This study reviewed recent advances in the use of Doppler ultrasonography for the management and prediction of female infertility outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Color or power Doppler and three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound can be used to measure vessels near the ovaries, uterus, and endometrium to assess blood flow. Increased blood flow and reduced resistance to the ovaries, uterus, and endometrium are associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, and their measurement has been suggested as a key factor in ART procedural outcomes. Perifollicular vascularity indices can help predict oocyte quality and maturity. Likewise, endometrial and uterine vascularity could be associated with endometrial receptivity and may assist with embryo transfer timing and pregnancy outcome predictions. With the advancement of Doppler ultrasound technology, this highly potent examination will be used more widely in routine clinical settings for the treatment of female infertility.

PURPOSE: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients are vulnerable to invasive infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp). This study was performed to evaluate immune responses after Hib and Sp vaccination in Korean pediatric HCT recipients. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled at Samsung Medical Center during 2009-2011. ELISA tests to detect anti-PRP IgG antibody and antibodies to Sp serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F were performed at the Center for Vaccine Evaluation and Study, Ewha Medical Research Institute. RESULTS: Ten patients (two allogeneic, eight autologous recipients) with median age 5.4 years (range 2.7-12.2 years) were enrolled. Before Hib vaccination, 60% of patients' anti-PRP IgG titers were below 0.15 microg/mL. After vaccination, 100% of patients' anti-PRP IgG titers increased above 0.15 microg/mL (cut-off value for detection) and 1.0 microg/mL (cut-off value for seroprotection). For pneumococcus, in 2-5 year-old patients, pre-vaccination geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of IgG for six serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, and 23F) were below 0.35 microg/mL and at 5 months post-vaccination GMCs of IgG for all seven serotypes increased to above 0.35 microg/mL. In patients older than 5 years, pre-vaccination GMCs of IgG for four serotypes (4, 9V, 14, and 23F) were below 0.35 microg/mL and at 3 months post-vaccination GMCs of IgG for all seven serotypes increased to above 0.35 microg/mL. CONCLUSION: Most HCT recipients had low or no protective antibodies to Hib and Sp before vaccination, but showed good immune responses to protective levels after vaccination.
Academies and Institutes ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation* ; Cell Transplantation* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Haemophilus influenzae type b* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Prospective Studies ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Transplants* ; Vaccination*

This article reports the live birth of a healthy newborn using vitrified-warmed oocytes from fertility preservation before ovarian surgery. The patient in our case underwent two cycles of controlled ovarian stimulation before laparoscopic bilateral ovarian cystectomy for endometriosis, and a total of 23 mature oocytes were vitrified. After surgery, her pathologic reports revealed a serous borderline tumor and endometrioma. Fifteen months after her second surgery of laparoscopic right salpingo-oophorectomy and left ovarian cystectomy owing to recurrence, she had been married by then, and three of the frozen oocytes were thawed for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. These oocytes were cryopreserved for 2.5 years. All three were fertilized, and two grade-A cleavage-stage embryos were transferred.A singleton pregnancy was achieved, resulting in the delivery of a healthy baby boy at 39.3 weeks of gestation. Oocyte cryopreservation is an effective method for fertility preservation prior to ovarian surgery when ovarian function decline is predictable.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the surface characteristics and bond strength produced using a novel technique for coating hydroxyapatite (HA) onto titanium implants. METHODS: HA was coated on the titanium implant surface using a super-high-speed (SHS) blasting method with highly purified HA. The coating was performed at a low temperature, unlike conventional HA coating methods. Coating thickness was measured. The novel HA-coated disc was fabricated. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed directly on the disc to evaluate crystallinity. Four novel HA-coated discs and four resorbable blast medium (RBM) discs were prepared. Their surface roughnesses and areas were measured. Five puretitanium, RBM-treated, and novel HA-coated discs were prepared. Contact angle was measured. Two-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc Scheffe's test were used to analyze differences between the groups, with those with a probability of P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. To evaluate exfoliation of the coating layer, 7 sites on the mandibles from 7 mongrel dogs were used. Other sites were used for another research project. In total, seven novel HA-coated implants were placed 2 months after extraction of premolars according to the manufacturer's instructions. The dogs were sacrificed 8 weeks after implant surgery. Implants were removed using a ratchet driver. The surface of the retrieved implants was evaluated microscopically. RESULTS: A uniform HA coating layer was formed on the titanium implants with no deformation of the RBM titanium surface microtexture when an SHS blasting method was used. CONCLUSIONS: These HA-coated implants exhibited increased roughness, crystallinity, and wettability when compared with RBM implants.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Crystallins ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Durapatite ; Hydroxyapatites ; Mandible ; Titanium ; Wettability ; X-Ray Diffraction

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the surface characteristics and bond strength produced using a novel technique for coating hydroxyapatite (HA) onto titanium implants. METHODS: HA was coated on the titanium implant surface using a super-high-speed (SHS) blasting method with highly purified HA. The coating was performed at a low temperature, unlike conventional HA coating methods. Coating thickness was measured. The novel HA-coated disc was fabricated. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed directly on the disc to evaluate crystallinity. Four novel HA-coated discs and four resorbable blast medium (RBM) discs were prepared. Their surface roughnesses and areas were measured. Five puretitanium, RBM-treated, and novel HA-coated discs were prepared. Contact angle was measured. Two-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc Scheffe's test were used to analyze differences between the groups, with those with a probability of P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. To evaluate exfoliation of the coating layer, 7 sites on the mandibles from 7 mongrel dogs were used. Other sites were used for another research project. In total, seven novel HA-coated implants were placed 2 months after extraction of premolars according to the manufacturer's instructions. The dogs were sacrificed 8 weeks after implant surgery. Implants were removed using a ratchet driver. The surface of the retrieved implants was evaluated microscopically. RESULTS: A uniform HA coating layer was formed on the titanium implants with no deformation of the RBM titanium surface microtexture when an SHS blasting method was used. CONCLUSIONS: These HA-coated implants exhibited increased roughness, crystallinity, and wettability when compared with RBM implants.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Crystallins ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Durapatite ; Hydroxyapatites ; Mandible ; Titanium ; Wettability ; X-Ray Diffraction

PURPOSE: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious threat in critically ill pediatric patients. Data regarding Stenotrophomonas maltophilia VAP in pediatric population is limited. We evaluated the clinical data of S. maltophilia associated VAP in critically ill pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in pediatric patients 18 years old or younger who developed S. maltophilia associated VAP at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Korea from January 2008 to December 2012. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were identified S. maltophilia associated VAP. Median age was 8 months (range, 0.5 month to 16.6 years) and 13 patients were male (40.6%). Underlying illnesses were cardiologic diseases (n=11, 34.4%), hematologic oncologic malignancies (n=7, 25%), neurologic diseases (n=4, 12.5%), pulmonary diseases (n=3, 9.4%), and others (n=4, 12.5%). The median duration of ventilator use before S. maltophilia VAP diagnosis was 14 days (range, 4-256 days). Overall mortality at 30 days was 12.5% (4/32). CONCLUSIONS: S. maltophilia should be also considered as a possible pathogen for VAP in critically ill pediatric patients. Empiric antibiotic choice should include agents that are active against S. maltophilia in patients who are deteriorating on broad spectrum beta-lactam antimicrobial agents.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Child ; Critical Illness* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Seoul ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* ; Stenotrophomonas* ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: Dengue fever occurs in many popular tourist destinations and is increasingly imported by returning travelers in Korea. Since Korea is not an endemic country for dengue fever, pediatricians do not usually suspect dengue fever in febrile children even with typical presentation and exposure history. This study was performed to describe the international travel experiences and dengue fever in Korean children. METHODS: Travel histories were collected based on questionnaires completed by all patients' guardians who visited the pediatric infectious diseases clinic at Samsung Medical Center from January 2008 to December 2008. For patients who were suspected of dengue fever, a serological test was performed. RESULTS: Five hundred and seventeen children visited the pediatric infectious diseases clinic for the first time during this period. About 30% of patients who responded to the questionnaire (101/339) had experienced international travel within the last 2 years. Four patients were diagnosed with dengue fever by serological test. CONCLUSION: Increasing numbers of Korean children visit dengue endemic areas and they may return home with dengue fever. Dengue fever should be suspected in patients who have a travel history to endemic areas.
Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Dengue ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Serologic Tests

A 15-year-old female with a prior history of aborted cardiac death and surgical correction of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) presented with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Her electrocardiogram after defibrillation was suggestive of congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS). The patient was treated with a beta-blocker and remained free from ventricular arrhythmia during the follow-up of more than 6 months. Here, we present the case of a young female with repeated aborted cardiac death accompanied by anomalous origin of the RCA and congenital LQTS for the first time.
Adolescent ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

A retropharyngeal abscess is a rare disease entity in young infants but can develop after nasopharyngeal viral infection. Group B Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common pathogens in young infants, however, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is very rare. We report the case of retropharyngeal abscess and coinfection with S. aureus and M. tuberculosis in a very young infant presenting with respiratory symptoms due to upper airway obstruction. Usually tuberculous retropharyngeal abscesses are caused by the direct invasion of the bacteria from the spine via anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. However, in this case, no associated spinal disease was observed.
Airway Obstruction ; Bacteria ; Coinfection ; Humans ; Infant ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Rare Diseases ; Retropharyngeal Abscess ; Spinal Diseases ; Spine ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety of nursing students during fundamentals of nursing practicum in Korea. METHODS: This study used a descriptive design. A total of 106 nursing instructors teaching fundamentals of nursing longer than one year participated in this study. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from July 24 to August 28, 2018. The questionnaires consisted of general characteristics, characteristics of fundamentals of nursing course, physical and emotional safety issues during fundamentals of nursing practicum, and obtaining an informed consent prior to practicum. RESULTS: The average number of physical safety accidents during practicum of fundamentals of nursing in the past 5 years was 1.12±2.44. The most common safety accident was punctured wound. The mean score of the participants' stress on physical safety accidents was 3.53±1.12 out of 5. The average number of emotional safety accidents of fundamentals of nursing practicum in the past 5 years was 1.05±2.72. The mean score of stress on emotional safety accident was 3.00±1.09 out of 5. We found that 47.2% of the participants obtained an oral consent or a written consent for safety of fundamentals of nursing practicum. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that it is necessary to establish safety strategies for fundamentals of nursing practicum for nursing students.
Human Body ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Korea ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Wounds and Injuries