BACKGROUND: Anaerobic bacteria constitute a major part of the normal flora of the human skin, mucous membrane and intestinal tract, and can cause various infections. The incidence of anaerobic infections may differ greatly, depending on each country or hospital. METHODS: We evaluated the recent trends of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens at Severance Hospital from 1986 to 1995. Specimens were cultured using thioglycollate medium and phenylethanol blood agar (PEBA) for 2-3 days under anaerobic condition. Identification of organism was based on conventional or commercial kit systems. RESULTS: During this period, a total of 2,664 isolates of anaerobic bacteria were obtained from 2,251 clinical specimens. The average number of anaerobes per specimen was 1.2. The frequent sources of isolation were specimens from the abdomen, followed by soft tissue, and head and neck. B. fragilis (46.3%) was the most frequently isolated gram-negative bacilli, and P. magnus (37.6%) and C. perfringens (18.8%) were the most frequently isolated gram-positive anaerobes. Abdominal, soft tissue, and head and neck infections were frequent clinical conditions. Among the anaerobe-positive specimens, only 16.8% yielded anaerobe alone while the remaining 83.2% revealed mixed infection with aerobic bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that B. fragilis is the most common species among gram-negative bacilli, and that P. magnus is the most common among gram-positive cocci. As well, the anaerobes are frequently isolated from specimens of the abdomen, head and neck, and soft tissue; and anaerobic infections are commonly mixed with aerobic bacteria.
Abdomen ; Agar ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Bacteria, Anaerobic* ; Bacteroides fragilis ; Coinfection ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; Skin

Authors analysed 19 cases with Cavernous Hemangiomas of Skeletal Muscles in Extremities. Those were confirmed clinicopathologically for the period of 2 years from October 1976 to September 1978, and following results were obtained. 1. The age of initial visit varied from 6 months to 42 years of age with the average of 17.7 years. Seventeen patients(89.5%) were under 30 years of age. 2. The age of initial onset of symptoms varied from birth to 36 years of age with the average of 13.1 years. Seventeen patients(89.5%) were under 20 years of age. 3. The duration of disease varied from 6 months to 17 years with the average of 4.6 years. 4. The ratio of male and female was 9:10. 5. Chief complaints were a swelling or mass in 17 cases(89.5%), pain in 13 cases(68.4%), tenderness in 6 cases(31.6%), and impairment of function in 5 cases(26.3%). 6 The size of a mass varied from a nut size to an adult fist one, and its shape appeared oval with the average 8.1 by 4.6 cm in 12 cases, and round with the average 5.5 cm in 7 cases. 7. The site of involvement distributed to lower extremities in 10 cases(52.7%), upper ones in 9 cases(47.4%). Among extremities(thigh, leg, arm and forearm) the most common site was forearm. 8. Considering the number of involed muscles, most frequently they developed in a single muscle with 11 cases(57.9%). 9. By history, The symptoms were initiated or aggravated by trauma in 3 cases(15.8%). 10. Plain roentgenograms showed the swelling of soft tissue in 9 cases(47.4%) and phleboliths in 8 cases(42.1%). 11. Considering the methods of treatment, complete resection was possible in 17 cases(85.7%), in the remaining 2 cases only incomplete resection could be done.
Adult ; Arm ; Clinical Study ; Extremities ; Female ; Forearm ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Nuts ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Cyclosporine* ; Humans ; Nephrosis, Lipoid*

BACKGROUND: Oxygen free radicals have been implicated as a cause of deleterious effects in the setting of coronary reperfusion, and they are believed to be generated by the xanthine oxidase system, from activated neutrophiles and from mitochondria. We evaluate the contribution of mitochondria to the production of oxygen free radicals and clarify the mechanism of cellular damage in ischemic reperfused hearts. METHODS: Mitochondria isolated from the ischemic rabbit hearts were incubated in the reaction conditions with different oxygen tensions. Generation of superoxide anion and activities of defensive enzymes aginst oxidative stress were mesured. RESULTS: Superoxide anion genertion by mitochondria incubated in 21% oxygen condition were 0.54+/-0.09 and 0.27+/-0.04(O2./min/mg protein) in ischemic mitochondria and in control respectively(P<0.05). Activites of defensive enzymes against oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly reduced in mitochondria isolated from either ischemic or reperfused hearts. With the lapse of respiration in 21% oxygen condition, ADP-stimulated state 3 oxygen consumption(306.4+/-31.5 vs 214.4+/-11.4n atoms O/min/mg protein) at 30 minutes, P : O ratio and phosphorylation rate were significantly decreased in ischemic mitochondria. CONCLUSION: Elevation of oxygen free radical generation as well as the reduction of defensive enzyme activities in ischemic reperfused mitochondria are injurious to mitochondrial respiratory function. It may contribute to the mechanism of cellular damage in ischemic reperfused hearts.
Free Radicals ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Heart* ; Mitochondria* ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Neutrophils ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Phosphorylation ; Respiration ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides* ; Xanthine Oxidase

Renal blood flow was measured by single injection technique of HippuranI13 in 13 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and 11 control subjects. There was a significant decrease in renal blood flow in chronic glomerulonephritis particulary in those with elevated blood urea nitrogen. Renal blood flow was inversely proportionate to renal vascular resistance but no correlation was noted between renal blood flow and creatinine clearance.
Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Renal Circulation* ; Vascular Resistance

No abstract available.
Scoliosis*

This is a retrospective clinical and roentgenographic study to measure the correction of deformity and rigidity of Harrington SSI in the stabilization of unstable thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. 35 patients with unstable thoracic and lumbar spine fracture were treated with Harrington SSI from Feb. 1985 to Mar. 1987 in SNUH and 29 patients were followed up for more than 1 year, average 15.6 months. At final follow up of these 29 patients, 73.1% of patients gained neurologic improvement. Measurement of correction of anterior, middle and posterior column height, local kyphosis and anteroposterior offset were 29.7%, 5.2%, 31.2%, 12.8°and 5.3mm and loss of correction of these were 6.5%, 0.1%, 5.8%, 3.1°and 1.1 mm.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

No abstract available.
Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

Regular hemodialysis has been established as a way of treatment for end stage renal failure. In adults, hemodialysis 5 hours each time, three times weekly with one square meter hemodialyzer is now widely accepted as a standard, and there are many reports on long term follow up studies. Quite a large difference are present, however, in our community mainly originated from patient's poor compliance in frequent dialysis with short interdialysis interval. The author analyzed 200 cases of chronic renal failure who have received hemodialysis treatments during the 5 year period from July 1976 to June 1981 at the hemodialysis unit of the hanyang University Hospital and the following results are obtained; 1. Actual one year survival rate was much higher in thrice(87.1%) than one(35.1%) or twice(54.1%) weekly dialysis. 2. Long term(more than 6 months) complications were also more frequent in once(85.7%) or twice(70.2%) weekly treatments than in thrice(22.2%). The predominant complications were congestive heart failure, pericarditis, and infections. 3. Those who recieved three times weekly dialysis had better rehabilitation grades than the patients groups of twice or once weekly treatment. 4. Of peridialysis distressful symptoms, nausea, vomiting dizziness were less frequent in the group three times a week dialysis. In contrast, headache, hypotension, muscle cramps, and weakness were not significantly related with frequency of hemodialysis. 5. Those who voided a large amount of urine output had better survival and less frequent requirement of blood transfusions. 6. Main causes of death were due to patient poor compliance, hyperkalemia and cerebrovascular acidents. 7. Economic problems were the major cause of dialysis interruption.
Adult ; Blood Transfusion ; Cause of Death ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Dizziness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypotension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidneys, Artificial ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Pericarditis ; Rehabilitation ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting

Island regions suffer from a shortage of health care in part because they are less developed, they cover a widespread area relative to the population, and due to transportation barriers. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of illness and the magnitude of medical care utilization, and to investigate the determinants of utilization in these area. The data were collected by means of a household survey conducted from February 16 to 25, 1987 on 5 islands which were selected in consideration of the size of the population, the distance from the main land, and the distribution of health care facilities. The household response rate was 89.1% (491 of 551 households), and 1971 persons were surveyed. The major findings of this study are as follows: 1) The morbidity rate of the island inhabitants was 27.7% during the two weeks, and 25.5 chronic illnesses and 9.1 acute illnesses per 100 persons, were noted. Differences in the magnitude of illness were statistically significant by sex, age, education, and family size. 2) The magnitude of total ambulatory care utilization was 16.8 visits per 100 persons during the two weeks, which was less than that of other regions; and differences in the magnitude of total ambulatory care were statistically significant by sex, age, education, occupation, and family size. 3) Unmet needs were classified as 56.0% in chronic illnesses and 19.6% in acute illnesses; and differences in unmet needs were statistically significant by sex, age, education, occupation, income, and family size. 4) Statistically significant determinants in medical care utilization included the frequency of acute illness and chronic illness, and income in total utilization; the frequency of chronic illness and acute illness, and medical care insurance in physician visits. 5) According to the results of the path analysis, need factors had the greatest effect on utilization, and predisposing factors had more indirect effects through enabling or need factors than direct effects.
Ambulatory Care ; Causality ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Insurance ; Islands ; Occupations ; Transportation