BACKGROUND: Candida ID is introduced as a new chromogenic medium that allows presumptive identification of Candida species. We evaluated this medium to identify Candida spp. isolated from clinical specimens. METHODS: A total of 200 yeast isolates from clinical specimens in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, from April 2001 to August 2001 were identified by using the Vitek YBC (Hazelwood, Mo., USA). The results were compared with those by Candida ID (bioMeriux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). RESULTS: Candida ID correctly identified 98.0% of Candida spp. including 100% of C. albicans and 98.9% of C. tropicalis compared with the Vitek YBC. Among 84 strains showing blue colored colony on Candida ID, 82 strains (98%) were correctly identified as C. albicans but 2 strains were identified as C. glabrata and C. guilliermondii by the Vitek YBC. Among 92 strains showing pink colored colony, 90 strains (98%) were identified as C. tropicalis, and 2 strains were identified as C. guilliermondii and C. lusitaniae by the vitek YBC. CONCLUSIONS: Candida ID provides a more rapid and easier presumptive identification of major Candida spp. isolated from clinical specimens.
Candida* ; Female ; Humans ; Yeasts

Purpose: Precise estimation of the standard liver volume (SLV) is crucial in decision making regarding major hepatectomy and living donor liver transplantation. This study aimed to propose an accurate and efficient formula for estimating the SLV in the Korean population. Methods: We created a regression model for SLV estimation using a data set of 230 Korean patients with healthy livers. The proposed model was cross validated using a different data set of 37 patients with healthy livers. The total liver volume (TLV), except for the volume of liver blood vessels, was measured through computed tomography volumetry as the dependent variable. Various anthropometric variables, liver height (LH), thoracic width (TW), age, and sex (0, female and 1, male) were considered as candidates for independent variables. We conducted stepwise regression analysis to identify variables to be included in the proposed model. Results: A new formula was established; SLV = −1,275 + 9.85 × body weight (BW, kg) + 19.95 × TW (cm) + 7.401 × LH (mm). The proposed formula showed the best performance among existing formulas over the cross-validation data set. Conclusion The proposed formula derived using BW, TW, and LH estimated the TLV in the cross-validation data set more accurately than existing formulas.f

It is controversial whether low calcium intake, commonly associated with osteoporosis, results in calcium accumulation in soft tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of low calcium (Ca) and oxalate (ox) intake on soft-tissue Ca deposits and bone metabolism in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups. The rats were fed experimental diets containing low (0.1%, w/w) or normal (0.5%, w/w) Ca with or without sodium oxalate (1%, w/w); Sham/NCa, Ovx/NCa, Ovx/LCa, Ovx/NCa-ox, Ovx/LCa-ox for 6 weeks. All ovx rats showed a remarkable increase in body and tissue weight, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and decreases in weight, ash, and Ca contents, as well as bone breaking force compared to those in sham rats. Serum Ca concentration was not significantly affected by dietary Ca levels or ox intake. Kidney Ca, ox acid content, and microscopic Ca deposition increased remarkably in the Ovx/LCa-ox group compared to those in the other groups. Ca content in the spleen and aorta also increased significantly, but the weight contents, Ca, bone breaking force, and Ca and oxalic acid in feces decreased significantly in the Ovx/LCa-ox group. Serum parathyroid hormone levels were not significantly different among the groups. These results indicate that low Ca intake decreased bone mineral content and increased Ca deposits in soft tissues, which was aggravated by ox intake in ovx rats. Thus, high ox intake may result in a kidney disorder in patients with osteoporosis who eat a low Ca diet.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Diet ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; Oxalic Acid ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylamides ; Spleen

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of foodservice managers in childcare centers and kindergartens for identifying the vulnerable areas of safety management. The foodservice managers in 1,144 of nationwide childcare centers and kindergartens were surveyed from May to October 2007 to answer a total 72 questions in areas of general characteristics, actual practice of foodservice management and safety management perception. Meals were served in 97.7% of surveyed facilities and 91.0% among them were self-operated. The hiring rate (27.8%) of dietitians in childcare centers was significantly lower than the rate (82.0%) of kindergartens. The needs of dietitian employment between childcare centers and kindergartens differed as 44.9% and 87.5%, respectively. In knowledge on food-borne illnesses, they have the wrong information in the field of season for frequent outbreak, major pathogens and foods causing food-borne illnesses. The food-borne illnesses (36.2%) were indicated as the major problem in foodservice facilities and the degree of risk exposure was considered as safe (70.1%). More than 70% of both facilities answered as sanitary in the status of personal hygiene. Only 38.0% recognized the Facility and Equipment Standard in the Childcare Law and Early Childhood Education Law. In preparation of meals and management of cooking processes, kindergarten scored significantly high compared to childcare centers (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) while the necessity of standards was not different in both facilities. Among managers surveyed, 28.8% had taken food safety education from professional institutions and more than 80% in both facilities indicated the need of professional educations. These results suggest that it is necessary for the systematic sanitary education of foodservice managers by developing the sanitary management standard as well as the amendment of laws related foodservice in childcare centers and kindergartens.
Cooking ; Employment ; Food Safety ; Foodborne Diseases ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Jurisprudence ; Meals ; Safety Management ; Seasons

Hashimotos thyroiditis and Graves disease have been thought to be the autoirnmune diseases having their distinct and separate clinical and pathologic features. Because of the partial and complete simi1arity in histologic feature, it has been hypothesized that Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Oraves disease may be interrelated. Several patients who had been diagnosed as Graves disease showed features of hypothyroidism, and were proven to have histologie features of Hashimotos thyroiditis in their thyroid tissue. Two meehanisms had been suggested to explain tbis phenomenon. One is that the combined Hashimotos thyroiditis in Graves' disease may become predominant with time, The other is that the amount of TSH receptor blocking antibody may increase in the course of Graves disease. Early recognition of these patients would be impartant to estabilish therapeutic plan. Futhermcee, extensive study of these patients would give more understanding of the mechanism of these diseases. Here we report 5 cases of clinically diagnosed Graves disease with pathologic features of Hashimotos thyroiditis or focal lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune

Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) has been considered to be a precursor lesion of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. It usually coexists with BAC and/or an adenocarcinoma. Chest computed tomography reveals multiple well-defined nodules with ground-glass opacity. Usually, AAH does not exceed 10 mm in size. AAH with extensive involvement on one side of the lung field or one that is larger than 2 cm has not been previously reported. We herein report a case of a 71-year-old nonsmoking female with lung AAH of larger than 2 cm.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lung ; Precancerous Conditions ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Postpartum Period* ; Postpartum Thyroiditis*

BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, the incidence of ultraviolet B (UVB)-related skin problems has increased. Oxidative stress caused by UVB induces the secretion of melanocyte growth and activating factors from keratinocytes, which results in the formation of cutaneous hyperpigmentation. Therefore, increasing the antioxidant abilities of skin cells is thought to be a beneficial strategy for the development of sunscreen agents. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that is known to exhibit antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SOD1 on alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and UVB-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of SOD1 on tyrosinase activity was evaluated in a cell-free system. Additional experiments were performed using B16F10 melanoma cells to demonstrate the effects of SOD1 in vitro, and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice were used to evaluate the antimelanogenic effects of SOD1 in vivo. RESULTS: We found that SOD1 inhibited melanin production in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity in B16F10 melanoma cells. SOD1 did not inhibit tyrosinase activity under cell-free conditions. The results indicate that SOD1 may reduce pigmentation by an indirect, nonenzymatic mechanism. We also found that SOD1 decreased UVB-induced melanogenesis in HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice, as visualized through hematoxylin and eosin staining and Fontana-Masson staining. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that SOD1 has an inhibitory effect on alpha-MSH and UVB-induced melanogenesis, indicating that SOD1 may be a promising sunscreen agent.
alpha-MSH ; Animals ; Cell-Free System ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Hyperpigmentation ; Incidence ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Oxidative Stress ; Pigmentation ; Skin Pigmentation ; Skin* ; Superoxide Dismutase*

Amyloidosis is characterized by deposition of amyloid in the intercellular space and vascular wall. Amyloid deposition provokes dysfunction of the accumulated organ and causes variable clinical symptoms that depend on the involved organ. Although intestinal bleeding may occur with amyloidosis, it is relatively rare as a presenting symptom or as the sole manifestation of the disease. We experienced a case of recurrent intestinal bleeding in a 68-year-old female patient with lambda type primary amyloidosis. A colonoscopy revealed the presence of multiple large circular ulcers in the transverse colon and nonspecific submucosal hemorrhage and edema at the rectum. An endoscopic biopsy established the diagnosis of amyloidosis. A case of recurrent intestinal bleeding in a patient with primary amyloidosis is presented, with a review of the literature.
Aged ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Edema ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Rectum ; Ulcer

The term inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) has been used to describe inflammatory and fibrosing tumoral processes of an undetermined cause that may involve a variety of organ system. IgG4-related disease is a newly recognized fibroinflammatory condition characterized by IgG4-producing plasma cell expansion in affected organs and, often but not always, elevated serum IgG4 concentrations. IgG4-related IPTs, a subtype of IPT, are characterized by dense infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells and stromal fibrosis. The association between inflammatory pseudotumor and IgG4 was first reported with a regard to sclerosing pancreatitis. Despite there are many reports on intraperitoneal IPTs including both cellular and lymphoplasmacytic type, only a few cases have been confirmed to be IgG4-related. We experienced a case of intraperitoneal IgG4-related inflammatory pseudotumor in an 83-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain and malaise. Surgical specimens revealed an IgG4-related inflammatory pseudotumor.
Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Plasma Cells/metabolism ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed