BACKGROUND: Improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for infective for infective endocarditis such as proposed diagnostic criteria, Duke criteria and echocardiography resulted to increased life-spans of patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records including medical history, laboratory data such as echocardiographic data and blood culture, and clinical outcomes was done for 106 patients with clinical diagnosis of infective endocarditis at Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to May 2000. Then we analysed differences of clinical features between elderly patients aged > or =60-years and the adult patients aged <60-years with infective endocarditis. RESULTS: The elderly patients >or=60-year are cases of 14%(15/106) and the mean ages are 67+/-8 years in elderly patient, 38+/-12 years in the adults patients respectively. Valvular heart disease was the most common predisposing heart disease with 9 cases(40%) followed by prosthetic valve endocarditis 2 cases (13%) in elderly patients, and there was no significant difference of frequencies with adult patients (valvular heart diseases, 33%; prosthetic valvular heart diseases, 25%). Although culture positive rates were not different with two groups: 47%(7/15) in elderly patients and 45%(41/91) in adult patients, the most common pathogen was staphylococcal species in elderly patients(27%, 4/15) but streptococcus species, in the adult patients(25%, 26/106, p<0.05). The frequencies of embolic complication were not different between two groups(20%, 3/15 vs 22%, 20/91: Elderly vs adult, respectively), but congestive heart failure was more developed in elderly patients, 33%(5/15) than in adult patients, 10%(9/91, p<0.05). Surgical intervention was more required in the elderly(47%, 7/15) than in adult patients(22%, 20/91, p<0.05). Out of 106 patients, 11 died and the overall mortality was 10.4%(11/106). In-hospital death was more common in the elderly than in adult patients: 4 cases(27%) vs 8%(7/91), p<0.05. Determinants of in-hospital death were patients with 60 years of age and older, Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, and the presence of congestive heart failure(p<0.05) in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Infective endocarditis in elderly patients(age> or =60) had more poor outcomes than adult patients(age<60) such as the development of congestive heart failure, the need of surgical intervention, and the high mortality rate.
Adult ; Aged* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus

Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) are recently described subtypes of Guillain-Barre syndrome characterized by acute onset of distal weakness, loss of deep tendon reflexes, and sensory symptoms. A 21-yr-old male was transferred to our hospital due to respiration difficulties and progressive weakness. In laboratory findings, immunoglobulin M antibodies against hepatitis A were detected in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The findings of motor nerve conduction studies showed markedly reduced amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials in bilateral peroneal, and posterior tibial nerves, without evidence of demyelination. Based on clinical features, laboratory findings, and electrophysiologic investigation, the patient was diagnosed the AMSAN following acute hepatitis A viral infection. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and recovered slowly. Clinicians should consider this rare but a serious case of AMSAN following acute hepatitis A infection.
Acute Disease ; Electromyography ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome/*diagnosis/drug therapy/etiology ; Hepatitis A/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Male ; Young Adult

A 78-year-old woman presented to our hospital with progressive dyspnea (NYHA class I-II) and epigastric discomfort that had developed after a traffic accident. She had a history of hypertension and cerebral infarction, but no history of cardiovascular disease. Her blood pressure was 130/70 mmHg and her heart rate was 66 beats/min and regular. The electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm. The chest X-ray revealed bilateral pleural effusions. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta compressing the left atrium (LA). Left and right ventricular systolic function was preserved. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) angiography revealed that a focal 40-mm-diameter saccular aneurysm in the descending aorta at the level of T7-8, with an intramural hematoma, was compressing the LA and left pulmonary vein. After surgical management, follow-up TTE and CT showed decompression of the LA and left pulmonary vein.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cerebral Infarction ; Decompression ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Rate ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Veins ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of severe hypoglycemia without hypokalemia on the electrocardiogram in patients with type 2 diabetes in real-life conditions. METHODS: Electrocardiograms of adult type 2 diabetic patients during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia and the recovered stage were obtained and analysed between October 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. Patients who maintained the normal serum sodium and potassium levels during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia were only selected as the subjects of this study. Severe hypoglycemia was defined, in this study, as the condition requiring active medical assistance such as administering carbohydrate when serum glucose level was less than 60 mg/dL. RESULTS: Nine type 2 diabetes patients (seven men, two women) were included in the study. The mean subject age was 73.2+/-7.7 years. The mean hemoglobin A1c level was 6.07%+/-1.19%. The median duration of diabetes was 10 years (range, 3.5 to 30 years). Corrected QT (QTc) intervals were significantly increased during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia compared to the recovered stage (447.6+/-18.2 ms vs. 417.2+/-30.6 ms; P<0.05). However, the morphology and the amplitude of the T waves were not changed and ST-segment elevation and/or depression were not found during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia. CONCLUSION: In this study, QTc interval prolongation during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia was observed without hypokalemia. Therefore, the distinct alterations in cardiac repolarization during the episodes of severe hypoglycemia may not be associated with hypokalemia.
Adult ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Electrocardiography ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypokalemia ; Male ; Medical Assistance ; Potassium ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Adenoids* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic*

Toxic shock syndrome is an acute, multi-systemic, toxin-mediated illness caused by toxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is usually caused by Streptococcus pyogenes but Group G streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is rare. Herein, we report a case of group G streptococcal toxic shock syndrome that was successfully treated with toxin reducing antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin therapies.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Immunization, Passive ; Shock, Septic ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pyogenes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of simulated stiff knee on the gait parameters. METHOD: Twenty healthy male adults were recruited. The temporospatial, kinematic & kinetic parameters and energy consumption were analyzed under three different conditions which were free gait, fixed knee flexion in neutral position and limited knee flexion to 30 degrees using knee orthosis. RESULTS: When knee flexion was fixed in neutral position, the cadence and walking speed significantly decreased, and the step time, step width, O2 cost significantly increased compared to free gait. When knee flexion was limited or fixed in neutral position, the kinematic and kinetic parameters in pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joints significantly changed compared with free gait. CONCLUSION: Simulated stiff-knee may affect not only knee joint but also pelvis, hip and ankle joints with increased energy consumption. These findings help us to understand the compensatory mechanism and energy conservation of stiff-knee gait.
Adult* ; Ankle Joint ; Gait* ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Orthotic Devices ; Pelvis ; Walking

Clinical progression over time and cytokine profiles have not been well defined in patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. We included 17 patients with laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV during the 2015 outbreak in Korea. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected prospectively. Serum cytokine and chemokine levels in serial serum samples were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All patients presented with fever. The median time to defervescence was 18 days. Nine patients required oxygen supplementation and classified into severe group. In the severe group, chest infiltrates suddenly began to worsen around day 7 of illness, and dyspnea developed at the end of the first week and became apparent in the second week. Median time from symptom onset to oxygen supplementation was 8 days. The severe group had higher neutrophil counts during week 1 than the mild group (4,500 vs. 2,200/µL, P = 0.026). In the second week of illness, the severe group had higher serum levels of IL-6 (54 vs. 4 pg/mL, P = 0.006) and CXCL-10 (2,642 vs. 382 pg/mL, P < 0.001). IFN-α response was not observed in mild cases. Our data shows that clinical condition may suddenly deteriorate around 7 days of illness and the serum levels of IL-6 and CXCL-10 was significantly elevated in MERS-CoV patients who developed severe diseases.
Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Dyspnea ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fever ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Korea ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus* ; Middle East* ; Neutrophils ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies ; Thorax

The aminoglycoside antibiotics is widely used in the treatment of infectious caused by gram-negative bacteria and for synergistic effect with(beta-lactam antibiotics. However, its therapeutic usefulness is limited by this potential nephrotoxicity and by disturbance of electrolyte homeostasis resulting in hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia such as Bartter-like syndrome. Many case repots have been reported on development of Bartter-like syndrome after aminoglycosides administration. But these reports had the many differences of such as types of aminoglycosides, age of patients, duration and total dose of treatment, combined antibiotics and baseline diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the effects of micronomocin sulfate on magnesium, calcium and potassium status of patients in acute pyelonephritis. Twenty one patients in acute pyelonephritis(18 female/3 male, ages 20-75) was treated with single or combined antibiotics. Eleven of twenty one patients as study group were treated with both micronomicin sulfate(aminoglycoside, 4mg/kg/day, during 5-8days) and flomoxef sodium (3rd cephalosporine, 2g/day, during 5-8days), and ten of twenty one patients as control group were treated only with flomoxef sodium(3rd cephalosporine. 2g/day. during 5-8days). Renal values, plasma and urinary electrolytes were measured before and at the end of IV antibiotic therapy. After micronomicin sulfate administrated for 6.4+/-1.5days, serum Mg, Ca, K, FEMg (fractional excretion of Mg), TTKG(transtubular K concentration gradient) and FECa(fractional excretion of Ca) did not significantly change(p>0.05). Therefore, those results suggest that micromonicin sulfate therapy within dose of 240mg/day(4mg/kg/day) for 6.4+/-1.5days may not cause disturbance of electrolyte homeostasis such as Bartter-like syndrome in acute pyelonephritis. Howerever, electrolyte disturbance is an important complication when aminoglycosides is given in larges doses over extended periods. Therefore, monitoring of blood concentration and urinary losses of electrolyte should be carried out along with careful observation of Bartter-like syndrome.
Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Calcium ; Electrolytes ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypokalemia ; Magnesium ; Male ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Pyelonephritis* ; Sodium

In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.