BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Although there have been many reports about the importance of the spleen's role in hepatic fibrogenesis, the exact mechanism is still uncertain. The author designed this study to evaluate splenic function on hepatic fibrogenesis. The degree of hepatic fibrosis and the population of splenocyte subsets were studied in the experimental animal model with fibrosis produced by injecting normal swine serum intra-peritoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups; group A was subjected to injection of swine serum only, group B swine serum and complete Freund's adjuvant and group C swine serum and cyclosporin A. The experimental hepatic fibrogenesis by swine serum was augumented by coinjection with the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The study of the splenocyte subset revealed increased percentages of spienic B cell and CD4+ cell and a decreased percentage of CD8+ cell, and these changes of splenocyte subset were also augumented by the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The percent of monocytes was not significantly altered, although a tendancy of early decrease by the adjuvant was noted.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.

One author's affiliation is misspelled in original article.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the MR findings of childhood adrenoleukodystrophy regarding the extent of white matter degeneration and the pattern of enhancement, and to correlate these findings with clinical manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six male patients (5-13 years old;mean age, 8.7 years) of biochemically confirmed adrenoleukodystrophy were included in this study. We evaluated the extent of white matter degeneration which was shown as high signal intensity on T2-weighted image, and the pattern of enhancement. Also we correlated the MR findings with clinical manifestations of symptoms and the results of evoked potential studies. RESULTS:The most common sites of predominant involvement were occipital deep white matter, optic radiation, and splenium of corpus callosum (n = 4, 66.7%). The other sites of predominant involvement were frontal deep white matter (n = 1, 16.7%) and pyramidal tract with cerebellum (n = 1, 16.7%). After contrast enhancement, there was peripheral rim enhancement surrounding the most severely affected areas in five cases (83. 3%). These findings were consistent with clinical symptoms in five cases (83.3%), but the results of evoked potential studies were consistent with clinical symptoms in only two cases (33.3%). CONCLUSION:In childhood adrenoleukodystrophy, MRI can clearly demonstrate specific tracts of involvement and these findings were well correlated with clinical manifestations.
Adrenoleukodystrophy* ; Cerebellum ; Corpus Callosum ; Evoked Potentials ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Pyramidal Tracts

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence and causes of pseudohydronephrosis in the abdominal two-phase (arterial and portal) spiral CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 115 renal pelvises of 62 patients (hepatocellular carcinoma in 36, gastric carcinoma in 10 and others in 16 patients) whose entire renal pelvises were imaged in both phases of abdominal spiral CT. Arterial and portal phase scans were obtained 30 and 65-70 seconds after the injection of 100 mL of non-ionic contrast media (370mg I/mL) at a rate of 2.5 mL/sec, respectively. The renal pelvis was considered to be dilated when the shortest diameter of renal pelvis exceeded 1cm as seen on CT. In each patient, a plain film was obtained 5-10 minutes after the injection of contrast media for CT to confirm the hydronephrosis. RESULTS: Seven renal pelvises were dilated on spiral CT. All of them were pseudohydronephrosis with prominent renal pelvis and two of them were extrarenal pelvises. In 115 renal pelvises, there was one case of true hydronephrosis due to a ureteral stone not suspected clinically. CONCLUSION: A 6% incidence of pseudohydronephrosis due to prominent renal pelvis should be considered in interpreting the abdominal two-phase spiral CT.
Abdomen* ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney Pelvis ; Pelvis ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Ureter

Human membranous nephropathy (MN) is morphologically characterized by subepithelial immune complex deposits and progressive thickening of glomerular basement membranes (GBM). Studies have suggested that the enhanced secretion of classical and novel type IV collagen chains in MN contributes to spike formation and the novel type IV collagen chain is particularly related to thickening of GBM. It is unclear whether the increased accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in GBM is due to the increased mRNA expression for type IV collagen in glomerular visceral epithelial cells (GECs). To answer this question, we analyzed seven renal biopsies of patients with idiopathic MN using in situ hybridization. In MN, the number of GECs expressing mRNA for alpha1(IV) collagen was 2.82+/-1.80/glomerular cross section (gcs), and the number expressing mRNA for alpha4(IV) collagen was 8.42+/-2.85/gcs. The number of GECs expressing mRNA for alpha4(IV) collagen was significantly larger than that of alpha1(IV) collagen mRNA. The expression of mRNA for these ECM proteins in normal controls was negligible. These results suggest that subepithelial immune complexes stimulate the gene expression of alpha1(IV) collagen and alpha4(IV) collagen in glomerular GECs which, in turn, increase the secretion of ECM proteins and contribute to the thickening of GBM in MN.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gene Expression ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Podocytes ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.
Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Bromelains*

Nursing Diagnosis has evolved in the guest to define nursing and its functions. But for the application to clinical practice an unified system of terminology that help nurses to assess selected data and identify potential or actual client problems is required. Consistent terminology that captures the real meanings of the nursing diagnosis makes oral and written communication more accurate and efficient. Already we had performed to deliver a Korean -translated version of the 98 nursing diagnoses through the process of content validity tests and translations, and additionally performed to deliver a Korean-translated version of another 17 nursing diagnoses. The list of 17 nursing diagnoses were reviewed by our research team and two linguists, one specialized in Korean and the other in English. 17 diagnoses were mailed to 719 subjects to test content validity from December 10, 1997 to January 24, 1998, Among 719 questionnaires, 185 were used for analysis. Total mean score of the diagnoses was 3.72 on the 5 point likert scale. The diagnoses that acquired less than 3.50 were 'Risk for altered parent/infant/child attachment'(3.28), 'Potential for enhanced organized infant behavior'(3.40), 'Potential for enhanced community coping' & 'Risk for disorganized infant behavior'(3.49). We suggest to conduct tests for validation of related factors and characteristics of these 17 Nursing Diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Nursing Diagnosis* ; Nursing* ; Postal Service ; Translations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.