No abstract available.

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of the anthropometric and serological parameters on the prostate-specific antigen(PSA) levels after adjusting for age and the prostate volume in Korean men who visited a health promotion center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to July 2007, among the 18,352 men(age range: 30 to 79) who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups, 1,230(14.9%) men who wanted their prostate evaluated were included in this study. Thereafter, 151 men whose PSA level was over 4.0ng/ml, or their urinalysis revealed pyuria(>5 white blood cells (WBCs)/high power fields(HPF)) were excluded. The data of the remained 1,079 men was then analyzed. All the men underwent transrectal ultrasonography, detailed anthropometric measurements and serological tests. The correlation of the PSA level with the various anthropometric and serological parameters was investigated. RESULTS: On the univariate analysis after adjusting for age and the prostate volume, the PSA level showed statistically significant positive correlation with the WBC, the red blood cell(RBC) and platelet(PLT) counts/micron l, and the PSA level was negatively correlated with height, weight, the body surface area(BSA), the body mass index(BMI), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and creatinine clearance(Ccr). On multivariate analysis, age, the prostate volume and the RBC/PLT counts/micron l were positively correlated with the PSA level, and the BSA was negatively correlated with the PSA levels, whereas the BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, the prostate volume and the BSA were the independent factor influencing the PSA level, that is, the larger the BSA, the lower the PSA.
Male ; Humans

Canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) is one of the major diarrhea-causing agents, inducing acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in puppies. In this study, we conducted a seroepidemiological survey of CPV-2a in stray dogs in South Korea. In total, 405 canine sera, collected between 2006 and 2007, were screened for the presence of antibodies against CPV-2a using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The positive rate in stray dogs tested for CPV-2a was 93.8%. The regional CPV-2a prevalence was 100% (8/8) in Jeju, 95.1% (232/244) in Gyeonggi, 94.7% (36/38) in Jeonra, 92.9% (13/14) in Gangwon, 92.7% (38/41) in Chungcheong, and 88.3% (53/60) in Gyeungsang province. No significant difference in the seropositive rate was found between male (93.6%) and female (94.0%) dogs. Analysis of the distribution of HI titer against CPV-2a according to the age of the stray dogs showed a linear increase in seroprevalence with age, although the association with age was not statistically significant. The incidence of stray dogs showing an HI antibody titer above 1:5120 was estimated to be 26.2%. Thus, the presence of high HI antibody against CPV-2a may indicate circulation of CPV-2a in stray dogs.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Dogs ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Parvovirus, Canine ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

PURPOSE: Perigraft seroma and excessive fluid leaks are well known complications after the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(ePTFE, Gore-Tex(R)) graft. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of precoating the grafts with fibrin glue in the patients underwent a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. METHODS: Among 51 consecutive infants underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt between June 2000 and August 2003, 49 patients underwent 53 shunt procedures through thoracotomy were included for analysis. Their median age was 0.9 months(2 days-5.9 months), median body weight was 3.5(2.2-7.9) kg. The ePTFE grafts precoated with fibrin glue were used in 20 procedures. Perioperative variables of the precoated group were compared with those of a control group(n=33) using t-test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in the both groups. No significant difference between the groups could be found in the preoperative variables, postoperative morbidity, and the incidence of perigraft seroma, which developed only in 1 case in the control group. The size of the grafts was significantly smaller in the precoated group(P<0.01). The total amount of pleural drainage per body weight of the precoated group was significantly less than that of the control group(19.7+/-25.2 versus 5.5+/-4.9 mL/kg; P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Precoating an ePTFE graft with fibrin glue may reduce perigraft leak after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, although the impact of the size of the graft used and the native pulmonary artery requires further investigation.
Blalock-Taussig Procedure ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Body Weight ; Drainage ; Endoleak* ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Mortality ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Postoperative Complications ; Pulmonary Artery ; Seroma ; Thoracotomy ; Tissue Adhesives ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Fluconazole* ; Humans

The aim of this study is to assess the association between crown-rump length (CRL) measured before the 10th gestational week and birth weight. Results from 316 transvaginal ultrasonography scans at the 46th, 53rd, 60th, 67th, and 74th days of pregnancy were compared in low birth weight (LBW) versus normal birth weight groups. A positive correlation between CRL and birth weight was observed when CRL was measured at days 60, 67, and 74. CRL measured on the 67th day of pregnancy was significantly smaller in the LBW group than in the normal birth weight group. A cut-off value of CRL=26.5 mm measured at day 67 has the highest power to predict LBW.
Adult ; *Crown-Rump Length ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; *Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Young Adult

It is challenging to clinically distinguish between convulsive syncope and true seizure. We describe a 7-year-old girl presenting with generalized tonic seizure caused by acquired complete atrioventricular block related to acute myocarditis. After hospitalization following 6 episodes of new-onset fever with seizure, she had a short episode of abrupt complete atrioventricular block followed by another generalized tonic seizure. The concentrations of cardiac enzymes were elevated, and her echocardiogram showed a decreased left ventricular function. This case underlines the necessity of cardiac investigations in children with convulsive syncope.

It is challenging to clinically distinguish between convulsive syncope and true seizure. We describe a 7-year-old girl presenting with generalized tonic seizure caused by acquired complete atrioventricular block related to acute myocarditis. After hospitalization following 6 episodes of new-onset fever with seizure, she had a short episode of abrupt complete atrioventricular block followed by another generalized tonic seizure. The concentrations of cardiac enzymes were elevated, and her echocardiogram showed a decreased left ventricular function. This case underlines the necessity of cardiac investigations in children with convulsive syncope.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening ophthalmic emergency that requires vitrectomy unless prompt treatment is undertaken. It is usually caused by hematogenous spread from a distant endogenous focus of infection. We treated a patient with endogenous endophthalmitis who also had prostate and perianal abscesses caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Clinicians should entertain the possibility of endogenous endophthalmitis if a patient with a urologic disease such as a prostate abscess or acute prostatitis resulting in bacteremia complains of ophthalmologic symptoms.