A total of 624 rodent of six species was examined for trematodes. Five species of trematodes were considered, of which Fibricola seoulensis sp. nov. was reported as a new species. Plagiorchis muris, Echinostoma cinetorchis and Euparyphium murinum was recorded for the first time from Korea. Descriptions are included for each species considered.
parasitology-epidemiology-helminth-trematoda ; Fibricoa seoulensis ; Plagiorchis muris ; Echinostoma cinetorchis ; Echinostoma hortense ; Euparyphium murinum ; Rattus norvegicus ; Apdemus agarius ; Rattus rattus alexandrinus ; Mus musculus yamashinai ; Mircrotus fortis pellceus ; Crocidura russula

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Thorax*

No abstract available.

An investigation of the helminth parasites of house rat R. norvegicus Erxl. in Seoul has been carried on four years. A total of 325 rat was examined. Ten species of helminths were considered, of which 4 species were recored for the first time from Korea. The adult worm of Capillaria hepatica, the most common parasite of house rats in Seoul, was observed experimentally, and provided a more complete description of this worm.
parasitology ; epidemiology ; helminth ; trematoda ; nematoda ; cestoda ; Echinostoma hortense ; Fibricola seoulensis ; Taenia taeniaformis, Hymenolepis nana ; Hymenolepis diminuta ; Heterakis spumosa ; Syphacia obvelata ; Nippostrongylus muris ; Trichosomoides crassicauda ; Capillaria hepatica

Actinomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous suppurative disease caused by Actinomyces species. Actinomyces is an anaerobic, gram positive organism that requires special techniques for culture and isolation. Actinomycosis is characterized by formation of multiple abscesses, draining sinuses, abundant granulations (sulfur granule) and dense fibrous tissue. The three major clinical presentations include the cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal regions. Since A. israelii is a normal inhabitant of the oral cavity, to make a definitive diagnosis it must be recovered from closed tissue spaces, draining sinuses, or abscesses, or it must be shown to be invasive in histopathologic sections. The drug of choice is penicillin. Because of the dense fibrous tissue surrounding the colonies of organisms and the concentration of organisms in clusters, high doses of pharmacologic agents must be used for long periods, and radical surgical excision should accompany antibiotic therapy if possible. We report three cases of abdominal actinomycosis, preoperatively impressed as appendicitis and pelvic abscess, which was diagnosed by a histological study of operative specimens. The possible pathogenic mechanisms causing clinical symptoms are discussed.
Abscess ; Actinomyces ; Actinomycosis* ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis ; Mouth ; Penicillins

BACKGROUND: It has been well documented that transient occlusion of the coronary artery causes myocardial ischemia and finally cell death when ischemia is sustained for more than 20 minutes. Extensive studies have revealed that ischemic myocardium cannot recover without reperfusion by adequate restoration of blood flow, however, reperfusion can cause long-lasting cardiac dysfunction and aggravation of structural damage. The author therefore attempted to examine the effect of postischemic reperfusion on myocardial ultrastructure and to determine the rationales for recanalization therapy to salvage ischemic myocardium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Young Holstein-Friesian cows (130~140 Kg body weight; n=40) of both sexes, maintained with nutritionally balanced diet and under constant conditions, were used. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded by ligation with 4-0 silk snare for 20 minutes and recanalized by release of the ligation under continuous intravenous drip anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital (0.15 mg/Kg/min). Drill biopsies of the risk area (antero-lateral wall) were performed at just on reperfusion (5 minutes), 1-, 2-, 3-, 6-, 12-hours after recanalization, and at 1-hour assist (only with mechanical respiration and fluid replacement) after 12-hour recanalization. The materials were subdivided into subepicardial and subendocardial tissues. Tissue samples were examined with a transmission electron microscope (Philips EM 300) at the accelerating voltage of 60 KeV. RESULTS: After a 20-minute ligation of the LAD, myocytes showed slight to moderate degree of ultrastructural changes including subsarcolemmal bleb formation, loss of nuclear matrix, clumping of chromatin and margination, mitochondrial destruction, and contracture of sarcomeres. However, microvascular structures were relatively well preserved. After 1-hour reperfusion, nuclear and mitochondrial matrices reappeared and intravascular plugging by polymorphonuclear leukocytes or platelets was observed. However, nucleoli and intramitochondrial granules reappeared within 3 hours of reperfusion and a large number of myocytes were recovered progressively within 6 hours of reperfusion. Recovery was apparent in the subepicardial myocytes and there were no distinct changes in the ultrastructure except narrowed lumen of the microvessels in the later period of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that the ischemic myocardium could not be salvaged without adequate restoration of coronary flow and that the microvasculature is more resistant to reversible period of ischemia than subendocardium and subepicardium. Therefore, thrombolysis and/or angioplasty may be a rational method of therapy for coronarogenic myocardial ischemia. However, it may take a relatively longer period of time to recover from ischemic insult and reperfusion injury should be considered.
Anesthesia ; Angioplasty ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Body Weight ; Cell Death ; Chromatin ; Contracture ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diet ; Heart* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ischemia ; Ligation* ; Microvessels ; Muscle Cells ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Nuclear Matrix ; Pentobarbital ; Reperfusion Injury ; Reperfusion* ; Respiration ; Sarcomeres ; Silk ; SNARE Proteins ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Cardioplegic Solutions* ; Ischemia*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the cellular characteristics of the secondary pupillary membrane. METHODS: The secondary pupillary membrane was removed from the anterior lens surface during cataract extraction from 2 patients with cataract associated with uveitis. Specimen from one patient was stained with hematoxylin-eosin with flat preparation method. Specimen from the other patient cultured for 1 and 2 weeks was observed with transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The flat preparation showed the neovascular membrane with pigment-laden cells. The cultured cells consisted of the well preserved vascular components which had the vascular endothelial cells and pericyte and pigment-laden cells lined by basement membrane on first week of culture. The iris pigment epithelial cell which contained the pigment granules within cytoplasm and lined by basement membrane were observed on second week of culture. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the secondary pupillary membrane consists of vascular membrane and pigment epithelial cell of iris which is a major component of secondary pupillary membrane and secrets extracellular matrix.
Basement Membrane ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoplasm ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Iris ; Membranes* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Pericytes ; Uveitis

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of volar plate fixation of dorsally displaced unstable distal radius fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 48 patients with dorsally displaced unstable distal radius fracture were treated by volar plate fixation, between August 1993 and February 2003. Radial inclination, radial length and volar tilting were analyzed by radiographic evaluation. For clinical evaluation, the clinical ratings of Green and O'Brien were used. RESULTS: Radiographic analysis of extra-articular or non-comminuted intra-articular fractures (AO type A2, A3, and C1) demonstrated no significant differences in radial inclination, radial height and volar tilting between the immediate postoperative period and the last follow-up evaluation. However, in cases of comminuted intra-articular fractures (AO type C2), there were statistically significant differences. In clinical evaluation, 40 (83%) patients demonstrated excellent or good results based on the clinical ratings of Green and O'Brien. 32 (94%) of patients demonstrated excellent or good results in extra-articular (AO type A2 and A3) or non-comminuted intra-articular fractures (AO type C1) and 8 (57%) patients demonstrated excellent or good results in comminuted intra-articular fractures (AO type C2). The number of patients with complications was 4 (8%). Median nerve neuropathy developed in 2 patients, and hand and wrist stiffness in 2 patients. All cases achieved bony union. There was no implant failure or irritation. CONCLUSION: Volar plate fixation of extra-articular or non-comminuted intra-articular fractures (AO type A2, A3, and C1) was an effective treatment method for dorsally displaced unstable distal radius fractures. It provided stable fixation and allowed early postoperative rehabilitation.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Median Nerve ; Postoperative Period ; Radius Fractures* ; Radius* ; Rehabilitation ; Palmar Plate* ; Wrist

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of Singh index (SI) values, determined on image software processed digital radiographs in elderly patients with proximal femoral fractures, with respect to its value as a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate osteoporosis in acute trauma situations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 210 patients (98 femur neck fractures, 112 intertrochanter fractures) treated between March 2005 and March 2009. Preoperative digital radiographs of each patient were assessed by four observers to determine SI values. The reliability of SI was expressed in terms of intraobserver and interobserver agreements in pairs using Fleiss's overall Kappa, Stuart's tau-c index, and Kendall's coefficiency of concordance. RESULTS: Fleiss's overall kappa values for intraobserver agreement ranged from 0.278 to 0.586 (mean, 0.452) and did not reach good reliability overall. Fleiss's overall kappa values for interobserver agreement ranged from 0.120 to 0.241 (mean, 0.180), and thus, did not reach acceptable reliability. CONCLUSION: The result suggest that the image adjustment tools provided by digital radiography cannot improve the usefulness of SI as a simple and inexpensive method of assessing the osteoporosis. Therefore, the reliability of SI good enough to be used for clinical and research work is questionable.
Aged ; Femoral Fractures ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Retrospective Studies