BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the colonization rate of group B streptococci(GBS) in pregnant women and the incidence of neonatal infections by GBS is increasing trend in Korea, but the antimicrobial susceptibilities and serotypes in pregnant women have not been reported in Korea. So, we studied to define the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and frequency of serotypes of GBS in pregnant women. METHODS: The susceptibility and serotyping of 60 GBS isolates from 27 pregnant women and four isolates from their two neonates were tested by an agar dilution method and agglutination test, respectively. The typing sera used in this study were Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V. RESULTS: Minimal inhibitory concentration range of 60 GBS from pregnant women were penicillin G 0.015-0.12 microgram/ml, vancomycin 0.5-2 microgram/ml, clindamycin 0.015-4.0 microgram/ml, chloramphenicol 2-4 microgram/ml, erythromycin 0.015-2 microgram/ml, tetracycline 0.5-256 microgram/ml, cephalothin 0.12-0.25 microgram/ml, ceftriaxone 0.03-0.12 microgram/ml, respectively. The resistance rate of GBS were 6.7% to clindamycin, 0% to erythromycin, and 98.3% to tetracycline. Most of GBS serotypes from pregnant women in decreasing order were Ib(48.3%), Ia(24.1%), III(20.7%). CONCLUSION: All GBS strains isolated from pregnant women are highly susceptible to commonly used antimicrobial agents with the exception of tetracycline. The low prevalence of severe neonatal GBS infections in Korea is not due to the absence of serotype III, but probably due to a low genital carriage rate of GBS by pregnant women.
Agar ; Agglutination Tests ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Ceftriaxone ; Cephalothin ; Chloramphenicol ; Clindamycin ; Colon ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Penicillin G ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence ; Serotyping ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin

Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and a neural dynamic technique (NDYT). As an intervention to treat spastic lower limb muscle tone, stiffness, and static balance in stroke patients. Methods: Totally, 26 participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the IASTM (n=13) and NDYT (n=13) groups. Both groups were subjected to their respective technique for 15 minutes, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. Muscle tone, stiffness, and static balance were evaluated before and after training, to compare both group changes. Results: IASTM group showed significant decrease in the gastrocnemius medial region and semitendinosus muscle tone and stiffness (p<0.05) compare to NDYT group; however, no significant different was observed in static balance between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion The results suggest that IASTM is an effective method for decreasing the muscle tone and stiffness in acute stroke patients.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and a neural dynamic technique (NDYT). As an intervention to treat spastic lower limb muscle tone, stiffness, and static balance in stroke patients. Methods: Totally, 26 participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the IASTM (n=13) and NDYT (n=13) groups. Both groups were subjected to their respective technique for 15 minutes, 5 times a week, for 6 weeks. Muscle tone, stiffness, and static balance were evaluated before and after training, to compare both group changes. Results: IASTM group showed significant decrease in the gastrocnemius medial region and semitendinosus muscle tone and stiffness (p<0.05) compare to NDYT group; however, no significant different was observed in static balance between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion The results suggest that IASTM is an effective method for decreasing the muscle tone and stiffness in acute stroke patients.

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the balance parameters, the diabetes mellitus (DM) composite score representing the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy, and the neuropathy impairment score-lower limb (NIS-LL). METHOD: Thirty patients with DM were studied. Subjects were evaluated with nerve conduction study in upper and lower extremities, DM composite score, and NIS-LL, various balance parameters such as plantar pressure difference of both sides and unipedal standing time. The subjects who could not stand without support by any reasons were excluded. RESULTS: NIS-LL showed strong correlation with DM composite score (r(s)=0.683) and unipedal standing time (r(s)=0.663) (p<0.01). NIS-LL also revealed moderate correlation with plantar pressure difference of both sides (r(s)=0.512) (p<0.05). DM composite score showed strong correlation with unipedal standing time (r(s)=0.646) (p<0.01), but revealed no significant correlation with plantar pressure difference of both sides (r(s)=0.137) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: NIS-LL was considered to have clinical usefulness in the evaluation of balance problems related to DM.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Neural Conduction

Many patients regard tonsillectomy as a minor operation because it is performed frequently. Although tonsillectomy is considered a relatively safe surgical procedure, numerous complications have been described. The common complications are hemorrhage, infection, and following anesthesia, aspiration, cardiac arrhythmia, and laryngeal trauma. Cervicofacial emphysema and pneumomediastinum are rarely observed sequelae of surgical intervention in the upper aerodigestive tract. Although these complications resolve spontaneously in most cases, a few cases result in tension pneumothorax and other life-threatening conditions. Symptoms include chest pain, neck pain, dyspnea and odynophagia. Treatment involves frequent assessment of the airway and extent of the emphysema. The authors of the present study report of a patient who developed pneumomediastinum shortly after an adenotonsillectomy as well as a review of the related literature.
Anesthesia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Emphysema ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Neck Pain ; Pneumothorax ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Tonsillectomy

A 67-year-old male visited Pusan Veterans Hospital due to general weakness and weight loss for 6 months. Physical examination showed non-tender 4 finger breaths sized splenomegaly and both inguinal and cervical lymphadenopathy. The white blood cell count was 25,300/uL with 91% morphologically mature lymphocytes. Bone marrow aspirate revealed hypercellularity with 74.5% lymphocytes morphologically similar to peripheral lymphocytes. The immunophenotpying study of lymphocytes displayed the phenotype of CD19(+), CD20(+), HLA-DR(+), sIg(+) but CD5(-). We concluded that this patients's diagnosis is CD 5 negative B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Bone Marrow ; Busan ; Diagnosis ; Fingers ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Splenomegaly ; Weight Loss

A 41-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for self-audible wheezing sound and dyspnea. On past history, she has been suffered from chest discomfort, and treated recurrently by other hospitals. But, there was no symptomatic improvement. A stridor and mixed wheezing sound was auscultated on whole lung field. PFT revealed fixed type or variable intra- & extra-thoracic air way obstructive pattern. By bronchoscopy & bronchogram, we found web-like structure on the distal trachea. A bronchoplasty was performed and the post-operative PFT showed slight improvement & she had no more complaints.
Adult ; Bronchoscopy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thorax ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis*

BACKGROUND: The morphological characteristics of hepatocytes transplanted into the spleen have been studied. However few attempts has been made to determine the expression of genes in intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to explore whether the pattern of expression of albumin gene in intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes is similar to that in adult liver, resulting in the long-term expression of this hepatocyte-specific gene. METHODS: Hepatocytes isolated from liver of syngeneic Fischer 344 rats and transplanted into the spleen of rats from the same strain survived for 12 months in the absence of immunosuppressive drugs. Microscopic examination of intrasplenic hepatocytes and Northern blotting for albumin gene expression of RNA extracted from liver and spleen was performed. RESULTS: Microscopy demonstrated that hepatocytes attached themselves only in the red pulp of the spleen and isolated hepatocytes preserved the fine structures characteristic of normal hepatic parenchymal cells. Throughout the 12 months period, intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes expressed albumin mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: Intrasplenically transplanted hepatocytes represent a unique in vivo system of extrahepatic maintenance of hepatocytes. This novel transplantation system could be used to investigate hepatocyte engraft, proliferation and gene expression.
Adult ; Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression* ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Liver ; Microscopy ; Rats ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Spleen

Background/Aims: Periampuilary diverticulum has been known to be associated with various bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis and disturbs performing selective cannuiation of ERCP and EST. This present study aims to investigate anatomical morphology of periampullary diverticulum and to determine whether periampullary diverticulurn influences difficulty and complication performing of ERCP and to analyse the relationship between periampullary diverticulum and choledocholithiasis. Methods: We reviewed records of chart and diverticular pictures in 1389 cases of underwent ERCP and evaluated the incidence, size, direction, location of periampullary diverticulum and its influence against performing of ERCP and investigated its relationship with bilio-pancreatic diseases such as choledocholithiasis.(continue..)
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis ; Diverticulum* ; Incidence