An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

PURPOSE: The pharmacologic effect of atropine on HPS can be considered to control pyloric muscle spasm. Therefore, we studied the effects of intravenous atropine sulfate on the clinical course of HPS, and periodically observed the ultrasonographic appearance of the pyloric muscles after atropine treatment. METHODS:From April 1998 to May 1999, 14 infants who were diagnosed with HPS were treated with intravenous atropine sulfate. Intravenous atropine sulfate was administered at an initial dose of 0.04mg/kg/day, which was divided into 8 equal doses. The daily dose was increased by 0.01 mg/kg/day until vomiting was controlled for an entire day while infants received unrestricted oral feeding. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed during hospitalization and repeated at least every 2 months until normalization of pyloric muscles was confirmed. RESULTS: Intravenous atropine was effective in 12 of 14 infants with HPS and the conditions of 9 of them improved. Two infants who were not free from vomiting despite a week of intravenous atropine sulfate treatment underwent pyloromyotomy. A series of ultrasonographic examinations were done after vomiting had improved with intravenous atropine sulfate. The ultrasonographic findings showed good passage of gastric contents through pyloric canals despite thickening of the pyloric muscles. CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of atropine sulfate is an effective therapy for HPS and can be an alternative to pyloromyotomy. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:763-768)
Administration, Intravenous ; Atropine* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Muscles ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Spasm ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Arthroplasty*

BACKGROUND: Phagocytosis is probably the first step for mycobacteria to be virulent in host because virulent strains are more readily phagocytosed by macrophage than attenuated strains. According 13 the traditional concept, multi-drug resistant strains have been regarded as less virulent. However, this concept has been challenged, since recent studies(reported) showed that the degree of virulence and drug-resistance is not related. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the phagocytic activity of M. tuberculosis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) is different according to drug-resistance or host factor. To evaluate this, we estimated the difference of phagocytic activity of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis and also estimated the phagocytic activity of PBMC from intractable tuberculosis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: PBMC from ten intractable tuberculosis patients and twelve healthy control and three different strains of heat-killed M. tuberculosis, ie, ADS(all drug sensitive), MDR(multi-drug resistant), and ADR(all drug resistant) were used. After incubation of various strains of M. tuberculosis with PBMC, the phagocytic activity was evaluated by estimating proportion of PBMC which have phagocytosed M. tuberculosis. RESULTS: Drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis were phagocylosed easily than drug sensitive strains(Percentage of PBMC phagocytosed M. tuberculosis in healthy control : ADS : 32.3α2.9%, ADR : 49.6α3.4%, p=0.0022, Percentage of PBMC phagocytosed M. tuberculosis in intractable tuberculosis patients : ADS : 34.9α3.6%, ADR : 50.7α4.5%), p=0.0069). However, there was no difference in phagocytic activity of PBMC from healthy control and intractable tuberculosis patients. CONCLUSION: Drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis were phagocytosed easily than drug sensitive strains and host factors does not seems to influence the phagocytosis of M. tuberculosis.
Humans ; Macrophages ; Monocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Phagocytosis* ; Tuberculosis ; Virulence

Fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus is a rare and benign pedunculated intraluminal tumor. The tumor consists of varying amount of vascular fibrous and adipose tissue that arises in the submucosa and is covered by squamous epithelium. We report the typical radiographic, CTand MR findings of a case of giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus.
Adipose Tissue ; Epithelium ; Esophagus* ; Polyps*

Optic pits are congenital craterlike holes or indentation in the surface of the optic disc. They are oval in shape and located in the inferior temporal quadrant of the optic disc. The authors experienced a case of congenital optic pit of the left eye of 18 year old male-patient. Fluorescein angiography showed hypofluorescence of the pit in early arteriovenous phase, becomming hyperfluorescence in the late phase. Ophthalmoscopic view of the diseased eye showed no abnormality of macular area. There was no visual field defect except the enlarged physiologic blind spot. Here we briefly report a case of congenital optic pit. referring the literature relating to the optic pit.
Adolescent ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Optic Disk ; Visual Fields

The chordoid glioma is a recently recognized rare neoplasm of the third ventricle and hypothalamus and, as the name implies, has a chordoid appearance. Using histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies, we report a case of a 32-year-old man with a chordoid glioma in the third ventricle. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted images of the brain with homogenous contrast enhancement revealed a well circumscribed, isointense mass occupying the third ventricle. Histologically, the tumor showed cords and clusters of epithelioid cells within a mucinous background along with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and appeared to be reminiscent of a chordoma or chordoid meningioma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin and CD34 but negative for epithelial membrane antigen. Ultrastructural study revealed round to spindle shaped cells with abundant cytoplasmic intermediate filaments and cytoplasmic zonation.
Adult ; Brain ; Chordoma ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelioid Cells ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Glioma* ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Intermediate Filaments ; Meningioma ; Mucin-1 ; Mucins ; Third Ventricle ; Vimentin

The management of postpartum hemorrhage remains one of the significant challenges to clinical practitioners of obstetrics. Massive postpartum hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal death and morbidity. Early postpartum hemorrhage refers to bleeding within the first 24 hours after delivery; late of delayed postpartum hemorrhage occurs more than 24 hours but less than six weeks after delivery. Uterine atony remains the most common cause with many patients presenting with no known risk factors. Postpartum bleeding can result from uterine atony, genital tract lacerations or hematomas, retained placenta, uterine inversion and acquired or inherited coagulopathies. Every obstetrics unit should have protocols available to deal with hemorrhage and have specific guidelines for patients who object to blood transfusions for various reasons. Placement and utilization of arterial catheters for uterine artery embolization is becoming more widespread. Timely hysterectomy should be performed for signs of refractory bleeding. Application of medical and surgical principles combined with recent new technologic advances will help the obstetrician avoid disastrous outcomes for both mother and fetus.
Blood Transfusion ; Catheters ; Fetus ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lacerations ; Maternal Death ; Mothers ; Obstetrics ; Placenta, Retained ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Artery Embolization ; Uterine Inertia ; Uterine Inversion

Surgical and anesthetic management in patients with complex vascular lesions is often challenging. Cardiopulmonary bypass followed by total circulatory arrest, deep hypothermia and barbiturate cerebral protection are efficacious adjuncts in the surgical treatment of giant basilar artery aneurysm. These techniques were utillized in two large basilar artery aneurysm patients with good results, and the surgical and anesthetic considerations are reviewed.
Aneurysm* ; Basilar Artery* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Intracranial Aneurysm

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis(TB) is still prevalent and remains a significant clinical problem for the elderly. However, the disease presents in many ways, and there are frequent adverse drug reactions that may prevent the early diagnosis and treatment of elderly TB patients compared to the young. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there are any differences in the clinical feature of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB) in both the diagnosis and treatment between the young (less than 64 years) and the elderly (65 years and more). METHODS: The medical records of 125 young and 70 elderly pulmonary TB patients, who were diagnosed with and treated for pulmonary TB at the Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital from November 1991 to January 1997, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Anorexia(12% vs. 31.4%), general weakness (20.0% vs. 54.3%), dyspnea(21.6% vs. 37.1%) and an abnormal mentality (0.8% vs. 15.7%) were more frequent presenting symptoms in elderly TB patients, whereas hemoptysis (32.8% vs. 10.0%) and fever (BT>37℃ 58.4% vs. 35.7%) were more frequent in the young. The elderly had a higher number of cardiovascular and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases as underlying illnesses. In chest PA, there were no differences in the location of the TB lesion, but the appearances were initially diagnosed more frequently as pneumonia or lung cancer (8.8% vs. 30.0%, p<0.05) in the elderly. There was no difference in the detection rate of acid fast bacilli(AFB) in the sputum between the two groups. There were no differences in the treatment response and follow-up loss. However, adverse drug reactions (13.6% vs. 45.7%, p<0.05), and changes in medication (4.9% vs. 25.7%, p<0.05) during treatment occurred more frequently in the elderly. One among the 125 young patients died from tuberculosis whereas 6 among the 70 elderly patients died from the disease. CONCLUSION: Because the clinical and radiological presentations were more atypical, a sputum AFB smear and culture should be done immediately in the elderly who are TB. The elderly experienced more frequent adverse drug reactions and mortality during treatment, but the response to treatment was good and rapid.
Aged* ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Lung Neoplasms ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*