A large body of evidence indicates that Helicobacter pylori is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Several techniques are currently used for detecting H. pylori. Recently the immunohistochemical method was introduced for rapid detection of H. pylori. To compare the result of the immunohistochemical method with those obtained by microbiologic methods, we glean formalin fixed, paraffin embbeded gastric and duodenal biopsy specimens from 85 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. We set fifty cases which H. pylori was cultivated and identified by Gram stain as Group I, and thirty-five cases without H. pylori in Gram stain and culture as Group II. The results were as follows. 1) The sensitivity and the specificity of immunohistochemical method were 94% and 80% compared with the microbiologic method. Positive and negative predictive value of the immunohistochemical method were respectively 87% and 90%. However, in seven cases of Group II, H. pylori were identified by immunohistichemical method. 2) Immunohistochemical staining exhibited bacteria that were present in the mucus layer, the surface of the gastric mucosa and metaplastic gastric epithelium in duodenum. With reference to the distribution and density of H. pylori in Group I and II, a significant correlation existed between microbiologic results and bacterial load of the biopsy specimen (p<0.01). 3) Chronic inflammation of gastric biopsies were seen in all 45 H. pylori-positive cases(100%) and 16 out of 19 H. pylori-negative cases(84%). The degree of chronic inflammation was more severe in positive cases than negative cases. Activity of inflammation was seen 98% of H. pylori-positive cases and 16% of H. pylori-negative cases. Intestinal metaplasia was seen 40% of H. pylori-positive cases and 58% of H. pylori-negative cases. Lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 47%(27 cases) of H. pylori-positive cases. Among 47%, cases with lymphoid follicles were 9%(4 cases) and cases with lymphoid aggregates were 38%(17 cases). In H. pylori-negative cases, lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 16%(3 cases). It is possible to obtain samples from most of the individuals who underwent the endoscopy in Korea. And this method is simple, rapid and sensitive. We conclude that the immunohistochemical method is another useful diagnostic tool for detection of Helicobacter pylori.
Predictive Value of Tests ; Biopsy

A total of 39 malignant melanoma cases diagnosed at Chonnam National University Hospital for past 10 years from 1980 to April, 1990 were included for the clinicopathologic study. Among the 29 primary cutaneous melanomas, 18 cases(62.1 % ) occurred on the hands and the feet, especially on the heel. The average age of the patients was 54.3 years at the time of diagnosis and the male to female ratio was 1 to 1,4. Acral lentiginous melanoma was the most common (62.1% ) histopathologic type and the invasion level c)f 22 cases(78.4% ) was over 1.50mm by Rreslows thickness.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Heel ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Melanoma

BACKGROUND: Although tinea pedis is one of the most prevalent diseases caused by dermatophytes, there have been few studies about distribution of dermatophytes on infected soles for this disease in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the distribution of dermatophytes on infected sole using the new direct culture method (Foot-press method). METHODS: The infected soles of 39 patients were directly pressed onto Sabouraud's dextrose agar with cycloheximide prepared in a large culture dish for a few seconds. The culture media were then incubated at 25degrees C for 1-4 weeks. RESULTS AND CONDLUSION: 1. Dermatophyte colonies were isolated from twenty-eight patients (71.8%). 2. Twenty-four of the isolated dermatophytes were Trichophyton (T.) rubrum (85.7%), and the rest were T. mentagraphytes (14.3%). 3. The number of isolated colonies from each patient range from 1 to 102 (Mean+/-SD, 12.8+/-20.7). Three isolated colonies were most common. 4. The isolation frequencies were higher in the patients of keratotic type and in those with tinea unguium (p<0.05). 5. Positive rate was highest in patients with widely-spread lesion (p<0.05).
Agar ; Arthrodermataceae* ; Culture Media ; Cycloheximide ; Glucose ; Humans ; Korea ; Onychomycosis ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton

PURPOSE: Recent developments in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology have brought an extraordinary opportunity for the rapid detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in clinical specimens for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In this study, the efficacy of PCR was evaluated for detection of mycobacterial tuberculosis in urine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 115 patients that attended the urology clinic between July 2000 and July 2003, with symptoms suggestive of genitourinary tuberculosis, were evaluated. The male to female patient ratio was 69 to 46, with a mean age of 54.2 (range 19 to 82) years. The results obtained from PCR were compared with those obtained from standard microbiological methods, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain and culturing. RESULTS: A total of 11 cases were confirmed as genitourinary tuberculosis, and 2 were positive on both PCR and AFB staining, and 4 and 2 cases were positive only in PCR and AFB stain, respectively, and one case on AFB staining was negative, but positive in both PCR and AFB culturing. The sensitivity of PCR, AFB staining and culturing were 63.6, 36.4 and 9.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis ; Urology

PURPOSE: We wanted to determine the correlation between the renal length as measured on two dimensional (2D) ultrasonography (US) and the renal parenchymal volume as measured with a new three-dimensional (3D) volume probe ultrasound system. We also wanted to determine the correlation between the renal length or renal parenchymal volume and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with glomerulopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2007 to December 2007, 26 patients who were pathologically confirmed to have glomerulopathy by biopsy were enrolled. Renal length was measured with 2D US and the renal parenchymal volume was measured with 3D US just prior to biopsy. The GFR was obtained from the electronic medical records. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between the renal length and the renal parenchymal volume, the correlation between the renal length and the GFR and the correlation between the renal parenchymal volume and the GFR. RESULTS: The renal length and the renal parenchymal volume showed strong positive correlation (r = 0.850, p = 0.0001). The correlation coefficient between the renal length and the GFR was 0.623 (p = 0.0007) and the correlation coefficient between the renal volume and the GFR was 0.590 (p = 0.0015). Both the renal length and renal parenchymal volume showed apparently positive correlations with the GFR in glomerulopathy patients. CONCLUSION: The renal length showed strong positive correlations with the renal parenchymal volume. Both the renal length and the renal parenchymal volume showed apparently positive correlations with the GFR in glomerulopathy patients. In glomerulopathy patients, the renal dimensions measured by ultrasound can reflect the status of the GFR, and the measurement of the 2D renal length could be sufficient for follow up. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of 3D US for assessing patients with renal disease.
Biopsy ; Electronic Health Records ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney

Purpose: Obesity has been known to contribute to technical difficulties in surgery. Until now, body mass index (BMI) has been used to measure obesity. However, there are reports that BMI does not always correspond to the visceral fat. Recently, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been used for body composition analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the body composition index obtained using a BIA device in predicting short-term postoperative outcomes. Methods: Data of patients who underwent elective major colorectal surgery using minimally invasive techniques were reviewed retrospectively. Body composition status was recorded using a commercial BIA device the day before surgery. The relationship between BMI, body composition index, and short-term postoperative outcomes, including operative time, was analyzed. Results: Sixty-six patients were enrolled in this study. In the correlation analysis, positive correlation was observed between BMI and body composition index. BMI and body composition index were not associated with short-term postoperative outcomes. Percent body fat (odds ratio, 4.226; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.064–16.780; P=0.041) was found to be a statistically significant factor of prolonged operative time in the multivariate analysis. Correlation analysis showed that body fat mass was related to prolonged operative time (correlation coefficients, 0.245; P=0.048). In the area under curve analysis, body fat mass showed a statistically significant predictive probability for prolonged operative time (body fat mass: area, 0.662; 95% CI, 0.531–0.764; P=0.024). Conclusion The body composition index can be used as a predictive marker for prolonged operative time. Further studies are needed to determine its usefulness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The temporal changes and the role of glutamate receptors in the recovery of vestibulogastrointestinal symptoms following unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) were investigated in this study. Vestibulogastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated in terms of gastric emptying and intestinal transit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of the c-Fos protein was observed in the solitary tract nucleus (STN) and rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM). These were measured at 0.5, 2, 6 and 24 h following UL in rats. RESULTS Gastric emptying and intestinal transit were significantly decreased for 6 h post UL and recovered to control levels within 24 h. Pretreatment of UL animals with MK-801 significantly increased the gastric emptying and intestinal transit. Bilateral labyrinthectomy significantly decreased the gastric emptying and intestinal transit compared to the intact labyrinthine animals but significantly increased when compared to UL animals. The expression of c-Fos protein was significantly increased in STN and RVLM compared to the control animals for 6 h post UL and recovered to control levels within 24 h. The expression was significantly decreased in animals that were pretreated with MK-801. CONCLUSION These results suggest that UL decreases the gastrointestinal motility, which recovers to control levels within 24 h post UL. Glutamate plays an important role in the recovery of vestibulogastrointestinal symptoms following UL.
Animals ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Glutamic Acid ; Receptors, Glutamate ; Solitary Nucleus

We here in report a case of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans) in a patient who had interstitial lung disease and was treated with oral corticosteroids. A 72-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity in both eyes nine days after he received oral corticosteroids. He had marked uveitis, cataracts, and vitreous opacities. Cultures were taken of blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous. We initially suspected a fungal etiology and treated him with antifungal drugs; however, the intraocular disease progressed without improvement. Vitreous culture was positive for P. agglomerans. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with cataract surgery bilaterally, followed by a 2-week course of antibiotics. The final visual acuity was 20/25 in the right eye and 20/200 in the left eye. This is the first report of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis caused by P. agglomerans in Korea; it is also the first case reported outside of the United States.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Endophthalmitis/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Eye Infections, Bacterial/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*complications ; Male ; Pantoea/*isolation & purification ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Scedosporium(S.) apiospermum is the asexual stage of Pseudallescheria boydii. It has been isolated from soil, plant debris, polluted water and sewage. It is an opportunistic organism with low virulence. Infection may occur via direct inoculation. This ubiquitous fungus causes not only mycetoma, but also infections of a variety of body sites including the skin. Localized skin infection without granule or grain production due to this organism is much rarer than mycetoma. We report a case of cutaneous S. apiospermum infection which occurred in a 69-year-old woman. The lesion was manifested by a 5.0 x 4.0 cm-sized, scaly erythematous plaque on the dorsum of the right hand. The fungal culture from the biopsy specimen on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed white to gray colored floccose colonies of S. apiospermum. The patient was treated with 200 mg of itraconazole daily for 3 months. Skin lesions were completely cured and recurrence has not been observed to date.
Agar ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Edible Grain ; Female ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hand ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Mycetoma ; Plants ; Pseudallescheria ; Recurrence ; Scedosporium* ; Sewage ; Skin* ; Soil ; Virulence

Sporotrichosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Sporothrix(S.) schenckii. Regional lymphatic sporotrichosis is common type, accounting for 75% of the cases. But fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis is seen in 20% of cases. We report two cases of fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis in a 48-year-old man and 8-year-old boy. The lesions were manifested by erythematous plaques on right arm and left cheek, respectively. The fungal culture from biopsy specimen on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed dark brown to black, moist and wrinkled colonies of S. schenckii. Histopathologically, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and chronic granulomatous inflammation were observed on H & E stain. The patients were treated with surgical excision of lesion & oral administration of 30 drops of saturated solution of potassium iodide three times a day and 100 mg of itraconazole daily for 3 months, respectively. Skin lesions were completely cured and recurrence is not observed to date.
Administration, Oral ; Agar ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Potassium Iodide ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Sporotrichosis*