We recently encountered two cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis with abscess formation, which have recovered by only conservative treatment and percutaneous abscess drainage(PAD). Two patients had diabetes mellitus. in the first case, initial CT showed left intrarenal abscess with air-fluid level. In the second case, CT showed right perirenal abscess with air-fluid level. PAD was performed under CT and US guidances, respectively. Both patients were successfully treated with PAD and conservative treatment. Follow up after confirmation of abscess resolution by CT scan and contrast study through the catheter, we removed catheters two months and 40 days after PAD respectively.
Abscess* ; Catheters ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Erythrocyte Membrane* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Mineral Fibers*

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the differences in COVID-19 work-related characteristics, workload, anxiety, stress, and burnout between nurses working in the COVID-19 designated units and those in the general units caring for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and to identify factors related to burnout in these two nurse groups. Methods: The study was conducted using data from 192 nurses in the COVID-19 designated units and 340 nurses in the general units from two general hospitals. The data were collected using self-report, structured questionnaires.Independent t-test, chi-squared test, and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: There were no significant differences observed in workload and burnout between the two groups. For nurses in the general units, workload, stress, adequacy of the number of patients assigned, and the experience of temporary, floating staff were significant factors associated with burnout, while only clinical experience in the current unit was a significant factor among those in the COVID-19 units. Conclusion Findings indicate significant differences in factors related to burnout between the two nurse groups. Thus, substantial support and strategies tailored to the working environments of each nursing unit are required to prevent burnout among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients.

A substantial proportion of adrenal incidentalomas demonstrates subtle hormonal hypersecretion; however, adenomas that cosecrete aldosterone and cortisol are rare. We here report a case of an adrenal mass that was incidentally detected on a computed tomography scan in a 57-year-old man. The patient had a 10-year history of diabetes mellitus and a 5-year history of hypertension. Evaluation revealed hyperaldosteronemia with an elevated plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio, hypokalemia, unsuppressed cortisol after dexamethasone administration, and elevated urinary free cortisol concentration. The appearance of the right adrenalectomy specimen indicated adrenal adenoma. Postoperatively, the blood glucose and blood pressure control improved and the urinary cortisol and aldosterone-to-renin ratio normalized. A complete endocrine evaluation in patients with incidentally discovered adrenal masses should be performed, even if the patient has a long-standing history of hypertension and diabetes, to avoid any postoperative adrenal crises.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Adenoma* ; Aldosterone* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Dexamethasone ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Middle Aged ; Plasma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: 'Partial deafness' characterized by normal or slightly impaired hearing in the low frequency band and nearly total deafness in the high frequency range, is difficult to assess with conventional behavioral tests in infants and young children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the usefulness of objective hearing tests, such as auditory brainstem response (ABR) and auditory steady state response (ASSR) in evaluating patients with partial deafness. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred thirty three patients who underwent ASSR in Ajou University Hospital from January 2008 to January 2013 were enrolled to this study. Correlations between ASSR, ABR and pure tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds were analyzed. RESULTS: ASSR thresholds of 133 patients were highly correlated with both ABR and PTA thresholds in majority of the tested frequencies. Partial deafness was detected in 9 out of 133 patients, based on the results of PTA and ASSR. ASSR thresholds of patients with partial deafness were significantly correlated with PTA thresholds in all frequencies, with especially high correlation found at 1 and 4 kHz. However, there was no significant correlation between ASSR and ABR thresholds. ABR thresholds of partial deafness patients were measured at 65 dB in one patient, 70-90 dB in 3 patients, and no response at 90 dB in 5 patients, respectively. In 8 (6%) out of 124 patients, ABR thresholds were measurable with profound hearing loss and residual hearing was observed at low frequencies. CONCLUSION: ASSR is useful for predicting residual hearing at low frequencies of infants and young children for whom assessment of hearing is difficult using conventional behavioral tests.
Audiometry ; Child ; Deafness* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Tests* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Infant ; Mass Screening*

BACKGROUND: Weight loss through low-calorie diets (LCDs) decreases visceral fat (VF). However, the effects on muscle mass, changes of dietary quality, and insulin sensitivity are unknown for Korean obese type 2 diabetic subjects. Therefore, this study examined such effects of LCDs. METHODS: A total of 30 obese type 2 diabetic subjects (body mass index, 27.0 +/- 2.2 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to an LCD or control group. Subjects on LCDs took 500~1,000 kcal fewer energy than their usual dietary intake (1,000~1,500 kcal/day) over the course of 12 weeks. The abdominal VF and femoral muscle mass were evaluated by computed tomography, and insulin sensitivity was assessed using an insulin tolerance test (Kitt; rate constant for plasma glucose disappearance, %/min). Dietary nutrient intake consumed by subjects was assessed by 3-day food records. RESULTS: The percent VF reduction was -23.4 +/- 17.2% in the LCD group and -9.8 +/- 11.8% in the control group after 12 weeks (P < 0.001, P = 0.002). However, significant decrease in femoral mass or proportional change of marcronutrient intake and mean adequacy ratio were not found in the LCD group, as compared to the control group. Insulin sensitivity improved in the LCD group, as compared to the control group (P = 0.040). CONCLUSION: LCD effectively improved insulin sensitivity and reduced abdominal VF without reduction of femoral muscle and dietary quality in obese type 2 diabetic subjects.
Caloric Restriction ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Muscles ; Plasma ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Combination fitness regimens (including aerobic and resistance exercises) are effective for improving cardio-respiratory fitness, reducing visceral fat and increasing insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. The combination exercise intensity that a patient is capable of is limited by his or her aerobic capacity and one repetition maximum (1RM). We investigated the relationships between 1RM, aerobic exercise capacity and body mass index in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 177 (men: 85, women: 92) diabetic subjects with HbA1c < or = 10% were enrolled. Muscle strength and 1RM were assessed bychest press (upper body) and leg press (lower body). We assessed aerobic capacity by VO2max and muscle mass by bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS: There was no correlation between 1RM and VO2max in type 2 diabetic patients (upper: P = 0.122, lower: P = 0.138 for men, and upper: P = 0.952, lower: P = 0.570 for women). However, 1RM was significantly correlated with muscle mass both in men and women (upper: r = 0.493, P < 0.001, r = 0.315, P = 0.002 lower: r = 0.437 P < 0.001, r = 0.307, P =0.003, respectively). There was also a significant correlation between 1RM and BMI. In obese male subjects with BMI > or = 25 kg/m2, we observed a significant correlation between muscle mass and BMI (r = 0.374, P = 0.032), but this correlation was not observed in women. CONCLUSION: Clinicians treating Korean type 2 diabetic subjects should recommend resistance exercise to their patients. In particular, obese women with diabetes may receive greater benefits by increasing muscle mass through resistance exercises.
Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Leg ; Male ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; Resistance Training

The study was carried out to investigate the genetic polymorphism of the serum proteins of horses in Cheju. They were assigned to three groups; 45 Cheju native horses(CNH), 60 Cheju racing horses(CRH) and 60 Thoroughbreds(TB). We analyzed the phenotypes and gene frequencies of serum proteins which were albumin (Alb), vitamin-D binding protein(GC), esterase (ES), A1B glycoprotein(A1B) and transferrin(TF) loci using horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (HPAGE).All of the loci, except A1B in TB, showed polymorphisms and different allelic and phenotypic frequencies in all three groups. ESS and TFF1 were not observed in CNH. Allelic frequencies of AlbB, ESI, TFD and TFF1 were high in TB. All of the loci, except ES locus in CRH, appeared to be in a state of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium from goodness-of-fit test in all three groups Heterozygosity estimates at Alb, ES and TF loci were high, but GC and A1B loci were low in all three groups. Average heterozygosities in CNH, CRH and TB were 0.3535, 0.3555 and 0.2726, respectively. Results showed differences in the frequencies of alleles and phenotypes of several serum protein loci between CNH and CRH, suggested that CRH might be crossed with other breeds of horses in some degree.
Alleles ; Animals ; Blood Proteins/*genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Esterases/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Horses/blood/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Serum Albumin/genetics ; Transferrin/genetics ; Vitamin D-Binding Protein/genetics

No abstract available.
Aldosterone* ; Humans* ; Prolactin*

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the vaginal hysterectomy and abdominal hysterectomy for a non-prolapsed, benign uterus in women without vaginal delivery. METHODS: A retrospective study in Hallym-university hospital analysed 182 total hysterectomies in women without vaginal delivery performed from January 2000 to December 2001. Vaginal route was used for 98 (53.8%) patients and 84 (46.2%) had laparotomies. RESULTS: The mean uterine weight was 217 g in vaginal route, 270 g in abdominal route. Mean operation time was 70 minutes in vaginal route, 125 minutes in abdominal route. There was one serious re-operation due to hemorrhge in each group and other complication was not much different at each gruops. The hospital stay was 6.2 days in vaginal route and 8.4 days in abdominal route. CONCLUSION: Vaginal hysterectomy for a non-prolapsed uterus is indicated for women without vaginal delivery and is feasible to performance. Vaginal hyterectomy is less morbidity, shorter hospitalization and faster convalescence. So training in vaginal surgury should allow safe performance of the procedure at most center.
Convalescence ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Diseases* ; Uterus