Pneumococcus can cause pneumonia, sinusitis, infective endocarditis, meningitis and primary bacteremia. However, few reports in the literature show bilateral septic arthritis with pneumococcal bacteremia. We report on a case of a 78-year old woman who presented with fever, pain and swelling in both knees. Both knee fluid aspirates were purulent with thick viscosity, and the gram stain revealed gram positive cocci in chains. The patient underwent emergent washing and arthroscopic debridement, followed with empirical antibiotics treatment. Two out of two blood cultures were positive for penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumonia. Synovial fluid cultures were also positive for S. pneumoniae. The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for 4 weeks. Bilateral knee septic arthritis with pneumococcal bacteremia is rarely reported. Here we report on the case with a review of the literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Bacteremia ; Ceftriaxone ; Debridement ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Fever ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Knee ; Meningitis ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Sinusitis ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Synovial Fluid ; Viscosity

PURPOSE: Divided end-loop colostomy is recommended in some cases of unresectable rectal cancer or anal incontinence, because a conventional loop colostomy is difficult to managing due to bulky stoma volume for a long period. In such case of the divided end-loop colostomy, severe inflammation may occur at the stoma site by poor conditions of the patient so that cause to be retracted or detached, and distal loop may be disrupted. To avoid these problems, we designed subtotally divided end-loop colostomy and studied its clinical effectiveness retrospectively. METHODS: About a 3 cm diameter, round skin incision as presumed colostomy size was made at the left lower abdomen, and entered the abdominal cavity by splitting the rectus muscle fibers. The caudal side of colon can be identified by confirming the fusioned taenia at the rectosigmoid colon level. After pulling out the colonic loop, the distal colon far from the lesion was subtotally divided by a GIA staple or manual suture, which cut obliquely 80% or 90% from the antimesenteric side of the distal loop while maintaining the 10% or 20% mesenteric side of the colonic loop. Then an end-loop colostomy is matured with a small fistularization of the distal loop as the undivided mesenteric side of colon. RESULTS: In 8 cases, subtotally divided colonic loop using a GIA staple. But in 9 cases, divided manually because of makedly thickened, edematous colonic wall resulting from prolonged obstruction. There were several mild complications, i.e. transient dermatitis in 5 cases, transient bulky stoma due to edema in 4 cases, mild retraction of stoma in 2 cases, and mild prolapse of stoma in 1 case. There were no major functional abnormalities during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Although we need to get further clinical experiences, the subtotally divided end-loop colostomy seems to be a useful alternative surgical procedure for unresectable rectal cancer.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Cavity ; Colon ; Colostomy* ; Dermatitis ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Prolapse ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sutures ; Taenia

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the disease-free survival and risk factors of recurrence in early breast cancer patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1997 to December 2002, 77 breast cancer patients who underwent breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy were reviewed retrospectively. The median follow-up time was 58.4 months (range 43.8~129.4 months) and the mean subject age was 41 years. The frequency distribution of the different T stages, based on the tumor characteristics was 38 (49.3%) for T1, 28 (36.3%) for T2, 3 for T3, 7 for Tis and 1 for an unidentified sized tumor. In addition, 52 patients (67.5%) did not have axillary lymph metastasis, whereas 14 patients (18.1%) had 1~3 lymph node metastases and 3 (0.03%) had more than 4 lymph node metastases. The resection margin was negative in 59 patients, close (< or =2 mm) in 15, and positive in 4. All patients received radiation therapy at the intact breast using tangential fields with a subsequent electron beam boost to the tumor bed at a total dose ranging from 59.4 Gy to 66.4 Gy. Patients with more than four positive axillary lymph nodes received radiation therapy (41.4~60.4 Gy) at the axillary and supraclavicular area. Chemotherapy was administered in 59 patients and tamoxifen or fareston was administered in 29 patients. RESULTS: The 5 year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 98.08% and 93.49%, respectively. Of the 77 patients, a total of 4 relapses (5.2%), including 1 isolated supraclavicular relapse, 1 supraclavicular relapse with synchronous multiple distant relapses, and 2 distant relapses were observed. No cases of local breast relapses were observed. Lymph node metastasis or number of metastatic lymph nodes was not found to be statistically related with a relapse (p=0.3289) nor disease-free survival (p=0.1430). Patients with positive margins had a significantly shorter disease-free survival period (p<0.0001) and higher relapse rates (p=0.0507). However, patients with close margins were at equal risk of relapse and disease-free survival as with negative margins (p=1.000). Patients younger than 40 years of age had higher relapse rates (9.3% vs. 0%) and lower disease-free survival periods, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.1255). The relapse rates for patients with tumors was 14% for tumor stage T2, compared to 0% for tumor stage T1 tumors (p=0.0284). A univariate analysis found that disease-free survival and relapse rates, T stage, positive resection margin and mutation of p53 were significant factors for clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: The results of this study have shown that breast conservation surgery and radiation therapy in early breast cancer patients has proven to be a safe treatment modality with a low relapse rate and high disease-free survival rate. The patients with a positive margin, T2 stage, and mutation of p53 are associated with statistically higher relapse rates and lower disease-free survival.
Risk Factors ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Breast Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic anosmia is a common disorder following head injury; however, little is known regarding its neural basis and influence on the functional networks. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the functional connectivity changes in patients with traumatic anosmia compared to healthy controls using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with traumatic anosmia and 12 healthy controls underwent rs-fMRI. Differences in the connectivity of the olfactory and whole brain networks were compared between the two groups. Graph theoretical parameters, such as modularity and global efficiency of the whole brain or olfactory networks, were calculated and compared. Correlation analyses were performed between the parameters and disease severity. RESULTS: Patients with traumatic anosmia showed decreased intra-network connectivity in the olfactory network (false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected p < 0.05) compared with that in healthy controls. Furthermore, the inter-network connectivity was increased in both the olfactory (FDR-corrected p < 0.05) and whole brain networks (degree-based statistic-corrected p < 0.05) in the anosmia group. The whole brain networks showed decreased modularity (p < 0.001) and increased global efficiency (p = 0.019) in patients with traumatic anosmia. The modularity and global efficiency were correlated with disease severity in patients with anosmia (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Traumatic anosmia increased the inter-network connectivity observed with rs-fMRI in the olfactory and global brain functional networks. rs-fMRI parameters may serve as potential biomarkers for traumatic anosmia by revealing a more widespread functional damage than previously expected.
Biomarkers ; Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Olfaction Disorders

Currently, no vaccine or established therapeutic agents are available for coronavirus disease 2019. The sharp increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) necessitates an improvement in the protective efficacy of PPE. We evaluated the potential antimicrobial and antiviral effects of a surface-coating disinfectant (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, Si-QAC) when applied onto PPE. Si-QAC-pre-coated PPE was artificially contaminated with either influenza virus or Salmonella. The results showed significantly reduced influenza and Salmonella titers in Si-QAC-coated PPE; these antimicrobial effects lasted 7 days. This suggests that this surface-coating disinfectant effectively reduces pathogen contamination of PPE, enabling their safe and long-term use.

Currently, no vaccine or established therapeutic agents are available for coronavirus disease 2019. The sharp increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) necessitates an improvement in the protective efficacy of PPE. We evaluated the potential antimicrobial and antiviral effects of a surface-coating disinfectant (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, Si-QAC) when applied onto PPE. Si-QAC-pre-coated PPE was artificially contaminated with either influenza virus or Salmonella. The results showed significantly reduced influenza and Salmonella titers in Si-QAC-coated PPE; these antimicrobial effects lasted 7 days. This suggests that this surface-coating disinfectant effectively reduces pathogen contamination of PPE, enabling their safe and long-term use.

The higher incidence of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in the newborns and pregnant women had been well recognized. The incidence of invasive S. agalactiae infection was recently increasing in both elderly adults and those with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, malignancy, and abnormalities in immune responses. We report our experience with two diabetic middle-aged men who suffered from S.agalactiae infective endocarditis. Case 1) A 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and chronic alcoholism presented with fever and both lower legs weakness. An echocardiography showed two vegetations on the mitral valve. S. agalactiae was identified from blood cultures. He was treated with penicillin G and gentamicin, and he underwent mitral valve replacement surgery because of persistent fever and newly developed brain infarcts. One month later, an amputation of the left lower leg was performed for the embolic gangrene of left lower leg. Case 2) A 57-year-old diabetic man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and left shoulder pain. He had received the incision and drainage to treat left shoulder joint septic arthritis, but he had a continuous fever. On 5th day of admission, culture of pus from the left shoulder joint revealed S. agalactiae. An echocardiography showed a vegetation on the posterior mitral leaflet. He was treated with penicillin G and gentamicin. On 18th day of admission, a mitral valve replacement surgery was performed. He was discharged without recurrence.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; Amputation ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Brain* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Fever ; Gangrene ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Embolism ; Leg ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Penicillin G ; Pregnant Women ; Recurrence ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Streptococcus agalactiae* ; Streptococcus* ; Suppuration

After introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the incidence of opportunistic infections and malignancies in HIV patients decreased. On the other hand, several osteoarticular complications are increasingly reported. Avascular necrosis of femoral head is one of such complications. HIV-infected patients have an 100-fold increased risk of avascular necrosis of femoral head compared to the general population. Many risk factors for this debilitating complication have been suggested. This paper reports five cases of avascular necrosis of femoral head in HIV-infected patients with review of literature.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Femur ; Hand ; Head ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Necrosis ; Opportunistic Infections ; Osteonecrosis ; Risk Factors

The higher incidence of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in the newborns and pregnant women had been well recognized. The incidence of invasive S. agalactiae infection was recently increasing in both elderly adults and those with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, malignancy, and abnormalities in immune responses. We report our experience with two diabetic middle-aged men who suffered from S.agalactiae infective endocarditis. Case 1) A 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and chronic alcoholism presented with fever and both lower legs weakness. An echocardiography showed two vegetations on the mitral valve. S. agalactiae was identified from blood cultures. He was treated with penicillin G and gentamicin, and he underwent mitral valve replacement surgery because of persistent fever and newly developed brain infarcts. One month later, an amputation of the left lower leg was performed for the embolic gangrene of left lower leg. Case 2) A 57-year-old diabetic man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and left shoulder pain. He had received the incision and drainage to treat left shoulder joint septic arthritis, but he had a continuous fever. On 5th day of admission, culture of pus from the left shoulder joint revealed S. agalactiae. An echocardiography showed a vegetation on the posterior mitral leaflet. He was treated with penicillin G and gentamicin. On 18th day of admission, a mitral valve replacement surgery was performed. He was discharged without recurrence.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; Amputation ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Brain* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Fever ; Gangrene ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Embolism ; Leg ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Penicillin G ; Pregnant Women ; Recurrence ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Streptococcus agalactiae* ; Streptococcus* ; Suppuration

We evaluated risk factors for neutropenic fever and febrile prolonged neutropenia during vincristine-including chemotherapy to treat HIV-related lymphoma to investigate whether protease inhibitor (PI) treatment is associated with infectious complications due to drug interactions with chemotherapeutic agents. We included all HIV patients who received chemotherapy including vincristine for lymphoma at a single referral center in 1999-2010. Neutropenic fever was defined as absolute neutrophil count < 500 cells/microL with body temperature over 38degrees C; and prolonged neutropenia was defined if it persisted over 7 days. CODOX-M/IVAC and Stanford regimens were considered high-risk regimens for prolonged neutropenia. We analyzed 48 cycles of chemotherapy in 17 HIV patients with lymphoma. There were 22 neutropenic fever and 12 febrile prolonged neutropenia events. In multivariate analysis, neutropenic fever was associated with old age and low CD4 cell count, but not with PI use or ritonavir-boosted PI use. Low CD4 cell count and high-risk regimens were associated with febrile prolonged neutropenia. Neutropenic fever and febrile prolonged neutropenia is associated with old age, low CD4 cell count, and high-risk regimens, but not PI use, in HIV patients undergoing chemotherapy including vincristine for lymphoma.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*therapeutic use ; Body Temperature ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Fever/*etiology ; HIV Infections/complications ; Humans ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/complications/*drug therapy/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neutropenia/*etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vincristine/*therapeutic use