No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation*

As a material of metal-ceramic prosthesis, nickel as a form of Ni-Cr alloy has been used for many dental prostheses in many cases. However, several problems in use of the alloy have been revealed (ex ; tissue stimulation, skin allergy, hypersensitivity, cytotoxicity and carcinogenecity). Little is known about nickel with respect to the relationship between Ni-prosthesis and gaining of Ni-resistance in oral microorganisms. The present study was undertaken to check wheather use of Ni-prosthesis leads to occurrence of Ni-resistant microorganisms. So this study may suggest the possible relationships between the oral microorganisms and nickel-resistance in oral enviroment. Bacteria were isolated from the gingival crevicular fluid on the patients wearing Ni-Cr prosthesis. The isolated bacteria were tested for their Ni-resistance in nickel containing media at different concentration from 3mM to 110mM. E. coli HB101 was used as control. The Ni-resistant bacteria were isolated and biochemically identified. The Ni-resistant bacteria were tested several biochemical, molecular-biological tests. Performed tests were ; measuring the growth curve, antibiotic test, growth ability test in liquid media, isolation of the chromosome and plasmid, digestion of DNA by restriction enzyme, electrophoresis of chromosome and plasmid DNA, identification of Ni-resistant genes by the DNA hybridization. The results were as follows: 1) The bacteria isolated from gingival crevicular fluid on the patients wearing Ni-Cr alloy prosthesis showed nickel-resistance. 2) The isolated microorganisms grew at nickel containing media of high concentrations (60mM-110mM). 3) Based on the biochemical tests, the isolated microorganisms were identified as Enterococcus faecalis(13 cases), Klebsiella pneumoniae(1 case) and Enterobacter gergoviae(1 case). 4) Enterococcus faecalis expressed not only nickel resistance but also the multi-drug resistanceto several antibiotics ; chloramphenicol, kanamicin, streptomycin, lincomycin, clindamycin. However all strain showed the sensitivity against the tetracycline. 5) DNA hybridization result suggest that there is no homology between the previousely known gene of nickel resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and chromosomal DNA Enterococcus faecalis.
Alloys* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; Chloramphenicol ; Clindamycin ; Dental Prosthesis ; Digestion ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Klebsiella ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lincomycin ; Nickel ; Plasmids ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Skin ; Streptomycin ; Tetracycline

Primary aldosteronism, is defined as a group of disorders characterized by the excess of aldosteron, with suppressed rennin activity, resulting in hypertension and hypokalemia. In most cases, primary aldosteronism is sporadic due to a unilateral adrenal adenoma or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Familial hyperaldosteronism is a rare cause of primary aldosteronism and its prevalence has not been established well. We describe two cases of primary aldosteronism in a family involving a sister and brother due to an aldosterone producing adenoma in the left adrenal gland. Their hypokalemia and hypertension were cured by complete resection of the adrenal adenoma. Genetic analyses could not be done because of patients' rejection.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Aldosterone ; Chymosin ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Prevalence ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Siblings

Objective: Arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) is routinely performed in hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) patients in the emergency department (ED). We tried to substitute end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) for arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in HVS patients in ED. Methods: It was a prospective observational cohort study of HVS patients from May 2019 to March 2020. Data of age, sex, vital sign, ETCO2 and ABGA were collected. We compared the Pearson correlation between ETCO2 and PaCO2. Results: A total of 135 HVS patients were included in the study. The average value for ETCO2 was 24.9±7.2. It showed a significant linear between ETCO2 and PaCO2. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.893 (P<0.001). The linear correlation coefficients of ETCO2 <20 mmHg and ETCO2 20-35 mmHg groups were 0.513 and 0.827, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion We suggest that ABGA can be replaced by ETCO2 in HVS patients in ED.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has emerged rapidly as a popular alternative to tradidonal laparotomy and cholecystectomy in the management of cholelithiasis. The advantages of shorter hospital stay, more rapid return to normal activities are combined with less pain associated with the small limited incisions. But it has some disadvantages related to insufflation of a large amount of carbon dioxide into peritoneal cavity. METHODS: To investigate ventilatory and hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we observed the changes in blood pressure (systole, diastole, mean), heart rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PerCO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension(PaCO2), and arterial oxygen tension(PaO2) at intervals during general anesthesia with controlled ventilation (tidal volume: 10 mg/kg, ventilatory rate: 10 breaths/min). RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure was increased significantly until 30 minutes after carbon dioxide insufflation(p<0.05). Heart rate was not changed significantly throughout the operation. End-tidal carbon dioxide tension and arterial carbon dioxide tension were increased significantly during carbon dioxide insufflation(p<0.01), but arterial oxygen tension was not decreased significantly throughout the operation. CONCLUSIONS: This study described 19 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and analyzed the changes in hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. It is important for anesthesiologist to monitor ventilation and hemodynamics carefully because the patients with cardiac or pulmonary diseases may be adversely affected by the hypercarbia associated with carbon dioxide insufflation.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholelithiasis ; Diastole ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Lung Diseases ; Oxygen ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: The results for treatment of fistula-in-ano have much improved, along with the development of anatomical knowledge, classification, and operative techniques, during last several decades. The authors retrospectively reviewed the results for treatment of fistula-in-ano, especially complex fistulas, during the last 11 years. METHODS: A retrospective study of fistula-in-ano was performed for 229 patients who had been operated on in St. Benedict Hospital between January 1988 and December 1998. Complex fistulas (IIH, III & IV) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: The most common type was IILs (92 cases, 40.2%), and the most common horseshoe type was IIIBc (5 cases, 2.2%). The average hospital stay was 11.5 days for all fistula-in-ano types, but 15.1 days for complex fistulas. Non-specific inflammation (209 cases, 91.3%) was the most common pathologic finding. Various operative procedures were used : fistulotomy (80 cases, 34.9%), fistulectomy (74 cases, 32.3%), coring out fistulectomy (63 cases, 27.5%), seton technique (11 cases, 4.8%), and muscle-filling technique (1 case, 0.4%). There was no difference in the recurrence rate among the operative types. Various procedures were tried for complex fistulas, but the sphincter-preserving fistulectomy by Takano seemed to have a low recurrence rate and a short postoperative course. However, because of the small number of cases, this difference in recurrence rate and postoperative course was not statistically significant. The overall postoperative complication rate was 7%: anal infection (4 cases, 1.7%), anal bleeding (3 cases, 1.3%), and urinary retention (2 cases, 0.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The operations for most of the fistulae, IH, IL & IIL, were simple and uneventful. However, the operations for complex fistulae were complicated and more skill was required. We have thought Takano's operation to be a good curative procedure with less postoperative deformity and shortened postoperative course. However this research couldn't prove that with statistical significance, probably because of the insufficient number of patients. If further cases are collected and continuous follow-up is done, then a better result can be expected.
Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Urinary Retention

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to review the cases of patients who had undergone diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(DWI) in the emergency department(ED), and to investigate its clinical usefulness and current indications. METHODS: We analyzed the cases of 152 consecutive patients who underwent DWI in the ED from Jan to Mar 2001. DWI was obtained with the use of a multislice, single-shot, spin-echo plana imaging technique(GE Signa(R)). Imaging time was less than one minute. The medical records, the DWI films and the computed tomography results were reviewed. We investigated the chief complaint, initial findings of physical examination, final diagnosis, decision-making department, interval from admission to imaging, and DWI findings. RESULTS: DWI showed positive findings of high signal intensity in 84 patients(55.3%). Among the 68 patients who yielded a negative result, false negative occurred with 12 patients(17.6%): 10 lacunar infarctions, a pons infarction, and a brainstem infarction. Eleven patients were determined as having a cerebral hemorrhage, all of whom showed the abnormal finding of a mixed signal in DWI. The sensitivity and the specificity of DWI to rule out stroke were 85.5% and 98%, respectively. Current indications for DWI in our ED are age older than 60, alert mental status, and one of the symptoms or signs among lateralyzing sign, language disturbance, and dizziness/vertigo. CONCLUSION: DWI was highly specific to rule out stroke, so emergency care professionals should be familiar with this new technology. Further prospective study is required to determine the proper indications and clinical usefulness of DWI in the ED.
Brain Stem Infarctions ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medical Records ; Physical Examination ; Pons ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar

Many fungi including Penicillium, Aspergillus, Gliocladium, and Thermoascus produce an epipolythiodioxopiperazine class of fungal metabolite, gliotoxin, which contirbutes the pathogenesis of fungal infection as an immunomodulator and cytotoxic agent. This study is designed to define the mechanism by which gliotoxin exerts the cytotoxic effect of gliotoxin on human promyelocytic leukemic cells, HL-60. Gliotoxin induces the apoptosis of HL-60 cells which is characterized by the ladder pattern fragmentation of DNA. Gliotoxin induces the activation of DEVD-specific cysteine protease in a time- and dose-dependent rnanner. It also increases the phosphotransferase activities of c-Jun N-terminal kinase1 (JNK1) and p38 in gliotoxin-treated HL-60 cells. Furthermore, gliotoxin decreases the activation of transcriptional activator, actiating protein (AP-1) and NF-kB. These results suggest that gliotoxin induces the apoptotic death of HL-60 cells via activation of DEVD- specific caspase as well as mitogen activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) including JNK1 and p38, and inhibition of transcriptional activators, AP-1 and NF-kB.
Apoptosis* ; Aspergillus ; Caspase 3 ; Cysteine Proteases ; DNA ; Fungi ; Gliocladium ; Gliotoxin* ; HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; NF-kappa B ; Penicillium ; Thermoascus ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of the emergency medical care during doctors' strike at a hospital in Korea. METHODS: During a period of 7 consecutive days, from 20th to 26th June 2000, the training physicians in Korea were on strike against medical reform and the emergency medical care was provided by medical staffs without training physicians. We drew out convenient samples by systematic allocation method and reviewed the medical records. We evaluated the patients' severities, the number of diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures, the admission rates, and the lengths of stay at emergency department(ED) in the strike period(SP) compared to control period(NSP) from 20th to 26th June, 1999. RESULTS: The two groups(SP: 191 vs NSP: 202 patients) showed significant differences in the proportion of emergent patients(17.3 vs 32.7%), ED length of stay(1.98 vs 4.47 hours), the number of diagnostic tests(1.47 vs 3.92), the injection rates(17.3 vs 35.1%), and the adverse event rates(4.5 vs 6.5%). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the ED administration by medical staffs without training physicians improves medical quality of emergency care.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff ; Strikes, Employee*

PURPOSE: To compare concentration of cytokines in the vitreous of rabbit eyes after photocoagulation using a short-pulse pattern scanning laser (PASCAL) or a conventional laser. METHODS: Laser photocoagulation was performed using PASCAL (duration 0.02 seconds) in the right eyes and a conventional laser (duration 0.1 seconds) in the left eyes of 13 pigmented rabbits. To obtain ophthalmoscopically similar mild burns, power was adjusted during the photocoagulation. The rabbits were sacrificed at 1, 3 or 7 days after photocoagulation to investigate histological changes. Levels of interleukins (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the vitreous humors of ten rabbits were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before treatment and at 1, 3 and 7 days after photocoagulation. RESULTS: Histological changes were comparable between the two groups. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were not detectable. IL-6 did not change significantly. IL-8 increased at day 3 and day 7, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When ophthalmoscopically similar mild burn intensity was achieved, conventional and PASCAL treatments of rabbit eyes caused no difference in intravitreal concentration of inflammatory cytokines.
Burns ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Light Coagulation* ; Rabbits* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vitreous Body