No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Prognosis*

Purpura fulminans is a potentially disabling and life-threatening disorder characterized by acute onset of progressive cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis on distal extremities, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. We experienced a case of purpura fulminans due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. A 42-year-old women presented with skin petechiae, ecchymosis and gangrene on distal extremities with laboratory evidence of DIC. The latex agglutination test with CSF was positive at Streptococcus pneumoniae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of purpura fulminans caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea.
Adult ; Dacarbazine ; Ecchymosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Necrosis ; Purpura Fulminans* ; Purpura* ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

BACKGROUND: Plaque compression (and/or redistribution) and vessel expansion are important mechanisms of percutaneous coroanry balloon angioplasty. We investigated the mechanisms of balloon angioplasty according to plaque characteristics by intravascular ultrasound and assessed the time-sequencing morphometric changes of target vessel after balloon dilation without catheter change using intravascular ultrasound balloon catheter. METHOD: We studied balloon angioplasty in 10 patients (eight male, average age of 55.3 years). Quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound images were attained at baseline and at timed intervals of 0sec, 60sec and 180sec post-balloon angioplasty. The following categories were attained : reference diameter, minimal lumen diameter, cross sectional area (CSA) of lumen (L), external elastic membrane (EEM), and plaque + media (P+M). We also assessed the plaque morphology of target lesion and classified them into two groups according to intravascular ultrasound imaging : a soft plaque group versus a group characterized by fibrous and/or mildly calcified plaque. RESULTS: The proportions of plaque compression in the total luminal gain were 80% in the soft plaque group and 70% in the other ; the absolute amount of plaque compression was 26.9% in soft plaque and 24.0% in the other group. The time sequencing changes of target lesion EEM CSA of both group were 14.4+/-2.9mm2, 14.3+/-3.8mm2 (baseline) 15.1+/-2.5mm2, 15.4+/-3.7mm2 (immediate) 15.0+/-2.8mm2, 14.5+/-3.9mm2 (180sec), those of P+M CSA (target lesion) were 10.4+/-3.3mm2, 10.7+/-2.4mm2 (baseline) 7.6+/-2.7mm2, 8.1+/-2.4mm2 (immediate) 7.9+/-2.9mm2, 8.5+/-3.4mm2 (180sec). Target lesion lumen CSA were 4.0+/-1.1mm2, 3.6+/-2.0mm2 (baseline) 7.5+/-1.1mm2, 7.3+/-3.2mm2 (immediate) 7.1+/-1.3mm2, 6.0+/-1.7mm2 (180sec) respectively. CONCLUSION: Plaque compression (and/or redistribution) is the predominant mechanism of luminal gain in both groups. The absolute amounts of P+M CSA changes and time sequencing increment of target lesion were similar in both groups. In the non-soft group, the immediate increment and time sequencing reduction of EEM CSA in target lesion were greater than those of the soft plaque group.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes ; Phenobarbital ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Lung Abscess* ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax* ; Suppuration*

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: Recently several clinical studies suggested that maternal treatment with magnesium sulfate had protective effects against cerebral palsy in premature infants. But previous studies with differing perinatal animal models resulted in inconclusive results with regard to magnesium neuroprotection. Our purpose was to study the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and optimal dosage on hypoxicischemic brain damage in the newborn rat. METHOD: Seven-day-old rats(n=68) underwent right carotid ligation, followed by 3 hours of hypoxia(8% oxygen in 92% nitrogen). Rats received magnesium sulfate immediately before and again after hypoxia(two doses, 150mg-600mg/kg/dose, n=39), or saline solution(n=29). Severity of injury was assessed 5 days later, by visual evaluation of ipsilateral hemisphere infarction and by measurement of bilateral hemispheric cross sectional areas. RESULTS: Magnesium sulfate pre-treatment reduced the incidence of liquefactive cerebral infarction and atrophy from 80.8% in controls to 22.2% with magnesium sulfate(450 mg/kg/dose, P<0.05). Quantitation of hemispheric areas confirmed these findings. Percent protection based on inter-hemisphere area differences by pre-treatment with magnesium sulfate 450mg/kg/dose ranged from 71.1%(hippocampus) to 90.8%(striatum). However higher dose of magnesium(600mg/kg/dose) did not attenuate hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the newborn rat but increased mortality. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment of magnesium sulfate has neuroprotective effects against hypoxia-ischemia in the newborn rat and adequate dose of magnesium sufate is important to protect the brain. Magnesium pretreatment may be an effective strategy to decrease the severity of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the adequate dose.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Palsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Infarction ; Ligation ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxygen ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Phototherapy*

No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord*

No abstract available.
Esophageal Atresia* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that the individuals of blood group O and nonsecretors are more susceptible to peptic ulcers. Recently, reported that Lewis b blood group antigen mediated Helicobacter pylori attachment to human gastric mucosa and suggested that Le(b+)/secretors may be more susceptible to Helicobacter pylori infection than Le(b-)/nonsecretors. However, controversy and no convincing clinical support for this have been presented so far. The aim of this study were (1) to determine if blood group antigen associated with Le(b+) status is high risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection, (2) to determine association between Lewis genotype and Helicobacter pylori infection and (3) to determine difference between Lewis genotype and phenotype. METHOD: ABO and Lewis blood group phenotyping was tested with the monoclonal antibody and Lewis blood group genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method. The relative activity of Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 103 sera. RESULTS: 1. The individuals with Lewis b(+)/secretors phenotype showed no significantly higher IgG immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection. 2. The individuals with Lewis (Le/Se) genotype showed no significantly higher IgG immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection than Lewis (le) or Lewis (se). 3. The frequencies of occurrence of Le, le, Se1, Se2 and sej among 206 alleles examined in patient's sample of 103 Korean individuals were 66.5%, 33.5%, 12.6%, 41.3% and 46.1%, respectively. 4. Lewis(a,b) blood group phenotype of this study group was accordant with Lewis genotype by PCR-RFLP in 88.1%. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the Le(b) blood group phenotype/genotype were not associated with the Helicobacter pylori IgG seroprevalence, but showed higher seroprevalence rate of the Helicobacter pylori IgG in the Le(b+) phenotype/genotype than those in Le(b-).
Alleles ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gastric Mucosa ; Genotype ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Peptic Ulcer ; Phenotype ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

We evaluate the effects of diltiazem in 19 patients with ischemic heart disease (15 patients) of classical anginal pectoris & 4 patients of variant angina) by means of clinical status & electrocardiographic changes and obtain the results as follows: 1. The pulse rate & blood pressure were decreased by diltiazem slightly but these decreases were not significant in statistical meaning. 2. Diltiazem administration of 4 weeks duration normalized EKG completely in 4 patients & partially in 3 patients among the 13 patients who showed abnormal resting EKG initially. 3. All 19 patients who received diltiazem showed clinical improvement; 9 patients had excellent responses, 7 patients good responses & 3 patients fair responses. 4. Diltiazem had side effects in 3 patients, drowsiness, mild euphoria & possibly tolerance respectively in each patients.
Angina Pectoris* ; Blood Pressure ; Diltiazem ; Electrocardiography ; Euphoria ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Sleep Stages