No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Hair* ; Humans ; Ulcer*

BACKGROUND: Fungal culture is a conventional method for diagnosing fungal infections and is important for determining etiologic agents of the fungal infections. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and validity of fungus culture in various clinical departments. METHODS: A retrospective study of 4373 fungal culture cases at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from January 2010 to December 2014 was made to investigate the prevalence of fungus culture depending on age, clinical departments, specimens and to evaluate the positive rate along with the distribution factor. RESULTS: The number of fungal culture increased with age. Fungal culture was more commonly performed in departments such as pulmonology (26.7%), ophthalmology (11.7%), dermatology (8.6%), emergency medicine (7.4%), neurology (7.3%). Among the cultured specimens, 43.6% were respiratory specimens, followed by CSF (17.2%), ophthalmic specimens (13.2%), skin (8.7%), and abscess (4.0%). Of the 4,373 specimens cultured, 222 (5.1%) were positive. The most commonly identified fungus was Trichophyton. Fungal culture was routinely performed with bronchoscopy and lumbar puncture. Prophylactic fungal evaluation was carried out for patients who had liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that fungal culture has been excessively conducted, even to a level where some departments take the test on their regular routine basis. The unfettered use of this low-yield diagnostic tool can give a false sense accomplishment and is often cost-ineffective and difficult in altering subsequent diagnostic or therapeutic plans. Clinicians should appropriately assess medical indications of fungal culture counting in the risk of infection, mortality, and cost as well.
Abscess ; Academic Medical Centers ; Bronchoscopy ; Daegu* ; Dermatology ; Emergency Medicine ; Fungi ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Mortality ; Neurology ; Ophthalmology ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Spinal Puncture ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Trichophyton

OBJECTIVES: To review the patterns of the dermatologic consultations of psychiatric adolescent inpatient and to explore the relationship between the dermatologic disorders and psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the data from 22 cases referred by psychiatric adolescent for a dermatologic consultation over 10 years in Daegu Catholic University Medical Center and compared with the data from 108 cases referred by the other department adolescent patients. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 15.9. The male to female ratio was 1:1.44. The most common psychiatric and dermatologic disorder was major depressive disorder and acne, respectively. The most frequent reason for consultation was to ask for dermatologic disease or condition(54.5%) followed by to perform cosmetic procedure of patients need(40.9%) and to perform dermatologic test(4.6%). CONCLUSIONS: More than just a cosmetic disfigurement, dermatologic disorders are associated with a variety of psychopathologic problems that can affect the patient. Increased understanding of biopsychosocial approaches and liaison among psychiatrists and dermatologists could be beneficial.
Academic Medical Centers ; Acne Vulgaris ; Adolescent* ; Daegu ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Male ; Psychiatry ; Referral and Consultation* ; Retrospective Studies

Phaeohyphomycosis is an infection of humans and other animals caused by a number of phaeoid fungi. It is characterized by the development of dark-colored hyphae and other types of fungal elements in invaded tissues. Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala species is an unusual infection, but it has been reported with increasing frequency as laboratory methods for diagnosis have improved. A 68-year-old woman presented with yellowish round crusted plaque which is similar to actinic keratosis or keratoacanthoma on her right cheek. Histopathologic examination showed mononuclear cell infiltrate and dark-brown hyphae. The nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer-2 was identical to that of Exophiala species. We report a case of phaeohyphomycosis mimicking skin cancer.
Aged ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cheek ; Diagnosis ; Exophiala* ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Phaeohyphomycosis* ; Skin Neoplasms

Perforating disorders are a group of skin disorders that present the characteristic clinical finding of transepidermal elimination. Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis is an uncommon condition characterized by umbilicated hyperkeratotic papules, and in almost all cases, it coexists with other disease conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and malignancies. The pathologic mechanism of this disease remains largely unknown. Here, we describe the case of a 42-year-old man who developed acquired reactive perforating collagenosis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Adult ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency ; Skin ; Transplants

With the increase in multi-cultural families, Korea is seeing a rapid increase in immigrated housewives, who are closely related to food culture. However, studies for the diet of multi-cultural families, which is most closely related to our lives have not been sufficiently researched. With this background, this study conducted research for immigrated women nationwide about food cultures to provide the possibility which Korean food culture would be developed harmoniously with various foreign food cultures. In this study, the immigrated women seemed to have adapted to Korean food culture quickly, but they showed differences according to some conditions like countries they are from and the time they have been in Korea. To achieve this, we need to conduct consistent and in depth studies for food cultures in multi-cultural families so that we can make healthy development in food culture, harmonious with traditional Korean culture.
Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Spouses

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disorder leading to multiorgan failure. Probable APS, with clinical manifestations similar to APS without antiphospholipid antibodies, was suggested to be seronegative catastrophic APS. The triggering factors of catastrophic APS are various, including infection, trauma, malignancy, and surgery. In approximately 40% of patients, catastrophic APS develops from an unknown cause. We report a case of seronegative catastrophic APS due to an unknown origin. A 20-year-old man presented with cough, abdominal pain, skin lesions, tunnel vision, and watery diarrhea without fever. His symptoms and laboratory test suggested disseminated intravascular coagulation. Considering seronegative catastrophic APS, we treated with intravenous steroid and intravenous immunoglobulin, but the effects were limited. After weekly treatment with rituximab, an immune-modulating agent, his laboratory findings including thrombocytopenia and coagulation tests, returned to normal. We conclude that rituximab can be an effective treatment for seronegative catastrophic APS.
Abdominal Pain ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cough ; Diarrhea ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Skin ; Thrombocytopenia ; Young Adult ; Rituximab

BACKGROUND: Some species of soil keratinophilic fungi (KPF) are known to be pathogens that may lead to cutaneous infection. People exposed to these species through direct contact with soil on beaches can contract KPF infection. However, there is little literature regarding pathogenic KPF isolated from beaches during summer time. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the distribution of soil KPF isolated from beaches in Korea during summer. METHODS: One hundred eighty soil samples from six beaches in the southern coastline of Korea under three different climatic conditions were collected. The KPF species were isolated using the hair-baiting technique. Then, molecular identification was performed by sequencing the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to investigate the exact species of the isolated fungi. RESULTS: Among the one hundred eighty soil samples, twenty-nine strains (16.1%) of KPF were recovered. The isolation rate of KPF among the beaches varied from 0 to 34.5%. KPF was most frequently isolated in shaded dry areas (30%), followed by sunny dry areas (18.3%), and sunny wet areas (0%). Molecular identification of the fungi using rRNA ITS analysis helped in their classification. Microsporum gypseum/Arthroderma incurvatum (69.0%), Microsporum gypseum/Arthroderma gypseum (3.4%), Trichophyton ajelloi/Arthroderma uncinatum (13.8%), Microsporum cookei/Arthroderma cajetani (10.3%), and Chrysosporium indicum/Aphanoascus terreus (3.4%) were identified. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was observed at position 180 of the rRNA ITS2 in the 20 strains of Microsporum gypseum/Arthroderma incurvatum, and the species was divided into Types 1 (14 strains) and 2 (6 strains) depending on the base present at the SNP position. The geographic distribution of these two types differed. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the beach is a possible source of keratinophilic fungal infection in humans. People should be aware of pathogenic fungi on the soil of beaches during summer and take measures to prevent possible superficial fungal infections.
Chrysosporium ; Classification ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsporum ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Soil* ; Trichophyton

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of Acutrak screw fixation for ulnar olecranon fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 15 cases of ulnar olecranon fractures which were treated with Acutrak screws from February 2003 to September 2007. Follow-up period is from 12 months to 42 months. We used Mayo classification. Radiologic results were analyzed according to step-off, gap, reduction loss, and functional results were analyzed according to pain and ROM. We analyzed union time, operation time, incision size and complications. RESULTS: In functional results, there were 3 good cases out of 3 Mayo type IA, 8 good cases and 2 fair cases out of 10 type IIA, 1 fair case and 1 poor case out of 2 type IIB. In radiologic results, there was 1 case of reduction loss. Average union time was 9.4 weeks, average operation time was 24 minutes and average incision size was 1.8 cm. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Acutrak screw fixation can be a treatment option for olecranon fracture of Mayo type IA and IIA.
Follow-Up Studies ; Olecranon Process ; Ulna

The objective of this study is to investigate whether BCG infection before, during or after sensitization suppresses allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilic inflammation in allergic asthma rats, and to determine the required dose of BCG to induce such an inhibition. Eighty-seven Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were sensitized and provoked with ovalbumin (OA). A pretreatment of 6 x 10(4) or 6 x 10(5) colony forming units (CFUs) of BCG or saline was done at four different times: 3 days before sensitization, at sensitization, 3 days before provocation, or at provocation. The assessment of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) responsiveness to electrical field stimulation or acetylcholine (ACh) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed 1 day after OA provocation. Doses of 6 x 10(4) CFUs inhibited TSM sensitivity of rats infected 3 days before sensitization or at sensitization, but not 3 days before provocation or at provocation. However, doses of 6 x 10(5) CFUs significantly inhibited not only the airway eosinophilia of rats infected 3 days before sensitization or at sensitization, but also the TSM sensitivity of rats infected 3 days before provocation or at provocation. In conclusion, BCG infection suppresses the development of sensitivity of airway smooth muscle and airway eosinophilic inflammation in allergic asthma rats. Furthermore, a relatively high dose of BCG infection inhibits airway sensitivity, even after allergen sensitization.
Animal ; Asthma/immunology* ; BCG Vaccine/immunology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eosinophils/immunology ; Leukocyte Count ; Lung/immunology* ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors ; Vaccination