrated the greatest uptake for the acromion, distal clavicle, greater tuberosity, lesser tuberosity and the coracoid process of the operated and non-operated sides. RESULTS: The patients who were diagnosed as having impingement syndrome with or without rotator cuff tear showed increased uptake on the operative side compared to the non-operated side in the assessed locations. The greater tuberosity of the humerus could be used for quantitative measurement as a postoperative prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The bone SPECT method is useful for making the diagnosis of patients with impingement sydrome, and the results of quantitative assessment at the greater tuberosity can be used for evaluating the prognosis following the operation.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Humeral Head/*radionuclide imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff/*injuries ; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome/physiopathology/*radionuclide imaging/surgery ; *Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Serous papillary cystadenomas arising in testis have been rarely reported, and they often resemble ovarian serous tumors of borderline malignancy. Herein, we report a case of a serous papillary cystadenoma of the testis in a 59 year old man. Based on a clinical diagnosis of left testicular tumor, a left radical orchiectomy was performed. The pathologic evaluation revealed a serous papillary cystadenoma of borderline malignancy in the testis.
Cystadenoma, Papillary* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Testis*

PURPOSE: Smoking is a known risk factor for lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and atherosclerosis. The link between smoking and erectile dysfunction(ED) has been supported from in vitro studies, animal studies, and epidemiological evidence. We evaluated the effect of smoking on penile hemodynamics in ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients aged 40~80 years who visited our urological institute for ED were enrolled. We performed a standard ED evaluation that included medical history, physical examination, and measurements of serum glucose, testosterone, and prolactin. We excluded ED patients with abnormal androgen profiles and patients with ED risk factors other than smoking. A total of 108 ED patients entered the study, including 51 current smokers, 24 non-smokers, and 33 ex-smokers. All patients then underwent extensive evaluation, including nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity(NPTR) monitoring with Rigiscan(R), and pharmacopenile Doppler ultrasonography for peak systolic velocity(PSV), and end diastolic velocity(EDV). RESULTS: The average ages of the current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers were 55.7+/-4.6, 53.7+/-3.9, and 56.5+/-4.3 years, respectively(p=0.07). Of current smokers, 78% had abnormal NPTR testing, compared with 64% of non-smokers and 67% of ex-smokers(p=0.04; current vs non-smokers, p=0.04; current vs ex-smokers). The average PSV for current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers was 26.8+/-3.2, 31.2+/-4.5, and 29.7+/-4.4 cm/s, respectively(p=0.06; current vs non-smokers, p=0.07; current vs ex-smokers). The average EDV for current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers was 5.9+/-2.7, 4.4+/-1.6, and 4.2+/-1.5 cm/s, respectively(p=0.04; current vs non-smokers, p=0.03; current vs ex-smokers). In the currently-smoking patients, there was no significant correlation between NPTR, PSV, or EDV and the amount or duration of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that dysfunction of penile veno-occlusive mechanism plays a substantial role in the development of ED in smokers.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Physical Examination ; Prolactin ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Testosterone ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the changes in the prevalence and its related factors of the Clonorchis sinensis(C.S.) in the inhabitants at Goksung-Gun along Sum-Jin river after C.S. control intervention. METHODS: The subjects were 416 among 699 in the 8 same villages selected by stratified cluster sampling in 1999. The formalin-esther sedimentaion technic was used for the C.S. egg detection and the questionnare for the related factors. The study was carried on from February, 2005 to March, 2005. RESULTS: The prevalence of C.S. decreased significantly from 19.0% in 1999 to 11.3% in 2005. The signicicant factors in 1999 such as sex, age, area, raw fish eating habit and drink habit were not significant statistically. On the other hand factors such as the awareness of C.S. and the health behavior were changed significantly(p=0.034, p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that C.S. prevalence became lower than previous study five years ago. But its control intervention should be extened to the general population regardless of sex, age, area, raw fish eating habits, drink habit and we need to make an effort to improve the awareness and the health behavior of C.S..
Clonorchis sinensis ; Eating ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Ovum ; Prevalence ; Rivers