No abstract available.
Humans ; Mycoplasma*

Infectious disease took the leading cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Especially Salmonella infection occurs more common in SLE patients. We report a case of thyroid abscess caused by Salmonella Group D in a patient with SLE. A patient, 29-year-old female, with SLE was admitted with a painful swelling of the left neck and diarrhea. The painful swelling of neck was revealed as an abscess of the thyroid and Salmonella Group D was isolated from the aspirated material of the thyroid abscess. The patient recovered after surgical drainage and administration of intravenous 3rd cephalosporin.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Cause of Death ; Communicable Diseases ; Diarrhea ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Neck ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella* ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of arterial bleeding in patients with pelvic bone fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 13 injured arteries of seven patients with pelvic bone fracture. In order to evaluate the sites and types of arterial injuries, angiography was performed, followed by TAE using Gelfoam and a coil. The parameter of technical success is non-visualization of extravasation and pseudoaneurysm in injured arteries. We investigated (1) the survival rate and complications of TAE; (2) the relationship of arterial injuries to findings, as seen on plain film; and (3) the influence of BP on arrival and the time interval between trauma and TAE on prognosis. RESULTS: Angiography revealed (1) extravasation of contrast media in four patients; (2) extravasation and pseudoaneurysm in two; and (3) extravasation and abrupt cut-off of an artery in one. The injured arteries involved( n=13), were the internal iliac (n=3), superior gluteal (n=3), inferior gluteal (n=2), obturator (n=2), ili-olumbar (n=2), and internal pudendal (n=1). TAE was technically successful and in no case were there complications. Vital signs improved in four patients, but three others died due to hypovolemia. In five patients the site of arterial injury, as seen on plain films, was consistent pelvic bone fracture but in one patient more severe arterial injury was noted at the contralateral side of more severe pelvic bone fracture, and in one other arterial injury was observed only at the contralateral side of pelvic bone fracture. In this study, BP at arrival was a more important prognostic indication than was the time interval between trauma and TAE. CONCLUSION: For the management of arterial bleeding after blunt pelvic trauma, TAE is the procedure of choice.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Pelvic Bones* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vital Signs

Intracranial epidermoid cysts usually show homogeneous hypodensity on CT scans, hypointensity on T1-weighted MR images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR images. Most of them arise in the cerebellopontine angle and parasellar areas. We report a case of middle cranial fossa epidermoid tumor with unusual image findings. The entire tumor mass showed inhomogeneous low density, without any enhancing solid portion on the CT scans. The lateral portion of the tumor showed homogeneous T1 low signal intensity and T2 high signal intensity. The medial portion of the tumor showed heterogeneous T1 and T2 intermediate to high signal intensity. On the gadolinium enhanced MR images, enhancement of the thickened dura was observed behind the tumor. Surgery and pathologic examination revealed the presence of an extradural epidermoid cyst.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Cranial Fossa, Middle* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Gadolinium ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myocardial infarction (MI) elicits nerve sprouting. However, the time course and spatial distribution of this nerve sprouting and its relationship to the expression of neurotrophic factors is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the association of nerve sprouting with the expression of neurotrophic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We induced MI in FVB mice by ligating the left coronary artery. The hearts were removed at 3 hours to 13 months after MI for growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) immunostaining. The nerve density (micrometer2/mm2) was determined by ImagePro software. In another group of mice, their myocardial tissues were processed and analyzed with using an Affymetrix RG U74V2 array. RESULTS: The density of the nerve fibers that were immunopositive for GAP-43 was the highest 3 hours after MI in both the peri-infarct areas and the remote areas. The outer loop of the ventricle had a higher nerve density than that in the inner loop of the ventricle. The differences were at a peak 3 hours after MI, but they persisted for 2 months afterwards. The expressions of nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, transforming growth factor-beta3 and interleukin-1alpha were increased for up to 2 months after MI as compared to the normal control. qRT PCR analyses showed increased mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase, synaptophysin, nerve growth factor and leukemia inhibiting factor in the peri-infarct areas for up to 2 months after MI, but this occurred only for roughly 3 days after MI in the remote areas. CONCLUSION: We conclude that MI resulted in immediate upregulation of nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, transforming growth factor-beta3 and interleukin-1alpha in the peri-infarct areas and this all occurred to a lesser extent in the remote areas. These changes persisted for at least 2 months, and they were associated with increased nerve sprouting activity, which was most active in the outer loop of the heart.
Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; DNA ; Electrophysiology ; GAP-43 Protein ; Heart ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Leukemia ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; Mice* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Synaptophysin ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Up-Regulation ; Ventricular Remodeling

BACKGROUND: The incidence of penicillin-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae(PRSP) accounts for almost 70% of all pneumococcal pneumonia cases in Korea. It is still unclear as to whether the efficacy of penicillin or equally active beta-lactam agents is compromised in PRSP pneumonia. This study investigated the prevalence of PRSP in community-acquired pneumonia and its clinical course. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia were evaluated from July 1999 to May 2001. The cultured strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were divided into susceptible, intermediately resistant, and resistant strains by an E-test, and the effect of the clinical course was investigated. RESULTS: From a total of 42 patients, 22 (52.4%) patients had an intermediate resistance (MIC 0.1-1 microgram/ml) and six (14.3%) showed a high resistance (MIC> or =2.0 microgram/ml) with current penicillin susceptibility categories. However, according to the classification of the DRSPTWG (Drug Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Therapeutic Working Group), there were 11 cases (26.2%) of intermediate resistance and no case of high resistance. Under empirical antimicrobial treatment, there was no difference in the clinical outcome between the penicillin susceptible and resistant group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcome of PRSP pneumonia with empirical therapy was acceptable. These results suggest that the current MIC breakpoint for penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has been set at a very low level and penicillin resistance according to the NCCLS classification does not significantly influence the outcome of the empirical treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia.
Classification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Penicillin Resistance ; Penicillins ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal* ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea; it is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. The incidence rate in Korea has continuously increased since 1999 when the National Cancer Registry statistics began. Currently; there are several screening modalities; that have been recommended by expert societies, including fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, computed tomographic colonography The annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used in adults aged 50 and older as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea since 2004. Although several study results from regional or national colorectal cancer screening programs in other countries have been reported, the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea has not yet been evaluated with evidence-based methods. Herein report the consensus statements on the National Screening Guideline for colorectal cancer developed by a multi-society expert committee in Korea, as follows: 1) We recommend annual or biennial FIT for screening for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults, beginning at 45 years of age and continuing until 80 years (recommendation B). 2) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of FIT in adults older than 80 years (recommendation I). 3) Selective use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening is recommended, taking into consideration individual preference and the risk of colorectal cancer (recommendation C). 4) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of double-contrast barium enema for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I). 5) There is no evidence for the risks or benefits of computed tomographic colonography for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic adults (recommendation I).
Adult ; Barium ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Consensus ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Occult Blood