For the diagnosis of drowning in immersed bodies, the diatom test has been controversial due to false-negative and false-positive results. Causes of false positive results include antemortem penetration of diatoms, and postmortem contamination during the submersion or the diatom preparation process. Herein, we report a false-positive case in a 30-year-old woman who died from homicidal multiple stab wounds and was thrown into a shallow farm waterway approximately 10 days after her death. In addition, a discussion on the false-positive diatom test results in immersed bodies with penetrating wounds is provided.

BACKGROUND: Chronic suppurative otitis media is one of the most common disease in the otolaryngologic field. It is important to choose of antibiotics in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media. OBJECTIVES: Bacteriologic studies can make it possible to use appropriate antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bacteriologic study was made on 98 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media who visited the department of otolaryngology, Dae Dong Hospital in Pusan from Nov. 1989 to Dec. 1995 and the following results were obtained. RESULTS: 1) In 90 cases in which pathogenic organism was isolated, single infection was 81 cases(90%) and mixed infection was 9 cases(10%). 2) The most frequent pathogenic organism was Staphylococcus(46.5%) and Proteus(16.1%), Pseudomonas(14.1%), Providencia(10.1%) were the next. 3) In the aspect of the sensitivity to antibiotics, Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxon and Amikacin were sensitive drug generally. 4) Staphylococcus was sensitive to Vancomycin and Ciprofloxacin. 5) Proteus was sensitive to Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Ceftriaxon. 6) Pseudomonas was sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin and Piperacin. 7) Providencia was sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxon, Amikacin and Piperacin. 8) Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(MRSA) was 19 Strains(45.5%). CONCLUSION: Recently, pathologic strain and it's sensitivity to antibiotics has changed. So, we recommand that periodic bacteriologic study and sensitivity test should be done for effective management of chronic otitis media.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteriology ; Busan ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Coinfection ; Methicillin Resistance ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative* ; Otolaryngology ; Proteus ; Providencia ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster oticus is a reactivation of latent varicella-zoster infection associated with otalgia, vesicle, facial nerve palsy, sensorineural hearing loss & vertigo. Facial paralysis is rapid in onset, usually severe in degree, and poor in prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the treatment and prognosis of Herpes zoster oticus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 12 cases of Herpes zoster oticus from May 1992 to February 1996, which had been treated with acyclovir and steroid was done. RESULTS: All patients had otalgia, vesicle and facial palsy. All patients had been treated with adequate dosage of prednisolone & acyclovir. The complete recovery rate from facial palsy was 58%. CONCLUSION: Factors predicting good prognosis are as follows. 1) low degree of facial palsy on admission 2) delayed onset of facial palsy from initial symptom 3) early treatment for facial palsy 4) electrical test: Nerve excitability test(<3.5 mA difference) Electroneurography(>10%).
Acyclovir ; Earache ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Otitis media, with effusion has been known to require long term medical treatment. When medical treatment fails, myringotomy with or without ventilation tube insertion needs to be performed, but the duration of middle ear ventilation with myringotomy is very limited. The insertion of ventilation tubes may also cause some complications, and may require general anesthesia when performing at a young age. The purpose of this report is to see if myringotomy using CO laser can be used as an effective tool in the treatment of otitis media with effusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 66 ears of patients who went through myringotomy using CO laser between March, 1998 and May, 1999. We analyzed myringotomy size, patency time, recurrence and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: The average size of myringotorny was 2.1 mm in diameter. It remained patent for as long as 1.9 weeks in average. All myringotomy sites were healed without persistent perforations. Average recurrence rate and time were 27% and 3.2months, respectively. The medical treatment is expensive and needs more frequent follow-ups, but laser treatment is cheaper and requires less frequent follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: CO laser myringotomy is a safe and cost effective procedure which can be done easily at the office in most of the cases.
Anesthesia, General ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Ear ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: To determine the therapeutic effect of transcatheter embolization in the treatment of splanchnicpseudoaneurysm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved eleven patients who underwent embolization for thetreatment of splanchnic pseudoaneurysm. Nine were men and two were women ; their ages ranged from 8 to 74 (mean,51) years. The etiology of these cases included postoperative pseudoaneurysm(n=4), pancreatitis(n=3), stabinjury(n=1), and suspected infection(n=1), while two cases were uncertain. The locations of the pseudoaneurysmwere the splenic artery(n=4), the gastroduodenal artery(n=3), the hepatic artery(n=2), the celiac artery(n=1), andboth the right renal and lumbar artery(n=1). All patients underwent angiography prior to embolization. Thematerials used during embolization were a microcoil, a 5-cm metallic guide wire, and a detachable balloon. RESULTS: Embolization was successful in all eleven cases. Among nine cases in which follow-up was possible, angiographywas performed in four, and five cases of thrombus were confirmed by abdominal CT. Three of these nine patientsunderwent re-embolization. One patient underwent elective surgery for a pseudocyst due to pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization is a safe and convenient modality for the treatment of splanchnic pseudoaneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed