BACKGROUND: Enterococci exhibit intrinsic resistance or high-level minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to beta-lactams than other streptococci. This appears to be due to low affinity of penicillin-binding proteins and rarely production of beta-lactamase, which gives the reason of testing beta-lactamase for blood and cerebrospinal fluid isolates. Ampicillin is more effective than penicillin in vitro, and MIC of ampicillin is generally 1 dilution lower than that of penicillin. The purpose of this study is to detect beta-lactamase producing enterococci an6 to compare MICs of ampicillin and penicillin by Vitek system (bioMerieux, Hazelwood, MO, USA) with those by agar dilution method. METHODS: We collected 110 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and 51 isolates of E. faecium from clinical specimens in 1998. MICs of antibiotics were determined by agar dilution method and Vitek system. We also performed beta-lactamase test by the Cefinase (Becton Dickinson, USA) for 512 isolates of E. faecalis and 189 isolates of E. faecium collected in 1998. RESULTS: The most common sites of isolates were blood, bile, surgical/traumatic wounds, closed and open pus and urine. MICs of ampicillin were 1 to 2 dilution lower than those of penicillin for E. faecalis (P=0.03). But there were no significant differences in MICs for E. faecium (P=0.19). Five isolates (4 E. faecalis and 1 E. faecium) were susceptible to ampicillin but resistant to penicillin. There were no beta-lactamase producing enterococci among 701 isolates tested. CONCLUSIONS: MIC by Vitek system tends to be 1 to 2 dilution lower than MIC by agar dilution method to beta-lactams, and MIC of ampicillin is 1 to 2 dilution lower than MIC of penicillin, which could result in discrepancy in interpretation of susceptibilty tests. A beta-lactamase test for enterococci is not recommeneded for routine test in Korea.
Agar ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; beta-Lactamases ; beta-Lactams ; Bile ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus* ; Korea ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; Penicillins ; Suppuration ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Bacteria, Anaerobic*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Oncogenes and EGF-Receptor(EGFR) may be involved n different stages of the multistep carcinogenesis process. A specific pattern of karyotypic abnormalities in solid tumors can be detected by cytogenetic methods. OBJECTIVE: This study is intnded to observe the cytomolecular kiologic chracterization of c-myc, erb B and EGFR genes in squasnous cell carcinoma(SCC) of the skin and cervix. METHODS: We have eytogenet,ically examined the short-term culturs from SCC. The rearrangement, amplification or expressi.on of erb B, c-myc, and EGFR genes were studied by Southern blot, analysis of genomic DNA and by slot blot analysis of tota! RNA extracted from biopsies of normal skin and SCC tissues. EGFR expression was examined immunohistochemially using monoclonal antibodies and the localizat,ion of the c-myc oncogene mRNA by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A remarkably structural aberration was del 6(q21-qter) counted 20 metaphases among 28 metaphases ana1yzed. In nunierical aberration, all chromosomes were lost or gained randomly. Amenploid including triploid and tetraploid were observed in 8 metaphases, 6 tumor cells contained marker chromosome. In Southern blot analysis, rearrangement and amglificaton of EGFR in primary squamous cell carcinoma of cervix uteri and skin respectively. In slot blot analysis, the levels of c-myc, erb B and EGFR mRNA increaaed respectively 3.5, 2.5 and 2.8 times in SCC when compared to normal tissues. In immunoperoxidase stain, EGFR was present, in SCC where keratinocytes with strong cyto-plasmic staining but no membr, line labelling, where as in normal skin the were primarily present in t,he membrane and cytoplasm of basal cells. In situ hybridization with c-myc cDNAs allowed detection of grains representative of biotin labelled cDNA-mRNA hybrids in the frozden section of SCC tissues. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that specific patterns of karyotypir abnormalites, rearrangement, or amplification of EGFR gene, and overexpression of oncogenes and EGFR gene may be associated with the carcinogenesis of SCC.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biopsy ; Biotin ; Blotting, Southern ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Edible Grain ; Cervix Uteri ; Cytogenetics ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; In Situ Hybridization ; Keratinocytes ; Membranes ; Metaphase ; Oncogenes ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Tetraploidy ; Triploidy

No abstract available.
Candida albicans* ; Candida*

As various diagnostic and treatment technologies evolve, the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on pediatric patients outside operating rooms is rapidly becoming more common. Procedural sedation and analgesia refers to the use of sedatives and analgesics to provide anxiolysis, analgesia, and immobilization during the procedure. There is a need for a common guideline that may be used by different health professionals, including anesthesiologists, pediatricians, emergency medicine physicians, dentists, radiologists, and others that are involved in these settings. Furthermore, during the entire process an anesthesiologist should be responsible for the training of those involved. Procedural sedation and analgesia is a branch of clinical medicine that includes informed consent, fasting before sedation, patient evaluation, medication administration, patient monitoring, recovery and discharge, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Complications associated with procedural sedation and analgesia may occur due to a drug overdose or side effects, inadequate patient monitoring, physician's errors, and/or insufficient recovery. Although the most common complications are airway obstruction or respiratory depression, these may be prevented by careful patient monitoring and appropriate emergency response. Further progress in procedural sedation and analgesia will require research, an assessment of newer sedatives, and improvements in the reporting system for adverse events.
Airway Obstruction ; Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Child ; Clinical Medicine ; Conscious Sedation ; Deep Sedation ; Dentists ; Drug Overdose ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medicine ; Fasting ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Immobilization ; Informed Consent ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Operating Rooms ; Respiratory Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Brain acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter in the control of blood pressure. Pharmacological activation of central cholinergic receptors by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of choline resulted in a marked pressure response in hypotensive experimental models, and the pressure response was associated with an increase in plasma vasopressin levels. The aim of this study was to determine whether a unilateral cervical sympathectomy affects the pressure response induced by ICV choline. METHODS: Rats were prepared with a cervical sympathectomy or with a sham operation and a 23 G cannula was implanted into the lateral cerebral ventricle. They were divided into three groups according to the pre-treated condition and the solution injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle; group 1 (ICV saline after sham operation), group 2 (ICV choline after sham operation), group 3 (ICV choline after cervical sympathectomy). Following the recovery period, pressure response was monitored for 50 min after injecting ICV choline or saline and plasma vasopressin levels were also assessed with an EIA kit at preinjection time, 10 min, and 50 min after ICV injection. RESULTS: The baseline systolic blood pressure was 120.6 +/- 3.9 mmHg in group 3 and 121.7 +/- 9.0 mmHg in group 2 and there was no significant difference. The pressure response to ICV choline became evident within 1 min and reached a maximum magnitude in 10 min in both groups. Compared to the sham operated rats (group 2), the pressure response to ICV choline was significantly attenuated in sympathectomized rats (p < 0.05). However, the plasma vasopressin levels were not significantly affected by ICV choline or a cervical sympathectomy. CONCLUSIONS: While the unilateral cervical sympathectomy itself did not have any effect on bloodpressure, it attenuated the pressure response to ICV choline. A unilateral cervical sympathectomy may attenuate the hypertensive response which is caused by an increased central cholinergic neurotransmission.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Catheters ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Choline* ; Models, Theoretical ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; Sympathectomy* ; Synaptic Transmission ; Vasopressins

We report a case of xanthoma disseminatum in a 24 year old male paitient. Multiple yellow-brown papules developed on the flexor aurfaces, such as the neck, axillae, antecubital fossae, groin, and perianal regions. Some papules were detected arouns the eyes and uvulai. biopsy specimen revealed a dense infiltrate of histiocytes, foam cells, Touton giant cells, and other inflammatory cells. No Langerhans granules were seen in the electron microscopic analysis.
Axilla ; Biopsy ; Foam Cells ; Giant Cells ; Groin ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Xanthomatosis* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Acutely induced hypoxia causes an increase in the mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and oxygen consumption. However, comparisons of hemodynamic changes and oxygen consumption between subjects with and without anesthesia are rare. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the hemodynamic changes and oxygen availability after acute apnea between the dogs with and without anesthesia. METHODS: Apnea was induced to 19 healthy mongrel dogs. Group 1 (N=10) constituted dogs with anesthesia and group 2 (N=9) constituted dogs without anesthesia. Hemodynamic data and oxygen levels were rapidly measured with 1 minute intervals. RESULTS: The survival time of group 1 was longer than that of group 2. The mean arterial pressure increased in group 1. Although the cardiac outputs in both groups increased at the same time course in early phase of apnea, the preload values increased more rapidly in group 1. Systemic vascular resistance decreased at 2 and 3 minutes of apnea in group 1 but not in group 2. The oxygen extraction ratio increased significantly at 4 and 5 minutes of apnea in group 2. CONCLUSION: In this study the dogs with anesthesia had a prolonged survival time compared to the dogs without anesthesia. Most hemodynamic values did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for an increased mean arterial pressure and decreased systemic vascular resistance in the dogs with anesthesia. It was suggested that the cause of early death in the dogs without anesthesia was decreased oxygen delivery.
Anesthesia* ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Apnea* ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dogs ; Hemodynamics* ; Oxygen Consumption ; Oxygen* ; Vascular Resistance

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognosis, survival rate and curve on the eyes for corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration, we performed statistical analysis. METHODS: Forty-one recipients (62 eyes) have received penetrating keratoplasty for corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration for about 14 years from April 1984 to October 1997. We analyzed survival rate and curve on sex, age and type of corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 years and sex distribution of recipient was predominant in female patients (M: 16 recipients, 19 eyes, F: 25 recipients, 43 eyes). In the causative disease of first keratoplasty, corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration were 46 eyes and 16 eyes. Granular type was the most common type of keratoplasty. In 62 grafts, graft rejection was developed in 19 eyes (30.6%). Graft rejection periods ranged from 53 days to 10 years and 3 months. Mean graft rejection time was 2 years and 8 months. In this study, 5 years survival rate developed in 75% of corneal dystrophy and developed in 31% of corneal degeneration. The statistical analysis showed significant relationship between survival rate and disease type (p=0.0032, p<0.05). But age and sex were not maintained with association with survival rate (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that corneal dystrophy was higher than corneal degeneration in survival rate with statistically significant difference. But sex and age did not have influence on survival rate.
Corneal Transplantation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Prognosis* ; Sex Distribution ; Survival Rate* ; Transplants