No abstract available.
Hospitals, Community* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has been emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen in recent years in patients with impaired host- defense mechanism or who has been exposed to large amount of inocula. This organism is usually resistant to multiple (commonly used) antimicrobial agents, particularly to those of the beta-lactam class. To evaluate the clinical feature of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection and in vitro anti- microbial susceptibility, we performed a retrospective study. METHODS: We analyzed the result of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test for 200 isolates of S. maltophilia and the annual isolation rate during the period between January 1990 and December 1994 in our institution, and performed a retrospective study for the available records of 165 cases among them. The data were obtained with only the first isolation of the organism for each patients. RESULTS: Total of 165 initial isolates, the isolates were from wounds in 50(30.3%), urine in 47(28.5%), the respiratory tract in 37(22.4%), blood in 9(5.5%), bile in 6(3.6%), and miscellaneous sources in 16(9.7%). The 84.2% of isolates were hospital-acquired isolate and 58.3% of these patients had received antecedent antibiotic therapy: polymicrobial growth was demonstrated in 61.9% of the cases. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibiiity test, ofloxacin was active against the isolates in 89.2%, moxalactam in 85.9%, ciprofloxacin in 83.9%, TMP-SMX(trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) in 64.2%, As expected, S. maltophilia isolates were, in general, not susceptible to cephalosporins, penicillins. The annual isolation rate at Kyung Hee University hospital was not increased significantly from 1990 to 1994, 19.53 per 10,000 patients dismissals in 1990, 13.56 in 1994. The major underlying diseases of patients were malignancy(17.6%), cerebrovascular disorder(17%), diabetic mellitus(13.3%). Mortality rate is 10.3%. CONCLUSION: S. maltophilia has been emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients, especially those receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. And this organism is resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, particularly to those of the beta-lactam class. When antimicrobial treatment is necessary, the clinician should be guided by results of in vitro susceptibility testing because of the notable in vitro resistance of S. maltophilia to commonly used antibiotics. And when S. maltophilia has been recovered from a patient, wound and contact isolation is warranted.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bile ; Cephalosporins ; Ciprofloxacin ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mortality ; Moxalactam ; Ofloxacin ; Penicillins ; Respiratory System ; Retrospective Studies ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Stenotrophomonas* ; Wounds and Injuries

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the detection rate of lumbar disc herniation and socioeconomic status. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Income is one important determinant of public health. Yet, there are no reports about the relationship between socioeconomic status and the detective rate of disc herniation. METHODS: In this study, 443 cases were checked for lumbar computed tomography for lumbar disc herniation, and they reviewed questionnaires about their socioeconomic status, the presence of back pain or radiating pain and the presence of a medical certificate (to check the medical or surgical treatment for the pain) during the Korean conscription. RESULTS: Without the consideration for the presence of a medical certificate, there was no difference in spinal physical grade according to socioeconomic status (p=0.290). But, with the consideration of the presence of a medical certificate, the significant statistical differences were observed according to socioeconomic status in 249 cases in the presence of a medical certificate (p=0.028). There was a lower detection rate in low economic status individuals than those in the high economic class. The common reason for not submitting a medical certificate is that it is neither necessary for the people of lower socioeconomic status nor is it financially affordable. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of lumbar disc herniation is not different according to socioeconomic status, but the detective rate was affected by socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is an important factor for detecting lumbar disc herniation.
Back Pain ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Although Eriobotrya japonica leaves have been studied as a raw material for various cosmetic products, little is known about the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic activities of Eriobotrya japonica leaf ethanol extract (EJEE). METHODS: This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic activities of EJEE using different in vitro models. In addition, we investigated the potential irritation of EJEE to skin and eye using animal alternative tests. RESULTS: The total content of polyphenols, one of the active constituents of EJEE, was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and found to contain 88.68 mg tannic acid equivalent/g. EJEE showed a concentration-dependent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and a superoxide dismutase-like activity. The anti-inflammatory effect of 0.5% (w/v) EJEE was demonstrated by a reduction in lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in RAW 264.7 cells. EJEE also significantly inhibited melanogenesis in melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced B16F1 cells. EJEE did not show any irritation in skin and eye in animal alternative test. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the EJEE possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic activities, while it did not induce toxicity or irritation in neither skin nor eye. Therefore, EJEE can be used as a cosmetic ingredient for skin improvement.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Eriobotrya ; Ethanol ; In Vitro Techniques ; Melanocytes ; Nitric Oxide ; Polyphenols ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Skin ; Superoxides ; Tannins ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: We wanted to assess the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of the placement and retrieval of a Gunther Tulip filter for the prevention of fatal pulmonary embolism during the management of patients with a free floating thrombus in their inferior vena cava (IVC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients having a free floating thrombus in their IVC (three patients with an isolated free floating thrombus in the IVC that resulted from immobilization due to traumatic liver injury or cerebral infarction, two patients with coexisting deep vein thrombosis in the left lower extremity that was caused by May-Thurner syndrome, and one patient with coexisting deep vein thrombosis in the right lower extremity that was due to nephrotic syndrome and immobilization after hip joint replacement) underwent placement and retrieval of a Gunther Tulip filter. The placement of the filter was performed through the right internal jugular vein to prevent the risk of detachment of the thrombus during the procedure. Retrieval of filter was performed after the free floating thrombus of the IVC had disappeared on follow-up CT because of anticoagulation therapy, aspiration thrombectomy or catheter directed Urokinase thrombolysis. RESULTS: The Gunther Tulip filter was successfully placed in the IVC in all six patients and it was retrieved after the management of the free floating thrombus. The mean duration of the placement of the filter was 11 days (range: 7-25 days). Two patients underwent placement of an iliac vein stent for the management of May-Thurner syndrome. Detachment of the free floating thrombus in the IVC and the subsequent thrombus entrapment in the filter were documented during aspiration thrombectomy or Urokinase thrombolysis in four patients. Recurrent thrombus didn't occur during the follow-up period (range: 3-20 months) in five of the six patients. In one patient, a recurrent thrombus due to the discontinuance of anticoagulation therapy was identified at the filter detachment site of the IVC on the follow-up CT 10 days after the filter retrieval, but it disappeared 15 days after proper anticoagulation therapy was done. CONCLUSION: Temporary Gunther Tulip filter placement is technically feasible and efficacious for the prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism in those patients with a free floating thrombus in the IVC, and particularly in those patients who will have subsequent aspiration thrombectomy or catheter directed Urokinase thrombolyis performed.
Catheters ; Cerebral Infarction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Immobilization ; Jugular Veins ; Liver ; Lower Extremity ; May-Thurner Syndrome ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis* ; Tulipa* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Venous Thrombosis

The analysis of Y chromosome polymorphisms has become common place for the identification of male component in forensic cases. In male/female mixtures of many rape cases, Y-STRs are also very useful for the determination of contributors' number. During the analyses of 17 Y-STR haplotypes for forensic applications using the AmpFlSTR(R) Yfiler(TM) system, a number of null and duplicated alleles (40 out of 2144 subjects) were discovered. Interestingly, two haplotypes should focus the attention on forensic interpretation of Y-STR haplotype profiles, because multiple mutational events at various loci can be interpreted as a wrong mixed or allele drop-out profile.
Alleles ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Rape ; Y Chromosome

The aim of this study was to verify subacute oral dose toxicity of positively charged 100 nm zinc oxide (ZnO(AE100[+])) nanoparticles (NPs) in Sprague-Dawley rats. ZnO(AE100[+]) NPs were administered to rats of each sex by gavage at 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for 14 days. During the study period, clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross pathology, organ weight, and histopathology were examined. Increased mortality and clinical signs, decreased body weight, feed consumption, hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet (PT), and lymphocyte (LYM) and increased white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils (NEUs), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and histopathological alterations in the spleen, stomach, and pancreas were observed at 2,000 mg/kg/day. Increased clinical signs, decreased body weight, feed consumption, HB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and LYM and increased WBCs, NEUs, ALP, and histopathological alterations in the spleen, stomach, and pancreas were seen at 1,000 mg/kg/day. Increased clinical signs, decreased MCV and MCH and increased histopathological alterations in the stomach and pancreas were found at 500 mg/kg/day. These results suggest that the target organs were the spleen, stomach, and pancreas in rats. The no-observed-adverse-effect level was <500 mg/kg for both sexes.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Biochemistry ; Blood Platelets ; Body Weight ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mortality ; Nanoparticles* ; Neutrophils ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organ Size ; Pancreas ; Pathology ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Zinc Oxide* ; Zinc*

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of DNA chip method for detecting and genotyping of human papillomavirus (HPV) and screening of high-grade CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) or invasive cancer in the patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). METHODS: This study was based on 131 cases to be revealed ASC-US by Pap smear for the cervical cancer screening from July 2004 to Octorber 2004. They were evaluated by HPV DNA chip test, Cervical colposcopy and directed biopsy, and cone biopsy. The results of type 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68 in HPV DNA chip test were categorized as high risk HPV. We evaluate the detection rate of the high-grade CIN and invasive cancer by HPV DNA chip test. RESULTS: The incidence of high risk HPV DNA was 51.1% (67/131). Twelve of 131 (9.2%) were diagnosed as high-grade CIN or CIS on histology. The detection rate of high risk HPV DNA in high-grade CIN and invasive cancer was 83.3% (10/12). The detection rate of high risk HPV DNA was 36.0% (31/86) in normal or reactive, and 83.3% (10/12) in CIN II or above on histology. Higher the grade of biopsy, more the detection rate of high risk HPV DNA by HPV DNA chip test. CONCLUSION: The use of HPV DNA chip test in patients with ASC-US may be useful in detection of high-grade CIN or invasive cancer.
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Colposcopy ; DNA* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: Aeromonas species is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobe of the family Vibrionaceae. The organism has been recognized as a pathogen associated with illness in human, such as acute gastroenteritis, cellulitis, septicemia, and other rare diseases. METHODS: To evaluate the clinical significance of Aeromonas bacteremia in Korea and it's susceptibility of antibiotics, we evaluated the 17patients with Aeromonas bacteremia. Identification was done by use of API 20E system and antibiotic susceptibility was tested with disk diffusion method. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 11:6, and mean age was 54.1years(8-85years) old. Liver cirrhosis was the most common underlying disease(10cases of 17patients, 58.8%a). Other underlying diseases were as follows: gallstone in 2cases, cholangiocarcinoma in 2cases, and aplastic anemia in 1case, cerebral infarction in 1case. But one had no underlying disease. So Aeromonas bacteremia were occurred in 14immunocompromised patients(82.3%), and in 10patients with hepatobiliary diseases, A. hydrophila was most commonly isolated(13cases, 764%), and the A sobria(4cases, 23.5%) was infrequently isolated. The overall fatality was 47%, and there had no significant difference in fatality between A. hydrophila and A sobria All Aeromonas species had resistance to ampicillin and carbenicillin. CONCLUSION: Because Aeromonas bacteremia may occur through water-borne route, especially in immunocompromised host. We should pay attention to immunocompromised patients, espacially having hepatobiliary disease.
Aeromonas* ; Ampicillin ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; Carbenicillin ; Cellulitis ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Diffusion ; Female ; Gallstones ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Vibrionaceae

PURPOSE: Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is increasingly performed worldwide. Accordingly, the Konyang Standard Method (KSM) for SILC has been developed over the past 6 years. We report the outcomes of our procedures. METHODS: Between April 2010 and December 2016, 1,005 patients underwent SILC at Konyang University Hospital. Initially 3-channel SILC with KSM was changed to 4-channel SILC using a modified technique with a snake retractor for exposure of Calot triangle; we called this a modified KSM (mKSM). Recently, we have used a commercial 4-channel (Glove) port for simplicity. RESULTS: SILC was performed in 323 patients with the KSM, in 645 with the mKSM, and in 37 with the commercial 4-channel port. Age was not significantly different between the 3 groups (P = 0.942). The postoperative hospital days (P = 0.051), operative time (P < 0.001) and intraoperative bleeding volume (P < 0.001) were significantly improved in the 3 groups. Drain insertion (P = 0.214), additional port insertion (P = 0.639), and postoperative complications (P = 0.608) were not significantly different in all groups. Postoperative complications were evaluated with the Clavien-Dindo classification. There were 3 cases (0.9%) over grade IIIb (bile duct injury, incisional hernia, duodenal perforation, or small bowel injury) with KSM and 3 (0.5%) with mKSM. CONCLUSION: We evaluated the evolution of the KSM for SILC. The use of the mKSM with a commercial 4-channel port may be the safest and most effective method for SILC.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Classification ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incisional Hernia ; Laparoscopy ; Methods* ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Snakes