No abstract available.
Wilms Tumor*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences of Scores for Neonatal Acute Physiology (SNAP) in between neonates with bronchopulmonay dysplasia (BPD) and control group, and to utilize SNAP as an early predictive tool for development of BPD. METHOD: A retrospective chart review was done for a total of 30 neonates who were admitted to Pochun CHA University neonatal intensive care unit between April, 1995 and May, 2001. A study group included 15 neonates with BPD and a control group included 15 neonates matched for gestational age and birth weight. SNAP and cumulative SNAP were obtained at 1st, 4th, 6th postnatal day for each group. A comparative analysis of cumulative SNAP scores of various parameters was done in two groups. RESULTS: SNAP of 10.86 and 6.86 were obtained at 4th postnatal day for BPD and control group, respectively (P<0.05). Cumulative SNAP for 1st, 4th, 6th postnatal day were 30.40 and 21.93 in BPD and control group (P=0.059). A comparison of cumulative SNAP of various parameters between two groups showed that respiratory rate and apnea to be significant parameters as well as for blood pressure and arterial oxygen tension in neonates with BPD. CONCLUSION: Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology could be utilized as a tool to predict the development of BPD although larger study is needed to simplify its scoring system to be used easily and better predict the development of BPD.
Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Oxygen ; Physiology ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies

Despite the necessity for studies of group B streptococci (GBS), due to the increase in serious adult infections, the emergence of new serotypes, and the increased resistance to macrolide antibiotics, such studies have been limited in Korea. The primary purpose of the present study was to determine the frequency trends of GBS serotypes, including serotypes VI, VII, and VIII. The final objective was to elucidate the relationship between the genotypes and serotypes of macrolide-resistant GBS isolates from a Korean population. Among 446 isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae, isolated between January 1990 and December 2002 in Korea, the frequency of serotypes were III (36.5%), Ib (22.0%), V (21.1%), Ia (9.6%), VI (4.3%), II (1.8%), VIII (1.3%), IV (1.1%), and VII (0.9%). The resistance rates to erythromycin, by serotype, were 85% (V), 23% (III), 21% (VI), 3% (Ib), and 2% (Ia). Of 135 erythromycin- resistant S. agalactiae, ermB was detected in 105 isolates, mefA in 20 isolates, and ermTR in seven isolates; most type V isolates harbored the ermB gene, Ib type isolates had an equal distribution of resistance genes, type III isolates accounted for 70% of all isolates carrying mefA genes, and one fourth of type VI isolates had mefA genes.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Erythromycin/*pharmacology ; Genotype ; Serotyping ; Streptococcus agalactiae/*classification/*drug effects/genetics

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is one of coagulase-negative staphylococci, but rarely causes aggressive and progressive infections similar to Staphylococcus aureus infection. Moreover, agglutination test for clumping factor can be positive, and the colony morphology often resembles that of S. aureus, but S. lugdunensis is usually sensitive to all antimicrobials used against staphylococci. We report a case of septicemia caused by S. lugdunensis in a 71-year-old man with diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy.
Aged ; Agglutination Tests ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sepsis* ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus lugdunensis* ; Staphylococcus*

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin lesion. The major aim in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma is the curative treatment, which is best done by Mohs excision of the neoplastic tissue. Despite the effectiveness of surgical excision, non-surgical treatment modalities may be preferred for large tumor size or poor patient performance status. Imiquimod may offer an alternative to surgical excision. Imiquimod is an immune modulator acting as IFN-alpha and other cytokine inducer, stimulating the innate immune response. Imiquimod's anti-tumor effect may be mediated by IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12. At this time, there is no published experience on the treatment of basal cell carcinoma with imiquimod in Korea. We report a case of basal cell carcinoma of the nose successfully treated with topical 5% imiquimod cream.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-12 ; Korea ; Nose* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Increased resistance rates to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) antibiotics among clinical isolates of staphylococci are considered as a consequence of an expanded use of these antibiotics in the treatment of Gram-positive infections. The proportion of MLSB resistance phenotypes of staphylococci is quite different by geographical variations and study periods. The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of MLSB resistance phenotypes among clinical isolates of staphylococci in a university hospital. METHODS: The MLSB resistance phenotypes of clinical isolates of staphylococci were investigated by the double-disk diffusion test using erythromycin and clindamycin disks. RESULTS: Of 7,916 isolates, 55.7% exhibited a constitutive resistance phenotype (cMLSB) whereas 8.1% expressed an inducible resistance phenotype (iMLSB). Among 3,419 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), 32.6% and 10.0% exhibited cMLSB and iMLSB resistance phenotypes, respectively. Of 4,497 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 73.1% and 6.8% were cMLSB and iMLSB resistance phenotypes, respectively. cMLSB was detected among 90.2% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 46.5% of methicillin-resistant CNS (MRCNS), 3.2% of methicillin-susceptible CNS (MSCNS), and 2.2% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). iMLSB was detected among 16.5% of MSSA, 11.5% of MRCNS, 6.7% of MSCNS, and 4.4% of MRSA. CONCLUSION: MLSB resistance was more prevalent among S. aureus isolates than CNS strains. Although cMLSB was the most frequently detected resistance phenotype among the total staphylococcal isolates, methicillin-susceptible strains exhibited somewhat higher iMLSB resistance rates compared with methicillin-resistant strains.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clindamycin ; Diffusion ; Erythromycin ; Methicillin Resistance ; Phenotype ; Staphylococcus aureus

Epiphrenic diverticulum is a relatively rare condition resulting from mucosal herniation through the muscular wall of the esophagus. This pulsion diverticulum is often associated with abnormal esophageal motility such as esophageal achalasia. Although pneumatic dilatation is recommended as the initial treatment for patients with esophageal achalasia, some authors caution against the use of pneumatic dilatation when esophageal achalasia is complicated by epiphrenic diverticulum. A 49-year old female patient was admitted due to progressive dysphagia for both solid and liquid foods, and weight loss and frequent vomiting. She suffered from Heller's myotomy due to esophageal achalasia 8 years prior. She was diagnosed as having recurrent esophageal achalasia with epiphrenic diverticulum due to incomplete myotomy, using esophagography, esophagogastrodudenoscopy, esophageal manometry, and esopahgeal transit scan. The patient was successfully treated with pneumatic balloon dilatation, and her symptoms markedly improved.
Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation ; Diverticulum* ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

Epiphrenic diverticulum is a relatively rare condition resulting from mucosal herniation through the muscular wall of the esophagus. This pulsion diverticulum is often associated with abnormal esophageal motility such as esophageal achalasia. Although pneumatic dilatation is recommended as the initial treatment for patients with esophageal achalasia, some authors caution against the use of pneumatic dilatation when esophageal achalasia is complicated by epiphrenic diverticulum. A 49-year old female patient was admitted due to progressive dysphagia for both solid and liquid foods, and weight loss and frequent vomiting. She suffered from Heller's myotomy due to esophageal achalasia 8 years prior. She was diagnosed as having recurrent esophageal achalasia with epiphrenic diverticulum due to incomplete myotomy, using esophagography, esophagogastrodudenoscopy, esophageal manometry, and esopahgeal transit scan. The patient was successfully treated with pneumatic balloon dilatation, and her symptoms markedly improved.
Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation ; Diverticulum* ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: The association of Streptococcus bovis biotypes with the type of clinical infection and underlying malignancies and data on antimicrobial susceptibility of S. bovis have rarely been reported in Korea. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the clinical features of patients with S. bovis bacteremia, and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of S. bovis strains isolated from blood cultures. METHODS: The clinical data of 67 S. bovis isolates between May 1998 and April 2005 at Wonju Christian Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The organism was identified by API Strep 32 kit and, for blood isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method and penicillin MICs were determined by E test. RESULTS: Of the 67 S. bovis isolates, 18 (27%) were biotype I and 49 (73%) were biotype II. Isolation rates by specimen type were, in decreasing order, wound. 37%; blood, 19%; and urine, 12%. Of the 13 S. bovis bacteremias, 2 were caused by biotype I and 11 were by biotype II; liver diseases (46%) were the most common underlying diseases; none of the 13 patients had gastrointestinal malignancies; one and three isolates were intermediate and resistant to penicillin, respectively; eleven were resistant to erythromycin; two and five were intermediate and resistant to clindamycin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most of the S. bovis isolates from blood were biotype II. Liver diseases were the most common underlying diseases. S. bovis isolates from blood displayed a high rate of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin.
Bacteremia* ; Clindamycin ; Diffusion ; Erythromycin ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Penicillins ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus bovis* ; Streptococcus* ; Wounds and Injuries

Massive intravascular hemolysis secondary to Clostridium perfringens septicemia is rare but often fatal. We report a case of a fatal clostridial hemolytic complication in a 71-year-old woman with probable refractory anemia. The patient was admitted to the emergency room due to a comatose mental state and a high fever. Laboratory analysis showed massive hemolysis. She died from severe anemia two hours after admission. The next day, blood cultures grew gram positive cocci and boxcarshaped gram positive rods, which were identified as coagulase-negative staphylococci and C. perfringens, respectively.
Aged ; Anemia ; Anemia, Refractory ; Clostridium perfringens* ; Clostridium* ; Coma ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fever ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Gram-Positive Rods ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Sepsis*