OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of streptococcal colonization in Korean pregnant women. METHODS: The study comprised of 153 singleton pregnant women who visited Severance Hospital for delivery, and their neonates. Specimens for GBS culture were collected by a sterile cotton swab from lower vagina and cervix of pregnant women, and from ear canal and throat of neonates. They were first cultured for 48 hours in Todd-Hewitt broth and then subcultured onto Tryptose blood agar plates(Difco). Group B streptococci were confirmed by the presence of beta-hemolysis and a positive reaction with Phadebact group B Streptococci reagent(Karo Biodiagnostics AB, Huddinge, Sweden). RESULTS: The prevalence of positive cultures in pregnant women and neonates were 2.61%(4/153) and 0%(0/4), respectively. In the study population there was a case of suspicious group B streptococcual sepsis in an infant whose mother was colonized. CONCLUSIONS: In our study the GBS colonization rate in Korean pregnant women was significantly lower than that of other countries. The reason for this difference may be associated with a racial differences, or social factors such as socio-economic status or a life style.
Agar ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Ear Canal ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Life Style ; Mothers ; Pharynx ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence ; Sepsis ; Streptococcal Infections* ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: As co-factors of metalloenzymes, zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) have a considerable effect on nearly all the metabolism that takes place in organs of the body, including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate zinc and copper status in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: We measured serum levels of zinc and copper in 30 cases of alopecia areata patients and 10 normal individuals by atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, we studied the significance of the ratio between serum levels of the two metals. RESULTS: The serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. The serum levels of copper were slightly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. Ratios of Cu/Zn were slightly higher in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. But their differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a serum Zn assay should be included in the chemical assessment of patients with alopecia areata.
Absorption ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metals ; Skin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

Thirty-nine patients with fixed drug eruption who visited the Department of Dermatology in National Medical Center from January 1g7g to December 1982 were selected. Among them, twentyseven patients performed skin biopsy and were evaluated histopathologically on the basis of duration. The results were as follows; ].In the early stage less than 1 week of duration, hydropic degeneration of basal cells, necrotic keratinocytes with eosinophilic cytoplasm and pknotic nucleus in the epidermis, and mixed cell infiltration with eosinophlis in the upper dermis were prominently. In the late stage more than 20 days of duration, acanthosis, an increased amount of melanin in the basal cell layer and presence of melanophages were found more prominent, however, hydropic degeneration of basal cells, papillary dermal ederna, inflammatory infiltration of mononuclear cells were found less prounced or absent.
Biopsy ; Cytoplasm ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Skin

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of combined subacromial and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for control of postoperative pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Between May 2012 and August 2014, 60 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with acromioplasty and received patient-controlled analgesia were studied prospectively. Cases were divided into 2 groups: combined subacromial and intravenous infusion group (group A, 30 cases) and solitary intravenous infusion group (group B, 30 cases). The visual analogue scale was used to record the patient's level of pain every 12 hours during postoperative 72 hours and the following 48 hours after the suspension of patient-controlled analgesia. RESULTS: The mean preoperative visual analogue scale score was 7.8 in group A and 7.6 in group B, and the immediate postoperative visual analogue scale score was 7.9 and 8.1 for each group. At postoperative time (From 12 hours to 72 hours after operation), the scores of combined subacromial and intravenous infusion were significantly lower than those of solitary intravenous infusion. Significant difference in the frequency of supplemental analgesic injections was observed between group A and group B (p=0.008). However, no significant difference in complication rate was observed between the two groups (p=0.562). CONCLUSIONS: Combined subacromial and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is more effective than solitary intravenous infusion without significantly increasing complications. Therefore, combined subacromial and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia could be a effective pain control method.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Methods ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff*

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the amount of pain reduction after local anesthetic injection into the subacromial space preoperatively and clinical outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: A total of 127 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and followed up at least 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperatively, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was measured in all patients before and after the ultrasound guided impingement test. The participants were divied into four groups according to pain reduntion ater impingement test (Group A: >75%, Group B: 50%–75%, Group C: 25%–50%, Group D: <25%). VAS for pain, shoulder range of motion, shoulder isometric strength, ASES score were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: After surgery, the amount of pain reduction shows significantly at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Groups C, D (p<0.05). Among the range of motion of shoulder joint, forward flexion was significantly improved in Group A at 3 months (p<0.05). The ASES score significantly improved at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Group C, D (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative degree of pain reduction after impingement test correlates with the improvement of pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, especially in the early phase. Therefore, the impingement test could be effectively used.
Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Ultrasonography

A retrospective analysis was done on 68 patients with primary superficial bladder cancer between September 1989 and December 1995. We evaluated the predictive value of urine cytology in the recurrence and the progression of superficial bladder cancer. Positive cytology was shown in 52.9% (36/68) and was significantly associated with tumor grade (p=0.001). The recurrence rate in patients with negative cytology was 28.1% (9/32) compared to 77.8% (28/36) in those with positive cytology (p=0;001). No patients of negative cytology had tumor progression while 4 out of 36 (11.1%) patients of positive cytology had progression to invasive or metastatic disease. In conclusion, urinary cytology appears to be a significant prognostic factor in superficial bladder cancer.
Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Benign symmetric lipomatosis is characterised by diffuse symmetric deposits of adipose tissue, predominantly on the neck, shoulder, back and upper extremities. We report a case of benign symmetric lipomatosis in a 61-year-old-man, which was first noted one year previously. It began growing rapidly about 3 months ago and was associated with alcoholic liver disease. Histopathological findings showed that the reticular dermis had been replaced by normal uncapsulated mature fat cells that were slightly increased in number in the fibrous connective tissue. He was treated with theophylline 300mg/day for two months.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Lipomatosis* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Neck ; Shoulder ; Theophylline ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Female ; Fibronectins* ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis is a fatal disorder characterired by multiple cutaneous and visceral hemangiomas. The organs most commonly affected are the gastrointestinal tract, brain, liver and lung. The complications are high output cardiac failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and hydrocephalus. We present a patient with diHuse neonatal hemangiomatosis associated with massive hepatic involvement and high output cardiac failure, which was successfully treated with high dose corticosteroid.
Brain ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart Failure ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Liver ; Lung