BACKGROUND: In recent years gonorrhea has been pandemic and remains one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases(STD) in the world, especially in developing countries. OBJECTIVE & METHOD: For the detection of a more effective therapeutic regimen and to assess the prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG), we have been studying patients who have visited the VD Clinic of Choong-ku Public Health Center in Seoul since 1980 by means of the chromogenic cephalosporin method. RESULTS: In 1995, 97 strains of N. gonorrhoeae were isolated, among which 41(42.3%) were PPNG. CONCLUSION: Since the prevalence of PPNG was reported as 21.9% in 1981, the rate fluctuated. However, in 1993, there was an increase up to 74.3%. Thereafter, the prevalence rate decreased to 64.3% in 1994 and 42.3% in 1995. These changes will therefore need continuous observation.
Developing Countries ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Methods ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae* ; Neisseria* ; Pandemics ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Seoul*

Successful block of the celiac plexus denervates the denervatives of the foregut and therefore can successfully interrupt nociceptive stimuli from the pancreas, stomach, liver, etc. Although permanent neurolytic block is much less successful for malignant chronic pancreatitis syndrome, it is specifically useful for treatment of intractable pain that often accompanies carcinoma of the pancreas or other upper abdominal visceral tumors. This was a case report in which intractable pain due to malignant gastric cancer was successfuly controlled by the permanent neurolytic celiac plexus block.
Celiac Plexus ; Liver ; Pain, Intractable ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Many studies have shown that epidural narcotics produce prolonged analgesic action. We instillated 2mg of morphine on the dura just before wound closure which was exposed for lumbar laminectomy. Sixty patients scheduled for laminectomy were devided into two groups i.e., morphine group (30 patients) and control group(30 patients). The results of this study were as follows: 1) In morphine group, 17 patients (56.6%) tolerated the postoperative pain without narcotic injection for over 20 hours, but 13 patients(43.3%) of the control group required narcotic injection within 5 hours. 2) Severe respiratory depression was noted in two cases from the morphine group. 3) It is a very simple and effective method for postoperative pain control.
Humans ; Laminectomy ; Morphine* ; Narcotics ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Wounds and Injuries

Aconitine is a main component of Aconitum carmichaeli, a Chinese herb known to be effective for arthritis and neuralgia. Many senior citizens consume the herb as a folk remedy. Aconitine-associated cardiogenic toxicity has been observed but aconitine-induced cerebrovascular event has not been reported so far. We report two elderly patients who became unconscious and showed neurological dysfunction soon after ingesting aconitine for pain control. We speculate that the aconitine induced cardiac arrhythmia. This resulted in cardiogenic emboli formation with subsequent large territory cerebral infarction.
Aconitine

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Radiculopathy*

No abstract available.
Female ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal*

Most proximal humeral fractures respond satisfactory to simple conservative treatment. But operative treatment is recornmended in the cases that poor results are anticipated by prolonged immobilization, or because of the severe displacement and comminution. After Neer. in 1970, emphasized the need for operative treatment in displaced proximal humeral fractures, many papers reported better results with the operative management. Twenty five cases of displaced fractures and fracture dislocations of the proximal humerus treated at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Keimyung University with open reduction and internal fixation were analyzed clinically and radiologically. The following results were obtained. 1. The prevalent age distribution was the second snd third decades(average 42.6 years) and ratio of male and female was 2.1: 1. 2. In 10 of the 25 cases, wire loop was used for internal fixation, and the result was satisfactory in 8 cases. However, the disadvantage was difficulty in wire removal after bony union because the loop was buried in the callus or cortex. 3. Over-all results were excellent or satisfactory in 64% of 25 cases. There were 4 excellent and 1 satisfsctory in 5 cases of type Il fracture, 7 excellent, 2 satisfactory and 3 unsatisfactory in 12 cases of type III fracture, 1 excellent and 4 unsatisfactory in 5 cases of type 1V fracture, and 1 excellent, 1 unsatisfactory and 1 failure in 3 cases of fracture dislocation. 4. In 6 patients with four part lesions treated with open reduction and internal fixation and followed up for an average of 23 months(from 18 months to 3 years and 2 months), only one case of fracture dislocation revealed avascular necrosis with resorption of the head.
Age Distribution ; Bony Callus ; Dislocations ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Male ; Necrosis ; Shoulder Fractures

BACKGROUND: Acyclovir is a highly effective antiviral agent specifically inhibiting the replication of members of the herpes virus group, in particular the has been used extensively herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and the varicella zoster virus. Although acyclovir it has not caused for the treatment or prevention of herpes simplex and varicella zoster virus infections, significant changes in virus sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of HSV to acyclovir. METHODS: A total of 80 strains were used 43 strains of non-genital herpes and 37 strains of genital gerpes. These were isolated from 80 patients and were studied to evaluate their sensitivities to acyclovir by the plaque reduction assay. The methods employed to monitor the sensitivity of virus isolates rely on simple dose-response experiments, looking at the effects of increasing concentrations of acyclovir on infected cell culture specimen. The assay is based on quantified plaque counting. The sensitivity of virus strains are then expressed as ID50(concentrations of drug reducing viral cytopathic effect by 50%) and MIC(minimum inhibitory concentration). RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows. 1. The ID50 values of acyclovir for HSV ranged between 0.0625 - 4.0 microgram / ml. For non-genital herpes isolates the mean and median values were 0.459 microgram / ml (SD = 0.624) and 0.250 microgram / ml ; for genital herpes isolates these values were 0.649 microgram / ml (SD = 0.746) and 0.50 microgram / ml . 2. The MIC values of acyclovir for HSV ranged between 0.250 - 32 microgram / ml . For non-genital herpes isolates the mean and median values were 2.605 microgram / ml (SD = 5.270) and 1.00 microgram / ml ; for genital herpes isolates these values were 2.716 microgram / ml (SD = 3.015) and 2.00 microgram / ml . 5. 93.75%(75 strains) of HSV isolates were within the ranges of sensitive HSV strains for acyclovir. CONCLUSION: We are concerned about the resistance of viruses to antiviral drugs, but so far, this has not been documented to be a big problem. With the increasing interest and ability to measure sensitivity of viruses to antiviral drugs we will find out more about viral resistance and its clinical significance.
Acyclovir* ; Antiviral Agents ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral ; Herpes Genitalis ; Herpes Simplex* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Simplexvirus*

We used an animal model of laser-induced retinal vein occlusion to study the temporal and spatial patterns of neuronal necrosis and apoptosis. After photodynamic retinal vein thrombosis with argon-green laser, rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, and 14 days after vein occlusion. The temporal and spatial patterns of neuronal cell death were determined using light and electron microscopy, TdT-dUTP nick-end labeling[TUNEL]and DNA gel electrophoresis. The cells in retinal ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer showed both necrotic and apoptotic changes 12 hours after vein occlusion. The TUNEL positivity were detected at day 1 after vein occlusion and the number of positive cell increased until day 2, and decreased thereafter. DNA ladder pattern was observed 48 hours after vein occlusion by DNA gel electrophoreisis. These data demonstrated that retinal vein occlusion induces necrosis and apoptosis in the retinal ganglion cell and inner nuclear layer.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; Rats ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Veins