PURPOSE: Neonatal seizures are mostly symptomatic and have variable atypical clinical features with very different EEG findings from those of post-neonatal period. This study was performed to determine the common types of epileptiform discharges and their relationship with abnormalities in imaging study in neonates with seizures. METHODS: Fourty one neonates under 7 days of age who had been hospitalized at the Hanyang university hospital from June 1993 to May 1997 were studied retrospectively. Their medical records, results of EEG and brain imaging study were reviewed. RESULTS: 1) The types of neonatal seizures were subtle, generalized tonic, multifocal clonic, focal clonic, myoclonic in order of frequency. 2) The most common epileptiform discharge was excessive sharp transients recorded in 28 cases and the rest showed multifocal spikes, sharp waves, repetitive alpha, repetitive theta in order. Epileptiform discharges appeared on the both hemisphere in 24 cases, right hemisphere in 9 cases and left hemisphere in 8 cases. 3) Imaging study showed no abnormal findings in 27 cases and abnormal findings in 14 cases such as brain edema, intracranial hemorrhage, leukomalacia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cephalhematoma, craniosynostosis. 4) Among 14 cases with radiological abnormalities, 5 cases had localized abnormalities and 3 of them had the abnormal EEG discharges on the same area concomittantly. But in total only 3 cases of 17 cases with localized epileptiform discharges had abnormalities in imaging study on the same site and so significant relationship between two studies was not observed. 5) As for the prognosis of seizures, subsided in 23 cases without any antiepileptic drugs, 13 cases had no seizure after taking medicine for few days and 5 cases needed continuous antiepileptic drug. CONCLUSION: This study showed no meaningful relationship between abnormal EEG findings and localization by imaging study in neonatal seizure but we concluded that brain imaging study was needed to determine degree of encephalopathy in neonatal seizures.
Anticonvulsants ; Brain Edema ; Craniosynostoses ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Medical Records ; Neuroimaging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Endotracheal obstruction may cause serious complications, including cardiovascular instability, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema and even brain death. A 21-year-old man was scheduled to undergo an open reduction for an orbital fracture. The patient had tracheostomy with an 8.0 mm tracheostomy tube 3 weeks ago and was breathing well spontaneously. When the cuff of tracheostomy tube was inflated for assisted manual ventilation and the induction of anesthesia, signs of partial endotracheal obstruction were observed, including high airway pressure, low tidal volume and high ETCO2. Large dried mucous plug was impacted in the tracheostomy tube. After removing this plug with a sterile surgical forcep, effective ventilation was recovered without complications. The case like this nearly fatal obstruction by large dried mucous plug was rarely reported, but it should be considered cautiously when a patient uses tracheostomy tube as an airway before general anesthesia.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Brain Death ; Humans ; Orbital Fractures ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiration ; Surgical Instruments ; Tidal Volume ; Tracheostomy ; Ventilation ; Young Adult

Simultaneous or subsequent bilateral thalamic hemorrhagic events have ranged from 12 to 19 in prior reports, with a time lag between bilateral thalamic hemorrhage of up to two days. Herein, we report the first case of delayed (17 days) consecutive contralateral thalamic hemorrhage after spontaneous first thalamic hemorrhage. A 65-year-old female initially presented with a drowsy mentality with a left-side motor weakness (grade II/III). Brain computed tomography (CT) demonstrated right side thalamic and intraventricular hemorrhage. She regained alertness with mild residual motor weakness (grade III/IV) under medical management. Seventeen days later, a sudden and generalized tonic-clonic seizure developed. Brain CT scans revealed a new contralateral thalamic hemorrhage coincident with microbleeds. Neurologic status remained unchanged, consisting of a stuporous mentality with quadriparesis of grade II/II. We report the first case of delayed consecutive contralateral thalamic hemorrhage up to 17 days after first thalamic hemorrhage. The case highlights the need for close monitoring of patients with thalamic hemorrhage who experience microbleeds on the contralateral side, due to the possibility of delayed hemorrhage.
Aged ; Brain ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Quadriplegia ; Seizures ; Stupor ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Simultaneous or subsequent bilateral thalamic hemorrhagic events have ranged from 12 to 19 in prior reports, with a time lag between bilateral thalamic hemorrhage of up to two days. Herein, we report the first case of delayed (17 days) consecutive contralateral thalamic hemorrhage after spontaneous first thalamic hemorrhage. A 65-year-old female initially presented with a drowsy mentality with a left-side motor weakness (grade II/III). Brain computed tomography (CT) demonstrated right side thalamic and intraventricular hemorrhage. She regained alertness with mild residual motor weakness (grade III/IV) under medical management. Seventeen days later, a sudden and generalized tonic-clonic seizure developed. Brain CT scans revealed a new contralateral thalamic hemorrhage coincident with microbleeds. Neurologic status remained unchanged, consisting of a stuporous mentality with quadriparesis of grade II/II. We report the first case of delayed consecutive contralateral thalamic hemorrhage up to 17 days after first thalamic hemorrhage. The case highlights the need for close monitoring of patients with thalamic hemorrhage who experience microbleeds on the contralateral side, due to the possibility of delayed hemorrhage.
Aged ; Brain ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Quadriplegia ; Seizures ; Stupor ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To expand the epidemiological understanding of Newcastle disease in Jeju Province, Korea, active surveillance was extensively performed through a virological examination for poultry farms and wild birds in Jeju Province during 2007~2008. Samples (swabs or fresh feces) were collected from a total of 6,485 birds including 6,405 domestic birds (chickens, ducks, pheasants, geese, quails, turkeys, and ostriches) and 80 wild birds. A total of 24 hemagglutinating agents were isolated from domestic birds on fourteen farms including five Korean native chicken, one layer chicken, two broiler chicken, four duck and two pheasant farms. The hemagglutinating agents were all identified as lentogenic NDV based on the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, sequence analysis of amino acids on the F cleavage site and mean death time in chicken embryos. The F gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NDV isolates were classified into genotypes 1 or 2 of class II. These lentogenic viruses were closely related to NDV vaccine strains used in Jeju Province. Active surveillance conducted for Newcastle disease indicates no scientific evidence of virulent NDV infection in chickens in Jeju Province, Korea since 2005.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Birds ; Chickens ; Ducks ; Embryonic Structures ; Geese ; Genotype ; Korea ; Newcastle Disease ; Newcastle disease virus ; Poultry ; Quail ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Turkeys

BACKGROUND: The UF-100 flow cytometer (Sysmex Co., Japan) and the Iris iQ200 (Iris Diagnostics, USA) are widely used for routine urinalysis in Korea. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of these two automated systems based on the microscopic finding, and evaluated the clinical performance of the automated systems. METHODS: A total of 323 fresh urine samples were selected and analyzed by conventional microscopy and the automation systems, the UF-100 and the iQ200. Quantification for RBCs, WBCs, and bacteria were also evaluated using both automated systems. RESULTS: For 158 of urine sample classified as normal urines, the agreement rate for the UF-100 and the iQ200 was 84.8% (N=134) and 89.9% (N=142), respectively. For 165 of urine samples classified as abnormal urines, the agreement rate for the UF-100 and the iQ200 was 90.9% (N=150) and 81.8% (N=135), respectively. The UF-100 showed a good linearity in the quantitative measurements of RBCs and WBCs. For both systems, false-negative value for WBCs and bacteria were about 30% in abnormal urines. Both systems showed inaccurate results for pathologic casts and bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: We compared the microscopic finding and the primary results of automated systems without user reclassification, and the agreement rate was about 85%. The agreement rate will be improved by deliberating "Review" comments of the instruments.
Automation ; Bacteria ; Iris ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Urinalysis

Spinal anesthesia in preterm infants offers a safe alternative to general anesthesia, especially if general anesthesia is not preferred because of coexisting diseases, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and recurring of apnea. But the single-shot technique of spinal anesthesia has some limitations because the duration of surgical anesthesia is approximately 60 min. Since some procedures may require more time, alternative regional techniques which provide more prolonged surgical anesthesia are needed. We present our experience with a combined spinal caudal anesthesia in a preterm infant.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal* ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Apnea ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature*

BACKGROUND: Nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a known risk factor for nosocomialtransmission and infection. In an effort to mitigate this problem, topical mupirocin has been widely used for clearing nasal carriage of MRSA. However, mupirocin resistance has become a worldwide concern due to increased use of the antibiotic. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prevalence of mupirocin resistance among clinical isolates of staphylococci and to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility. METHODS: A total of 175 S. aureus specimens recovered over a 4-month period from various body sites were tested for resistance to mupirocin and other antibiotics using the Vitek2 automated system. The presence of the mupA gene was assessed in isolates exhibiting resistance to mupirocin and in other selected organisms. The clinical characteristics of the isolates were also reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 175 S. aureus isolates, 9.1% (16/175) were resistant to mupirocin, with 1.7% (3/175) having high-level resistance (HR) and 7.4% (13/175) having low-level resistance (LR). Patients with HR-mupirocin-resistant S. aureus had a longer duration of hospitalization (P=0.026). Of the 13 LR-mupirocin-resistant S. aureus strains, 11 had identical antibiogram patterns. The mupA gene was detected only among HR isolates. CONCLUSION: The rate of mupirocin resistance in the S. aureus isolates was high. The spread of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus may be due to nosocomial infection.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Cross Infection ; Drug Resistance ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mupirocin ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

Gefitinib (Iressa(R), AstraZeneca) is an oral form of an anticancer drug called epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is widely used for various solid cancers, including lung cancer. Cutaneous adverse reactions induced by gefitinib have recently been reported with an incidence ranging from 49% to 100%, and they include acneiform skin rash, hyperpigmentation, xerotic skin, pruritus, skin fissures, nail change and disorders of the mucous membranes, eyes and hair. To the best of our knowledge, no cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitis associated with gefitinib have ever been published in the Korean medical literature, and there have been only four such reported cases in other countries. Herein, we report on a case of leukocytoclastic vasulitis induced by gefitinib in a patient with lung cancer.
Epidermal Growth Factor ; Exanthema ; Eye ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mucous Membrane ; Nails ; Phosphotransferases ; Pruritus ; Quinazolines ; Skin ; Vasculitis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous