Nine species of genus Ganoderma collected in Korea and abroad including Ganoderma lucidum complex and G. lucidum were compared by investigating growth characteristics. In the bottle culture, the mycelial growth periods of G. lucidum from Taiwan and North America was 26 to 30 days compared to that of Korean G. lucidum, which was 30 to 32 days. Cultivation period of Taiwan and North American isolates was 30 to 32 days which were 11 to 17 days shorter than those of Korean isolates. Biological efficiency of Taiwan and North American isolates were ranged from 3.3 to 5.5%, which were apparently lower than that of Korean isolates which ranged from 6.2 to 9.4%. Korean isolates had longer stipes(15~40 mm) and more number of pileus(4~6/bottle) than those of Taiwan and North American isolates. The G. lucidum isolates collected from Korea will be regarded as the independent species from the G. lucidum collected from Taiwan and North America since, the G. lucidum from Korea showed much different growth characteristics in various aspects compared to the G. lucidum from Taiwan and North America.
Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Ganoderma* ; Korea ; North America ; Reishi* ; Taiwan

By means of hospital-based data over 8 years we sought to evaluate the clinical indications and incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy by demographic characteristic and reproduction history. From the obstetric record of all deliveries at Chung Goo Hospital between Jan. 1, 1990, and Nov. 31, 1997, we identified all women undergoing emergency cesarean hysterectomy, calculated incidence rates, conducted statistical tests of linear trends and heterogenety, and observed the clinical indicatons preceding the onset of this procedure. There were 16731 deliveries during this period, Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 24 of 5993 cesarean sections(0.40%) and in 10 of 10738 vaginal deleveries(0.09%), so more frequently after cesarean section than vaginal delivery. The age of patients varied from 22 to 40 years old. The higher the age and the parity of patients, the higher incidence of cesarean hysterectomy was noted. The most common indication of cesarean hysterectomy was uterine atony(52.94%) followed by placental disorders(41.18%), uterine myoma with pregnancy(2.9%) and uterine rupture (2.9%). All patients who had hysterectomy received transfusion from 1 pint to 57 pints. The postoperative complications were bladder injury, febrile morbidity, disseminated intravascular coaguolopathy and wound disruption. There were three maternal deaths, the cause was disseminated intravascular coaguolopathy and amniotic embolism. The data identifiy uterine atony as the primary cause for gravid hysterctomy. The data also illustrated how the incidence of emergency peripartum hysterectomy increases significantly with increasing parity, especially when influenced by a current placenta previa or a prior cesarean section. Maternal morbidity remained high.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Embolism ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma ; Maternal Death ; Parity ; Peripartum Period* ; Placenta Previa ; Postoperative Complications ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Inertia ; Uterine Rupture ; Wounds and Injuries

Bleomycin, a tumoricidal antibiotic agent, may produce unusual cutaneous manifestations such as pigmentation scleroderma, and gangrene. We report a case of the development of linear streaky pigmentation and cutaneous scleroderma in a patient treated with bleomycin for choriocarcinoma of undescented testis. The patient was 45-year-old male presented with linear brown and slate gray streaking over the trunk and extremities after three cycles of chemotherapy(bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatine). After the fourth cycle of the same chemotherapy, 18 weeks after initiation of bleomycin, the development of cutaneous scleroderma-like conditions was observed involving the same sites. Histopathologic examination showed increased basal pigmentation and thick collagen bundles through the entire dermis, extending to the subcutis. Herein, we describe a case of streaky pigmentation and scleroderma in association with bleomycin anticancer chemotherapy simultaneously in a patient.
Bleomycin* ; Choriocarcinoma ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation* ; Pregnancy ; Testis

Although rapid diagnosis of human babesiosis usually can be made by microscopic examination of thin and thick blood smears, differentiation between Babesia microti and Plasmodium falciparum can be quite difficult. The parasite is often not visualized in the early course of infection or in a partially treated case and the young trophozoites of these two organisms are similar. Recently, we experienced a case, which was thought as human babesiosis initially by microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained thin blood smears, but was finally diagno-sed as P. falcifarum infection by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated successfully with quinine and clindamycin, which are effective in both infections. When differential diagnosis is difficult, we suggest combination therapy of quinine and clindamycin as an empirical regimen.
Animals ; Babesia microti ; Babesiosis ; Clindamycin* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Parasites ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinine* ; Trophozoites

Geotrichum(G.) candidum is a common fungus that is rarely pathogenic for man, first described by Link in 1809, and according to Dodge this fungus is classified as a subspecies of Eremnascaeae imperfectae. This species is largely saprophytic and is usually found in soil, decaying matters, and milk product, although isolation from skin, sputum, and feces of man is not unusual. Geotrichosis, caused by G. candidum may occur as an infection of the lung simulating chronic pulmonary tuberculosis or disseminated infection. Very rarely, skin and mucous membrane infection has been documented. These infections usually affect immunocompromised hosts. Literature concerning skin or soft tissue infection with this fungus is limited, especially in immunocompetent persons there are only a few reports by this organism. In this paper we report a case of cutaneous geotrichosis involving skin in a healthy woman, in which case steroid and trauma was supposed to play some roles in the pathogenesis.
Feces ; Female ; Fungi ; Geotrichosis ; Geotrichum* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung ; Milk ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Soil ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphologic changes of the injured hepatic acini following ligation of common bile duct and to investigate the pathophysiologic process of hepatic failure and biliary liver cirrhosis in the extrahepatic cholestasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The common bile ducts of 18 rabbits were ligated partially. The rabbits were killed and selective microangiography was carried out with infusion of barium suspension via portal vein 4 to 24 weeks after ligation. Selective microangiography was also carried out in two normal rabbits. The microangiographic findings were evaluated and correlated with histopathologic features. RESULTS: The sinusolds of the liver acinus showed distortion, varying degrees of luminal widening, and irregularities in architecture. Terminal branches of the portal vein (TPV) showed increased number of branches, luminal narrowing, tortuosity, distortion, and beaded appearance. Peribiliary plexi were found as thin curvilinear, barium-filled structures along the wall of the dilated bile duct. The microangiographic findings were well correlated with histopathologic findings. The grades of microangiographic and histopathologic findings were poorly correlated with the duration of the ligation of CBD. CONCLUSION: Changes in microvasculature of the liver acinus following partial ligation of common bile duct were demonstrated by microangiography. Although the microvascular changes were evoked secondary to the injury, they might have some active roles in the pathophysiologic process in the liver.
Barium ; Bile Ducts ; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic ; Common Bile Duct* ; Ligation* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Failure ; Liver* ; Microvessels ; Phenobarbital ; Portal Vein ; Rabbits

This study was performed to investigate the toxicity of mitomycin C(MMC) on the iris and ciliary body of the cat. After anesthesia, MMC in 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg/ml concenration was injected intracamerally and the equal volume of balanced salt solution(BSS) was injected intracamerally to the contralateral eye as a control. There were no significant difference between 0.1 mg/ml of MMC and BBS injection except for the enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum and destruction of cristae of ciliary body 14 days after MMC injection. Iris vessel was congested and mitochondria of ciliary body was enlarged and cristae was disrupted 7 days after 0.4 mg/ml of MMC injection. There were infiltration of inflammatory cell on the iris and increased cellular damage at the nonpigmented epithelium of ciliary body 21 days after 0.4 mg/ml of MMC injection. These results suggest that the caution is necessary to prevent high concentration of MMC from getting into the anterior chamber at the time of glaucoma filtering surgery in human.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Anterior Chamber ; Cats* ; Ciliary Body* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Epithelium ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Iris* ; Mitochondria ; Mitomycin*

Keloids are benign fibrous tumors which extend beyond the original wound. Methods of treatment include surgical excision, radiotherapy, intralesional steroid injection, cryotherapy, silicon gel and combined therapy. Postoperative irradiation or steroid injection could be an effective method for prevention of recurrence after surgical treatment. We report a case of earlobe keloid which occurred after ear piercing. It was treated by excision and saved autograft using the overlying skin of the keloid and then immediate corticosteroid intrawound injection after excision.
Autografts* ; Body Piercing ; Cryotherapy ; Keloid* ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Silicone Gels ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

The primary Malignant lymphoma of the orbit is a relatiely uncommon condition. The authers experienced a case of primary orbital malignant lymphoma in 59 year old female. The malgnant lymphocytic lymphoma was confirmed by excisional biopsy, and local radiation theraphy was followed. There has been no sign of recurrence at the orbital region and the other sites for postoperative 12 months.
Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Lymphoma* ; Middle Aged ; Orbit* ; Recurrence

The primary Malignant lymphoma of the orbit is a relatiely uncommon condition. The authers experienced a case of primary orbital malignant lymphoma in 59 year old female. The malgnant lymphocytic lymphoma was confirmed by excisional biopsy, and local radiation theraphy was followed. There has been no sign of recurrence at the orbital region and the other sites for postoperative 12 months.
Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Lymphoma* ; Middle Aged ; Orbit* ; Recurrence