Using the 15 strains of Vibrio eulnificus isolated from the blood and tissue fluid of the patients with primary septicemia, cultural characteristics were studied on various media. The media to be used in culturing Vibrio vulnificus should contain sodium chloride, because it could not survive on the media without NaCl. The organism grew poorly or not at all on the media with eosin-y, methylene blue, crystal violet, or azide, because these substances suppress its growth. Vibrio vulnificus grew well in the enrichment media such as brain heart infusion, tryptic soy broth, and nutrient broth with 0. 5% NaCl.
Brain ; Cultural Characteristics* ; Gentian Violet ; Heart ; Humans ; Methylene Blue ; Sepsis ; Sodium Chloride ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

Using the 8 strains of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from the patients with primary sepsis, the viability of Vibrio vulnificus were studied in the various range of hydrogen ion concentration. The opitimal pH range of growth was 7-9, and survived between pH 3. 6 and 12. 5 when incubated at 37C for one hour.
Humans ; Hydrogen* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Protons* ; Sepsis ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

No abstract available.
Aeromonas hydrophila* ; Aeromonas* ; Animals ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Mast Cells* ; Rats*

Purpose: To study the appropriateness of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (rPEP) for children with animal bite who visited the emergency department (ED). Methods: The study enrolled children younger than 18 years with animal bite who visited the National Medical Center ED between January 2014 and October 2017. The children’ electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Data for analysis included age, sex, body parts bitten by animals, species of animals, regions where animal bites occurred, history of recent antibiotics therapy and tetanus vaccination, and justification by the 2017 Guidelines for Rabies Control in Korea and implementation of rPEP. In children who underwent unjustified rPEP or did not undergo justified one, we recorded their guardians’ opinion for or against rPEP. Results: Of the 63 enrolled children, rPEP was justified for 38 children by the Korean guidelines. Of the 38 children, 35 actually underwent rPEP. Among the remaining 3 children, 2 did not undergo the prophylaxis as per the guardians’ requests. Among the 25 children whose rPEP was not justified, 8 underwent the prophylaxis. Of these 8 children, 7 did based on the guardians’ requests. Conclusion In this study, inappropriate rPEP was usually affected by the guardians’ requests, regardless of the criteria for such prophylaxis. Thus, their requests for or against rPEP should be discussed with emergency physicians who are aware of the relevant criteria to prevent occurrence of rabies or unnecessary use of medical resources.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) in needle biopsy and the upgrade rate to carcinoma, and to evaluate difference in findings between the upgrade and non-upgrade groups. Materials and Methods: Among 9660 needle biopsies performed over 48 months, we reviewed the radiologic and histopathologic findings of ADH and compared the differences in imaging findings (mammography and breast US) and biopsy methods between the upgrade and non-upgrade groups. Results: The incidence of ADH was 1.7% (169/9660). Of 112 resected cases and 30 cases followed-up for over 2 years, 35 were upgraded to carcinoma (24.6%, 35/142). The upgrade rates were significantly different according to biopsy methods: US-guided core needle biopsy (US-CNB) (40.7%, 22/54) vs. stereotactic-vacuum-assisted biopsy (S-VAB) (16.0%, 12/75) vs. US-guided VAB (US-VAB) (7.7%, 1/13) (p = 0.002). Multivariable analysis showed that only US-CNB (odds ratio = 5.19, 95% confidence interval: 2.16–13.95, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor for pathologic upgrade. There was no upgrade when a sonographic mass was biopsied by US-VAB (n = 7) Conclusion The incidence of ADH was relatively low (1.7%) and the upgrade rate was 24.6%. Surgical excision should be considered because of the considerable upgrade rate, except in the case of US-VAB.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of gray-scale ultrasonography (US), Doppler scan, and elastography using carotid artery pulsation in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and to find a complementary role of elastography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 197 thyroid nodules with 91 malignant and 106 benign pathologic results from 187 patients (41 males and 146 females; age range, 20–83 years; mean age, 49.4 years) were included in this prospective study. The gray-scale, Doppler US images, elastography with elasticity contrast index (ECI), and stiffness color were assessed. The diagnostic performances of each dataset were assessed in order to differentiate benign from malignant thyroid nodules. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off value of the ECI was 1.71. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (Az value) was 0.821 for gray-scale US, 0.661 for the ECI, 0.592 for stiffness color, and 0.539 for Doppler US. The Az value for a combined assessment of gray-scale US and the ECI was higher than that for the gray-scale US alone; however, there was no statistical difference between the two (p = 0.219). The median ECI values of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) were significantly lower than those of the other malignant lesions (p = 0.005). Meanwhile, the diffuse sclerosing variant of PTC and a metastatic nodule showed the two highest median values of the ECI. CONCLUSION: For differentiating thyroid nodules, the diagnostic performances of the combination of gray-scale US and elastography with the ECI were similar to, but not superior, to those of gray-scale US alone. FVPTC and FTC have a significantly lower ECI value than those of the other malignant lesions.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Carotid Arteries* ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies* ; ROC Curve ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography

A case of Carney complex in a Korean patient is presented. The patient had the characteristics of Carney complex including skin lesions, positive family history, and multiple myxomas including a superficial angiomyxoma in the perianal area. An extensive genetic analysis revealed a novel mutation in the protein kinase A type I-a regulatory subunit (PRKAR1A) gene, but not in the phosphodiesterase type 11A (PDE11A) gene. This is the first case wherein extensive genetic studies were performed in a patient with Carney complex in Korea.
Carney Complex ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; Humans ; Korea ; Myxoma ; Skin

Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) is currently commonly used material for the reconstruction of bone defects and fixation of joint prosthetics following congenital and acquired causes. Although PMMA has widespread use, it does not possess the ideal mechanical characteristics with osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity required. In order to overcome these problem, addition of bovine bone drived defatting demineralized bone (BDB) powders to a PMMA bone cement was done for improvement of physical property and bone forming characteristics of composite. In order to investigate the influence of BDB reinforcement on the PMMA, we measured physical property of compressive, tensile, flexural strength, and scanning electron microscopic examinations. The results were obtained as follows : 1. The PMMA forms a solid cellular matrix with open cells about above 100micrometer in variable size and incorporating BDB. BDB aggregates inside the cells form a porous network that is accessible from the outer surface. 2. The physical properties were compressive strength of mean 22.74+/-1.69MPa, tensile strength of mean 22.74+/-1.69MPa, flexural strength of mean 77.53+/-6.93MPa. Scanning electron microscopic examinations were revealed that there was DBD particles form a highly porous agglomerates. BDB can be added PMMA in the form of dried powders, the composites are applicable as bone substitutes. BDB and PMMA mixture is shown to produce a class of composites that due to their microstructure and improved mechanical properties may be suitable for application as bone substitutes. The mechanical and material properties of the BDB-PMMA bone substitute composites are competitive with those properties of a porous ceramic matrix of other hydroxyapatite and with those of natural bones.
Bone Substitutes ; Ceramics ; Compressive Strength ; Durapatite ; Joints ; Polymethyl Methacrylate* ; Powders ; Tensile Strength

PURPOSE: Pneumonia is a common complication of organophosphate poisoning and increases the incidence of respiratory failure and the duration of mechanical ventilator support. Therefore, we investigated the clinical characteristics of pneumonia as a complication of organophosphate insecticide poisoning and then determined the factors related to the development of pneumonia. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on patients with organophosphate insecticide poisoning, who were treated at our hospital with medical records and chest radiograph of patients. From January 1, 2001, to July 31, 2004, eighty five patients were included in this study. RESULTS: 1) Thirty-two (71% of the patients developing pneumonia) patients developed pneumonia later than 48 hours from admission and twenty-five (55.6% of the patients developing pneumonia) patients developed pneumonia later than 48 hours after mechanical ventilatory support. 2) The mean onset of pneumonia resistant to initial empirical antibiotics was 4.8 days from admission, and that of susceptible pneumonia was 3.7 days from admission. 3) Patients with pneumonia as a complication needed larger doses of atropine and more 2-pralidoxime injections, as well as longer mechanical ventilatory support, ICU admission, and total hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Most Pneumonia in organophosphate poisoning patients were nosocomial pneumonia & ventilator-associated pneumonia. Thus, to reduce the incidence of pneumonia complication in organophosphate poisoning patients, Physicians must take measures, such as hand-washing and careful periodic drainage of tubing condensate, etc., to reduce the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia. In selecting empirical antibiotics for pneumonia complicating organophosphate poisoning patients, physicians should take regional prevalence of nosocomial pathogens into consideration. In late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia, physicians must consider pneumonia caused by organisms resistant to commonly used empirical antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Atropine ; Drainage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Aspiration* ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Poisoning* ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Despite advances in imaging and antibiotic treatment, brain abscess is still encountered occasionally and is one of the most significant life-threatening complications of otologic disease. Nowadays, mortality rates of up to 10 percent have been reported. Brain abscesses are developed up to 0.5 percent of cases of acute otitis media and 3 percent of cases of chronic suppurative otitis media. In this case, underlying middle ear pathology showed chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. Successful management of otogenic brain abscess still includes medical and surgical treatment. Initial surgical treatment of abscess is very controversial today. Some authors prefer the surgical excision of brain abscess prior to the management of temporal bone, yet other authors prefer the surgery of temporal bone prior to the management of brain abscess. Although an enterococcus is a significant cause of human infections outside of the central nervous system but, enterococcal infections involving the central nervous system are uncommon clinical entities. Because of the relatively small number of individuals who develop brain abscess or meningitis due to an enterococcus, an appropriate therapy has not been well defined. We report a case of enterococcal otogenic brain abscess which was treated successfully using antibiotics, immediate radical mastoidectomy and later stereotactic abscess drainage with a review of literatures.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Cholesteatoma ; Drainage ; Ear Diseases ; Ear, Middle ; Enterococcus ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Pathology ; Temporal Bone