BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to evaluate plasmin system in placenta fiom women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. METHODS: The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA), tissue-type plasrninogen activator(tPA), uPA receptor(uPAR) and plasminogen activatar inhibitor-1(PAI-1) mRNAs were measured by Northern blotting in placenta hom sixteen women with normal (n""8) and preeclamptic (n""8) pregnancy. The levels of tPA protein and PAI-1 protein were also measured by Westerrn blotting. RESULTS: Densitometric measurements revealed no difference in the levels of uPA mRNA, uPAR mRNA, tPA protein and PAI-1 protein in placentas fiom normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. There was, however, a significant decrease in the level of 3.2 kb PAI-I mRNA in placentas from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. CONCLUSION: To the contrary of our expectation, 3.2 kb PAI-1 mRNA level was significantly lower in placenta from women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. This seems to reflect differential accumulation of PAI-1 mRNAs due to environmental intluences or decreased differentiation potential of villous trophoblasts to invasive trophoblasts in placenta from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. The mechanism that regulates plasmin system in human placenta needs further investigations.
Blotting, Northern ; Female ; Fibrinolysin* ; Humans ; Placenta* ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts

Persistent trigeminal artery is an embryonic remnant of the anastomotic channel linking the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. Cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by the persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery stenosis has been described previously, but vertebrobasilar insufficiency entirely due to in situ stenosis of the persistent trigeminal artery has not been reported. A 71-year-old man presented with frequent dizzy episodes. The brain MRI showed no parenchymal lesions. MR angiography showed poor visualization of vertebrobasilar system. He was diagnosed as having vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography revealed that there was complete occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction, and the basilar artery was supplied by the persistent trigeminal artery which had severe stenosis at its origin. There was no stenosis of the internal carotid artery of both sides. We believe that this is the first report of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosed persistent trigeminal artery, without internal carotid artery stenosis.

A global increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has prompted the need for earlier diagnosis, treatment, and isolation of the disease. In tuberculosis, concomitant tuberculous meningitis and vascular complications such as intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare. Because of the poor prognosis of tuberculous meningitis as well as intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage, early diagnosis and management are crucial. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who had two intracranial aneurysms complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, who had concomitant tuberculous meningitis. She remained well with medical management.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of needle revision (NR) with and without mitomycin C (MMC) for failed filtering blebs after trabeculectomy, and to identify risk factors for failure. METHODS: Thirty-one eyes whose intraocular pressure (IOP) did not decrease after cutting of scleral flap sutures were recruited. NR was performed with a 26-gauge needle under a slit-lamp. Immediately following NR, 15 eyes received subconjunctival injection of 0.002 mg (0.02 mg/ml) MMC at the adjacent conjunctiva. RESULTS: First NR was done at 1.3+/-1.2 months (range, 0.2~6.5 months) after trabeculectomy, and a mean of 1.6+/-1.6 NRs per patient were done. The follow-up period was 24.4+/-20.4 months (range, 6.0~87.4 months) after the last NR. Pre-NR mean IOP was 27.9+/-11.6 mm Hg and post-NR final IOP was 18.8+/-13.0 mm Hg (p=0.005). The success rate, defined as IOP < or =18 mm Hg with or without medication, was 80.3% (25 eyes of 31 eyes). The success rate was higher in the group receiving NR with adjunctive MMC (100%) than in the group receiving NR without MMC (62.5%) (p=0.018). Patients who underwent trabeculectomy without adjunctive MMC and those who had pre-NR IOP >25 mm Hg showed a higher failure rate, though with no statistical significance (p=0.141 and p=0.173, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: NR followed by subconjunctival injection of MMC is an effective and safe method for the treatment of the failed filtering blebs after trabeculectomy. Trabeculectomy without adjunctive MMC and pre-NR IOP higher than 25 mmHg were risk factors for failure of NR.
Blister* ; Conjunctiva ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Mitomycin* ; Needles* ; Risk Factors ; Sutures ; Trabeculectomy*

Eighty children who had horizontal strabismus were examined with Titmus and random-dot stereogram(TNO) for the stereoacuity. The patients were analyzed about visual acuity and types of strabismus. In addition, we also analyzed thirty three patients who received correction surgery for the strabismus for evaluation of the changes of postoperative visual acuity and its relationship to the stereoacuity. The results were as follows: 1. The stereoacuity tested by the TNO was proportional to the change of visual acuity, but that of the Titmus was not proportional. 2. The stereoacuity in the exodeviation was higher than the esodeviation. The stereoacuity in the intermittent exotropia was higher than the constant exotropia, and there was no difference in stereoacuity between the accommodative and nonaccommodative esotropia. 3. The visual acuity was improved postoperatively. 4. The postoperative stereoacuity was also improved. The patients with esodeviation showed more improvement in the stereoacuity compared with that of the patients with exodeviation.
Child* ; Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Humans ; Strabismus* ; Visual Acuity

Carotid bruit is a physical sign derived from the turbulence of carotid blood flow and has been rgarded as one of the imponant risk factor of ischemic stroke. To estimate a crude prevalence of carotid bruit in ischemic stroke in Korea at present time, and evaluate the correlation of carotid bruit with carotid stenosis and site of ischemic lesion, we investigated the brain imaging studies (computed tomography and / or magnetic resonance imaging)and cerebral angiographict finding of fifty patiens with caoti bruit.Thirty-nine (3.9 %) ot of nine hundred and ninety-six ischemic stroke patients had bruit around the carotid bifurcation. And the other eleven cases who did not have ischemic stroke were detected to have carotid bruit during the routine neurological examination at the bedside.Th presence of infarction in one side of carotid territory was not significantly differentwhether the bruit was heard or not in that side, but the presece of carotid stenosis in angiographY had a tendency to be significantly different by the audible bruit on that side. Carotid bruit does not necessarily reflect the infarction of that side, but can only be used as a predictor of ipsilateral extracranial carotid occlusive disease in this preliminary study. Further extensive prospective study is needed for the exact prevalence of rate and the clinical usefulss of the carotid bruit in Korea.
Angiography ; Carotid Stenosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Korea ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Ganglia, Spinal* ; Longitudinal Ligaments*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion in treating nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children. METHODS: In 67 eyes of 61 children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the Mini Monoka silicone stent was inserted after probing under general anesthesia. The duration of epiphora or discharge, the age at the time of surgery, and probing history were recorded. The surgical results and postoperative complications were analyzed for the cases herein of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion. RESULTS: The technical success rate of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion was 91% in children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and the success rate for children without probing history was much higher than for those with probing history (81.5 : 97.5%, p=0.035). Postoperatively, the symptoms were resolved in 54 of 61 eyes (88.5%). The duration of preoperative symptoms was shorter in the successful group than in the failed group (15.9+/-7.1 : 21.9+/-8.8 months, p=0.044). Mini Monoka silicone tube was easily removed at 5.6 months after insertion in the clinic. Dacryocystitis was found to be a complication in two eyes yet was resolved without recurrence. Of the seven eyes with spontaneous extrusion of the stent, symptoms subsided in five eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion is an effective and relatively easy method, with a low risk of complication, to treatment children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Dacryocystitis ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Silicones* ; Stents*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion in treating nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children. METHODS: In 67 eyes of 61 children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the Mini Monoka silicone stent was inserted after probing under general anesthesia. The duration of epiphora or discharge, the age at the time of surgery, and probing history were recorded. The surgical results and postoperative complications were analyzed for the cases herein of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion. RESULTS: The technical success rate of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion was 91% in children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and the success rate for children without probing history was much higher than for those with probing history (81.5 : 97.5%, p=0.035). Postoperatively, the symptoms were resolved in 54 of 61 eyes (88.5%). The duration of preoperative symptoms was shorter in the successful group than in the failed group (15.9+/-7.1 : 21.9+/-8.8 months, p=0.044). Mini Monoka silicone tube was easily removed at 5.6 months after insertion in the clinic. Dacryocystitis was found to be a complication in two eyes yet was resolved without recurrence. Of the seven eyes with spontaneous extrusion of the stent, symptoms subsided in five eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion is an effective and relatively easy method, with a low risk of complication, to treatment children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Dacryocystitis ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Silicones* ; Stents*