Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection is considered the most important cause of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer. To determine the prevalence, distribution and it's relationship to degree of inflammation, gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from 331 nonulcer dyspepsia(NUD) patients consisting of 52 H. pylori negative normal volunteers and 279 H. pylori infected patients. Lymphoid follicles, degree of acute and chronic inflammation(Grade 0 to 3), and degree of H. pylori(Grade 0 to 4) were observed. The prevalence of H. pylori in NUD was 84.29%. The lymphoid follicles were found in 138 patients(41.7%) and only 5 patients(l.5%) without H. pylori showed lymphoid follicles. There was strong a relationship between lymphoid follicles and degree of acute and chronic inflammation and intensity of H. pylori infection(P<0.001). Acute and chronic inflammation were more serious in the antrum than body in H. pylori infected patients. There was no relationship between lymphoid follicles and the site in the stomach of H. pylori infection(P<0.078), but the body portion had an increased frequency of lymphoid follicles compared to the in antrum. Our results indicate that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Korea is higher than in Western people and the degree of acute and chronic inflammation are strongly correlated with the presence of lymphoid follicles. The lymphoid follicles are believed to be absent from the normal stomach and their presence is strongly associated with H. pylori infection. The fact there is an that increased frequency of lymphoid follicles in H. pylori infected patients, and that they are more prevalent in the body of the antrum, support the concept that H. pylori may be a precursor in the development of primary gastric lymphoma.
Biopsy

We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who was noted to have combined malformation of complete septate uterus, obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis with complaints of dysmenorrhea. Hematometrocolpos was developed in the result of retained menstrual blood since menarche. This rare congenital anomaly is supposed to be derived from disorders of mesonephric and M llerian developement in embryogenesis of female genitouinary tract. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of this syndrome is critical because of the difference in therapeutic strategy and prognosis. Simple and definite treatment of the condition is excision of the obstructed vaginal septum with prompt exit of retained blood. We present here a interesting case of M llerian anomaly in attempt to alert gynecologist to the possible occurrence of such a malformation with a brief review of concerned literatures.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Dysmenorrhea ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Humans ; Menarche ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Uterus*

Met protein is a transmembrane 190 kD heterodimer with tyrosine kinase activity, encoded by c-Met oncogene. It serves as a high affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor (SF), a cytokine which stimulates cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. In this study, we immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of Met/hepatocyte growth factor receptor in colorectal cancers. Met protein was expressed in 31 of 72 patients (43.1%). The staining pattern was cytoplasmic in nature, present throughout the tumor, and showed variable intensity from case to case. The relationship between the expression rate and intensity, and age and sex of patients, tumor size (p=0.645), tumor site (p=0.902) and tumor differentiation (p=0.844) was not statistically significant. The expression rate and intensity were significantly correlated with lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.010), depth of invasion (0.019), and stage (p=0.023). Cytoplasmic accumulation of Met protein was not associated with enhanced PCNA index of tumor cells (p=0.052). These results suggest that Met protein may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.
Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytoplasm ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Norfloxacin is a new broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram. negative bacteria. After oral administration of Norfloxacin, it produces high concentrations in the urine, so it has the excellent effect for the treatment of urinary tract infection. Norfloxacin was studied with respect to clinical effect in 115 patients with the urinary tract infection and the following results were obtained. 1. Excellent efficacy was 53% and efficacy rate was 90% in upper urinary tract infection(UTI). Efficacy rate for 20 patients with upper UTI without the underlying disease was 100%, and in 29 patients with underlying disease efficacy rate was 83%. 2. In upper UTI resistant for other antibiotics, efficacy rate was 78%. 3. In lower UTI excellent efficacy rate was 36% and efficacy rate was 71%. In gonococcal urethritis excellent efficacy rate was 76% and efficacy rate was 88%. 4. Eliminated rate of bacteria on culture findings were E. coli 93%, pseudononas 89%, proteus 100%, klebsiella 80%, gonococcus 88% and staphylococcus 80%. 5. Mild side effects such as epigastric pain, nausea, dizziness and itching sensation were seen in 5 cases. We consider Neutam-400 is one of the most effective agents in urinary tract infection.
Administration, Oral ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Nausea ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Norfloxacin ; Proteus ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Staphylococcus ; Urethritis ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Amenorrhea* ; Female

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was introduced into Korea in 1990 and has been rapidly replacing open cholecystectomy when the indications were met. In this study a medical utilization and technology was assessed on the selected hospitalized patients with cholelithiasis who underwent open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy from April 1, 1991 to March 31, 1994. The results are as follows. Despite the low reimbursement rate by the health insurance, the number of laparoscopic cases have been steadily increased. The post-operative days before health insurance coverage were significantly shortened from 8.4 days to 4.6 days. The preoperative days before health insurance coverage were significantly shorted from 8.4 days to 4.0 days. The total length-of-stays in the hospital were also significantly shortened from 15.2 days to 10.7 and 9.8 days in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed low expenses in all aspects expect the average hospital charges per day. For the hospital to have cost containment, it is more effective if length-of-stay is shorter because of high daily inpatient hospital charge. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy also showed shortened anesthesia time and operation time compared with open cholecystectomy that were statistically significant. The mean anesthesia and operation time for open cholecystectomy were 113.2 and 90.2 minutes but those of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were 105.7 and 68.6 minutes. According to this study the laparoscopic cholecystectomy has reduced the medical expenditure and we recommend this procedure over open cholecystectomy. The further discussion on the different morbidity rate between two types of procedure is essential in providing quality medical care, and to educate specialist.
Anesthesia ; Cholecystectomy* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholelithiasis ; Cost Control ; Health Expenditures ; Hospital Charges ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Specialization

This is a retrospective study of 161 ovarian neoplasms, all of which were surgically removed and had preoperative sonographic examinations. They were evaluated respect to age, tumor size and its echogenicity. The results were as follows: 1. Of all 161 tumors, physiologic lesions were 67 cases (41.6%), germ cell tumors were 28 cases (17.4%) and serous tumors were 19 cases (11.8%). 2. Of all 161 tumors, right ovarian lesions were 82 cases (50.9%), left were 59 cases (36.7%), and bilateral lesions were 20 cases(12.4%). 3. The most characteristic findings of tumors were as follows: 1) Physiologic tumors were 2-9cm sized (88.1%), anechoice-5% echogenic (79.1%), and developed during 4th & 5th decades (91.0%). 2) Inflammatory tumors were 2-9cm sized (94.1%), 50%-totally echogenic (76.5%), and during 4th & 5th decades (94.1%). 3) Serous tumors were 2-9cm sized (60.3%), anechoic-5% echogenic (89.5%), and during 3rd & 4th decades (84.2%). 4) Mucinous tumors were 5-19 cm sized (77.8%), anechoic-5% echogenic (77.8%), during 2nd-8th decades with diffuse distribution. 5) Endometrioid tumors were 5-14cm sized (100.0%), variable echogenic, and during 3rd & 4th decades (90.9%). 6) Germ cell tumors were 5-14cm sized (75.0%), variable echogenic, during 3rd & 4th decades (82.1%). 7) Parovarian cysts were 2-14cm sized (90.0%), anechoic-5% echogenic (100.0%), with diffuse age distribution. 4. The malignant and borderline malignant tumors were 9 caseswith more than 10cm sized (77.8%), and developed during older than 4th decade (100.0%). Anechoic 3 cases, 1-5% echogenic 2 cases, and totally echogenic 4 cases were found.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Mucins ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Parovarian Cyst ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Enterocolitis, Neutropenic* ; Leukemia*

Background: Thioacetamide is a classic hepatotoxic reagent which leads to the reproducible hepatic fibrosis in rats. Thioacetamide-induced fibrosis is an appropriate model for cirrhosis in humans due to the long duration of course and similiar histology. Thioacetamide produces hepatotoxicity through lipid peroxidation but it is unclear whether lipid peroxidation directly correlated with hepatic fibrosis. Pentoxifylline, a derivative of the methylxanthine, showed an antifibrogenic effect in cell cultures of human fibroblasts and some animal models. But this antifibrogenic effect is controversial. Pentoxifylline revealed a hepatoprotective effect in some toxic hepatitis. This hepatoprotective effect seems to influence cell cycle regulatory protein during regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate an effect of pentoxifylline on fibrosis and cell cycle regulatory protein during liver regeneration in thioacetamide-induced rat cirrhosis. Lipid peroxidation assay was compared with collagen content so as to evaluate the correlation with fibrosis. METHOD: Liver cirrhosis was induced by 0.03% oral administration of thioacetamide. Pentoxifylline was administered simultaneously with thioacetamide. The semiquantitative fibrosis index was measured based on histologic finding. Collagen content was estimated by spectrophotometric assay. Activated hepatic stellate cells were counted using alpha-SMA immunohistochemistry. Malondialdehyde, lipid peroxidation metabolite, was estimated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay. Cell cycle regulatory protein was evaluated by western blot. RESULTS: There was no difference in semiquantitative fibrosis index, collagen content and hepatic stellate cell count between thioacetamide treated rats and simultaneous pentoxifylline treated rats. Lipid peroxidation product was not correlated with collagen content. Western blot showed no difference in cell cycle regulatory protein. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline does not show an antifibrogenic effect in thioacetamide-induced rat cirrhosis, in which thioacetamide induced hepatocellular damage and fibrosis. Lipid peroxidation may be a secondary effect rather than primary mediating mechanism in hepatic fibrosis.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle* ; Collagen ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Regeneration ; Liver* ; Malondialdehyde ; Models, Animal ; Negotiating ; Pentoxifylline* ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Thioacetamide

BACKGROUND: An epidemiologic study was performed after the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) from December 2006 to May 2007. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the medical records of the patients. The case and control patients were compared for age, gender, total length of stay in MICU, prior carbapenem use, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score, presence of central line, effect of mechanical ventilation, and sputum suction. Environmental and hand-washing studies were performed during the outbreak. RESULTS: Ten CRAB-affected patients and 29 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis showed that the age, total length of stay in MICU, presence of central line, and prior carbapenem use were associated with the CRAB outbreak. However, multivariate analysis showed that only prior carbapenem use was associated with the CRAB outbreak (odd ratio: 8.67, P=0.01). The outbreak disappeared after implementing a combined infection control strategy, including the sequential disinfection of MICU and strict compliance with cross-transmission prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The use of carbapenem was associated with an increased risk of CRAB infection. This study suggests that the MICU contamination and infection transmission by health-care workers played a major role in the CRAB outbreak. Novel strategies such as restricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict hand hygiene, strict isolation of the patients, and MICU disinfection may be required to prevent the CRAB outbreak.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disinfection ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Suction