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

PURPOSE: To evaluate the merits of this technique and to provide a standard for comparison with futuretreatment alternatives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 52 patients withdirect CCF treated at the Yonsei Medical Center between 1983 and 1997 by transarterial or transvenous embolizationusing detachable balloon(s) and/or coils. RESULTS: Among the 52 cases, 51 were traumatic in origin, while onlyone was the result of a ruptured aneurysm. The three most common presentations were chemosis, bruit, andpulsatile proptosis. Forty-five patients were successfully treated with detachable balloon(s) and/or coils andinternal carotid blood flow was preserved in 35. When coils were used (1993-7), the ICA preservation rate washigher than when they were not used (1983-92). To confirm statistical significance, however, more studies areneeded. Four patients who initially presented with incomplete occlusion showed spontaneous occlusion on follow upangiography. In two patients, surgical ligation was performed because embolization failed and there was incompleteocclusion of the fistula. We experienced complications such as transient 3rd and 6th cranial nerve palsy,migration of deflated balloons and coils to the lung, and loss of vision. CONCLUSION: Transarterial andtransvenous embolization with detachable balloon(s) and/or coils provides a high rate of fistula obliteration withlow morbidity. In particular, the use of coils led to an increased rate of ICA preservation, thus and isconsidered as a good treatment modality for CCF obliteration.
Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Cranial Nerves ; Exophthalmos ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Lung ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the influence of maternal age on embryo quality and the frequency of multiple pregnancy in IVF-ET program. METHOD: 86 conventional IVF-ET cycles were divided into three groups according to the age by 5 year (group A: 26-30, group B: 3135, group C: 36-40 yrs). The in vitro fertilization and development outcome (fertilization, cleavage and high quality embryo rate) and the pregnancy outcome (pregnancy, implantation, G-sac/high quality embryo and multiple pregnancy rate) were examined. And then, these results were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The rates of fertilization (62.7, 68.5 and 65.4%, respectively) and cleavage (95.6, 97.6 and 98.0%, respectively) were not different among the groups. And the high quality embryo (HQE) rate also was not different among the groups (61.8, 62.9 and 62.8%, respectively). The pregnancy rate of group C (23.3%) was significantly lower than that of group A (41.2%) and B (48.7%). And the implantation rate was significantly decreased to group B (32.2%) and C (14.3%) when compared to group A (71.4%) and B (36.8%). CONCLUSION: The pregnancy rate was significantly decreased over 35 years. The G-sac/HQE and multiple pregnancy rate were significantly high below 31 years. Thus, these results suggest that the number of high quality embryo transferred should be limited by the age and another criteria for embryo quality evaluation were required for single embryo transfer.
Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Maternal Age* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple* ; Single Embryo Transfer