Mitomycin C (MMC) trabeculectomy combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and posteor chamber intraocular lens implantation (glaucoma triple procedure, 30 eyes) was clinically compared with MMC trabeculectomy alone (30 eyes). The age, type of glaucoma, and preoperative number of medications were matched with the previous group (P>0.05). The mean preoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) were 30.2+/-8.3mmHg (range, 22~56mmHg) in the glaucoma triple procedure group and 31.6+/-8.9mmHg (range, 22~57mmHg) in the trabeculectomy alone group (p=0.55). The mean postoperative IOPs were significantly higher in the glaucoma triple procedure group compared with the trabeculectomy alone group at all postoperative vistis (one month to nine months) (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean number of postoperative rise exceeding 30 mmHg within the postoperative one month tended to occur more frequently in the glaucoma triple procedure group (7 eyes (23%)) than the trabeculectomy alone group (2 eyes(7%)) (p=0.13). Conjunctival filtering blebs were significantly frequently observed in the trabeculectomy alone group than the glaucoma triple procedure group (28 eyes (93%), 20 eyes (67%), respectively, P=0.02) at 6 months postoperatively. The common postoperative complications were hyphema (4 eyes) and posterior capsular opacification (4 eyes) in the glaucoma triple procedure group and shallow anterior chamber(4 statistical difference was noted between these two groups (p>0.05). Although hypotensive effect of MMC on the glaucoma triple procedure was less than on the trabeculectomy alone, glaucoma triple procedure using MMC could be recommended to be safe and effective on controlling the high IOP for treating glaucoma patients with coexisting cataract.
Blister ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Mitomycin* ; Postoperative Complications ; Trabeculectomy*

No abstract available.
Glucose* ; Solanum tuberosum* ; Trichophyton*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: An important constituent of normal human oral microflora has long been recognized. The increase in the incidence of candidal infections has been associated with the increase in the number of patients at risk. Especially, diabetic patients have been increased susceptibility to general and local infections, but it is often equivocal whether or not risk factors such as oral-ambient conditions are related to candidal colonization. OBJECTIVE: The isolates of candidal species were evaluated in the oral cavity of diabetic patients in comparison with non-diabetic, non-immunocompromized subjects. Risk factors that could influence candidal colonization in diabetic patients were also studied. METHOD: Candidal species were isolated from the oral mucosa of 205 diabetics and 62 non-diabetics, using oral swab and smear technique. They were identified by germ tube test, Cornmeal-Tween agar and API 20C system. RESULTS: The frequency of oral candidal isolates was more common in 130 isolates (63.4%) in diabetic patients compared with 23 (37.1%) isolates in controls (p<0.05), but insignificantly related in age and sex distribution of both groups (p>0.05). Germ tubes were formed in the 102 species and chlamydospores in the 105 species in diabetic patients. Candida(C) albicans among the species was the most frequent isolates in both groups (80.8% vs 69.6%). The isolated 130 candidal species, identified by API 20C system, in diabetic patients, showed C. albicans (104), C. tropicalis (16), C. parapsilosis (6), C. krusei (1), C. kefyr (1) and unidentified species (2) compared with C. albicans (16), C. tropicalis (2), C. parapsilosis (2), C. krusei (3), C. kefyr (3) in 23 of controls. These results were almost same in both groups except for the relative high frequency of C. kefyr in controls. As for the risk factors, the isolates were increased in diabetic patients who were smokers (p<0.05), but insignificantly associated with sex, age, glycosylated hemoglobin and wearing of denture (p>0.05). Candidal culture rate and diabetic duration were not correlated (p>0.05). The number of colonies in SDA plate was significantly increased in smokers and denture-wearers (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of oral candidal isolates in diabetic patients is higher than in that of controls. Oral-ambient factors such as smoking, probably involve in the development of oral candidal colonization, but not being the result of a single factor.
Agar ; Candida ; Colon ; Dentures ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mouth ; Mouth Mucosa ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: An important constituent of normal human oral microflora has long been recognized. The increase in the incidence of candidal infections has been associated with the increase in the number of patients at risk. Especially, diabetic patients have been increased susceptibility to general and local infections, but it is often equivocal whether or not risk factors such as oral-ambient conditions are related to candidal colonization. OBJECTIVE: The isolates of candidal species were evaluated in the oral cavity of diabetic patients in comparison with non-diabetic, non-immunocompromized subjects. Risk factors that could influence candidal colonization in diabetic patients were also studied. METHOD: Candidal species were isolated from the oral mucosa of 205 diabetics and 62 non-diabetics, using oral swab and smear technique. They were identified by germ tube test, Cornmeal-Tween agar and API 20C system. RESULTS: The frequency of oral candidal isolates was more common in 130 isolates (63.4%) in diabetic patients compared with 23 (37.1%) isolates in controls (p<0.05), but insignificantly related in age and sex distribution of both groups (p>0.05). Germ tubes were formed in the 102 species and chlamydospores in the 105 species in diabetic patients. Candida(C) albicans among the species was the most frequent isolates in both groups (80.8% vs 69.6%). The isolated 130 candidal species, identified by API 20C system, in diabetic patients, showed C. albicans (104), C. tropicalis (16), C. parapsilosis (6), C. krusei (1), C. kefyr (1) and unidentified species (2) compared with C. albicans (16), C. tropicalis (2), C. parapsilosis (2), C. krusei (3), C. kefyr (3) in 23 of controls. These results were almost same in both groups except for the relative high frequency of C. kefyr in controls. As for the risk factors, the isolates were increased in diabetic patients who were smokers (p<0.05), but insignificantly associated with sex, age, glycosylated hemoglobin and wearing of denture (p>0.05). Candidal culture rate and diabetic duration were not correlated (p>0.05). The number of colonies in SDA plate was significantly increased in smokers and denture-wearers (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of oral candidal isolates in diabetic patients is higher than in that of controls. Oral-ambient factors such as smoking, probably involve in the development of oral candidal colonization, but not being the result of a single factor.
Agar ; Candida ; Colon ; Dentures ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mouth ; Mouth Mucosa ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: It is known that floor, clothes, shoes and slippers of common uses are the sources of infection by dermatophytes. However there hasn't been any report about the culture of dermatopytes from slippers in operating room. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contamination status of the slippers in operating room by dermatophytes and the effect of antifungal agent disinfection. METHODS: The samples were collected from 240 pairs of slippers that were used in common at operating room of Daegu Catholic University Medical Center with scrapping method. The collected samples were cultured on the media with chloramphenicol (500 mg/L) and cycloheximide (500 mg/L) to control the growth of nondermatophytic fungi. The same collection and culture was done again after the antifungal agent (terbinafine) disinfection. RESULTS: Dermatophytes were isolated from 22 (9.2%) pairs of slippers from a total of 240 pairs before the treatment, and 9 (3.8%) pairs after the treatment. There was significant difference in isolation rate between the slippers before the treatment and after the treatment (p=0.016). Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes and T. rubrum were isolated from the slippers and T. mentagrophytes (54.8%) was the most common isolated fungus. CONCLUSION: About ten percent of slippers in operation room were contaminated by dermatophytes. Regular antifungal agent disinfection on slippers in operating room will help to decrease in the prevalence of dermatophytes growth and prevent the nosocomial infection.
Academic Medical Centers ; Arthrodermataceae ; Chloramphenicol ; Cross Infection ; Cycloheximide ; Disinfection ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Fungi ; Operating Rooms ; Prevalence ; Shoes ; Trichophyton

BACKGROUND: Soil is well-known as a route to fungal infection in human. Recently, human exposure to potentially pathogenic fungi is threatening the health of people. People are easily and frequently in touch with soil on summer beaches, however, there has been no report suggesting the association between fungal infection in human and soil on summer beaches. Identifying both environments and fungi in places where people are exposed can be of major health concern. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to understand the distribution and frequency of occurrence of keratinophilic fungi (KPF) on summer beaches of the East Sea in Korea. METHODS: To investigate the distribution of soil KPF living in beaches of the East Sea in Korea, soil samples were collected at 132 sites of eleven different areas and KPF were isolated by hair baiting technique. RESULTS: 1. 43 strains of KPF were recovered from 41 (31.0%) out of 132 samples. 2. Isolated fungi were composed of 36 strains of Chrysosporium species, 6 strains of Microsporum gypseum, and 1 strain of Trichophyton ajelloi. 3. Among three areas under different condition of moisture and shadedness (i.e., sunny wet, sunny dry, and shaded dry area), the frequency of isolation was highest in shaded dry area (56.8%) followed by sunny dry (36.4%) and sunny wet area (4.5%). CONCLUSION: The distribution of KPF in beaches of the East Sea in Korea was somewhat different from that in previous studies which had been undertaken in other areas of Korea. Therefore, we think this report can support the association between the fungal infection in human and soil.
Chrysosporium ; Fungi ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsporum ; Soil ; Sprains and Strains ; Trichophyton

No abstract available.
Arthrodermataceae ; Microsporum*

No abstract available.
Kidney Transplantation* ; Wegener Granulomatosis*

Hepatitis C is transmitted via parenteral routes and has commonly chronic course with progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The seroprevalence of HCV in Korea is about 1%, but in leprosy patients it is not well-known. So, the study was performed on anti-HCV seroprevalence and its epidemiologic survey in leprosy patients. The leprosy patients were 619 subjects(M:343, F:276) who were hospitalized in Catholic Skin Clinic from 1997 to 2001. Serum anti-HCV was checked by MEIA(Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay) method, as well as HBsAg, HBsAb and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) value. In addition, age, sex, residency, duration of leprosy, and the frequency of liver problems were reviewed by medical records. The results were as follows; 1. The mean age of subjects was 68.3+/-9.2 years with ranging from 28 to 94 years. 2. The anti-HCV seropositivity among 619 leprosy patients was 39.3% and it showed increasing trend with aging(p<0.05), whereas it was insignificantly associated with sex(p>0.05). 3. The residency of anti-HCV positive subjects were Gyeongbuk(40.7%), Gyeongnam(35.4%), Daegu(19.4%), and other areas(28.9%) in order. 4. The seropositivities of HBsAg and HBsAb were 4.5% and 11.8% respectively. Only 6(2.5%) patients were positive on both HBsAg and anti-HCV. 5. In 563 leprosy patients excluding unknown type(56 subjects), the anti-HCV seropositivities in leprosy type were 41.2%(163/396) in lepromatous leprosy(LL), 35.0%(14/40) in borderline leprosy(BB), 31.5%(40/127) in tuberculoid leprosy(TT) respectively with insignificant correlation(p>0.05). The HBsAg seropositivities were 4.8% in LL, 5.0% in BB, 3.1% in TT respectively, with insignificant correlation(p>0.05). 6. There were significant relationships between the seroprevalence of anti-HCV and the duration of leprosy in the well-recorded 433 leprosy patients (p<0.05). 7. The anti-HCV seropositivity in the elevated ALT(> or =40U/L) group was significantly higher than in normal group(<40U/L)(58.3% vs 37.2%, p<0.05). Of the 6 anti-HCV and HBsAg positive patients, ALT value was elevated in one patient. Comparatively, the anti-HCV positives were likely to have a higher incidence of liver problems. In conclusion, the seropositivity of anti-HCV in leprosy patients(39.3%) was high. There were significant relationship of the seropositivity of anti-HCV with age, duration of leprosy, residency, ALT value, and the frequency of liver problems, but not associated with sex, HBV markers and types of leprosy. Therefore check-up of routine biochemical screen of anti-HCV and the evaluation for the possible transmission routes (such as transfusion, drug abuse, sexual/household contact, shared needles, folk remedies, acupunctures, tattoos, etc.) are needed to set-up the precautionary measures in leprosy patients.
Alanine ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internship and Residency ; Korea ; Leprosy* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medical Records ; Medicine, Traditional ; Needles ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Skin ; Substance-Related Disorders