Urinary isolates and antimicrobial resistance of a primary hospital representing community were analyzed. The beta-lactam and aminoglycoside resistances of E. coli and P. aeruginosa were lower than that seen in a tertiary hospital. Imipenem-resistant P.aeruginosa or VRE was not isolated; however the prevalence of ESBL was thought to be similar to that observed in a tertiary hospital.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Tertiary Care Centers

According to a United States study, 13 cases of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) have been reported to date. In 2001, a survey conducted in Korea revealed that 0.5% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates have a vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 microg/ml, and are thus referred to as vancomycin intermediate S. aureus (VISA). However there are no reports of VISA found in primary hospitals. We evaluated the MIC of vancomycin in MRSA samples obtained from primary hospitals to determine whether VISA was present in primary hospitals. The population analysis was performed to determine whether hetero-VISA was present in primary hospitals. As a result, twenty of the 103 isolates were S. aureus which were all MRSA and the vancomycin MIC was similar to that seen in tertiary hospitals. Population analysis confirmed that three strains were hetero-VISA, by showing that one strain grew in 8 microg/ml vancomycin and that two strains grew in 4 microg/ml vancomycin. In conclusion, hetero-VISA was detected in Korean primary hospitals, which may develop into VISA, however a larger sample size will be needed to confirm these results.
Korea ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Sample Size ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Tertiary Care Centers ; United States ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance*

The Apolopoprotein E type 4 allele (ApoE epsilon 4) is genetically associated with the common late anset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease. The BchE-k variant, which is the common varant of the BchE gene, has been reported to show allelic association with AD in subjects who are also carriers of the epsilon 4 allele of the ApoE, especially in subjects over the age of 75. This study was performed to evaluate the distribution of the ApoE and the BchE genotypes in the healthy and AD groups and to evaluate the synergy between the BchE-k variant and the ApoE epsilon 4 in AD. The ApoE and the BchE genotypes were determined in DNA samples from 610 healthy people and 60 LOAD patients by using ARMS by standard agarose gel electrophoresis. The effect of the ApoE epsilon 4 was closely related to AD(p<0.05). A comparison between the AD patients and the healthy individuals, both with the epsilon 4 allele, indicated an interaction between the BchE-k and the ApoE epsilon 4(p<0.05)/ The association of the BchE-k with AD was limited to carriers of the ApoE epsilon4 allele, among whom the presence of the BchE-k gave an odds ratio of AD 3.48 (95% C.I. 1.3-9.2). Therefore, these results suggested that further evidence of an association between the ApoE epsilon 4 and LOAD, and the BchE-k acts in synergy with the ApoE epsilon 4 as a susceptibility gene for AD.
Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease ; Apolipoproteins E* ; Arm ; Dementia* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the difference in fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in sedated healthy subjects after they underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy procedures.METHODS: The endoscopy group (n = 29) included healthy subjects who underwent screening via F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) after an EGD and/or colonoscopy under sedation on the same day. The control group (n = 35) included healthy subjects who underwent screening via PET/CT only. FDG uptake in the tongue, uvula, epiglottis, vocal cords, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, liver, cecum, colon, anus, and muscle were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in the tongue, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus did not significantly differ between the endoscopy and control groups. In contrast, mean SUVmax in the whole stomach was 18 % higher in the endoscopy group than in the control group (SUVmax: 2.96 vs. 2.51, P = 0.010). In the lower gastrointestinal track, SUVmax from the cecum to the rectum was not significantly different between the two groups, whereas SUVmax in the anus was 20% higher in the endoscopy group than in the control group (SUVmax: 4.21 vs. 3.50, P = 0.002). SUVmax in the liver and muscle was not significantly different between the two groups. Mean volume of the stomach and mean cross section of the colon was significantly higher in the endoscopy group than in the control group (stomach: 313.28 cm³ vs. 209.93 cm³, P < 0.001, colon: 8.82 cm² vs. 5.98 cm², P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: EGD and colonoscopy under sedation does not lead to significant differences in SUVmax in most parts of the body. Only gastric FDG uptake in the EGD subjects and anal FDG uptake in the colonoscopy subjects was higher than uptake in those regions in the control subjects.
Anal Canal ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Duodenum ; Electrons ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Epiglottis ; Esophagus ; Healthy Volunteers ; Larynx ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Pharynx ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Tongue ; Uvula ; Vocal Cords

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)is a multisystemic inflammatory disease with a prevalance of approximately 1%of the population.The use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)is an essential regimen for the treatment of RA. Among DMARDs,methotrexate (MTX)is used worldwide with confirmed effectiveness.However,cytopenia,pulmonary injury,and hepatic toxicity are a few side effects limiting its use.In addition,although the oncogenic potential of MTX is low,several cases have been reported.Recently an increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disorders has been reported in patients with RA. The incidence is higher in elderly individuals with severe longstanding seropositive RA,those with Sjogren's or Felty's syndrome,and in patients with RA treated with prolonged low dose MTX.We describe a case of RA who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during low dose MTX therapy.
Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Methotrexate*

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether polymorphisms of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR)gene,known to be associated with osteoporosis and/or osteoarthritis (OA) in Caucasians,might also relate to the risk of OA and osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women METHODS: A population of 130 postmenopausal women,including 76 healthy controls and 54 knee OA patients,were studied using anteroposterior radiographs of the knee,which were graded for OA according to the Kellgren classification system.The VDR genotype was determined by using polymerase chain reaction and by digestion with the three restriction enzymes Taq I,Bsm I,and Apa I.Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD)was assessed in all participants by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry . RESULTS: VDR genotype frequency distributions in Koreans were much different from Caucasian's both in the OA group and the control group.Especially, "t t", "B B" and "A A" genotype were very rare,prominently differentiating from Caucasians.But within Koreans,no significant differences in VDR genotype frequencies were observed between OA cases and controls.VDR genotype was not significantly associated with the radiographic grades of OA.And there were no significant relationships of VDR genotype with BMD scores in each group. CONCLUSION: In Korean postmenoposal women,the VDR gene polymorphisms do not significantly contribute to an increased prevalence of knee OA or to differences in BMD.VDR genotype analysis would not be helpful for assessing the risk of knee OA in Koreans because :(1)there is no correlation of VDR genotypes with the radiographic severity of OA ;and (2)there is a more skewed distribution of VDR genotypes in Korean population compared to the Caucasian's .
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Classification ; Digestion ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Knee* ; Neck ; Osteoarthritis* ; Osteoporosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Calcitriol