PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

Bromidrosis is a disorder characterized by rancid body odor which influences a patient's social life and mental health. The therapeutic modalities and the mechanism of bromidrosis have been carefully studied, however, there have been few reports about the genetic inheritance of bromidrosis. We investigated the family history of 42 patients who were operated on for bromidrosis and followed up to the third generation in 10 cases. The results were as follows: Results of investigation which were followed up the second generation. The fathers of five patients and the mothers of 11 patients had bromidrosis in 18 male patients. The fathers of six patients and the mothers of 12 patients had bromidrosis in 24 female patients. Thirty-four patient (81.0%) among a total of 42 have a single parent with bromidrosis. Result of investigation which were followed up to the third generation Bromidrosis was occurred in 17 of 42 patients (40.5%) in the second generation, and 18 of 27 patients (66.7%) in the third generation. In one case, a father transmitted bromidrosis to his three sons, and as a result, X-linked inheritance could be ruled out Bromidrosis was not skipped in every generation of all families. We on conclude that bromidrosis is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder.
Fathers ; Female ; Genes, X-Linked ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Mothers ; Odors ; Single Parent ; Wills*

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections

The nutcracker phenomenon consists in the compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteic artery and the aorta, and this syndrome is an infrequent cause of left-sided hematuria. We present a case of the nutcracker syndrome with intermittent gross hematuria to increase the awareness of this possible cause of hematuria.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Hematuria ; Renal Veins

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors that influence the wellness of bus drivers by examining the relationships between job stress, physical activity, subjective happiness, and wellness. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were distributed during October 2017. Results: Based on a multiple regression analysis, the significant factors found to affect the wellness of bus drivers were physical activity (β=.48,p<.001), subjective happiness (β=.25, p=.001), and job stress (β=-.17, p=.025). The total explanatory power of the study variables for wellness was 45.7% (F=33.04, p<.001). Conclusion These findings highlight a need to develop workplace wellness programs to reduce job stress and improve physical activity and subjective happiness among bus drivers.

The purpose of this study was to classify risk groups according to Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) and to investigate the effect of caries prevention program after 1 year of caries prevention intervention program in 6-year-old infants with high caries risk. The subjects were selected based on responses to CRA questionnaires. At the first visit, oral examination, Cariview, bacteria and saliva flow test were performed. The caries risk group was classified accordingly. The subjects were given fluoride application and oral health education every four months and evaluated the same as the first visit after 1 year. As a result of classifying the risk level according to CRA, more than 80% of the subjects were in the high or extreme high risk. The dft index was increased in all risk groups after the intervention. There was a significant difference between the before and after intervention (p < 0.05). The Cariview score showed a slight decrease after the intervention in the moderate and high risk groups. As a result of the evaluation of bacteria test, Streptococcus mutans were decreased to ≥10⁵ CFU/ml saliva after intervention in all groups. Lactobacilli were decreased after intervention in high risk and extreme high risk groups. As a result of saliva flow, there was significant difference between caries risk groups before and after intervention (p < 0.05). In conclusion, regular caries management has been shown to influence caries risk factors in high-caries risk children. Also, it is necessary to find out periodical dental risk management system which is suitable for domestic situation through the related studies.
Bacteria ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Education ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Infant ; Oral Health ; Risk Assessment* ; Risk Factors ; Risk Management ; Saliva ; Streptococcus mutans

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the mental health status of the children of psychiatric patients in order to plan for the resources that may be necessary to help these children achieve their full potential. METHODS: Forty-eight children (age 9–18) whose parents were registered in 5 community mental health centers located in Seoul were recruited. Tests assessing 3 psychological domains were conducted: 1) cognition: Korean version of Learning Disability Evaluation Scale, Comprehensive Attention Test, 2) parent reported emotion and behavior: Korean Child Behavior Checklist, Korean attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale, and 3) self-reported emotion and behavior: Korean Beck's Depression Inventory-II/Children's Depression Inventory-II, Korean Youth Self Report). We defined the children as having a high risk of developing mental health problems if their test scores were over the cut-off levels in 2 or more of the 3 domains assessed. RESULTS: Twelve (25%) children were classified as having a high risk of developing mental health issues. 20 (41.6%) children scored above the cut-off in only one of the domains. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the children of psychiatric patients might be vulnerable to mental illness and need early prevention or interven-tions for the sake of their mental health.
Adolescent ; Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Cognition ; Community Mental Health Centers ; Depression ; Humans ; Learning Disorders ; Mass Screening* ; Mental Health* ; Parents* ; Seoul

The purpose of this study was to identify the consciousness of biomedical ethics and attitudes toward human tissue donation and transplantation among participants and non-participants in the anatomy camp program. Data collection is made from one hundred and eighty-two students who were enrolled in one university nursing department, in B metropolitan city. Ninety-six students participated in the anatomy camp program, while eighty-six students did not participate in the anatomy camp program. The total mean scores of consciousness of biomedical ethics between participants (2.03/4) and non-participants (1.96/4) were significantly different (t=2.217, p≤.028). And the total mean scores of attitudes toward human tissue donation and transplantation between participants (3.49/5) and non-participants (3.31/5) were significantly different (t=4.579, p≤.000). There were statistically significant differences between two groups in sub-categories of consciousness of biomedical ethics: organ transplantation, artificial insemination.
Bioethics* ; Consciousness* ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Humans* ; Insemination, Artificial ; Nursing* ; Organ Transplantation ; Students, Nursing* ; Tissue and Organ Procurement* ; Transplants

Epidural analgesia is frequently used for control of labor pain. Seizure of parturient could be misdiagnosed as eclampsia. A parturient presented a generalized tonic clonic seizure during first stage of labor in two and a half hour after dural puncture and epidural blood patch. She had received an emergency cesarean section under general anesthesia and had another seizure during transfer to the intensive care unit. A brain computed tomography showed intracerebral hemorrhage and pneumocephalus. After conservative treatment, she could discharge without any sequelae in 13 days. The anesthesiologists should be aware of the possibility of intracerebral hemorrhage when they confront a seizure of parturient although there is no evidence of relation between dural puncture and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cesarean Section ; Eclampsia ; Emergencies ; Female ; Intensive Care Units ; Labor Pain ; Pneumocephalus ; Pregnancy ; Punctures ; Seizures

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF) is a disorder characterized by the presence of a retroperitoneal mass and concurrent systemic inflammation. Some cases of RF are recognized as belonging to the spectrum of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Glucocorticoids are highly effective for treatment of retroperitoneal fibrosis, although the optimal dose and duration of therapy have not been established. An initial dose of prednisone (40-60 mg) daily is usually administered with a tapering scheme. We report on a 55-year-old man diagnosed with IgG4-related RF and successfully treated with a 3-day course of daily 250 mg (4 mg/kg) intravenous methylprednisolone, which resulted in the prompt resolution of urinary obstruction and systemic symptoms.
Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis*