BACKGROUND: Recently, an acquired resistance to vancomycin in enterococci has become a serious clinical problem. For the prevention of further propagation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), epidemiological study of the infection is essential, but studies on the VRE infection are rare in Korea. We conducted an analysis of the epidemiology of a VRE outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to clear up the route of propagation of the VRE. METHODS: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREFM) strains were isolated from urine specimens of seven patients, rectal swabs from seven patients, and three skin swabs from two patients in the Kosin Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit, Pusan, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by a disk diffusion method and agar dilution method. Genotypes of vancomycin-resistance were determined by PCR and SmaI-digested genomic enterococcal DNAs were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: All of the 17 strains of VREFM were resistant to ampicillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin and they showed the same genotype (vanA). SmaI-digested genomic DNAs of seven strains isolated from urine were typed as I (1), II (1), IIIb (4), and IV (1). Three strains from skin swabs were I (2) and II (1). Six strains from rectal swabs were I (2), II (1), and IIIa (3). Genomic DNA typing of one isolate from a rectal swab failed. Each genomic DNA type of VREFM strains isolated from skin swabs of two patients were the same with those from urine specimens as I and II, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that VRE strains colonized in the intestines can cause infections after skin colonizing and can be transmitted/propagated to other people through skin contact. In conclusion, it is important for the prevention of the dissemination of VRE that controls for patients' skin hygiene, as well as hand washing by medical persons, be put in place.
Agar ; Ampicillin ; Busan ; Colon ; Diffusion ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus faecium ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Genotype ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Intestines ; Korea ; Molecular Epidemiology* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin ; Teicoplanin ; Vancomycin

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

The cystic teratoma is the most common germ cell tumors in reproductive age women. The malignant change of cystic teratoma is rare, about 1~2%, and mostly change to squ-amous cell carcinoma. We experienced 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in cystic teratoma and re- port our cases with a brief review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatostatinergic tone (SST) and the size of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors. GH levels of 29 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly were measured using a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an insulin tolerance test (ITT), and an octreotide suppression test (OST). Differences between GH levels during the ITT and the OGTT (DeltaGH(IO)), and between the OGTT and the OST at the same time point (DeltaGH(OS)) were compared according to the size of the tumor and the response pattern to the OST. DeltaGH(IO) of macroadenomas (n=22) was non-significantly higher than those of microadenomas while DeltaGH(OS) of macroadenomas were significantly higher than those of microadenomas. According to further analyses of macroadenomas based on the response pattern to the OST, GH levels during the ITT were significantly higher in non-responders. DeltaGH(OS) showed near-significant differences between responders and non-responders. In conclusion, as the size of the pituitary tumor increases, the effect of glucose on SST appears to be attenuated. Macroadenomas that are non-responders to the OST possess a portion of GH secretion exceeding the range of regulation by SST.
Acromegaly/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Adenoma/drug therapy/*pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Human Growth Hormone/*blood/secretion ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide/therapeutic use ; Pituitary Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology

Various complications of central venous catheterization have been reported, some of which are well-known, while others are described as a sporadic events. We experienced a case of left subclavian venous catheterization complicated by extravascular knotting, kinking, and entrapment of the guidewire and the guidewire was removed surgically. Although minimal resistance was encountered during guidewire insertion, the guidewire was advanced approximately 30 cm. Physicians should be aware of these rare potential complications when a guidewire is advanced if any resistance is encountered.
Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus oral dinoprostone for labor induction at term. METHODS: One hundred of patients at term were randomized to receive either 50microgram of misoprostol vaginally every 4 hours or dinoprostone 0.5mg orally every 1 hour for the maximum of six doses. Intravenous infusion of oxytocin was administered under such circumferences as the patient did not go into active labor after maximum dose, SROM was developed without an adequate contraction pattern, or the patient had arrest of dilatation(no change in cervical dilatation for 2 hours). We compared the frequency of oxytocin augmentation, administration to delivery interval, vaginal delivery rate within 12 hours and 24 hours, intrapartum complications, induction failure, mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications between two groups. RESULTS: The average interval from administration to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group(739.4+/-372.4min vs 1087.7+/-765.1min, p<0.05), but the interval from administration to vaginal delivery of each group was similar(724.3+/-375.4min vs 800.3+/-697.0min). Regarding the frequency of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, however, misoprostol group was higher than dinoprostone group(88% vs 56%, p<0.001). And oxytocin augmentation of labor occurred less commonly in misoprostol group than in dinoprostone group(20% vs 76%, p<0.05). Any statistically significant difference in intrapartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome was not appeared between these two group. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol is as effective and safe as oral dinoprostone for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term. In addition, vaginal misoprostol contributes the curtailment of labor induction expenditure due to its moderate price; misoprostol costs 100 won per 50microgram.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Labor Stage, First ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutations are the most common cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Interestingly, recent studies have reported an increased risk of stroke in patients with PD harboring LRRK2 mutations, but there is no evidence showing the functional involvement of LRRK2 in stroke. Here, we found that LRRK2 kinase activity was significantly induced in the Rose-Bengal (RB) photothrombosis-induced stroke mouse model. Interestingly, stroke infarct volumes were significantly reduced, and neurological deficits were diminished by pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity using MLi-2, a brain-penetrant LRRK2 kinase inhibitor. Immunohistochemical analysis showed p-LRRK2 level in stroke lesions, co-localizing with mitophagy-related proteins (PINK, Parkin, LC3B, cytochrome c), suggesting their involvement in stroke progression. Overlapping p-LRRK2 with cytochrome c/TUNEL/JC-1 (an indicator of mitochondrial membrane potential) puncta in RB photothrombosis indicated LRRK2-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, which was blocked by MLi-2. These results suggest that pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity could attenuate mitochondrial apoptosis, ultimately leading to neuroprotective potential in stroke progression. In conclusion, LRRK2 kinase activity might be neuro-pathogenic due to impaired mitophagy in stroke progression, and pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity could be beneficial in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with LRRK2 mutations.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of continuous repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on pain response in spinal cord injured rat. METHOD: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (200~250 grams, female) were used. Thoracic spinal cord (T9) was contused using New York University (NYU) spinal cord impactor. Ten gram weight rod was dropped from a height of 25 mm to produce spinal cord contusion model with moderate injury. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups: one exposed to real magnetic stimulation (real-rTMS group) and the other not exposed to magnetic stimulation (sham-rTMS group). rTMS was applied for 8 weeks. To assess the effect of continuous rTMS on below-level pain responses after spinal cord injury (SCI), the hindpaw withdrawal response for thermal stimuli, cold stimuli and mechanical stimuli were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Behavioral response for pain showed that hindpaw withdrawal response for cold stimuli was reduced significantly from 4 weeks after SCI in real-rTMS group compared with sham group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that continuous rTMS may have beneficial effects on attenuation of cold allodynia after SCI, and it might be an additional non-invasive therapeutic method in patients with chronic neuropathic pain after SCI.
Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Neuralgia ; New York ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylamides ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Prognosis of placental abruption depends on gestational age and the status of the mother and the fetus, and perinatal mortality was almost entirely attributable to prematurity. A midtrimester women with placental abruption was successfully treated by expectant management including fetal surveillance, serial ultrasonography and maternal hematologic examination, and delivered a healthy baby 11 weeks later. We suggest that expectant management may be considered as a good treatment option until fetal lung maturation is documented in preterm pregnancy with placental abruption if there is no maternal or fetal compromise.
Abruptio Placentae* ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Live Birth* ; Lung ; Mothers ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

Mitochondrial functions are essential for the survival and function of neurons. Recently, it has been demonstrated that mitochondrial functions are highly associated with mitochondrial morphology, which is dynamically changed by the balance between fusion and fission. Mitochondrial morphology is primarily controlled by the activation of dynamin-related proteins including dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which promotes mitochondrial fission. Drp1 activity is regulated by several post-translational modifications, thereby modifying mitochondrial morphology. Here, we found that phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 616 (S616) is mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in post-mitotic rat neurons. Perturbation of CDK5 activity modified the level of Drp1S616 phosphorylation and mitochondrial morphology in neurons. In addition, phosphorylated Drp1S616 preferentially localized as a cytosolic monomer compared with total Drp1. Furthermore, roscovitine, a chemical inhibitor of CDKs, increased oligomerization and mitochondrial translocation of Drp1, suggesting that CDK5-dependent phosphorylation of Drp1 serves to reduce Drp1's fission-promoting activity. Taken together, we propose that CDK5 has a significant role in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology via inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1S616 in post-mitotic neurons.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5/*metabolism ; Dynamins/analysis/*metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Mitosis ; Neurons/*cytology/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Rats