Most common annoyant for angular blepharitis has long been known as a diplobacillus of Morax-Axenfeld since 1897. Bacteriological study has been done on 56 patients (102 eyes) being suffered from angular blepharitis clinically diagnosed in the Dept. of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Most angular blepharitis involved bilaterally (82%), 34 cases of angular blepharitis were seen in the nasal canthus (61%). Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from 50 eyes (49%) with angular blepharitis and staphylococcus au reus from 41 eyes (40%). No diplobacillus of Morax-Axenfeld was demonstrated in the culture from angular blepharitis.
Blepharitis* ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis

BACKGROUND: We compared clinical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty with the Low Contact Stress (LCS) rotating platform mobile bearing knee system and the Press Fit Condylar Sigma rotating platform high flexion (PFC Sigma RP-F) mobile bearing knee system. METHODS: Fifty cases of total knee arthroplasty were performed with the PFC Sigma RP-F mobile bearing knee system and sixty-one cases were performed with the LCS mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty. The average duration of follow-up was 2.9 years. RESULTS: The mean Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score was 62.1 (range, 52 to 75) in the LCS group and 61.9 (range, 50 to 74) in the Sigma RP-F group preoperatively, and 90.1 (range, 84 to 100) in the LCS group and 89.8 (range, 83 to 100) in the Sigma RP-F group at the final follow-up. The mean preoperative flexion contracture was 6.7degrees (range, 0degrees to 10degrees) in the LCS group and 9.3degrees (range, 0degrees to 15degrees) in the Sigma RP-F group preoperatively. The mean range of motion was 124.6degrees (range, 105degrees to 150degrees) in the LCS group and 126.1degrees (range, 104degrees to 145degrees) in the Sigma RP-F group at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: After a minimum duration of follow-up of two years, we found no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the range of knee motion or the clinical or radiographic results.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*methods ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint/*physiology/radiography/surgery ; *Knee Prosthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Range of Motion, Articular/physiology ; Treatment Outcome

E. coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. But some strains such as Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli(EHEC), can cause severe food borne disease. It is transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw or undercooked ground meat. There is no widely agreed definition of when a shiga-toxin producing E. coli is considered to be an EHEC. But in Korea, the word "EHEC", "STEC", "VTEC" are often used as same meaning, which refer to the E.coli those producing shiga-toxin. We suggest the term STEC refers to those E. coli produce one or more shiga-toxins(stx), and the term EHEC refers only to STEC that cause a clinical illness. EHEC infection were designated as the class 1 notifiable disease in Korea in 2000. Although EHEC/STEC cases were not common in Korea, the number of STEC infection cases reported has increased since 2001. From 2001 to 2004, the number of STEC infection cases in Korea were 11, 8, 52, 118 respectively. These cases included 17 due to E. coli O157, 136 due to E. coli, serogroup non-O157, and 15 due to E. coli that were not serogrouped. The most common serotype implicated is E. coli O91 without virulent factor and clinical symptoms. But those cases involve in one epidemic in primary school in 2004. STEC infections in Korea occur in all age groups, with the highest frequencies in children less than 5 years old. Healthy cattle are the main animal reservoir for STEC and they harbor the organism as part of the bowel flora. The proportion of STEC in E. coli in animal feces was examined by using stool samples from 283 Korean beef cattle on 27 farms, 169 milk cattle on 28 frams, 455 swine on 50 farms. As determined by culture and toxin assay, the proportion of STEC was 25.8%(16 STEC/62 E. coli) in milk cattle, 18.8%(19 STEC/101 E.coli) in Korean beef cattle, 14.0%(25 STEC/178 E. coli) in swine. Effective surveillance of EHEC/STEC in humans is essential in order to protect the public health. EHEC infection is notifiable in many countries including USA, Japan, and Belgium, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom(UK), have sentinel systems. England, Wales, and Scotland have comprehensive national laboratory reporting schemes for STEC. And there has been an increase in the number of reported cases and outbreaks during the past decades in many countries Prevention of STEC infection requires control measures at all stages of surveillace, investigations and special pathogen tracing such as PulseNet.
Animals ; Belgium ; Cattle ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease Outbreaks ; England ; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli* ; Feces ; Finland ; Humans ; Italy ; Japan ; Korea* ; Meat ; Milk ; Netherlands ; Public Health ; Scotland ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli ; Swine ; Wales

Aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor, Met, is involved in the development and progression of many human cancers. In the cell-based screening assay, (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibited HGF/SF-Met signaling as indicated by its inhibitory activity on HGF/SF-induced cell scattering and uPA activation (IC50 = 15.8 microg/ml). Further analysis revealed that EGCG at low doses specifically inhibited HGF/SF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Met but not epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR). On the other hand, high-dose EGCG decreased both Met and EGFR proteins. We also found that EGCG did not act on the intracellular portion of Met receptor tyrosine kinase, i.e., it inhibited InlB-dependent activation of Met but not NGF-induced activation of Trk-Met hybrid receptor. This inhibition decreased HGF-induced migration and invasion by parental or HGF/SF-transfected B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro in either a paracrine or autocrine manner. Furthermore, EGCG inhibited the invasion/metastasis of HGF/SF-transfected B16F10 melanoma cells in mice. Our data suggest the possible use of EGCG in human cancers associated with dysregulated paracrine or autocrine HGF/SF-Met signaling.
Animals ; Autocrine Communication/*drug effects ; Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Female ; *Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasms, Experimental/*metabolism/pathology ; Paracrine Communication/*drug effects ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Receptors, Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Signal Transduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fluoroquinolone resistance frequency of Enterococcus spp. from normal chicken feces and to analyse mutations of the gyrA and parC gene associated with fluoroquinolone resistance. Among 52 Enterococcus faecalis and 25 E. faecium isolates, 23 (44.2%) E. faecalis and 7 (28.0%) E. faecium were resistant to ciprofloxacin (CIP) by disc diffusion method. Genetic exchange in gyrA and parC gene among 2 CIP intermediate isolates and 15 CIP resistant isolates were found in the amino acid codon of Ser-83 and Asp-87, and Ser-80 and Glu-84, respectively. These mutants contained a change from Ser to Phe, Val, Tyr, Ile, Thr or Pro at codon 83 and from Glu to Gly or Leu at codon 87 in gyrA gene, and a change from Ser to Ile or Thr at codon 80 and from Glu to Asp or Lys at codon 84 in parC gene. The isolates with mutation in gyrA regardless of a mutation in parC showed high resistance (MIC > or =32 microgram/ml) to CIP, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin. These results suggested that gyrA gene is the primary target for 4 fluoroquinolones resistance in Enterococcus spp.
Chickens* ; Ciprofloxacin ; Codon ; Diffusion ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus* ; Feces* ; Fluoroquinolones ; Norfloxacin ; Ofloxacin ; Viperidae

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using computerized posturography. METHOD: Twenty subjects with PD group (10 men, 10 women) and 20 control group (10 men, 10 women) were matched for age and sex. Average Hoehn-Yahr stage of PD group was 2.3+/-0.3. Sensory dysfunction, voluntary motor impairments and functional limitation were measured by determining the subject's response to reduced or altered sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. RESULTS: PD subjects demonstrated wider area of sway (degrees) under eye closed condition in modified sensory organization test and lower directional control (%) in right/left rhythmic weight shift (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed for sit to stand. Wider area of turn sway (degrees) and longer turn time (sec) during left step/quick turn were demonstrated in PD subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Computerized posturography shows that sensory dysfunction scores, voluntary motor impairment scores and functional limitation test scores were reduced in patients with PD.
Humans ; Male ; Parkinson Disease*

Objectives: This study aimed to explore factors influencing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations at the free medical clinic, providing data to improve free medical services for these populations. Methods: We employed a descriptive correlational study design involving 112 individuals (aged 19 years and older) from medically underserved populations who visited the clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from September to October 2023, and statistical analyses (t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression) were used to identify key predictors of satisfaction. Results: Perceived support from healthcare providers emerged as the strongest predictor ofsatisfaction with medical services, demonstrating a significant positive association. While socialsupport was positively correlated with perceived support from healthcare providers, it did not independently predict satisfaction. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of healthcare provider and social supportin increasing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations.Developing tailored healthcare programs and specialized healthcare provider training are essential strategies to improve healthcare access and outcomes for these vulnerable groups.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore factors influencing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations at the free medical clinic, providing data to improve free medical services for these populations. Methods: We employed a descriptive correlational study design involving 112 individuals (aged 19 years and older) from medically underserved populations who visited the clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from September to October 2023, and statistical analyses (t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression) were used to identify key predictors of satisfaction. Results: Perceived support from healthcare providers emerged as the strongest predictor ofsatisfaction with medical services, demonstrating a significant positive association. While socialsupport was positively correlated with perceived support from healthcare providers, it did not independently predict satisfaction. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of healthcare provider and social supportin increasing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations.Developing tailored healthcare programs and specialized healthcare provider training are essential strategies to improve healthcare access and outcomes for these vulnerable groups.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore factors influencing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations at the free medical clinic, providing data to improve free medical services for these populations. Methods: We employed a descriptive correlational study design involving 112 individuals (aged 19 years and older) from medically underserved populations who visited the clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from September to October 2023, and statistical analyses (t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression) were used to identify key predictors of satisfaction. Results: Perceived support from healthcare providers emerged as the strongest predictor ofsatisfaction with medical services, demonstrating a significant positive association. While socialsupport was positively correlated with perceived support from healthcare providers, it did not independently predict satisfaction. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of healthcare provider and social supportin increasing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations.Developing tailored healthcare programs and specialized healthcare provider training are essential strategies to improve healthcare access and outcomes for these vulnerable groups.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore factors influencing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations at the free medical clinic, providing data to improve free medical services for these populations. Methods: We employed a descriptive correlational study design involving 112 individuals (aged 19 years and older) from medically underserved populations who visited the clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from September to October 2023, and statistical analyses (t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression) were used to identify key predictors of satisfaction. Results: Perceived support from healthcare providers emerged as the strongest predictor ofsatisfaction with medical services, demonstrating a significant positive association. While socialsupport was positively correlated with perceived support from healthcare providers, it did not independently predict satisfaction. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of healthcare provider and social supportin increasing satisfaction with medical services among medically underserved populations.Developing tailored healthcare programs and specialized healthcare provider training are essential strategies to improve healthcare access and outcomes for these vulnerable groups.