Acute thyroid abscess is an uneommon type of neck infection. We experieneed a case of staphylococcal thyroid abscess in 29 year old man, diagnosed by needle aspira~tion and culture of the aspirate. The patient had complained fever and slowly growing anterior neck swelling. Needle aspiration of the cold nodule prior to broad spectrum antibiotics was performed. After Surgical excision combined with antibiotics, he was discharged with elinical improvement. The laboratory diagnosis and clinical course was summarized and is reported with relevent references.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Fever ; Humans ; Neck ; Needles ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: Aspirin, one of the antiplatelet agents, improves the survival rate after myocardial infarction. This beneficial effect is known to be obtained in part by the antiarrhythmic action of aspirin. It is not known whether other antiplatelet agents have such effects. This study was performed to compare the effects of aspirin, ticlopidine, and abciximab (platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist) on the ischemia-induced arrhythmias with a rat model of cardiac regional ischemia. METHODS: Experiments were performed in 4 groups of rats. The 4 groups were as follows : control, n=10:aspirin-pretreated, 300 mg/kg po for 1 week:ticlopidine-pretreated, 200 mg/kg po for 1 wk:abciximab-pretreated, 2 mg/kg iv 10-20 minutes before experiment. The electrocardiogram and blood pressure were recorded during 20 minutes. The time to the onset of ST-segment elevation and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, frequency and incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and death rate were assessed during acute myocardial ischemia induced by ligation of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized rats. RESULTS: Platelet aggregations to ADP were significantly lower in aspirin (42.8%), ticlopidine (43.8%), and abciximab group (34.0%) than in control group (66.4%). The frequencies of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) were 6.8+/-3.6 in control, 3.6+/-3.8 aspirin, 4.7+/-3.7 ticlopidine, and 1.4+/-2.5 abciximab group. The frequency of sustained VT in the abciximab group was significantly lower than in control group. The incidences of ventricular arrhythmias for 20 min were 10/10 for VT and 8/10 for ventricular fibrillation (VF) in control group, 7/10 for VT and 3/10 for VF in aspirin group, 10/10 for VT and 3/10 for VF in ticlopidine group, and 5/10 for VT and 4/10 for VF in abciximab group. The incidences of cardiac death during 20 min were 8/10 in control group, 4/10 in aspirin group, 2/10 in ticlopidine group and 5/10 in abciximab group. The incidence of VT in the abciximab group was significantly lower than in control group, incidences of VF in the aspirin and ticlopidine groups were significantly lower than in control group, and death rate in ticlopidine group was significantly lower than in control group. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that aspirin, ticlopidine, and abciximab could prevent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in a rat model of cardiac regional ischemia and their antiarrhythmic effects improve the survival rate.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Electrocardiography ; Glycoproteins ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* ; Rats* ; Survival Rate ; Tachycardia* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ticlopidine ; Ventricular Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Aspirin, one of the antiplatelet agents, improves the survival rate after myocardial infarction. This beneficial effect is known to be obtained in part by the antiarrhythmic action of aspirin. It is not known whether other antiplatelet agents have such effects. This study was performed to compare the effects of aspirin, ticlopidine, and abciximab (platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist) on the ischemia-induced arrhythmias with a rat model of cardiac regional ischemia. METHODS: Experiments were performed in 4 groups of rats. The 4 groups were as follows : control, n=10:aspirin-pretreated, 300 mg/kg po for 1 week:ticlopidine-pretreated, 200 mg/kg po for 1 wk:abciximab-pretreated, 2 mg/kg iv 10-20 minutes before experiment. The electrocardiogram and blood pressure were recorded during 20 minutes. The time to the onset of ST-segment elevation and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, frequency and incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and death rate were assessed during acute myocardial ischemia induced by ligation of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized rats. RESULTS: Platelet aggregations to ADP were significantly lower in aspirin (42.8%), ticlopidine (43.8%), and abciximab group (34.0%) than in control group (66.4%). The frequencies of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) were 6.8+/-3.6 in control, 3.6+/-3.8 aspirin, 4.7+/-3.7 ticlopidine, and 1.4+/-2.5 abciximab group. The frequency of sustained VT in the abciximab group was significantly lower than in control group. The incidences of ventricular arrhythmias for 20 min were 10/10 for VT and 8/10 for ventricular fibrillation (VF) in control group, 7/10 for VT and 3/10 for VF in aspirin group, 10/10 for VT and 3/10 for VF in ticlopidine group, and 5/10 for VT and 4/10 for VF in abciximab group. The incidences of cardiac death during 20 min were 8/10 in control group, 4/10 in aspirin group, 2/10 in ticlopidine group and 5/10 in abciximab group. The incidence of VT in the abciximab group was significantly lower than in control group, incidences of VF in the aspirin and ticlopidine groups were significantly lower than in control group, and death rate in ticlopidine group was significantly lower than in control group. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that aspirin, ticlopidine, and abciximab could prevent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in a rat model of cardiac regional ischemia and their antiarrhythmic effects improve the survival rate.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Electrocardiography ; Glycoproteins ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* ; Rats* ; Survival Rate ; Tachycardia* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ticlopidine ; Ventricular Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: The endovascular stent has been applied clinically in acute arterial occlusions after intimal dissection by angioplasty and in the prevention of restenosis. However, subacute stent thrombosis and restnosis remain major concerns in clinical stenting despite intravscular ultrasound guidance and high pressure inflation. Moreover, anticoagulation before and after stent implantation may be required for long periods and complicated by bleeding. A new strategy may be local drug delivery, which maintains sustained local concentration and may limit systemic complications. To evaluate the efficacy of local Nitric Oxide(NO) donor delivery on acute or subacute stent thrombosis and bleeding complications in patients, local NO donor delivery was performed in stented patients. METHOD: NO donor (2.0mg, Molsidomine) was delivered (1.0ml/min over 10min) using the Dispatch Catheter, after predilation of target lesion in 15 patients (8 angina, 7 myocardial infarction, mean age 5311.5 yr.) without heparin or nitrate infusion after stenting. After local NO donor delivery, Palmaz-Schatz stents were placed with standard methods. APTT and CK were checked at 1 hr, 3 hrs and 24 hrs after local NO donor delivery and STENTING. Follow-up coronary angiograms were done 48 hrs after stenting. RESULT: All patients had no hypotensive effects, no ischemic symptoms or no ECG changes during and after locaL NO donor delivery. ARTT and CK values were not changed at 3 and 24 hrs after local NO donor delivery and stenting. This allowed early arterial sheath removal. Follow-up coronary angiograms at 48 hrs showed all stents patent without stent recoil, with TIMI III flow, and without intra-stent thrombus. No target lesion revascularization and 100% event free survival were obsered for one month's clinical follow-up after NO donor delivery and stenting. Conclusion: Local NO donor delivery prior to stenting prevents acute and subacute stent thrombosis, systmic complications of nitrate, and maintains stent blood flow without stent recoil within the first one month after stenting.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Disease-Free Survival ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitric Oxide* ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: The Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short Form (PBQ-SF) is a self-report instrument for assessment of dysfunctional beliefs based on Beck's cognitive formulations of personality disorders. The aims of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of PBQ-SF in clinical samples. METHODS: The Korean version of PBQ-SF was examined in 115 participants (50 patients with personality disorder and 65 patients without personality disorder). All participants were assessed for personality disorder using the semi-structured clinical interview of the Personality Assessment Schedule. The construction validity was examined by correlation with Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory neuroticism scales. Twenty four randomly sampled patients were examined for the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The Korean version of PBQ-SF showed good internal consistency [Cronbach's alpha=0.73 (schizoid)-0.92 (paranoid)] and test-retest reliability [r=0.74 (narcissistic)-0.92 (paranoid)]. The PBQ-SF was correlated with depression, anxiety, and neuroticism. The overall subscales of PBQ-SF were correlated with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders based diagnosis of personality disorders. CONCLUSION: Consistent with previous findings using the Korean full version of PBQ as well as the English version of PBQ-SF, our results support that the Korean version of PBQ-SF is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of dysfunctional beliefs associated with personality pathology.
Anxiety ; Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Pathology ; Personality Assessment ; Personality Disorders ; Reproducibility of Results ; Weights and Measures

The questions concerning storage temperature and storage duration of the fortified ophthalmic antibiotic solutions are raised. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the influence of fortified ophthalmic antibiotic solutions on its biological and physical properties according to the storage temperature and duration as time goes by. We examined the changes of pH, absorbance spectra, and anti-microbial activity of cefradine(63mg/ml)and gentamicin sulfate(13.6mg/ml) over a four-week period. The results were as follows: There was no difference between the potency of fortified GM solutions stored at 4 degrees C and that at 24 degrees C for 4 weeks. The cefradine stored 24 degrees C exhibited significant changes in both its tJotency and stability after ithe seventh day of storage. The cefradine stored at 4 degrees C exhibited changes in Its absorbance spectra day by day and potency after 14th day.
Cephradine ; Gentamicins ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ophthalmic Solutions*

No abstract available.
Diskectomy* ; Dust* ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella has been steadily increased, and the newer species K. planticola and K terrigena, formerly regarded as nonpathogen, have been reported with astonishing frequency from human infectious processes by some investigators. The aim of this study is to elucidate the isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility of recent clinical Klebsiella isolates. METHOD: For the clinical Klebsiella isolates during the period of June 1999 to May 2000, isolation frequency of Klebsiella species by specimen, departments, age, and sex were analyzed. And antimicrobial susceptibilities were also analyzed. RESULT: Isolation rate of Klebsiella in order of decreasing frequency were K. pneumoniae (74:7%), K. oxytoca (12.1%), K. ozaenae(1.7%), K. planticola(1.0%), K. terngena(0.9%), and K, ornithinolytica (0.7%), respectively. K. rhinoscleromatis was not isolated. Compared with outpatients, increase of resistance rates of inpatients's Klebsiella isolates were 10% in ciprofloxacin, 15% in cefoperazone/sulbactam, and the others were ranged from 24% to 31%. Isolation rate of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae by double disk (DD) synergy test was 41%, and detection rates by antimicrobial agents were as follows: cefotaxime (95%), aztreonam (58%), and ceftriaxone (37%). Antimicrobial susceptibility rate with the exception of ampicillin and imipenem decreased from the range of 81%-96% on admission day to 29-62% after one week on admission. CONCLUSION: The isolation rates of K. planticola and K. terrigena were less than 1%. The proportion of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae was 41 %. And the vast majority of multidrug resistant Klebsiella including ESBL producing strains are acquired by hospitalization.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Aztreonam ; beta-Lactamases ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Research Personnel

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella has been steadily increased, and the newer species K. planticola and K terrigena, formerly regarded as nonpathogen, have been reported with astonishing frequency from human infectious processes by some investigators. The aim of this study is to elucidate the isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility of recent clinical Klebsiella isolates. METHOD: For the clinical Klebsiella isolates during the period of June 1999 to May 2000, isolation frequency of Klebsiella species by specimen, departments, age, and sex were analyzed. And antimicrobial susceptibilities were also analyzed. RESULT: Isolation rate of Klebsiella in order of decreasing frequency were K. pneumoniae (74:7%), K. oxytoca (12.1%), K. ozaenae(1.7%), K. planticola(1.0%), K. terngena(0.9%), and K, ornithinolytica (0.7%), respectively. K. rhinoscleromatis was not isolated. Compared with outpatients, increase of resistance rates of inpatients's Klebsiella isolates were 10% in ciprofloxacin, 15% in cefoperazone/sulbactam, and the others were ranged from 24% to 31%. Isolation rate of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae by double disk (DD) synergy test was 41%, and detection rates by antimicrobial agents were as follows: cefotaxime (95%), aztreonam (58%), and ceftriaxone (37%). Antimicrobial susceptibility rate with the exception of ampicillin and imipenem decreased from the range of 81%-96% on admission day to 29-62% after one week on admission. CONCLUSION: The isolation rates of K. planticola and K. terrigena were less than 1%. The proportion of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae was 41 %. And the vast majority of multidrug resistant Klebsiella including ESBL producing strains are acquired by hospitalization.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Aztreonam ; beta-Lactamases ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Research Personnel

No abstract available.
Ligamentum Flavum* ; Spinal Cord Diseases*