No abstract available.
Adult* ; Esophageal Atresia* ; Fistula* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Chimerism* ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Recurrence*

No abstract available.
Burns* ; Ear*

Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular complications, including an impairment of vascular function and alterations in the reactivity of blood vessels to vasoactive substances in various vasculature. In the present study, the authors have observed endothelin-B (ETB) receptor agonist-induced relaxation in precontracted mesenteric arterial segments from streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic rats, which was not shown from control rats or in other arterial segments from diabetic rats. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to investigate in what way STZ-induced diabetes altered reactivity of the mesenteric arterial bed and to examine the causal relaxation, if any, between this ETB receptor-mediated relaxation and endothelial paracrine function, especially nitric oxide (NO) production. The relaxation induced by ETB agonists was not observed in mesenteric arteries without endothelium. The relaxation to ETB agonists was completely abolished by pretreatment with BQ788, but not by BQ610. N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue or LY83583 significantly attenuated the relaxant responses to ETB agonists, respectively. When the expression of eNOS and iNOS was evaluated on agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide, the expression of eNOS mRNA in diabetic rats was significantly decreased, but the expression of iNOS was increased compared with control rats. Furthermore, the iNOS-like immunostaining was densely detected in the endothelium and slightly in the arterial smooth muscle of diabetic rats, but not in control rats. These observations suggest that ETB receptor may not play a role in maintaining mesenteric vascular tone in normal situation. However, the alterations in ETB receptor sensitivity were found in diabetic rats and lead to the ETB agonist-induced vasorelaxation, which is closely related to NO production. In the state of increased vascular resistance of diabetic mesenteric vascular bed, enhanced NO production by activation of iNOS could lead to compensatory vasorelaxation to modulate adequate perfusion pressure to splanchnic area.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Endothelium ; Ethidium ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Mesenteric Arteries* ; Methylene Blue ; Muscle, Smooth ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Relaxation* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sepharose ; Streptozocin ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND: Endemic malaria has become increasingly rare since the late 1970s, but since the reemergence of indigenous vivax malaria in 1993, the number of cases of malaria have recently increased. We analyzed the cases of malaria who were treated in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital with regards to epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcome, and made a comparison between indigenous and imported cases. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 40 confirmed cases of malaria treated in the same hospital. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were indigenous and 19 were imported malaria. Peripheral blood smear revealed Plasmodium vivax in all indigenous malaria, whereas in imported cases 13 were P. falciparum and 6 were P. vivax. Yeonchon-gun(7 cases) was the most prevalent area in the indigenous cases; Africa and Southeast Asia(7 cases, respectively) were the most prevalent areas in the imported cases. Anemia(hemoglobin <10g/dL) was found more frequently in the imported cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. One patient, who was infected in South America showed initially resistant to primaquine, but was cured after extended treatment with increased dosage of primaquine. CONCLUSION: As cases of indigenous malaria in Korea are increasing, early diagnosis, treament, and prevention of malaria are important. To prevent imported malaria, anyone who travels to endemic areas should receive proper education and chemoprophylaxis, considering the pattern of drug resistance.
Africa ; Chemoprevention ; Drug Resistance ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Plasmodium vivax ; Primaquine ; Retrospective Studies ; South America ; Treatment Outcome

Chemical pneumonitis is caused by the inhalation of noxious chemical substances and is a cause of occupational lung disease. Nitric acid, which is a one of the common air pollutants and a potential oxidant for refining and cleansing of metals, has a chance for occupational and environmental exposure. A 52-year-old man visited our hospital due to coughing and dyspnea after the inhalation of nitric acid fumes at his workplace. He had conditions of tachypnea (respiratory rate 26 /min) and hypoxemia (PaO2 42.6 mmHg, SaO2 80.2% in room air) in our emergency department. The chest radiographs showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates and ground glass opacity in both lungs. The patient made improvements in clinical symptoms and chest radiography after being given a supply of oxygen, antibiotics, and bronchodilator therapy without systemic glucocorticoid therapy. On his follow up visit after 4 weeks, he showed no symptoms and sequelae, and the pulmonary function test showed a normal pulmonary function.
Air Pollutants ; Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Environmental Exposure ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Metals ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Acid* ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Tachypnea ; Thorax

Biliary papillomatosis is a rare disease with a high risk of recurrence and malignant transformation. Therapeutic options include partial hepatectomy, Whipple's procedure and liver transplantation. If there is no surgical option left due to several reasons, local palliative procedures such as biliary stenting and drainage for the treatment of cholestasis are considered, but tumor growth cannot be influenced. Photodynamic therapy might be a new additional, palliative option for patients with biliary papillomatosis who are not eligible for surgery. Benign biliary stricture is a rare complication of photodynamic therapy. We report here a case of a 63-year-old male who developed benign biliary stricture after photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer photofrin.
Cholestasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dihematoporphyrin Ether ; Drainage ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; Photochemotherapy ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Stents

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Propofol is a short-acting intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent that can be used as a hypnotics for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of propofol as a hypnotic agent for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. METHODS: From June to October 1998, twenty eight patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were to receive propofol. Vital signs and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored by pulse oximetry during continuous infusion of propofol. Propofol (1% solution) was initially infused by 26.7 mg/kg/hr until loss of eyelash reflex and then titrated to 6-10 mg/kg/hr according to the patient's response and vital sign. Propofol infusion was discontinued while the endoscopic fiber was removed. Recovery time was defined from discontinuation of infusion to positive Romberg test. Evaluation was made from the endoscopists' assessment, patients' satisfaction, patients' recall of the procedure, and consciousness of the patients. RESULTS: It was discovered that systolic, diastolic pressure and heart rate were significantly decreased, compared to control group. But clinically significant changes were not found. Apnea did not exist. And the respiration rate was significantly increased during propofol infusion. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was transiently decreased during endoscopy. 14 patients (50%) complained of transient dizziness. Pain and redness over the infusion site was not found. The mean total dose of propofol was 133.6 mg. The mean infusion time of propofol was 6.2 minutes. Mean response and recovery time was 3.7 2.1, 20.9 5.4 minutes. Endoscopists' assessment and patients' comfort for endoscopy were satisfactory. When we asked 28 patients about willingness to undergo the same procedure in the future, 27 patients (96.4%) agreed. Degree of amnesia after examination revealed total amnesia in 27 patients (96.4%), partial amnesia in 1 patients (3.6%), and recall was not. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol has beneficial effects as hypnotic for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy without significant alteration in cardiopulmonary parameters. Patients' and endoscopists' assessment is good. This suggest that propofol may be used more frequently as a kind of premedication, especially in the cases of repeated endoscopy.
Amnesia ; Apnea ; Blood Pressure ; Consciousness ; Dizziness ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Premedication ; Propofol* ; Reflex ; Respiratory Rate ; Vital Signs

Isthmiophora hortensis (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) is a dominant echinostome in animal reservoir hosts and humans in the Republic of Korea (Korea). We intended to investigate the infection status with this echinostome species in the several species of wild animals and describe the morphological characteristics in the faunistic view point. A total of 175 animal carcasses belonging to 3 families, i.e., Canidae, Felidae and Mustelidae, were collected from the southern regions of Korea from March 2010 to July 2017. Isthmiophora spp. worms were recovered from the small intestines of each animal under a stereomicroscope after washing of intestinal contents. Isthmiophora hortensis was recovered from 4 species of wild carnivores, i.e., Nyctereutes procyonoides (3/107: 2.8%), Mustela sibirica (11/31: 35.5%), Meles lucurus (2/3: 33.3%) and Martes flavigula (1/2: 50%). The other 3 carnivores comprising stray dogs, cat and leopard cat were negative for I. hortensis infection (0/2, 0/10 and 0/12, respectively). Specimens obtained from the Lutra lutra (6/8: 75%) were identified as a distinct species, I. inermis, by morphological comparison. Isthmiophora inermis has thinner body, elongate testes and different anterior limits of vitelline fields. Detailed morphological descriptions and comparisons with the morphological characteristics are provided. Conclusively, it was confirmed for the first time that 3 species of mustelid mammals, i.e., M. sibirica, M. lucurus, and M. flavigula, are to be the new definitive hosts of I. hortensis in Korea. Additionally, I. inermis is to be newly added in the Korean echinostome fauna.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Canidae ; Cats ; Dogs ; Felidae ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Korea ; Mammals ; Mustelidae ; Otters ; Panthera ; Raccoon Dogs ; Republic of Korea ; Testis ; Vitellins

BACKGROUND: Linezolid, an oxazolidinone, has shown efficacy in the treatment of adults with nosocomial or community-acquired pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), and infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We have taken part in the study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of linezolid for the treatment of suspected or proven gram-positive SSTI in Asia. We sub-analyzed and reported the results of the study among Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in the study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of linezolid for the treatment of gram-positive SSTI at eight teaching hospitals in Korea. We investigated patients' medical history, physical examination and laboratory study. Patients were regularly followed up to evaluate clinical response, laboratory changes, and adverse event up to 4 weeks after treatment. When possible, we performed microbiological study before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled. Average age of the patient was 50.9+/-15.3 years old with male to female ratio being 1.3:1. Cellulitis, open wound infection, skin abscess, and other clinical manifestations were observed in 47 (78.3%), 6 (10.0%), 2 (3.3%), and 5 (8.3%) patients, respectively. Forty two patients completed both follow-up and treatment and among them, treatment was successful in 38 patients (90.5%) and unsuccessful in 4 patients (9.5%). Microoranisms were isolated from seven patients and 14 isolates were documented; 11 S. aureus, 3 coagulase-negative staphylococcus. Among the seven patients, bacteria were eradicated in four patient and the organism proved to be colonization in three patients. The most frequent drug-related adverse events were gastrointestinal (21.7%), hematologic and biochemical (21.7%) and neurologic (3.3%), in decreasing order. Nausea (15%) was the most frequent symptom and there were no serious side effects related to linezolid. CONCLUSION: Linezolid was effective and safe in treatment of gram-positive SSTI.
Abscess ; Adult ; Asia ; Bacteria ; Cellulitis ; Colon ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Korea ; Linezolid ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Pneumonia ; Skin* ; Soft Tissue Infections* ; Staphylococcus ; Wound Infection