In infections of the urinary tract resulting from bacterial invasions, pus cells are most commonly present in those urine, and bacteria and pus casts may also exist. Campbell considers that there are five pus cells per high power field are within normal limits in the uncentrifuged catheterized urine. On the other hand Helmholz says two to eight pus cells may exist in a normal specimen. It is of no moment if the leukocytes are single or clumped: The important thing is to demonstrate the polymorphic or pawnbroker's nucleus in the pus cells, and desquamated epithelial cells or other urinary debris should not be considered as pus cells. Alto most accurate counting of those should be made with a counting chamber in high power field. It is called bacteria urine if any kind of bacteria exists in the urine with or without leukocytes, and both bacteria urine and pyuria are most significant clinical signs for the diagnosis of urinary infection. According to Lancet (1964) when 100, 000 or more organisms are presentper milliliter of urine, true infection. are actually present and therefore one might assume if there were less than 100,000 organisms per milliliter that thereare no infections, but no one has yet defined what is the normal upper level of white cells in the urine of Korean people. The purpose of this paper is to study what is the normal upper level of white cells and bacteria in the urine of Koreanpeople. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with urinary tract symptoms were assessed. Forty of the subjects were women. A selected control group of twenty adults was composed of twelve female and eight male, none of whom bad ever had urinary infection. Urine specimens were obtained by midstream collection comparing with catheterization. White cell count of the urine was estimated by Thomas white cell counting chamber, while those specimens were not centrifuged, and bacteria count was performed by a standard drop plate method. Steroid provocation test wee based on the procedure described by Pears and Houghton, and 50 mg of prednisolone was given by mouth. RESULTS: 1. In the collection of urine specimens, the midstream collection was more convenient and harmless compared with the results of catheterization. 2. When there were less than five cells per c.mm. there was no evidence of urinary tract infection on those specimens. When there were more than 10 cells per c. mm. there were true infections in those subjects. 3. When there were more than 100, 000 organisms per milliliter there were true infections in those subjects. There were less than 100, 000 organisms per milliliter even in the control group. 4. In steroid provocation test, there were carried out in 20 controls and in 60 patients, the positive test was a rise in white cell count or bacteria count together of at least 100 percent in those 60 patients, but no response in those 20 control group.
Adult ; Bacteria* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cell Count ; Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mouth ; Prednisolone ; Pyrus ; Pyuria ; Suppuration ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Pressure Ulcer*

Keloids are abnormally healed skin wounds that develop in the subpapillary layer of the dermis. They are a lesion with wide, raised and deep scars. They exceed the original dimensions of the wound and grow mounds upon mounds of collagen in a pseudotumor fashion. Their treatment may take several forms such as surgery, intralesional injection of steroid, compression, superficial irradiation, and combination therapy. However, absolute method is nothing until now. Recently, the cryosurgery shows relatively good effect in treatment, so we tried the clinical experience with cryosurgery in the treatment of keloids. Material and methods: During the past 2 years, we treated 20 individuals of the keloids with severe itching and pain. The age ranged from 5 to 45 years old. Only 6 cases were biopsied before and after cryotherapy. The cryosurgery set we used was Toitu model CR 201 N₂O gas (tip temperature in ­80℃) and was applied directly on the lesion about 4 to 5 minutes with slight compression. After cryosurgery in keloids, the following results were obtained: 1. It is both quick and easy method. 2. It is causes little or no pain and no loss of blood. 3. Integumentary normalization is rapid. The new scar tissue is smaller, and more elastic and soft. 4. The pain, itching and paresthesia commonly associated with keloid is usually disappeared. 5. Other treatment can be used after cryosurgery. 6. Histologic picture after cryosurgery is similar with the result of steroid injection. 7. The mechanism of the cryosurgery in keloids is the result of the direct tissue destroying action and cryoimmunologic reaction.
Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Cryosurgery* ; Cryotherapy ; Dermis ; Injections, Intralesional ; Keloid* ; Methods ; Paresthesia ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

Abrupt reoxygenation (or reperfusion) after anoxia (or ischemia)-induced injury resulted in the loss of contractile property, destruction of cell organelles, and ultimately, cell death in cardiac myocytes. This phenomenon has been called 'oxygen paradox' or 'reperfusion injury'. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of fine structures and enzyme activities associated with oxygen paradox during 60 min. of anoxia, followed by a 30 min. of reoxygenation. Cardiac myocytes were dissociated from neonatal rat ventricles and cultured for three days. While they were exposed to anoxia and reoxygenation, the cardiac myocytes were investigated through beating counts, enzyme cytochemistry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy for morphological study. Activity staining and Western blot for Cu, Zn-SOD, NADPH-diaphorase stain and nitrite concentration mesurement for nitric oxide synthase, and catalase activity measurement were performed. After 60 min. of anoxia, the beating rate increased remarkably. Swollen mitochondria with amorphous dense clumps, mild contracture of myofibrils and retraction of cytoplasmic processes were observed in cardiac myocytes. Under confocal microscope, weak reaction of Mn-SOD and myosin were observed, whereas reaction of Cu, Zn-SOD was enhanced in perinuclear region. Cu, Zn-SOD and catalase activity in cardiac myocytes increased markedly. Nitric oxide synthase activity increased gradually with time. After 30 min. of reoxygenation following 60 min anoxia, structural changes of myocardial cells was more pronounced than in the cells of anoxic group. Beating rate was variable but decreased gradually. Myocardial cells showed evidence of severe structural alterations, including marginal clumping of chromatids, varying-sized bleb formation, many vacuoles, mitochondrial matrix exposed to cytoplasm and fragmen-tation of cristae, myofibrillar hypercontracture. Decline of immunocytochemical reaction of Mn-SOD, myosin and Cu, Zn-SOD were observed under confocal microscope. The declines of activity and quantity of Cu, Zn-SOD were severe compared to control. In contrast, nitric oxide synthase activity significantly increased. Catalase activity was lower than in anoxic group, but still higher than in control activity. These results suggested that there were two possible mechanisms for the drastic morphological changes induced by anoxia-reoxygenation; 1) direct effect of oxygen free radicals, and 2) reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide radicals, which resulted in generation of toxic metabolites of nitric oxide, exacerbated myocardial cellular damages.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Blister ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Cell Death ; Chromatids ; Contracture ; Cytoplasm ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Free Radicals ; Histocytochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Myofibrils ; Myosins ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Organelles ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Vacuoles

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of several organs patients with Marfan syndrome in Korea. Also the clinical features in childhood patients with Marfan syndrome were assessed. METHODS: Thirty-eight cases of Marfan syndrome were enrolled in this study. Clinical evaluations of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and occular system were performed in all cases. RESULTS: The musculoskeletal system was involved in 32 cases (84.2%) and occular system in 24 cases (63.1%). Cardiovascular abnormalities were found in 19 cases (50.0%) at initial evaluation. Family history was involved in 21 cases (55.2%). Ectopia lentis was found in 17 cases (70.8%). Severe myopia and iris abnormalities were also present in 14 cases (58.2%). The ascending aorta was dilated in 13 cases (34.2%). Emergency operation was performed in 3 cases (7.9%) because of a dissecting aorta. Mitral regurgitation and prolapse were found in 29 cases (76.4%) and other valve insufficiency was accompainied in 5 cases (13.1%). Of the 38 cases, 29 patients (79.3%) were less than 15 years of age and their major manifestations were occular problems in 23 cases (79.3%), and family history in 17 cases (58.6%). In one infant, severe heart failure was the predominant clinical feature. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of Korean patients with Marfan syndrome were summarized in this report. Heart failure was the main manifestaton in infantile Marfan syndrome. Early treatment with beta-blocker and valvular replacement can prevent fatality, i.e. aortic dissection, in this disease, concern and management should be advocated in the early detection of Marfan syndrome.
Aorta ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Ectopia Lentis ; Emergencies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Infant ; Iris ; Korea ; Marfan Syndrome* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Musculoskeletal System ; Myopia ; Prolapse

INTRODUCTION: This study examined maternal, delivery and infant factors associated with cord thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations in an Asian population. METHODS: The Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study is a mother-offspring birth cohort from 2 major hospitals in Singapore. Cord serum TSH was measured using the Abbott ARCHITECT TSH Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay and the ADVIA Centaur TSH-3 Immunoassay. After excluding infants with a maternal history of thyroid disease, screening cord TSH results from 604 infants were available for multivariable regression analysis in relation to the factors of interest. RESULTS: Babies born by vaginal delivery had significantly higher cord serum TSH concentrations than babies born by caesarean section. Cord serum TSH concentrations differed significantly by measurement method. There was no association of cord TSH concentrations with ethnicity, sex, birth weight, gestational age, maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes mellitus status and other maternal, delivery and infant factors studied. CONCLUSION Interpretation of cord serum TSH results may need to take into account mode of delivery and measurement method.