No abstract available.
Endocrine Cells* ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry*

BACKGROUND: About 60~70% of hospital isolates of staphylococci are resistant to methicillin. The level of resistance varies from low to high depending upon the genetic background of the strains. The purpose of this study was twofold : (i) to understand the relationship between beta-lactamase and methicillin-resistance genes(mecA, mecI, mecR1, femA) and the level of resistance and (ii) to survey the distribution of mec regulator genes(mec I, mecR1) among methicillin-resistant staphylococci. METHODS: Eighty-three isolates of Staphylococus aureus and 29 of coagulase-negative staphylococci(CNS) at Catholic University Hospital were examined. The level of methicillin resistance was studied using disk diffusion test and agar dilution test. MecA, mecI, mecR1, and femA genes detected by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: beta-lactamase production was significantly high in S. aureus and CNS isolates with low-level resistance. MecA and mecR1 genes amplification correlated with the level of resistance in S. aureus and CNS isolates. There was no correlation between the level of resistance and mecI and fem A genes amplification in S. aureus and CNS isolates. Methicillin- resistant S. aureus isolates showed more variety in mec regulator region than methicillin-resistant CNS isolates. CONCLUSION: From this study, we conclude that mecR1 gene could be considered as one of the important factors influencing the level of methicillin resistance in staphylococcal strains.
Agar ; beta-Lactamases ; Diffusion ; Genes, vif ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: To assess the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) in acute pancreatitis, initial CT examinations were classified into 5 grades in terms of the degree of disease severity and CT findings were correlated with clinical course, objective prognostic signs, and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 29 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis, the CT examination and clinical course were reviewed without knowledge of each other finding. Both Ranson's prognostic signs and modified Glascow prognostic signs were used for evaluation of acute pancreatitis. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients, 25 patients recovered with medical treatment while 4 patients (14%) developed pseudocysts and the other 4 patients (14%) developed abscesses. CT findings of the acute pancreatitis are as follows; 10 patients (35%) in grade A with normal pancreas, 2 patients (7%) in grade B with pancreatic enlargement, 2 patients (7%) in grade C with intrinsic pancreatic abnormalities associated with haziness, 3 patients (10%) in grade D with single, ill-defined fluid collection, and 12 patients (41%) in grade E with extensive and two or multiple fluid collections or presence of gas in or adjacent to the pancreas. Correlation coefficient is 0.46 (p=0.012) between CT findings and Ranson's prognostic signs, 462 (p=0.0115) between CT findings and modified Glascow prognostic signs. CONCLUSION: CT gradings of acute pancreatitis may be useful in predicting clinical course.
Abscess ; Humans ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis*

Steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (NOS), are infrequently encountered ovarian neoplasms. They constitute <0.1% of all ovarian tumors. They usually occur in younger individuals (mean age, 43 years) and, in contrast to other steroid cell tumors, occasionally occur before puberty. The majority of these tumors produce steroids with testosterone being the most common. Various virilizing symptoms such as hirsutism, temporal baldness, and amenorrhea are common in these patients; however massive ascites is an infrequent symptom. We report a case of steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified, with hypertension, obesity, ascites and elevated CA 125 with brief review of literature.
Alopecia ; Amenorrhea ; Ascites ; Female ; Hirsutism ; Hypertension ; Obesity ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Puberty ; Steroids ; Testosterone

When a surgeon fails to save intracranial segement of the facial nerve and can not identify the proximal segment of the facial nerve due to severe adhesion or severe brain stem compression by the tumor, the interpositional graft has no place in helping this patient. Hypoglossal-facial nerve (XII-VII) direct side to end anastomosis is the effective facial reanimation technique used in such a case. This technique compensates for the drawbacks of classical XII-VII anastomosis, and the bothersome strong mass movement and hemiparalysis of the tongue. We recently experienced a case where XII-VII direct side-to-end anastomosis was applied. We report our case with literature review.
Brain Stem ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Tongue ; Transplants

Granulosa cell tumors of ovary are rare neoplasms, which account for 2~5% of all ovarian malignancies. Ovarian granulosa cell tumors are often associated with endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma. The endometrial carcinoma is thought to occur under the influence of the estrogen receptor pathway and is typically a low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma. We present a case of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary and synchronous endometrial carcinoma that were managed with laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with brief review of literature.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Estrogens ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Laparoscopy ; Ovary

Adenomyoma is a benign tumor composed of smooth muscle and benign endometrium. These tumors typically originate within the uterus. An extrauterine adenomyoma is a rare entity. Cystic degeneration of adenomyoma is also very rare case. We report a case of huge extrauterine endometrioid-type adenomyoma with cystic change with brief review of literature.
Adenomyoma ; Endometrium ; Female ; Muscle, Smooth ; Uterus

PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is an emerging threat to human beings. However, there is little data on the current status of MDR-TB in Korea. This study investigated the current status of MDR-TB in Korea using a survey of all the data from drug susceptibility tests (DST) performed across the country over the last three years. METHOD: The DST results between Jan. 2000 and Dec. 2002 from 7 laboratories, which were in charge of all antituberculous DSTs across the country as of March 2002, were collected and analyzed to determine the actual number of drug-resistant or MDR-TB patients, annual trend, degree and pattern of resistance against anti-TB drugs, etc. RESULTS: Six laboratories used the absolute concentration method for DST and one used the proportional method. 59, 940 tests had been performed over the 3 year study period. The number of DST performed annually was 18,071, 19,950, and 21,919 in 2000-2002, respectively. The number of resistant tuberculosis patients (resistant against at least one anti-TB drug) had increased by 16.9% from 6,338 in 2000 to 7,409 in 2002. The rate of resistant tuberculosis among all DST results was 35.1% in 2000, 34.5% in 2001, and 33.8% in 2002. The number of MDR-TB patients (resistant against at least both isoniazid and rifampin) showed an increasing trend (14.5%) from 3,708 in 2000 to 4,245 in 2002. CONCLUSION: Approximately 4,000 MDR-TB cases are newly identified by DST annually and the number is showing an increasing trend. This study suggests that in order to cope with the current MDR-TB situation, the DST methods will need to be standardized and more aggressive measures will be required.
Humans ; Isoniazid ; Korea* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant*

Congenital nephrotic syndrome is defined as nephrotic syndrome which manifests in utero or during the first 3 months of life. The prototype of congenital nephrotic syndrome is congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type (CNF, OMIM #602716), which is caused by loss-of-function mutations of the nephrin gene (NPHS1). There have been few clinical case reports of CNF in Korea, but none of which was confirmed by genetic study. Here, we report two children with congenital nephrotic syndrome. Genetic analysis of the NPHS1 gene revealed compound heterozygous frame-shifting mutations (c.2156_2163 delTGCACTGC causing p.L719DfsX4 and c.3250_3251insG causing p.V1084GfsX12) in one patient and a missense mutation (c.1381G>A causing p.R460Q) and a nonsense mutation (c.2442C>G causing p.Y814X) in the other patient. The nonsense mutation was novel. The clinical courses of the patients were typical of CNF. This is the first report of genetically confirmed CNF in Korea to date. The early genetic diagnosis of CNF is important for proper clinical management of the patients and precise genetic counseling of the families.
Base Sequence ; Biopsy ; Codon, Nonsense ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Microscopy, Electron/methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nephrotic Syndrome/*diagnosis/*genetics

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a developmental neuropathology resulting from in utero exposure to ethanol; many of ethanol's effects are likely to be mediated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We studied modulation of the neurotransmitter receptor GABABR and its capacity for intracellular signal transduction under conditions of ethanol treatment (ET) and RNA interference to investigate a potential role for GABA signaling in FAS. ET increased GABAB1R protein levels, but decreased protein kinase A-alpha (PKA-alpha), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), in cultured hippocampal neurons harvested at gestation day 17.5. To elucidate GABAB1R response to ethanol, we observed the effects of a GABABR agonist and antagonist in pharmacotherapy for ethanol abuse. Baclofen increased GABABR, CaMKII and p-CREB levels, whereas phaclofen decreased GABABR, CaMKII and p-CREB levels except PKA-alpha. Furthermore, when GABAB1R was knocked down by siRNA treatment, CaMKII and p-CREB levels were reduced upon ET. We speculate that stimulation of GABAB1R activity by ET can modulate CaMKII and p-CREB signaling to detrimental effect on fetal brain development.
Animals ; Baclofen ; Brain ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; Carrier Proteins ; Ethanol ; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Hippocampus ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Phosphorylation ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinases ; Rats ; Receptors, Neurotransmitter ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction