Acanthamoeba and Naegleria are widely distributed in fresh water, soil and dust throughout the world, and cause meningoencephalitis or keratoconjunctivitis in humans and other mammals. Korean isolates, namely, Naegleria sp. YM-1 and Acanthamoeba sp. YM-2, YM-3, YM-4, YM-5, YM-6 and YM-7, were collected from sewage, water puddles, a storage reservoir, the gills of a fresh water fish, and by corneal washing. These isolates were categorized into three groups based on the mortalities of infected mice namely, highly virulent (YM-4), moderately virulent (YM-2, YM-5 and YM-7) and nonpathogenic (YM-3). In addition, a new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Korean isolate YM-4. The morphologic characters of its cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Based on experimentally infected mouse mortality, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. Moreover, an anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal antibody reacted only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of a 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster based on phylogenic distances. Thus Acanthamoeba YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned Acanthamoeba sohi. Up to the year 2002 in Korea, two clinical cases were found to be infected with Acanthamoeba spp. These patients died of meningoencephalitis. In addition, one case of Acanthamoeba pneumonia with an immunodeficient status was reported and Acanthamoeba was detected in several cases of chronic relapsing corneal ulcer, chronic conjunctivitis, and keratitis.
*Acanthamoeba/classification/genetics/immunology/pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology/therapy ; Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan/analysis/genetics/immunology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Korea/epidemiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Naegleria/classification/genetics/immunology/pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique/veterinary ; Virulence/genetics

A new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 (Korean isolate YM-4). The trophozoites were 11.0-23.0 micrometer in length and had hyaline filamentous projections. Cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Acanthamoeba YM-4 can survive at 40 degrees C, and its generation time was 19.6 hr, which was longer than that of A. culbertsoni. In terms of the in vitro cytotoxicity of lysates, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was weaker than A. culbertsoni, but stronger than A. polyphaga. On the basis of the mortality of experimentally infected mice, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was found to be highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. An anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal antibody, McAY7, was found to react only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster on the basis of phylogenetic distances. Thus the Acanthamoeba Korean isolate YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned as Acanthamoeba sohi.
Acanthamoeba/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Fish Diseases/*parasitology ; Gills/parasitology ; Goldfish/*parasitology ; Korea ; Mice ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Virulence

The use of the interlocking intramedullary nails expand the possibilities for treatment of femoral shaft fractures, as illustrated by consistent and satisfactory clinical results. However, the technique is relatively complex compared to conventional nails and frequently poses technical problems. A retrospective review was undertaken of twenty-eight patients with femoral shaft fractures which had technical problems after undergoing the closed reduction and internal fixation with interlocking intramedullary nail procedure. We studied the types of the problems. Their causes, the frequency of problems with various kinds of nails, and discussed solutions of the problems. There were 21 additional comminutions and intraop erative splinterings, 8 angular deformities, 3 malpositioned nails, 3 loosened distal locked screws, 2 brocken drill bits, and 1 femoral neck fracture. Bone-union was attained in all cases (28 patients), but the period of treatment to attain bone-union was protracted to an average of 6.8 (5-12) months. In 3 cases, the knee joint range of motion was of limited flexion, 70 to 90 degrees, but in all other cases full range of motion was realized. 7 cases required 2 or more operations. The hospitalization period was for an average of 3.6 months. In conclusion, the importance of careful preoperative planning and experienced surgical technique cannot be overemphasized because we could see no significant difference in the occurence of technical problems in several kinds of the nail.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment outcome and side effects of accelerated radiotherapy (RT) using concomitant boost for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Between April 1991 and December 1994, 102 patients with stage III NSCLC who had the favorable prognostic factors by CALGB criteria, were treated with concomitant boost radiotherapy. Patients were treated with standard large fields to 54 Gy in 6 weeks. The boost treatment was administered concomitantly during the last 2 weeks with a dose of 13 Gy in 10 fractions. The interfraction interval was at least 6 hours. The total tumor dose was 66-70 Gy, given over 6 weeks. RESULTS: With 30 months median follow-up period for survivors, median survival was 15 months with 2 and 3-year overall survival rates of 34% and 19%, respectively. Thirty patients (29%) who had achieved complete remission after RT showed significantly better 2-year survival rates than those without complete remission (58% vs 22%, p 0.001). Local failure and distant metastases as the first or only failure occurred in 40 (44%) and 13 (14%), respectively, and ultimate local and distant failure rates were 45% and 29%, respectively. Although Grade IV esophageal complication of T-E fistula was observed in one patient, most patients with pulmonary complication showed mild, transient radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the treatrnent of stage III NSCLC with concomitant boost RT may improve survival rates without enhanced radiation induced toxicity compared with conventional RT. Further investigation of dose escalation by conformal radiotherapy of combining chemotherapy and accelerated RT is warranted.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Drug Therapy ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Erythrocytes*

This report describes clinical cases of a palato-gingival groove on a maxillary lateral incisor with associated localized periodontal disease and pulp necrosis. The tooth of the first case was extracted because of severe bone destruction. The palato-gingival groove of the second case was eliminated using a round bur, and the resulting defect was filled with synthetic graft and covered by an absorbable membrane. Both diagnosis and treatment of palato-gingival groove were very difficult and usually extraction of the involved tooth is the treatment of choice, but combined endodontic-periodontic treatment allowed the tooth to be saved.
Dental Pulp Necrosis ; Diagnosis ; Incisor* ; Membranes ; Periodontal Diseases ; Tooth ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: The Soonchunhyang University Hospital Bloodless Center was established in 2000, and more than 2,000 bloodless surgeries have been performed there since. In this study, the lowest postoperative Hb/preoperative Hb (Hblow/pre) ratio and mortality rates of patients who underwent bloodless surgery were analyzed for each maximum surgical blood order schedule (MSBOS) category to assess whether MSBOS can be used as a predictor of successful completion of bloodless surgery. METHODS: A total of 971 patients were included. MSBOS was defined as the average number of units of RBCs transfused during each elective surgery. We used the Hblow/pre ratio as an alternative to intraoperative blood loss. Frequency of Hblow/pre ratios < or =0.5, use of transfusion alternatives, and mortality rates were compared across MSBOS categories. RESULTS: Out of the 971 patients, 701 (72.2%) were categorized as type and screen (T&S), 184 (18.9%) as MSBOS 1, 64 (6.6%) as MSBOS 2, and 22 (2.3%) as MSBOS 4. Transfusion alternatives were used by 397 (40.9%) patients. The frequency of the use of simultaneous erythropoietin and iron, hemostatics, acute normovolemic hemodilution, and Cell Saver (Haemonetics corp., USA) was higher in patients in the higher MSBOS categories. Six (0.6%) patients died within 30 days of surgery. Hblow/pre ratios tended to be lower as the level of MSBOS category increased. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeries in the higher MSBOS categories tended to be associated with high blood loss and mortality. Active use of transfusion alternatives is recommended in patients in high MSBOS categories who are scheduled to undergo bloodless surgery.
Blood Loss, Surgical/mortality/prevention & control ; Bloodless Medical and Surgical Procedures/*methods/mortality ; Erythropoietin/therapeutic use ; Hemodilution ; Hemoglobins/analysis ; Hemostatics/therapeutic use ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Iron/therapeutic use ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Tertiary Care Centers

Cutaneous horn is a clinical term for a circumscribed concial hyperkeratotic mass amounts to at least half of its largest diameter. The number of lesion may be single or multiple. We report herein a cases of penile cutaneous horn in a 22-year-old male. He had dark brownish colored conical shaped protruded mass on the penile shaft for about 2 months. We performed excisional biopsy and curettage. Histopathologic findings showed verruca vulgaris.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Curettage ; Horns* ; Humans ; Male ; Warts ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Animals ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice* ; Mycobacterium bovis*