No abstract available.

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: We studied the changes in the antibiotic sensitivity to the causative organisms of urinary tract infection, between 1979 and 2001, in order to provide useful information on the choice of adequate drugs in the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 1,370 uropathogens, and their antimicrobial sensitivities, in 647 patients admitted to, or visiting our hospital, between January 1979 and December 2001, that had more than 105cfu/ml in urine culture. RESULTS: The incidence of UTI increased with age, and was highest in the 6th decades (21.0%). Mixed infections increased from 6.1%, in 1979, to 18.4%, by 2001. The common pathogens were E. coli (37.8%), enterococcus (15.0%), Pseudomonas (10.1%) and Klebsiella (9.1%). E. coli was the most important uropathogen during the stated time period. However, the incidence of Gram positive organisms increased from 14.2%, in 1979, to 26.0%, by 2001. In the Gram negative stained uropathogens, the antibiotic sensitivity was changed: ampicillin (11.8 to 14.6%), cephalothin (40.6 to 46.3%) and amikacin (80.5 to 74.8%). For E. coli, trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and ampicillin showed decreased sensitivities of 37.3 and 18.5%, respectively. However, sulbactam/cefoperazone, cefepime and imipenem showed high sensitivities of 96.1, 97.5 and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prior to receiving the bacteriological report, the use of TMP/SMX and ampicillin, as the first choices of treatment for UTI, should be reconsidered. Our results implied that amikacin, which showed the best effects, and was cheaper than fluoroquinolones, can be used as an alternative to these drugs as a primary empirical antibiotic for UTI.
Amikacin ; Ampicillin ; Cephalothin ; Coinfection ; Enterococcus ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Klebsiella ; Pseudomonas ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the usefulness of Mycofast (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2, International Microbio, France) for Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) and Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) in association with nongonococcal genitourinary infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 530 patients visited our department for genitourinary infection symptoms or for the evaluation of sexually transmitted disease. The genital swabs were first vortexed in Mycofast transport broth. A volume of 100mul of liquid sample was innoculated to each well of the Mycofast broths and 0.5mul of liquid sample was innoculated to A7 agar culture media (International Microbio, France). The Mycofast broths were incubated at 35-37 degrees C for 36 hrs, and the A7 agar culture media was incubated for 4 days. We compaired Mycofast with A7 agar culture for the sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predictive values and the antibiotic susceptable profiles. RESULTS: Of the 530 samples submitted, 165 samples were positive by the A7 agar culture and 162 samples were positive by Mycofast. 157 samples were positive by both methods. Of the 365 samples that were negative by the A7 agar culture, 360 samples were also negative by the Mycofast. In this study, Mycofast had a sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 98%, respectively, and a positive and negative predictive value of 96% and 97%, respectively. The Mycofast drug susceptibility tests indicate a high susceptibility to doxycyclin as follows: U. urealyticum: 86.3%; M. hominis: 85.0% and both organisms with simultaneous isolation: 75.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Mycofast was an easy test to perform and it proved to be a practical and reliable method for isolating the Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species for making the diagnosis of nongonococcal genitourinary infections, and it showed the added benefit of determining the limited susceptibilities of the isolated strains.
Agar ; Culture Media ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Ureaplasma ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever, dyspnea, and myalgia. At the time of admission, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) was made by fulfilling four of the 1982 American College of Rheumatology criteria with increasing levels of anti-nuclear antibody titer(speckled pattern). Prednisolone given orally in an initial dosage of 30mg/day was not effective and she was expired by respiratory failure due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. A diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was made because of the increased number of unusual hemophagocytic cells in the bone marrow. High levels of serum ferritin which are known to reflect macrophage activition, supported the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome. Hemophagocytic syndrome is characterized by activated phagocytosis presumably induced by hypersecretion of cytokines. Malignant lymphoma and infection are the two representative diseases which may cause hemophagocytic syndrome. Recently several acute lupus hemophagocytic syndromes were reported in patients with SLE. Here we report a case of acute lupus hemophagocytic syndrome observed in a patient with SLE with brief review of literatures.
Bone Marrow ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Ferritins ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Middle Aged ; Myalgia ; Phagocytosis ; Prednisolone ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rheumatology

The information of species and quantity of enteric viruses in surface water, finished water, and tap water is important in helping understand the pathogenesis of viruses, providing information about health and hygiene, improving handling technique of drinking water, and establishing the standards of water quality. Using standard total culturable virus assay-most probable number (TCVA-MPN) method, we tried to detect infectious enteric viruses in surface water, finished water, and tap water samples that were collected and evaluated according to the information collection rule (ICR). The results obtained with TCVA method were compared to the results from both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and integrated cell culture-RT-PCR (ICC-RT-PCR) method. Five of 86 samples (5.8%) were positive as determined by the TCVA-MPN method. Two of 86 samples (2.3%) were positive for reovirus as determined by the RT-PCR and ICC-RT-PCR, and contained infectious reovirus. One of 86 samples (1.7%) was positive for coxsackievirus type B3 as determined by the RT-PCR and ICC-RT-PCR.
Drinking Water ; Hygiene ; Water Quality ; Water*

From the period of April 1991 to March 1992, 71 patients who underwent radical surgery for rectal cancer were interviewed before and after the operation on their voiding symptoms as subjective parameters and these results were analyzed with objective urodynamic results. Compared with the preoperative voiding symptom score, significant improvement was observed in total voiding symptoms(obstructive plus irritative symptoms) in postoperative sixth month(p< 0.05). Obstructive symptoms in the tenth postoperative day changed little over the next six months, but irritative symptoms deteriorated initially with steady improvement over the ensuing six months (p<0.05) Therefore the improvement in total symptom score proved to be largely influenced by irritative symptom score. Global voiding ysfunction obtained by simple questionaire was not correlated with urodynamic parameters(p > 0.05), but residual urine volume was well correlated with overall denervation urodynamic parameters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, postoperative voiding dysfunction was initially deteriorated but was improving over the next six months and better than preoperative status which was explained by removal of irritating tumor focus. The measurement of residual urine volume would be the simple and reasonable method as a substitute for urodynamic study during postoperative voiding dysfunction period.
Denervation ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urodynamics

BACKGROUND: To investigate the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours in intensive care units (ICUs) of Korea. METHODS: A total of 536 patients continuing mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours had been enrolled among the twenty-one ICUs of Korea from May 2003 to July 2003. Data about mechanical ventilation, the use of sedatives, analgesics, and NMBAs were prospectively collected for four weeks. We analyzed the patterns of using these drugs and effects on outcomes. RESULTS: More than half of the patients (50.4%) received sedative drug alone. Most commonly used sedatives and analgesics were midazolam and morphine. NMBAs were administered in 41% of the patients. Volume controlled ventilation mode was associated with more frequent use of NMBAs. There were no significant differences in outcome variables among the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and NMBAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation shows that analgesics were much less frequently used in the intensive care units of Korea compared with the use of sedatives. And the use of NMBAs were quite a common.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Midazolam ; Morphine ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilation

We repoarted a rare case of AML atypical M2 who developed granulocytic granulocyte sarcoma in the meninges which was induced complete remission with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). Morphological and immunophenotypic study of leukemic cells in this patient suggested acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, leukemic clees lacked both t (15;17) and PML-RARalpha gene rearragement, rather showed t (8;21). The patient was diagnosed as AML atypical M2.
Cytarabine ; Daunorubicin ; Drug Therapy* ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Meninges* ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Myeloid* ; Tretinoin*

This study investigated the recovery and absorption rates of murine norovirus, a surrogate for human norovirus, by using NanoCeram(R) filters which served as a tool for recovering viruses. In the study, two types of NanoCeram(R) filters were employed: one was a cartridge type and the other was a disc type (phi 47 mm) whose surface area is 75 times smaller than the cartridge type. The analytical method was the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The study found that the average recovery rates of the cartridge type and the disc type were 30.9% and 29.5% respectively. Since these two rates were very close to each other, the adsorption rate of the cartridge type could be predicted with the disc type. Analyzing recovery and absorption rates of the disc type based on different filtered volumes showed that when the volume increased from 0.5 L to 20 L, the average recovery rate rose from 14.78% to 30.41 %, while the average absorption rate dropped from 56.33% to 10.48%. The increase in turbidity from less than 1 NTU to less than 3 NTU raised the average recovery rate from 47.23% to 82.84%.
Absorption ; Adsorption ; Humans ; Norovirus