No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Electrophoresis* ; Genes, ras* ; Humans* ; Point Mutation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Vaccination*

Lawsonia intracellularis is not culturable with a standard bacteriologic culture. One step PCR assay as a clinical diagnostic method was developed for the rapid detection of porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) caused by L. intracellularis. Primers were designed based on the p78 DNA clone of L. intracellularis. The one step PCR resulted in the formation of a specific 210-bp DNA product derived from L. intracellularis. The nonspecific amplification product was not detected with swine genomic DNA or other bacterial strains causing similar symptoms to L. intracellularis infection. The one step PCR was as sensitive as 100 pg of L. intracellularis genomic DNA. We applied this method to field specimens diagnosed as PPE by macroscopic observation. Of 17 mucosal scraping specimens, 16(94%) were identified as positive to PPE and 15(88%) of 17 feces specimens. These results suggest that the one step PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method for L. intracellularis infection.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Desulfovibrionaceae Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Ileum/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Lawsonia Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness and radiologic findings of CT in the diagnosis of orbital blow-outfracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with orbital blow-out fractures diagnosed by clinicalfindings and CT were evaluated retrospectively. On CT images, we evaluated the site and frequency of fracture,herniation of orbital fat, extraocular muscle abnormality, intraorbital hematoma, and intrasinus hemorrhage. RESULTS: Forty-eight sites of orbital wall fractures were seen. Of these, 25(52.1%) were observed at the medialwall and 18(37.5%) at the inferior wall. Combined fracture of the medial and inferior wall was seen in fivecases(10.4%), and orbital fat herniation to adjacent sinuses in 25. Associated extraocular muscle abnormalitieswere seen at the medial rectus (n=20) and inferior rectus muscle(n=18). Intrasinus hemorrhage was seen in 15cases, and intraorbital hematoma in five. CONCLUSION: CT is a useful diagnostic modality for the evaluation oforbital blow-out fracture and associated soft tissue abnormalities.
Diagnosis ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the risk of rehospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) infection among premature infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study for rehospitalization for RSV infection and risk factors among premature infants who were admitted to NICU and discharged between May 2001 and April 2003 in Wonkwang University Hospital. RSV detection was utilized by direct fluorescent antibody tests in nasopharyngeal aspirates. We also reviewed various risk factors including gestational age, birth weight, sex, ventilatory care, surfactant administration, chronic lung disease(CLD), siblings in school or kindergarten age, and month of discharge. RESULTS: The rehospitalization rate for RSV infection was 6.6%(26/381) in premature infants and 22.2%(4/18) in premature infants with CLD. The most common season of rehospitalization for RSV infection was between November to January, this was 69.2%(18/26) in premature infants, the same as children: 61.2%(93/152). The risk factors for RSV rehospitalization among premature infants were CLD, siblings in school or kindergarten age and discharge between October to December from NICU. CONCLUSION: The risk for RSV rehospitalization among premature infants from NICU was low. Preterm infants subject to risk factors of CLD, siblings in school or kindergarten age, and discharge between October to December from NICU, were most likely to require hospitalization for RSV disease. In CONCLUSION: Prophylaxis for RSV infection should be considered one month before discharge from NICU in the RSV season between October and December.
Birth Weight ; Child ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lung ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Siblings

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists could dispense medicines without doctors' prescription in Korea before July 2000. The aim of this study was to compare the prescription behaviors of practicing doctors and pharmacists to common cold by the simulated patients. We selected the common cold as a subject of simulation because it was the most frequent health problem to visit doctors and pharmacists and the abuse of antibiotics might be prevalent in management of it. METHODS: Seventy five private clinics and drug stores were selected in Seoul, Korea. The simulated patients were selected and trained standardized symptoms of common cold. The simulated patients recorded the prescription behaviors of doctors and pharmacists. RESULTS: Average number of prescribed medicines were 5.0 and 5.6 in clinic and drug store respectively. 54.7% of the clinics and 61.3% of the drug stores prescribed antibiotics respectively with no significant difference between them. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were penicillines. About 7% of the doctors and 11% of the pharmacist prescribed glucocorticoid to simulated patients respectively. About 20% of the pharmacists performed some kinds of physical examination to the simulated patients. Both doctors and pharmacist gave little information or advice on use of medicines, possible side effects and past side effects of medicines. CONCLUSION: There were frequent abuse of antibiotics and occasional use of glucocorticoid in private clinics and drug stores. Both doctors and pharmacists did not give enough information on use of medicines to the simulated patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Common Cold* ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Simulation ; Penicillins ; Pharmacists* ; Physical Examination ; Prescriptions* ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Thorax*

A 55-year-old woman received a combined spinal epidural anesthesia for total replacement surgery of the left knee. After surgery, the epidural patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device was activated. After the first post-operative day, the patient complained of severe back pain rather than left knee pain in spite of the bolus dose of analgesics via epidural catheter. The epidural catheter was removed and intravenous PCA was initiated. On the 16th post-operative day, the patient's back and knee pain improved; however, the fever did not subside. A blood test revealed increased inflammatory markers in spite of antibiotic therapy. Under the suspicion of epidural abscess, a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed and revealed an increase in the signal within left lumbar paraspinal muscle. A prompt debridement and irrigation of the necrotic tissues was performed. The histologic diagnosis was lumbar paraspinal myonecrosis. Subsequent to this corrective procedure, the patient's fever subsided and the inflammatory markers were normalized, except for mild back pain after the surgical repair.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Back Pain ; Catheters ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess ; Female ; Fever ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis

The cesarean section has been considered as one of the most prime and most commonly performed operations in the obstetrics and gynecology field. In fact, all cesarean sections have depended upon the operator`s experience. However, there have been several cases reported on new technique of cesarean section in many developed countries, but not in Korea until we started the recent research. We have developed a new type of cesarean section named FAST(Finger Assisted Stretching Technique) through study on strength/weakness of other operation techniques as well as many other researches we conducted in the past plus our own experiences. To find the differences on the following subjects; operating time, postoperative complication, and recovery period. We compared and analyzed data from using new and traditional techniques. We selected 120 patients(group A using FAST: 45 patients, group B using traditional technique: 75 patients) as samples for this study. Together, they were all conducted cesarean section at Korea University, Guro Hospital between May 1993 and December 1995. Student-t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. We consider that below 0.05 for P value is statistically significant. The results of comparative study between two groups are; 1. There was no comparative difference on average age: group A: 29.6(range 23~39, S/D 7.1) group B: 31.1(range 24~38, S/D 5.4) 2. There was a significant difference on average operation times: group A: 15.4 min.(range 11~19, S/D 3.6) group B: 41.3 min.(range 23~50, S/D 19) 3. There was a significant difference on average amount of bleeding: group A: 580 ml(range 450~750, S/D 101) group B: 916 ml(range 800~1000, S/D 99) 4. There was a significant difference on the value of hemoglobin before and after operation group A: 0.8 g/dl(range 0.4~1.6, S/D 0.25) group B: 1.9 g/dl(range 0.9~2.6, S/D 0.21) 5. There was a significant difference on average period of hospitalization: group A: 3.7 days(range 3~4, S/D 0.7) group B: 6.4 days(range 5~8, S/D 0.6) 6. No one from group A experienced any infection, but 3 cases of wound infection and 2 cases of voiding difficulty were reported from group B. 7. 11 cases from group A and 16 cases from group B had laparotomy for some other reasons, later. There was no adhesion found in group A, but adhesions found in 2 cases from group B.
Cesarean Section* ; Developed Countries ; Female ; Fingers* ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Laparotomy ; Obstetrics ; Postoperative Complications ; Pregnancy ; Wound Infection