Penicillin is still the first choice of drug in the treatment of gonorrhea. The ever lowering sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin and the emergence of PPNG (Penicillinase Producing Neisseria Gonorrhoeae) in the Far East and other parts of the world neceessitate reapprisal of treatrnent schedules with penicillin for gonococcal infections. In Korea, no authentical study in this regard has been done recently. The presence of intracellular gram r.egative diplococci in urethral smear as weIl as the presence of oxidase positive typical, round, convex, smooth, glistening, tratmslucent, greyish colonies of 0.5 to 2mm in diameter a 24 hours composed of grarn negative diplococci are used for presump'ive evidence of gonococccal infection 224 male patients with acnte uncomplicated gonococal infections were treated one of following regimens. Regimen A: 4.8mega unit combicillin (3.6mega unit procaine penicillin+l.2 mega unit sodium penicillin) i.m.. preceded by 1gm probenecid p.o., Regirnen B: 4.8 mega unit procaine penicillin i.m. preceded by 1gm probenecid P.O. Regimen A showed 14 failures(11.3% arnong 124. Regimen B showed 19 failures (19%) among 100 It is suggested that in Korea sesnsitivity to penicillin of Yeisseria gonorrhoeae is quite low.
Appointments and Schedules ; Far East ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Neisseria ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Oxidoreductases ; Penicillin G Procaine ; Penicillins* ; Probenecid ; Procaine ; Sodium

Choriocarcinoma associated with a normal pregnancy is rare. Futhermore, choriocarcinoma coexistent with a viable pregnancy is even rarer and associated with a greater risk of hepatic and cerebral involvement. So timely diagnosis of the disease is important for successful treatment and aggressive diagnostic procedures may therefore warranted. The patient should be treated with primary intensive combination chemotherapy(EMA-CO) and the selective use of irradiation and surgical therapy. We experienced a case of metastatic choriocarcinoma of lung and kidney following preterm delivery at 34th week of pregnancy and so present it with brief review of literature.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

Pyogenic liver abscesses are rare in children. In pediatric patients, altered host defences seem to play an important role. However, pyogenic liver abscess also occurs in healthy children. We experienced a case of pyogenic liver abscess in a healthy immunocompetent 10-year-old-girl. The patient presented two distinct abscesses: one subphrenic and the other intrahepatic. The intrahepatic abscess resolved with percutaneous drainage and 3 weeks of parenteral antibiotic therapy but the subphrenic abscess which could not be drained needed prolonged parenteral antibiotic therapy in addition to oral antibiotic therapy. We performed follow-up serial CT scan of the abscess cavity to decide on the duration of antibiotic therapy. Here we present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Subphrenic Abscess

BACKGROUND: Leptin gene is known to be related to obesity in human and animals and complete genetic defect of the gene in ob/ob mouse has been identified. Therefore, ob/ob mouse is widely used as an animal model for the study of etiology and therapy of obesity. The main biological function of leptin was thought to involve in the regulation of food intake and weight gain, however, the regulatory mechanisms by which leptin functions in the weight reduction and lowering the blood glucose level are uncertain. In the present study, retroviral-mediated leptin gene transduction into ob/ob mouse was attempted for the correction of biochemical parameters of obesity. METHODS: Leptin cDNA was inserted into pLXSN retroviral vector (pLXSN-lep) and recombinant leptin expressing retrovirus particles (3 X10 CFU/mL) were produced in psi2 ecotropic packaging cells and subsequent transfection into PA317 amphotropic packaging cells. The leptin expressing recombinant viruses (LER) were transduced into NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts and insertion of leptin cDNA into chromosomal DNA of PA317 and MH3T3 mouse fibroblasts was confirmed by Southern blot hybridizations. Leptin mRNA and its protein expressed in the cells were identified by Northern blot hybridization and Western blot immunodetection method, respectively. LER were injected I. P. into ob/ob mice, and body weight, food intake, serum leptin level and blood glucose level were measured. RESULTS: Expression of leptin was identified in PA317 and NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts transduced with LER. Leptin content in sera of mice transfused with LER was drastically increased after 1 week and decreased to the almost basal level at 3 weeks after the transfusion. The body weight as well as food intake of ob/ob mouse transduced by LER decreased for the first 3 weeks and slightly increased thereafter. The reduction of both body weight and food intake in ob/ob mice transduced with LER was observed with the concomitant increase of serum leptin level, indicating that retroviral-mediated transduction of leptin gene in ob/ob mouse in vivo produced a biologically active leptin protein and released it into blood circulation. CONCLUSION: A transient expression of leptin cDNA in ob/ob mice by a retroviral-mediated transduction was performed and further studies are required for long term expression of the gene in vivo.
Animals ; Blood Circulation ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Southern ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Eating ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Mice ; Mice, Obese* ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; Product Packaging ; Retroviridae ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss ; Zidovudine*

Trochanteric entry femoral nails have been widely used for fixation of femoral shaft fractures because of easier identification of the entry point. Young patients usually request removal of the nail after healing of the fracture. We experienced a failure and difficulty in removal of the trochanteric entry nail in two adolescent patients. In the patient in which the nail could be removed with difficulty, dense compact bone was formed through the empty interlocking holes and the nail was held just like a latch. This finding was quite similar to the computed tomography findings of the patient in which the nail could not be removed. In order to remove the nail, the newly formed, dense compact bone in the interlocking holes must be broken and detached from the femur itself. We suggest that dense compact bone through the empty interlocking holes might be a clue for difficult removal of the trochanteric entry nail.
Adolescent* ; Femur* ; Humans

In case of unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer, though many trials have been going, treatment results are poor yet. We report a patient with peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer effectively treated with docetaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy. The patient was a 33 year-old man who was confirmed poorly differenciated adenocarcinoma of stomach 5 years ago. At the diagnosis, the stage of gastric cancer was T2N3M0. He underwent subtotal gastrectomy with Billoth II anastomosis and 6th cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of FAMTX. After that, there was no evidence of recurrence. Three years later, he was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and distension. Abdominal CT revealed that recurred gastric cancer in anastomotic site with carcinomatous peritonei and multiple lymphadenopathy. He was performed chemotherapy combined with docetaxel (75 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2). After 3rd chemotherapy, follow up abdominal CT showed nearly complete regression of bowel loops, lymph node and ascites. After completion of 7th cycles of chemotherapy, it remained as complete response for recurred gastric cancer and he has no evidence of recurrence for over 2 years.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Ascites ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 59-year old female was admitted to Yongdong Severance Hospital due to diarrhea and lower abdominal pain lasting for 2 months. She had a previous history of admission for stomach cancer on September 1995. At that time, she underwent total gastrectomy and gastroduodenostomy. The pathology of the specimen revealed a signet ring cell carcinoma of stomach. On admission, computerized tomography revealed rectal wall thickness and no evidence of lymph node enlargement in abdomen and pelvic cavity. Barium enema study showed stricture of rectum. After sigmoidoscopic biopsy, she was diagnosed as a rectal metastasis resulted in rectal stricture and underwent sigmoid loop colostomy. Hence we present a case of gastric cancer with rectal metastasis resulted in rectal stricture.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diarrhea ; Enema ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pathology ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To suggest a new useful diagnostic technique, principles of the selective excitation technique-magnetic resonance images (Proset-MRI), and to know the precise radiologic findings that can prove symptomatic foraminal and extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1. METHODS: Nineteen patients with symptomatic L5-S1 stenosis were checked by Proset-MRI. Four patients were performed decompressive surgery and 15 patients were performed selective nerve root block (SNRB) at L5. The pain scale of patients was checked by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at the pre- and post-treatment state. RESULTS: Proset-MRI findings of patients with symptomatic stenosis are root swelling (RS) and indentation. The comparisons with VAS scores had a meaningful statistical result at each RS (p<0.01) and indentation (p<0.01). However, the findings of RS combined with indentation lacked statistical significance (p=0.0249). In addition, according to a comparison with the treatment modalities, reducing of VAS scores had statistical meaningful significance in decompressive surgery cases (p<0.01), and also in SNRB cases (p<0.01) after a 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The three dimensional Proset-MRI is very useful and sensitive technique to diagnose the symptomatic foraminal and extraforaminal stenosis at L5-S1.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Round ligament varices during pregnancy are an important part of the differential diagnosis of inguinal hernia as they may cause symptoms and clinical features that are similar to those of inguinal hernia. When this condition is correctly diagnosed, an unnecessary operation may be prevented. The diagnosis of round ligament varices should be considered for pregnant women who present with a palpable mass in the groin. We describe here a case of round ligament varices that presented during pregnancy and this was readily diagnosed with Doppler sonography.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Groin ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Round Ligament of Uterus ; Round Ligaments ; Varicose Veins

BACKGROUND: Blunt traumatic cardiac rupture is rare. However, such cardiac ruptures carry a high mortality rate. This study reviews our experience treating blunt traumatic cardiac rupture. METHODS: This retrospective study included 21 patients who experienced blunt traumatic cardiac rupture from 1999 to 2015. Every patient underwent surgery. Several variables were compared between survivors and fatalities. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 21 patients survived, and 5 (24%) died. No instances of intraoperative mortality occurred. The most common cause of injury was a traffic accident (81%). The right atrium was the most common location of injury (43%). Ten of the 21 patients were suspected to have cardiac tamponade. Significant differences were found in preoperative creatine kinase–myocardial band (CK-MB) levels (p=0.042) and platelet counts (p= 0.004) between the survivors and fatalities. The patients who died had higher preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p=0.007), worse Trauma and Injury Severity Scores (p=0.007), and higher Injury Severity Scores (p=0.004) than those who survived. CONCLUSION: We found that elevated CK-MB levels, a low platelet count, and multi-organ traumatic injury were prognostic factors predicting poor outcomes of blunt cardiac rupture. If a patient with blunt traumatic cardiac rupture has these factors, clinicians should be especially attentive and respond promptly in order to save the patient’s life.
Accidents, Traffic ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Creatine ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Heart Atria ; Heart Injuries* ; Heart Rupture ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Mortality ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Survivors