The clinical usefulness of the preoperative platelet count and serum CA 125 level for predicting malignancy in patients presenting with a pelvic mass was investigated. A retrospective review of medical charts of 300 patients presenting with a pelvic mass between January 1995 and December 1997 was performed. Patients were divided into groups by pathologic diagnosis including ovarian cancer (n=20), benign ovarian tumor (n=60), endometrioma (n=20), uterine myoma (n=150), and adenomyosis (n=50). Thrombocytosis and elevated values of serum CA 125 level were defined as platelet count > 400,000/ul and 35U/ml, retrospectively. The x2 test was used to analyze the data. The total number of case of ovarian carcinoma, benign ovarian tumor, and endometrioma were significantly correlated with thrombocytosis(P=0.001). The tumor type and the serum CA 125 level of benign ovarian tumors were also significantly correlated with thrombocytosis(P=0.032, P=0.009). Thrombocytosis was found in 25% of serous cystadenoma cases and in 30% of dermoid cyst cases but was not present in any case of mucinous cystadenoma. There was no significant correlation between thrombocytosis and clinicopathological factors, such as type, stage, and serum CA 125 level of ovarian carcinoma(P>0.05). Also, myoma, adenomyosis and endometrioma were not significantly correlated with thrombocytosis. However, in 19.8% of intramural myoma cases, 46.1% of submucosal myoma cases, and 36.3% of subserosal myoma cases, thrombocytosis was present(P>0.05). The platelet count is a test that is rapidly available and easily obtained. Thrombocytosis is apparantly a marker of tumor burden, but is a little value in planning the original management of women presenting with a pelvic mass.
Adenomyosis ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Myoma ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytosis* ; Tumor Burden

Background: A clinician reported unusually high incidence of A. xylosoxidans isolation from aspirated tissues in outpatient clinic. Methods: A. xylosoxidans isolates from January 2002 to June 2002 were investigated. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and observed the procedures of tissue aspiration and culture at the clinical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were obtained for investigational cultures from dye, aspiration gun, slide alcohol sponge, tray, sink. water of sink, buffer solution, microscope, computer, and telephone. Results: A. xyloxosidans was isolated from twenty-four patients during 6 months. None of 24 cases had any typical signs or symptoms of infections by A. xylosoxidans. Observation of tissue aspiration and culture procedure revealed that buffer solution was used for prevention of specimen drying after tissue aspiration. Culture of the buffer solution yielded a heavy growth of A. xylosoxidans from four out of ten specimens. A. xylosoxidans was not isolated from any other investigational specimens. Conclusions: This was supposed to represent pseudoepidemic. Contaminated buffer solution was documented as the cause of this pseudoepidemic. The usage of buffer solution was stopped. During the follow-up period of 2 months, no additional A. Xylosoxidans was cultured from aspirated tissues.
Alcaligenes* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Porifera ; Telephone ; Water

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of a clinicians' self-report method for the detection of nosocomial infections (NIs) in comparison with a total surveillance method in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: Two surveillance methods were concurrently performed in the NICU of a university hospital during 5 months in 2003. Clinicians' self-report surveillance (CSRS) was based on the retrospective verification of monthly reports of positive bacteriologic results by NICU clinicians. Total surveillance (TS) was done prospectively by an infection control nurse based on chart review and laboratory data. RESULTS: One hundred fifty nine patients accounting to 2759 patient-days were included in the study. Twenty-seven NIs among 26 patients were identified by TS. The sensitivity of CSRS compared to TS was 14.8% (4 of 27 NIs). The specificity was 98.5% (131 of 133 non-NIs). Kappa measures of agreement were -0.309. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that the retrospective review of charts and laboratory data by clinicians lacks sensitivity and agreement for the surveillance of nosocomial infections.
Cross Infection* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vero cells co-culture system on the in vitro development of mouse preimplantation embryos in culture media with different composition of glucose and pyruvate. METHODS: Two-cell embryos were collected from 4-5 weeks old ICR mice. Seven hundreds twenty two embryos were cultured with or without vero cells monolayer in four media with different compositions that was manufactured by two DMEM media with (DMEM-GGP) or without (DMEM-G) glucose and pyruvate. In control, DMEM-G medium which is currently using for human embryo culture in our infertility clinic was used. Group I (DMEM-G(1/4)GP) was cultured in medium which was mixed three volume of DMEM-G and one volume of DMEM-GGP, and group II (DMEM-G(1/2)GP) was cultured in medium which was mixed same volume of DMEM-G and DMEM-GGP, and group III was cultured in DMEM-GGP. All media were added to 20% hFF. Results between different groups were analyzed using a Chi-square test, and considered statistically significant when p value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The developmental rate into 3-cell Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Coculture Techniques* ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pregnancy ; Pyruvic Acid* ; Vero Cells*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to survey the nasal colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the patients admitted in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and analyze risk factors associated with the colonization. METHODS: The study was carried out on patients admitted into the MICU in a 1,250-bed tertiary care university hospital from January through December 2006. Nasal surveillance cultures were obtained from patients within 24 hours of admission to the unit. Data were analyzed retrospectively by the review of medical records. RESULTS: A total of 312 patients were screened with active nasal cultures; 36 patients (11.6%) were positive for MRSA. Of these, 22 (7.1%) were positive in the nasal cultures only and 14 (4.5%) were positive in the cultures of other specimens (13, sputum; 1, joint fluid) in addition to the nasal swabs. Among the risk factors for MRSA nasal colonization were sex (man), route of admission (from other ICUs or wards), a history of ICU admission during the recent 12 months, and prolonged hospital days in ICU. CONCLUSION: MRSA nasal carrier rate was found higher in this study than in those reported in the literature. Most of the patients colonized with MRSA in the nostril were not colonized with the organism elsewhere in the body. Whether or not active surveillance for MRSA should be performed would depend on the nasal colonization rate of the patients at the time of admission to the ICU.
Colon* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Tertiary Healthcare

Pneumonia and meningitis are the most frequent manifestations of pneumococcal infections. Pneumococcal spinal epidural abscesses have been rarely reported. Spinal epidural abscess by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been diagnosed among the patients with diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, corticosteroid therapy, intravenous drug use, chronic renal failure, AIDS, and history of spinal surgery. Recently, we experienced a case of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess after spinal trauma. A 36-year-old male patient was admitted with back pain, fever, and paraplegia which occurred 5 days after the trauma. Spine MRI revealed spinal epidural abscess at the level from T2 to T9. He was treated with antimicrobial agents and surgical exploration for spinal epidural abscess. Pus culture grew S. pneumoniae which was susceptible to penicillin. Despite early surgical treatment, neurologic sequelae remained. Considering the high mortality and morbidity of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment including surgical intervention and antibiotics therapy should be implemented immediately.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Back Pain ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Paraplegia ; Penicillins ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Spine ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Suppuration

Pneumonia and meningitis are the most frequent manifestations of pneumococcal infections. Pneumococcal spinal epidural abscesses have been rarely reported. Spinal epidural abscess by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been diagnosed among the patients with diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, corticosteroid therapy, intravenous drug use, chronic renal failure, AIDS, and history of spinal surgery. Recently, we experienced a case of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess after spinal trauma. A 36-year-old male patient was admitted with back pain, fever, and paraplegia which occurred 5 days after the trauma. Spine MRI revealed spinal epidural abscess at the level from T2 to T9. He was treated with antimicrobial agents and surgical exploration for spinal epidural abscess. Pus culture grew S. pneumoniae which was susceptible to penicillin. Despite early surgical treatment, neurologic sequelae remained. Considering the high mortality and morbidity of pneumococcal spinal epidural abscess, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment including surgical intervention and antibiotics therapy should be implemented immediately.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Back Pain ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Paraplegia ; Penicillins ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Spine ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Suppuration

Backgound: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of perception of and compliance with handwashing between the groups of direct patient contact and indirect contact in a tertiary-care university hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital with 4,500 employees. A questionnaire, containing questions on demographic data and the perception of and compliance with handwashing, was distributed to and collected from a total of 1,087 employees from June 25 to July 10, 2005. RESULTS: The study subjects washed their hands an average of 11.2 times (range, 1-100) per day: nurses washed their hands more frequently than others. The average duration of handwashing by employees was 18.8 seconds. Those in the direct patient contact group scored significantly higher points than did those in the indirect contact group in both perception (P<.021) of and compliance (P<.001) with handwashing. CONCLUSION: Education for handwashing is needed direction employees who have indirect contact with patients to improve their compliance with handwashing.
Compliance* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that X-ray induces follicular atresia, but the exact mechanism of atresia is not still unveiled completely. In addition, the role of macrophage related with clean-up the dead granulosa cells and other functions within the ovarian follicle is emphasized recently. The aim of this study is to assess the radiation-induced morphological changes of ovarian follicles and follicular macrophages. METHODS: 8 Gy X-ray irradiated on the 3-week old rats (Sprague-Dawley strain), sacrificed at 6, 12, and 24 hours after irradiation, and performed morphological studies with light and transmission electron microscopy, TUNEL, and macrophage immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Follicular atresia increased significantly (p<0.01) at 6 hours after X-irradiation, and it was decreased significantly (p<0.01) at 12 and 24 hours after irradiation. X-ray induced chromatin condensation in the nucleus and nuclear fragmentation of granulosa cells, which were the typical features of apoptosis. Apoptotic granulosa cells were phagocytosed by the neighboring normal granulosa cells and the macrophages. During atresia of follicles, radioresistant granulosa cells were found in some follicles, which showed similar features morphologically with the granulosa cells of normal follicles. Macrophages were found both within the antrum and at the follicular granulosa layer. CONCLUSION: X-radiation induced follicular atresia by means of granulosa cell apoptosis, and radioresistant granulosa cells which have similar features morphologically with the granulosa cells of normal follicles were observed in some follicles. And the macrophages which phagocytose the apoptotic granulosa cells were located within the follicular antrum and at the follicular granulosa layer.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chromatin ; Female ; Follicular Atresia* ; Granulosa Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Macrophages* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Ovarian Follicle ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effect on development of mouse preimplantation embryos in culture media with different composition of energy sources in vitro culture. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy one two-cell embryos were cultured in four different culture system for 96 hours. Group I (n=61) was cultured in DMEM-G (DMEM with glutamine) only, groupII (n=64) was cultured in DMEM-GGP (DMEM with glutamine, glucose and pyruvate) only, group III (n=72) was cultured for 48 hours in DMEM-G and then transferred to DMEM-GGP and group IV (n=74) was cultured for 48 hours in DMEM-GGP and then transferred to DMEM-G. Development of embryos in each group was observed every 24 hours. RESULTS: After 24 hours, the rate of development > or = 3-cell was significantly higher in groupII (87.5%) and IV (86.5%) compared with group I (59.0%) and III (62.5%). After 48 hours, the rate of development into > or = morula stage was significantly higher in GroupII (79.7%) and IV (86.5%) compared with group I (34.4%) and III (37.5%). After 72 hours, the rate of development into blastocyst was significantly higher in group IV (74.3%) compared with group I (49.2%) and III (45.8%). After 96 hours, the rate of development into > or = expanded blastocyst was significantly higher in group IV (70.3%) compared with group I (32.8%),II (53.1%), and group III (40.3%). CONCLUSION: Mouse preimplantation embryos development was the most effective in culture system with DMEM-GGP for 48 hours and then transferred to DMEM-G.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Culture Media* ; Embryonic Structures ; Glucose ; Glutamine ; Mice* ; Morula ; Pyruvic Acid