The intracranial mycotic aneurysms are a rare complication in patients with infective endocarditis, and the management of the aneurysm is controversial. We presented a case of a 50-year-old woman who had infective endocarditis, complicated by an intracranial mycotic aneurysm of distal branch of the right anterior cerebral artery. Endovascular treatment using cyanoacrylate led to a successful result.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Infected ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Cyanoacrylates* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Aged

Oak tree death caused by symbiosis of an ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, and an ophiostomatoid filamentous fungus, Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, has been a nationwide problem in Korea since 2004. In this study, we surveyed the yeast species associated with P. koryoensis to better understand the diversity of fungal associates of the beetle pest. In 2009, a total of 195 yeast isolates were sampled from larvae and adult beetles (female and male) of P. koryoensis in Cheonan, Goyang, and Paju; 8 species were identified by based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Candida kashinagacola were found to be the two dominant species. Among the 8 species, Candida homilentoma was a newly recorded yeast species in Korea, and thus, its mycological characteristics were described. The P. koryoensis symbiont R. quercusmongolicae did not show extracelluar CM-cellulase, xylanase and avicelase activity that are responsible for degradation of wood structure; however, C. kashinagacola and M. guilliermondii did show the three extracellular enzymatic activities. Extracelluar CM-cellulase activity was also found in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, C. kashinagacola, and Candida sp. Extracelluar pectinase activity was detected in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, Candida sp., and M. guilliermondii. All the 8 yeast species displayed compatible relationships with R. quercus-mongolicae when they were co-cultivated on yeast extract-malt extract plates. Overall, our results demonstrated that P. koryoensis carries the yeast species as a symbiotic fungal associate. This is first report of yeast diversity associated with P. koryoensis.
Adult ; Ambrosia* ; Beetles* ; Candida ; Cellulases ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea* ; Larva ; Platypus* ; Polygalacturonase ; Quercus* ; Symbiosis ; Wood ; Yeasts*

Pet dogs have been considered to be involved in the contamination of indoor air by serving as a source of providing molds at houses. Currently, information on the molds originated from pet dogs is rarely available in Korea. The present study was carried out to obtain basic information on the fungi present on pet dogs. For this, fungal isolation was performed to the skin and hairs of 70 pet dogs at different houses and veterinary hospitals. A total of 44 fungal isolates were obtained from skin (27 isolates) and hairs (17 isolates) of the dogs investigated. Based on the observation of microstructures and colony morphology, and the ITS rDNA sequence analysis, the fungal isolates were identified at the level of genus. The identified isolates belong to the genera of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Beauveria, Chrysosporium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis, and Trichoderma. Among these genera, Aspergillus (25%), Cladosporium (23%) and Penicillium (20.5%) were 3 major genera. 63% of the 44 isolates showed color changes on dermatophyte test medium (DTM). When we tested the growth ability of 44 isolates at 37degrees C, 45% of the isolates were able to grow. These results show that pet dogs could carry fungi having a potentiality of affecting on human health.
Alternaria ; Animals ; Arthrodermataceae ; Aspergillus ; Beauveria ; Chrysosporium ; Cladosporium ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Dogs* ; Fungi* ; Hair ; Hospitals, Animal ; Humans ; Korea ; Penicillium ; Scopulariopsis ; Sequence Analysis ; Skin ; Trichoderma

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed to investigate the effect of tramadol on the bispectral index (BIS) during anesthesia with desflurane. METHODS: One hundred fifty adults, ASA class 1 and 2 patients, scheduled for general anesthesia for elective surgical procedures were included in this study. None of the patients were premedicated and anesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg/kg and maintained with air-oxygen (FiO2 0.5) and desflurane, adjusted to keep the BIS between from 50 and 60. Forty minutes before completing surgery, the subjects were randomly allocated into 3 groups to receive saline (control group), tramadol 1.5 mg/kg (T1 group) or 3.0 mg/kg (T2 group) intravenously. Hemodynamics and BIS values were then recorded every 5 minutes until completion of the operation, during which time the concentrations of desflurane were not modified. RESULTS: The mean BIS values after tramadol administration weren't significantly different from the control group throughout the period of observation. No significant changes in the hemodynamics were noted, except systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure in the T1 and T2 groups significantly increased in the first 5 minutes after the tramadol injection. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the administration of tramadol while maintaining anesthesia with desflurane, adjusted to keep the BIS between 50 and 60, does not modified BIS values. So, we propose that tramadol can be safely administered as an immediate postoperative analgesia without concern about intra-operative awareness.
Adult ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; Propofol ; Surgical Procedures, Elective ; Tramadol

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal opioids in combination with bupivacaine has been shown to provide adequate sensory blockade and early recovery from spinal anesthesia. This study was investigated the added effects of intrathecal fentanyl 10 microgram to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing lower extremity surgery were into three groups. Group I received bupivacaine 10 mg (0.5%), gruop II received bupivacaine 5 mg with normal saline 1 ml, and group III received bupivacaine 5 mg with fentanyl 10 microg and normal saline 0.8 ml. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between group I and group III in the peak level and duration of sensory block. But the intensity of motor blockade was decreased in group III compared with group I and side effects of spinal anesthesia with local anesthetics was decreased in group III compared with group I. In Group II, 7 patients were complained the pain during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal fentanyl 10 microgram with bupivacaine 5 mg on spinal blockade provide reliable anesthesia for lower extremity surgery.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Lower Extremity

BACKGROUND: The study was performed to evaluate the effect of the thoracic epidural analgesia on the postoperative pain and pulmonary function after thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: Postoperative pain control consisted of continuous thoracic epidural infusion of normal saline in group 1 (Control group) and 0.125% bupivacaine mixed with fentanyl 5microgram/ml in group 2 (TEA group) added in single intercostal nerve block patient in sixty patients who had undergone elective thoracoscopic surgery. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Prince-Henry score (PHS) and pulmonary function (FVC and FEV1) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 hours. RESULTS: There were significant improvement of the degree of pain in both groups but TEA group was lower than control group during 48 hours except at postoperative 4 hours. Pulmonary function was decreased less and recovered faster in TEA group than control group during 48 hours (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic epidural analgesia added in single intercostal nerve block has a benefit on the recovery of the postoperative pulmonary function and also provide superior analgesia after thoracoscopic surgery when compared to single intercostal nerve block alone. The authors recommend thoracic epidural analgesia for patient undergoing thoracoscopic surgery who receive single intercostal nerve block.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural* ; Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Intercostal Nerves ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Recovery of Function* ; Tea ; Thoracoscopy*

BACKGROUND: Rocuronium produce intense discomfort on IV injection in conscious patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of pain associated with IV injection of rocuronium in conscious patients and to determine the efficacy of different doses of IV lidocaine at minimizing injection pain. METHODS: The author evaluated 120 in-patients undergoing various elective surgeries. Patients were randomized into four groups of 30 patients for this blind, prospective study. After tourniquet application on the forearm, the patients were given saline (3 ml) (Group I, n = 30), lidocaine 20 mg (Group II, n = 30), lidocaine 40 mg (Group III, n = 30), or lidocaine 60 mg (Group IV, n = 30) diluted in a 3 ml solution. The occlusion was released after 20 seconds and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was injected over 10 seconds. The patients were observed and asked immediately if they had pain in the arm; responses were assessed. Five mg/kg of thiopental sodium was injected intravenously, 30 seconds after the administration of rocuronium. RESULTS: The incidence of pain was 86.7% in group I and was significantly lower group II (60.0%), group III (36.3%), and in IV (P <0.05). In addition, patients pretreated with lidocaine were less likely to suffer moderate to severe pain. But, pain incidences and severities were similar in those that received 40 mg or 60 mg of lidocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine was effective at relieving rocuronium-induced and doses of 40 mg and 60 mg of lidocaine were most effective.
Arm ; Forearm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lidocaine* ; Prospective Studies ; Thiopental ; Tourniquets

Stem cells can give rise to various cell types and are capable of regenerating themselves over multiple cell divisions. Pluripotency and self-renewal potential of stem cells have drawn vast interest from different disciplines, with studies on the molecular properties of stem cells being one example. Current investigations on the molecular basis of stem cells pluripotency and self-renewal entail traditional techniques from chemistry and molecular biology. In this mini review, we discuss progress in stem cell research that employs proteomics approaches. Specifically, we focus on studies on human stem cells from proteomics perspective. To our best knowledge, only the following types of human stem cells have been examined via proteomics analysis: human neuronal stem cells, human mesenchymal stem cells, and human embryonic stem cells. Protein expression serves as biomarkers of stem cells and identification and expression level of such biomarkers are usually determined using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled mass spectrometry or non-gel based mass spectrometry.
*Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Genetic Techniques ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Neurons/*cytology/physiology ; Proteomics/*methods ; Stem Cells/*metabolism