Streptococcus anginosus is a member of Streptococcus milleri group, and is found in the oral mucosa, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract as normal flora. It can develop into a disease in patients with deteriorating clinical condition or with clinical risk factors. A previously healthy 15-year-old boy was admitted due to fever, abdominal discomfort and vomiting which lasted for 7 days. He had a history of dental procedure 1 day before the development of fever. He was diagnosed with acute acalculous cholecystitis based on the clinical, laboratory, and imaging finding, and S. anginosus was isolated from the blood culture. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Adolescent ; Bacteremia ; Cholecystitis ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; Respiratory System ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus anginosus ; Streptococcus milleri Group ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Tacrolimus (FK506) is a new potent immunosuppressive agent which has been used as a primary immunosuppressive agent and rescue therapy for refractory rejection in kidney transplantation. In vitro, on a molecular basis, tacrolimus is 10 to 100 times more potent than cyclosporine. Complications associated with tacrolimus are similar to those seen in cyclosporine, including nephrotoxicity. An early marker of tacrolimus-induced nephropathy is tubular vacuolization, whereas long-term administration of tacrolimus is associated with striped interstitial fibrosis and arteriolar hyalinosis. However, morphological changes and pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic tacrolimus-induced nephropathy remain poorly understood. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 has been implicated in the fibrosis of a number of chronic diseases of the kidney and other organs. This study was designed to clarify the ultrastructural changes of tacrolimus-induced nephropathy, and to evaluate the relationship between tacrolimus- induced nephropathy and expression of TGF-beta1. METHODS: Male ICR mice received tacrolimus daily at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg by intraperitoneal route for 12 weeks and sacrified 1, 4, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after the initiation of the study, respectively. The kidneys were removed, the cortex is carefully dissected from the medulla, and the tissues are processed for evaluation by light microscopy, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR for RNA analysis. RESULTS: Characteristic histological changes of tacrolimus-induced nephropathy were peritubular capillary and intraglomerular capillary congestions, vacuolizations of the tubular epithelium, pericapillary focal fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. Tacrolimus- treated kidneys had a progressive increase in the expression of TGF-beta1, especially in the glomerular and interstitial capillary endothelial cells and atrophied tubular epithelial cells. TGF-beta1 mRNA is expressed persistently in tacrolimus- treated mice for 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that TGF-beta1 may be involved in the fibrogenesis in the tacrolimus-induced nephropathy.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Capillaries ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclosporine ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Tacrolimus ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors

Macular hemorrhage which result from breaks of Bruch's membrane or from choroidal neovascularization can develop in high degenerative myopia, but its occurrence after photorefractive surgery has rarely been reported. We experienced a case of macular hemorrhage after laser in situ keratomileusis[LASIK]:A 28-year-old female patient with high myopia of -16.5 diopters, who had received successful LASIK operation on her left eye.complained of a sudden drop in vision 20 days postoperatively.On fundus examination, macular hemorrhages were detected on her left eye.Eventually the hemorrhages resolved, but more than 2 lines of her best corrected visual acuity were lost.During follow-up, a new hemorrhagic lesion was incidently found on the other eye. This case demonstrates that macular hemorrhages may develop after LASIK in eyes with high degenerative myopia, and lead to a permanent reduction in visual acuity.We should be alert to any potential retinal pathology in patients having refractive surgery.
Adult ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Myopia ; Myopia, Degenerative ; Pathology ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) is a widely used technique for correcting high myopia. Its technical methods and excellent clinical results are well known, but its potential risk on the corneal endothelium are poorly known. We used specular microscope to underwent LASIK for the correction of myopia. The mean preoperative refraction was ?4.5 diopters (range, -10.00 to -23.50 diopters.). The average endothelial cell densities were 2,817+/-205 cells/mm2 (mean +/-SD) preoperatively and 2,789+/-211 cells/mm2 3 months postoperatvely, corresponding to fall of 28 cells/mm2. This fall in endothelial cell density was not statistically significant (P>0.05). But significant correlation between the change in cell density and the residual corneal thickness was found(P>0.05). These results suggest that LASIK is a predictable and safe method for correcting high myopia, but care is recommended when doing deep corneal ablation. Long term follow-up may be needed to confirm its safety.
Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia

PURPOSE: To evaluate tlne significance of vaginal air seen on CT scan in preoperative staging of uterine cervical carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A comparison was made between CT findings of vaginal air and true vaginal involvement status in 85 patients with uterine cervical carcinoma. CT findings were analyzed in terms of the presence or absence of vaginal air, number of CT slices in which vaginal air was seen, shape of vaginal air, and relation of vaginal airto cervical mass. RESULTS: Vaginal air was present in 35 patients and was absent in 50. Although the mere presence of vaginal air or multiplicity of CT slices showing vaginal air did not signify the presence of vaginal involvement, vaginal air with irregular margin or vaginal air adjacent to uterine cervical mass was suggestive of vaginal involvement. CONCELUSION: These observation of vaginal air in interpreting CT may be helpful in the preoperative staging of uterine cervical carcinoma.
Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vagina*

PURPOSE: To describe our initial experience of laparoscopic pyeloplasty, with retrograde stenting, using flexible cystoscopes, in 9 cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September, 2004 and January, 2006, 9 cases of UPJO were treated by laparoscopic pyeloplasty. All of the medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The cases comprised of 5 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 37 years (13-58). All patients showed a preoperative grade 4 hydronephrosis. RESULTS: Two laparoscopic pyeloplasty approaches were performed; a transperitoneal approach in 5 cases and a retroperitoneal approach in the other 4. All cases were treated with dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty. The mean operating time was 249 minutes (170-324), including a mean of 7.1 minutes (6.5-8) for ureteral stenting. The patients were found to have aberrant vessels and renal stones in 1 and 3 cases, respectively. There were no intra-operative complications or open conversion. Of the 9 cases, 8 (89%) showed a decrease in their hydronephrosis grade on the excretory urographs taken 12 weeks postoperatively. The remaining case showed a marked improvement in the hydronephrosis, despite having no change in the hydronephrosis grade. No case experienced postoperative flank pain or recurrence of acute pyelonephritis. Therefore, symptomatic improvements were observed in all our cases (100%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty, with retrograde stenting, using flexible cystoscopes, can be considered an effective and convenient method for the treatment of UPJO.
Cystoscopes* ; Cystoscopy ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pyelonephritis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents* ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction

We report a case of neuroblastoma with multiple skin metastases as a chief complaint in a 2-month-old girl. the skin lesions were rnultiple, pea-sized, bluish, nontender, moable subcutaneous nodules on abdomen, back and scalp. Histopathology showed small round or poly gonal tumor cells which have deeply stained, basophilic, hyperchromatic nuclei with some mitoses. Th.se tumor cells showed clumping tendency which is one of early menifestations of rosette formation. Immunohistochemically positive reaction was demonstrated by anti-NSE(neuron specific enolase) antilody but negative reaction by anti-NFP (neurofilament proteiin ) antibody. She has been succesfully treated with combined chemotherapy for 10 months without relapse.
Abdomen ; Basophils ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mitosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Recurrence ; Rosette Formation ; Scalp ; Skin*

Transient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation (TLESR) is defined as LES relaxation without a swallow. TLESRs are observed in both of the normal individuals and the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). However, TLESR is widely considered as the major mechanism of the GERD. The new equipments such as high resolution manometry and impedance pH study is helped to understand of TLESR and the related esophageal motor activities. The strong longitudinal muscle contraction was observed during development of TLESR. Most of TLESRs are terminated by TLESR related motor events such as primary peristalsis and secondary contractions. The majority of TLESRs are associated with gastroesophageal reflux. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) contraction is mainly associated with liquid reflux during recumbent position and UES relaxation predominantly related with air reflux during upright position. The frequency of TLESR in GERD patients seems to be not different compared to normal individuals, but the refluxate of GERD patients tend to be more acidic during TLESR.
Esophageal Sphincter, Lower/*physiology ; Esophagogastric Junction/physiology ; Esophagus/*physiology ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/*physiopathology ; Humans ; Muscle Relaxation/physiology

Though intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV DSA) has several advantages over conventionalangiography in diagnosis and follow up of various vascular disease, it also has several undesirable problems suchas large volume of the contrast medium and inferior image quality compared to conventional angiography. Sorecently intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA DSA) was introduced for better image quality usingsmall amount of contrast medium. The authours had good clinical results IA DSA which were made in 20 patients withour own system, SRM-II, developed by cooperation of Departements of Radiology and Medical engineering, Seoul.National University Hospital. Intraarterial digital substraction angiography was found to have several advantagesover conventional angiography: (a) small amount of contrast medium, (b) reduced need for selective arterialcatheterization,(c) lower film cost, (d) shortened examination time, (e) ability to obtain a “road map”, and (f)easier detection of contrast medium. Also IA DSA has several advantages over IV DSA : (a) less dependency oncardiac output, (b) far less vessel overlapping, (c) reduction in patient motion through less painful procedure byreduced volume of contrast media and shorter imaging time.
Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Vascular Diseases

Background and objective: With recent advances in technology and miniaturization of equipment, the trans-radial approach has currently been advocated as an alternative method for coronary angioplasty. We tried to evaluate the feasibility of trans-radial coronary intervention (TRCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 138 Allen-positive cases (159 lesions) underwent TRCI with currently available devices. Mean age was 60.8 + 9.2 years and 67% were men. Clinical diagnoses were AMI in 49, unstable angina in 48, stable angina in 28, OMI in 9 and 4 cases of restenotic lesions. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 124 cases (89.9%). Among the 124 successful cases, left and right radial arteries were used in 93 cases (110 lesions) and in 31 cases (35 lesions), respectively. The size of the guiding catheter used for TRCI was 6 Fr in 100 cases (80.7%), 7 Fr in 21 cases (16.9%), and 8 Fr in 3 cases (2.4%). Stent implantation and rotational atherectomy were successfully performed in 75 cases (86 lesions) and 10 cases (12 lesions), respectively. The reasons of failure were puncture failure in 2 cases, guiding failure in 6 cases, guide-wire crossing failure in 4 cases who had chronic total occlusion, and suboptimal results in 2 cases. Major cardiac complications occurred in 3 cases, one case of each cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary artery perforation. No major entry site complications were seen with only non-ischemic radial artery occlusions in 3 cases (2.8%). CONCLUSION: TRCI is feasible with currently available devices and is safe with a relatively acceptable procedural success rate and low complications.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Atherectomy, Coronary ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Diagnosis ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Male ; Miniaturization ; Myocardial Infarction ; Punctures ; Radial Artery ; Stents