BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate the prevalence of enterovirus and cytomegalovirus infections to terminally failing hearts, the presence of enteroviral RNA and cytomegaloviral DNA was screened in the explanted hearts of transplantation recipients. METHODS: RNA and DNA extractions were performed from explanted failing hearts (N=22) and normal hearts (N=5). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of enterovirus and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cytomegalovirus were performed. In situ RT-PCR and in situ PCR were performed with positive nucleic acids of viruses. RESULTS: The positivity of enterovirus in failing hearts was 4.4% (1/22) and 0% (0/5) in normal hearts in nested RT-PCR. There was no significant difference in positivity of enteroviral RNA between failing and normal hearts. Nuclei of myocardium was stained in dark-violet color with in situ RT-PCR. The positivity of cytomegalovirus in failing hearts was 45% (10/22) and 40% (2/5) in nested PCR. There was no significant difference in positivity of cytomegaloviral DNA between failing and normal hearts. Nuclei of myocardium was stained in dark-violet color with in situ PCR. Positive chambers of cytomegalovirus were in decreasing tendency according to increasing patient's age. CONCLUSION: Enterovirus was very rarely observed in explanted terminally failing hearts and cytomegalovirus was frequently found both in explanted failing hearts and normal. These viruses have little direct causal relationship with the development of heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA ; Enterovirus* ; Heart Failure ; Heart* ; Humans* ; Mass Screening* ; Myocardium ; Nucleic Acids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; RNA

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost all populations, with frontline workers experiencing a higher risk of mental health effects compared to other groups. Although there are several research studies focusing on the mental health effects of the pandemic on healthcare workers, there is little research about its impact on workers in outsourced hospital essential services. This study aims to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress and coronavirus anxiety among staff working in 3 outsourced hospital essential services-housekeeping, porter service and maintenance services. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among outsourced hospital essential services workers in a tertiary hospital. Data on demographics, medical history, lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors and mental well-being were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Robust logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with psychological distress and dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 246 hospital essential services workers participated in the study. The prevalence of psychological distress was 24.7%, and dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19 was 13.4%. Social support and workplace support were found to be independently associated with a lower risk of psychological distress, and social connectivity was associated with a lower risk of dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the crucial roles of communities and workplaces in combating the mental health consequences of the pandemic. Public health programmes that aim to tackle the emerging mental health crisis in hospital essential services workers should incorporate strategies to address psychosocial factors, in addition to traditional self-care approaches.
Anxiety/psychology* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Health Personnel/psychology* ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Personnel, Hospital ; Prevalence ; Psychological Distress ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore/epidemiology*

No abstract available.
Buthionine Sulfoximine* ; Cell Line* ; Cisplatin* ; Humans* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Stomach*

A 39 year old man suffering from pheochromocytoma and coronay artery obstruction diseases was scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery before an adrenalectomy. General anesthesia was induced with fentanyl and midazolam and maintained with intermittent administration of fentanyl and low concentraion of isoflurane. At 5 minutes after commencement of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the mean arterial pressure suddenly elevated to 150 mmHg. Sodium nitroprusside and labetalol were administered rapidly, however, mean arterial pressure could not be lowered below 100 mmHg. After release of aortic cross clamp, the electrocardiography showed tachycardia (150 beats/min) with wide QRS and systolic arterial pressure elevated to 180 mmHg. Antiarrhythmic drugs, inotropic and antiischemic drugs were administered. Thereafter tachycardia was disappeared and systolic arterial pressure was lowered below 150 mmHg. We observed the paroxysmal hypertension and tachycardia during CPB that is considered to be attributed to the presence of pheochromocytoma. Therefore we suggest that continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia and pulsatile perfusion during CPB could be helpful in a patient with pheochromocytoma undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Electrocardiography ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Isoflurane ; Labetalol ; Midazolam ; Nitroprusside ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Pulsatile Flow ; Tachycardia ; Transplants

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and 2.17x0.22 mm in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.
Animals ; Gnathostoma/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Gnathostomiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Larva ; Ranidae/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea ; Snakes/*parasitology

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Cisplatin* ; Humans* ; Interferon-gamma* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Stomach* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Cisplatin* ; Humans* ; Interferon-gamma* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Stomach* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Adult gnathostomes were discovered in the stomach of the Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, road-killed in Jeju-do (Province). Their morphological characters were examined to identify the species. Total 50 gnathostome adults were collected from 6 out of 10 weasels examined. In infected weasels, 4-6 worms were grouped and embedded in each granulomatous gastric tumor, except 1 weasel. Male worms were 25.0x1.4 mm in average size, and had a tail with pedunculate papillae, a spicule, and minute tegumental spines. Females were 40.0x2.5 mm in average size, and had a tail without tegumental spines. Pointed and posteriorly curved hooklets were arranged in 8-10 rows on the head bulb. Tegumental spines were distributed from behind the head bulb to the middle portion of the body. The spines were different in size and shape by the distribution level of the body surface. Fertilized eggs were 65.5x38.9 microm in average size, and had a mucoid plug at 1 pole. These gnathostomes from Jeju weasels were identified as Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that G. nipponicum is distributed in Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea, and the Jeju weasel, M. sibilica quelpartis, plays a crucial role for its definitive host.
Animals ; Female ; Gnathostoma/anatomy & histology/classification/*isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Male ; Mustelidae/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea ; Stomach/parasitology

Struma ovarii is a rare tumor of the ovary pathologically resembling teratomas with thyroid components. The presenting clinical, radiological, and pathological features of patie-nts with consequent struma ovarii is diverse and does not give substantial information with regard to the nature of the ovarian tumor. Ten cases collected over a period of eight years from two institutes are presented which showed a wide diversity of clinical features, and in which the diagnosis was only made later by strict pathological criteria. The treatment for struma ovarii, and in even rarer cases, malignant struma ovarii, remains highly controvers-ial, but it is suggested that conservative treatment by tumor excision only may be sufficie-nt. Surgical treatment also greatly ameliorates any accompanying hydrothorax and ascites.
Academies and Institutes ; Ascites ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hydrothorax ; Ovary ; Struma Ovarii* ; Teratoma ; Thyroid Gland

The metastasis of uterine leiomyosarcoma to the neck node has not been reported previously and the radiotherapy has been rarely used for the metastatic lesion of the other sites. We report a case of neck metastasis from a uterine leiomyosarcoma, which developed 10 months after surgery and postoperative pelvic radiotherapy. It also involved the parapharyngeal space, adjacent spine, and spinal canal. The metastatic neck mass was inoperable, and was treated by neck radiotherapy (6,000 cGy) and chemotherapy including taxol and carboplatin. The mass has regressed progressively to a nearly impalpable state. She has never developed spinal cord compression syndrome, and has maintained good swallowing for eight months since the neck radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Since the extensive metastatic neck mass showed good local response to high dose radiotherapy and chemotherapy, both treatments may be considered for an unresectable metastatic leiomyosarcoma.
Carboplatin ; Deglutition ; Drug Therapy* ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paclitaxel ; Radiotherapy* ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spine