Cedecea davisae is a motile, Gram-negative rod in the family Enterobacteriaceae which is positive for lipase, DNase and catalase, and negative for gelatinase and oxidase. This bacterium is rarely isolated in the clinical specimens. We isolated C. davisae from the ascitic fluid of a 49-year old male patient with liver cirrhosis who was diagnosed as acute bacterial peritonitis. Bacterial identification was performed by API 20E and VITEK. Antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that the isolate was susceptible to cefotaxime, piperacillin, and imipenem. Peritonitis of this patient was improved by imipenem therapy. This is the first reported case of peritonitis caused by this organism.
Ascitic Fluid ; Catalase ; Cefotaxime ; Deoxyribonucleases ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Gelatinases ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Lipase ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidoreductases ; Peritonitis* ; Piperacillin

BACKGROUND: The etiologies of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases are various-thrombosis or artery to artery embolism, cardiogenic embolism and lipohyalinosis. In the past embolic cerebral infarct was thought to occur uncommonly. But these days substantial portion of patients have been found to have potential embolic sources by transesophageal echo cardiography and carotid duplex doppler. As transesophageal echocardiography has a high yield for identification of potential sources of cardiac embolism in patients with ischemic cerbrovascular diseases, its use has been increasing. In Korea an increasing number of patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases have been examined by transesophageal echocardiography since 1990. But in all the previous studies transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation has been confined to the patients with high probability of embolic cerebral infarct. All kinds of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases patients have never been examined by transesophageal echocardiography and carotid duplex doppler and the prevalence of potential embolic sources in Korean ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of potential cardiovascular embolic sources by transesophageal echocardiography and carotid duplex doppler in unselected patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS: We evaluated all kinds of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases patients admitted from 1994. 9. 1. until 1995 9. 31. to the Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine of Kangnam General Hospital. We evaluated them by transesophageal echocardiography, carotid doppler, brain CT(or brain MRI). A significant carotid stenosis was defined as a duplex scandetected lesion producing at least 50% vessel narrowing. The following echocardiographic findings were defined prospectively as potential cardiac sources of embolism : atrial appendage or left atrial cavity thrombus, spontaneous echocardiographic contrast, atrial septal aneurysm, interatrial shunt, ventricular aneurysm, ventricular thrombus, myxomatous mitral valve and protruding atherosclerotic plaque in the ascending aorta or transverse aortic arch. RESULTS: Of 64 patients admitted during the study period, 30 were excluded(Three patients were critically ill, and twenty seven patients refused diagnostic work-up.). Thorough diagnostic work-up was performed in 34 patients. Transesophageal echocardiographic positive findings were present in six patients(17.6%). Of them four(4/34, 11.7%) had spontaneous echo contrast, two(2/34, 5.8%) had left atrial thrombi, one(1/34, 2.9%) had ascending aorta atheroma. Eleven patients(11/34, 32.3%) had abnormalities in carotid doppler study. Five patients(5/34, 14.7%) had abnormalities both in transesophageal echocardiography and carotid doppler study. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that among ischemic cerebrovascular diseases patients substantial portion of patients have potential embolic sources. The prevalence of potential embolic sources in Korea may be higher than previously expected. Because the relative small number of the patients studied make it difficult to generalize the results, further studies with a large number of patients are needed.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Atrial Appendage ; Brain ; Carotid Stenosis ; Critical Illness ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Embolism ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Mitral Valve ; Neurology ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Thrombosis

Five cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula(CAVF) were diagnosed with coronary arteriography during recent 3 years in Seoul National University Hospital. In one patients, the CAVF was from right coronary artery to left ventricle at posterior aspect. In another, the CAVF was from left circumflex to left atrium. In the remaining three, it was from conal branch of left anterior descending to pulmonary artery. The correct diagnosis for the appropriate treatment of CAVF is important since the incicence of the ischemic coronary heart disease is increasing recently.
Adult* ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Seoul

Pneumatosis intestinalis is an uncommon disorder characterized by an accumulation of gas in the bowel wall. We described three cases undertaking liver transplantation. The patients developed diarrhea in three cases and high fever in two. An abdominal X-ray and computed tomography scan demonstrated extensive pneumatosis intestinalis in the colon with pneumoperitoneum mimicking hollow organ perforation. However, the patients had no abdominal symptoms and there was no evidence of peritonitis. The infection work-up was negative except one case with cytomegalovirus antigenemia. After one week of conservative management including bowel rest and antibiotic therapy, their pneumoperitoneum resolved spontaneously without any complication. Pneumatosis intestinalis should be considered as a differential diagnosis after adult liver transplantation with patients suffering from watery diarrhea and fever. Pneumoperitoneum, air-density in mesentery and retroperitoneum in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis without signs of peritonitis improved with conservative management, which included bowel rest and antibiotic therapy.
Adult ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Mesentery ; Mortuary Practice ; Peritonitis ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Stress, Psychological

Organ transplantation has become a' widely accepted treatment modality for end-stage organ disease. The shortage of allogenic donors for organ transplantation has brought about the necessity of xenotransplantation as an unlimited source of organ donation. However, organ transplantation between different species have never been successful because of hyperacute rejection. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood, many researchers believe that the natural antibodies present in the recipient's serum may bind to the graft and induce the activation of complement cascade triggering the process of hyperacute rejection. ...continue...
Antibodies ; Complement System Proteins ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Organ Transplantation ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplants

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.
China ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Korea ; SARS Virus ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Viral Load

Following reports of patients with unexplained pneumonia at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China, the causative agent was identified as coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the 2019 novel coronavirus disease was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization. Putative patients with COVID-19 have been identified in South Korea, and attempts have been made to isolate the pathogen from these patients.

PURPOSE: We checked the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitmain D (25OHD) in the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to survey the status of vitamin D levels, to see the seasonal variations of 25OHD, and to evaluate the relationships among the levels of intact PTH, corrected calcium, and phosphorus. METHODS: We defined vitamin D insufficiency and vitamin D deficiency as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL and below 20 ng/mL, respectively. 185 patients in a single center were enlisted who categorized into 3 groups, CKD2-3, CKD4, and CKD5 by eGFR using MDRD7 equation. To see the seasonal differences of the levels of 25OHD, we collected laboratory data two times per each patient during summer division (April to September) and winter division (October to March). RESULTS: Prevalences of hypovitaminosis D were 42.8% (CKD2-3), 66.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in summer division and 48.7% (CKD2-3), 73.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in winter division. Seasonal difference of the levels of 25OHD was evident only in CKD stage 2-3 (p=0.018). Negative correlations were recognized between 25OHD and intact PTH (r=-0.2048, p<0.001), phosphorus (r=-0.1711, p=0.0011). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent even in patients with early stages of CKD. The levels of 25OHD decreased significantly in winter division in patients with CKD stages 2-3. The levels of 25OHD were inversely correlated with those of intact PTH, phosphorus, respectively.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 ; Calcium ; Humans ; Phosphorus ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Seasons ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Syncope