No abstract available.
Hemorrhage*

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.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Fever* ; Nephritis, Interstitial*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the influence of low-dose oxygen (FiO2 <25%) therapy through nasal cannulae on the progress and prognosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as well as methods of preventing ROP. METHODS: Our subjects comprised premature infants (gestation period <37 weeks; birth weight <1,750 g) born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February 1,2001 and January 31,2006. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 273 patients who were available for eye examination and follow up over 6 months. RESULTS: The factors maximally influencing the occurrence of ROP were low gestation age and low birth weight. We observed that the incidence of ROP increased with the increasing duration of low-dose oxygen therapy. ROP onset was delayed during ongoing oxygen therapy; however, rapid progression of ROP occurred after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy among premature infants up to the prethreshold stage. CONCLUSION: To prevent of occurrence of severe ROP and its rapid progression, the period of low-dose oxygen therapy needs to be shortened. Moreover, frequent eye examinations should be performed after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy.
Birth Weight ; Catheters ; Diterpenes ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate accuracy of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging for staging of lung cancer and to compare the accuracies of CT and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 25 cases of lung cancer, which were confirmed surgically and pathologically. Five experienced radiologists participated in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate and compare accuracies of the CT and MR imaging in preoperative staging of non small cell lung cancer by assessing tumor invasion of bronchus, mediastinum, chest wall, and hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Imaging results were evaluated against "truth" data based on both surgery and pathologic examination. RESULTS: Sensitivity of CT in distinguishing T3-T4 tumors was 60% ;specificity was 76%. These values for MR imaging were not significantly different(53% and 72%). With ROC analysis, no difference existed between accuracies of CT and MR imaging in diagnosis of bronchial involvement, but MR imaging was significantly more accurate than CT(p<0.05) in diagnosis of mediastinal invasion. There was no significant difference between accuracies of CT and MR imaging in detecting mediastinal node metastasis(N2 or N3); sensitivities were 64% and 78%, respectively, and specificities were 64% and 66%. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in accuracies of CT and MR imaging in preoperative tumor classification and assessment of mediastinal node metastasis, but MR imaging was more accurate than CT in assessment of mediastinal invasion.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: To evaluate accuracy of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging for staging of lung cancer and to compare the accuracies of CT and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 25 cases of lung cancer, which were confirmed surgically and pathologically. Five experienced radiologists participated in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate and compare accuracies of the CT and MR imaging in preoperative staging of non small cell lung cancer by assessing tumor invasion of bronchus, mediastinum, chest wall, and hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Imaging results were evaluated against "truth" data based on both surgery and pathologic examination. RESULTS: Sensitivity of CT in distinguishing T3-T4 tumors was 60% ;specificity was 76%. These values for MR imaging were not significantly different(53% and 72%). With ROC analysis, no difference existed between accuracies of CT and MR imaging in diagnosis of bronchial involvement, but MR imaging was significantly more accurate than CT(p<0.05) in diagnosis of mediastinal invasion. There was no significant difference between accuracies of CT and MR imaging in detecting mediastinal node metastasis(N2 or N3); sensitivities were 64% and 78%, respectively, and specificities were 64% and 66%. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in accuracies of CT and MR imaging in preoperative tumor classification and assessment of mediastinal node metastasis, but MR imaging was more accurate than CT in assessment of mediastinal invasion.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of absolute ethanol and gelfoam particles and the degree of vascular recanalization after gelfoam embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcatheter renal arterial embolization(TRAE) was performal in 16 rabbits ; Eight were embolized with absolute ethanol, and eight with gelfoam particles. Of this total, three died less than one week after embolization. Pre- and post embolization angiographies at five minutes, one week, two weeks(gelfoam group only) and 5-6 weeks after embolization were performed. Six rabbits were sacrificed at one week, and seven at 5-6 weeks after embolization. Pathologic examination was performed. RESULTS: The ethanol group(n=6) showed complete occlusion of the main renal artery on follow-up angiography at one week and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was complete total necrosis of embolized kidneys. The gelfoam group(n=7) showed partial recanalization of renal arteries in follow upangiography at one week, two weeks and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was partial lysis ofgelfoam particles within intrarenal arteries. CONCLUSION: Absolute ethanol can be used as a permanent embolicagent and gelfoam as a temporary such agent in various clinical applications. Gelfoam, however, did not show complete recanalization on angiography and pathology at six weeks after embolization.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Ethanol* ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Rabbits* ; Renal Artery

Tracheo-innominate artery fistula is a rare, but it is one of the gravest complications next to tracheostromy. Early recognition and prompt surgical management is mandatory. The patient was a 66 year old women with MCA infarct who maintained tracheostomy for lyear. She had respiratory arrest due to the excessive bleeding through the tracheostomy site. We report an successful experience for control of bleeding by an innominate artery fistula division and primay suture closure under direct digital compression.
Aged ; Arteries* ; Brachiocephalic Trunk ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Sutures ; Tracheostomy

Although sporadic cases of transient fetal ascites have been described, pulmonary hypoplasia or hydrops fetalis may occur as potentially lethal complications of isolated fetal ascites. Antenatal fetal paracentesis may be useful in improving neonatal pulmonary function, however rapid accumulation of fluid after paracentesis usually required repetitive invasive procedures. We successfully treated an isolated fetal ascites with peritoneo- amniotic shunt. Under the ultrasonographic guidence, we inserted a Double-Basket Catheter into the left lower quadrant of fetal abdominal wall at the end of second trimester. Shunt remained in place until the fetus was delivered at term. The peritoneo-amniotic shunt can improve fetal outcome and avoid repeated paracentesis before delivery.
Abdominal Wall ; Ascites* ; Catheters ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level is a marker of increased risk of mortality in acute ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the association of serum cTnT level and prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been sparsely investigated. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between cTnT level and the outcome in patients with spontaneous ICH. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 253 patients identified by a database search from records of patients admitted in our department for ICH between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. The patients were divided into 2 groups; the patients in group 1 (n=225) with serum cTnT values of 0.01 ng/mL or less, and those in group 2 (n=28) with serum cTnT values greater than 0.01 ng/mL. RESULTS: The serum cTnT level was elevated in 28 patients. There were significant differences in sex, hypertension, creatine kinase-myocardial band, midline shift, side of hematoma, and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis identified the level of consciousness on admission, cTnT and midline shift as independent predictors of hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Theses results suggest that increased serum cTnT level at admission is associated with in-hospital mortality and the addition of a serum cTnT assay to routine admission testing should be considered in patients with ICH.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Consciousness ; Creatine ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Troponin ; Troponin T