Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi), which is endemic to an Asia-Pacific region, has increased its incidence and caused annually around 10 thousand patients infected with scrub typhus in Korea in the past several years. In the present study, we isolated 44 O. tsutsugamushi from the patients with febrile illness accompanied with or without an eschar in Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. These isolates were characterized by genetic analysis of the major outer membrane protein, the 56-kDa type-specific antigen (tsa56), which is unique to O. tsutsugamushi. Two types of sequences of tsa56, designated by JJ1 and JJ2, were determined from 37 and 7 isolates of the 44 isolates, respectively. JJ1 and JJ2 showed 74.7~90.8% identity in nucleotide sequence and 66.1~90.5% identity in amino acid sequence with 33 reference strains except for Boryong and Kuroki. JJ1 and JJ2 had 100 and 99.9% nucleotide identity to Boryong strain, and 99.9 and 99.8% to Kuroki, which has been known to be similar to Boryong, respectively. In addition, they showed 77.9~ 81.4% nucleotide identity with the cluster of Gilliam-related genotypes, whereas they showed higher nucleotide identity (89.6~90.8%) with the cluster of Karp-related genotypes. To our knowledge, this is the first report to isolate O. tsutsugamushi and characterize their genotype as the Boryong in Jinju and West Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, even though it has been reported that the Boryong was the predominant genotype in isolates from chiggers, domestic rodents, and patients in the southern part of Korea. Furthermore, our isolates could be useful source to study on the pathophysiology and epidemiology of scrub typhus in Korea.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Epidemiology ; Genotype ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Membrane Proteins ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Rodentia ; Scrub Typhus* ; Trombiculidae

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cholecystectomy is necessary for the treatment of symptomatic or complicated gallbladder (GB) stones, but oral litholysis with bile acids is an attractive alternative therapeutic option for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium trihydrate of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on gallstone dissolution and to investigate improvements in gallstone-related symptoms. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, phase 4 clinical study to determine the efficacy of orally administered magnesium trihydrate of UDCA and CDCA was performed from January 2011 to June 2013. The inclusion criteria were GB stone diameter < or =15 mm, GB ejection fraction > or =50%, radiolucency on plain X-ray, and asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic patients. The patients were prescribed one capsule of magnesium trihydrate of UDCA and CDCA at breakfast and two capsules at bedtime for 6 months. The dissolution rate, response rate, and change in symptom score were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 237 subjects were enrolled, and 195 subjects completed the treatment. The dissolution rate was 45.1% and the response rate was 47.2% (92/195) after 6 months of administration of magnesium trihydrate of UDCA and CDCA. Only the stone diameter was significantly associated with the response rate. Both the symptom score and the number of patients with symptoms significantly decreased regardless of stone dissolution. Adverse events necessitating discontinuation of the drug, surgery, or endoscopic management occurred in 2.5% (6/237) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium trihydrate of UDCA and CDCA is a well-tolerated bile acid that showed similar efficacy for gallstone dissolution and improvement of gallstone-related symptoms as that shown in previous studies.
Adult ; Aged ; Antacids/*administration & dosage ; Chenodeoxycholic Acid/*administration & dosage ; Cholagogues and Choleretics/*administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Gallstones/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Magnesium Hydroxide/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Solubility/drug effects ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid/*administration & dosage

Alveolar adenoma is a very rare benign intraparenchymal lung tumor originating from type II pneumocytes. It can be mistaken for other benign tumors or lung cancer in radiological images. It is especially difficult to distinguish alveolar adenoma from sclerosing hemangioma. A small aspiration biopsy specimen, such as with percutaneous needle aspiration, is insufficient for a pathological diagnosis. Surgical resection is the only method by which a pathological diagnosis can be made and the disease treated. An alveolar adenoma presenting as multiple nodules is very rare and has to our knowledge not been reported in Korea previously. Here, we report a case of alveolar adenoma in multiple nodules in a 57-year-old female and review the literature.
Adenoma* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Pneumocytes

OBJECTIVE: To prevent the occurrence of CV events such as MI and stroke among professional drivers in Korea, bus drivers were compared to other occupations through the Framingham risk scoring system (FRS) or metabolic syndrome (MS) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment methods. METHODS: In October 2012, a health examination survey was conducted for 443 male bus drivers in a big city. Their CVD risk factors were compared to those of a 'total employed' (A group) and 'crafts and machine operators' (B group) extracted from Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010) data by using FRS and MS. We calculated proportions of the CVD risk factors distribution between bus drivers and the A, B groups by the bootstrapping method. The Odds ratio (OR) between CV event risk combining MS with CHD equivalent risk of FRS and occupational factors like shift patterns and professional driving duration/age ratios (PDAR) of bus drivers was calculated through multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 was 53.9% and waist circumference > or = 90cm was 40.9% among bus drivers. Hypertension and MS prevalence of bus drivers was 53.3%, 49.9% which is higher than 17.6%, 22.6% in the A group and 19.7%, 23.8% in the B group respectively. OR of high CV event risk in alternate shift was 2.58 (95% CI 1.33~5.00) in comparison with double shift pattern and OR in PDAR > or = 0.5 was 2.18 (95% CI 1.15~4.14). CONCLUSION: Middle aged male drivers in a big city of Korea stand a higher chance of developing CV event than other professions of the same age.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation usually causes transient hypertension and tachycardia. The cardiovascular and arousal responses to endotracheal and endobronchial intubation were determined during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia in normotensive and hypertensive elderly patients. METHODS: Patients requiring endotracheal intubation with (HT, n = 30) or without hypertension (NT, n = 30) and those requiring endobronchial intubation with (HB, n = 30) or without hypertension (NB, n = 30) were included in the study. Anesthesia was induced with intravenous thiopental 5 mg/kg followed by succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. After intubation, all subjects received 2% sevoflurane in 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), plasma catecholamine concentration, and Bispectral Index (BIS) values, were measured before and after intubation. RESULTS: The intubation significantly increased MAP, HR, BIS values and plasma catecholamine concentrations in all groups, the peak value of increases was comparable between endotracheal and endobronchial intubation. However, pressor response persisted longer in the HB group than in the HT group (5.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.9 min, P < 0.05). The magnitude of increases in MAP and norepinephrine from pre-intubation values was greater in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group (P < 0.05), while there were no differences in those of HR and BIS between the hypertensive and normotensive groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular response and arousal response, as measured by BIS, were similar in endobronchial and endotracheal intubation groups regardless of the presence or absence of hypertension except for prolonged pressor response in the HB group. However, the hypertensive patients showed enhanced cardiovascular responses than the normotensive patients.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Arousal ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Methyl Ethers ; Nitrous Oxide ; Norepinephrine ; Oxygen ; Plasma ; Succinylcholine ; Tachycardia ; Thiopental

Currently, partial nephrectomy for patients with malignant renal tumors has become the procedure of choice for elective indications. Attempts have been made to use minimally invasive endoscopic procedures to replace the standard open partial nephrectomy. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can be technically challenging and be associated with vascular complications such as pseudoaneurysm. We report here on a case of renal artery pseudoaneurysm that occurred after laproscopic partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma treated by percutaneous selective angioembolization.
Aneurysm, False* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Methods ; Nephrectomy* ; Renal Artery*

BACKGROUND: Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly, but is one of the most common causes of myocardial ischemia which would result in high mortality within the first year of life. This is our early result of the surgical management for these patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From June 1989 to July 2003, 6 patients with ALCAPA and one patient with ARCAPA (Anomalous origin of the Right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) underwent surgical repair. We have reviewed the all medical records, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray and echocardiography retrospectively. RESULT: Three of the patients were boys and four were girls. The median age at the operation was 5.4 months (Range: 3~33 months). The average body weight of at the operation was 6.7 kg (Range: 3.7~11.3 kg). A mean follow up period was 18 months. Only 3 patients were initially diagnosed as ALCAPA. And 3 patients had moderate mitral regurgitation. Immediate coronary artery reimplantation on diagnosis with the aim of restoring a two-coronary system circulation was done. The average bypass time was 114+/-37 minutes, and the average aortic cross clamping time was 55+/-22 minutes. The average stay of intensive care unit was 5+/-3 days, the mean mechanical ventilator time was 38+/-45 hours and the hospital stay after operation was 12+/-5 days. There were significant improvements in electrocardiogram and chest X-ray of the all patients except one late death patient. The ventricular function showed almost normal recovery after operation; the EF (Ejection Fraction) increased from 41.2+/-10.3% to 60.5+/-15.8% within 1 month and to 59.8+/-13.9% within 1 year after operation, the SF (Shortening Fraction) increased from 23.6+/-4.7% to 38.6+/-8.4% within 1 month and to 37.4+/-7.9% within 1 year after operation, LVEDDI (Left Ventricular End-diastolic Dimension Index) decreased from 100.8+/-25.6 mm/m2 to 90.3+/-19.2 mm/m2 within 1 month and to 79.3+/-15.8 mm/m2 within 1 year after operation. Concomitant mitral repair was done in two patients with anterior mitral leaflet prolapse. In every patient, mitral valve showed less than mild regurgitation during follow up. One late death occurred in which patient Dor procedure was applied 10 months after initial operation due to the dilated cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: In the management of this rare and could be fatal Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), early suspicion and correct diagnosis is of most important.But, after diagnosis, immediate restoration of 2 coronary systems could result in good outcome.
Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Body Weight ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Constriction ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prolapse ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Ventricular Function

Cholelithiasis is a relatively common disease and can present with various clinical manifestations and complications such as no symptoms, biliary pain, acute cholecystitis, biliary pancreatitis, acute cholangitis, gallstone ileus and biliary enteric fistula. However, cholelithiasis presenting with intra-gallbladder bleeding and massive gastrointestinal bleeding are relatively rare in the worldwide literature and there have been only a few reported case studies. We present here an interesting case of a 63 year-old women with gallstone, active intra-gallbladder bleeding and massive hematochezia who underwent open cholecystectomy, resection and anastomosis of the transverse colon. This patient's pathologic evaluation revealed a finding of acute and chronic cholecystitis with marked hemorrhage and transmural fibrinoid necrosis in the transverse colon.
Acute Pain ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholelithiasis* ; Colon, Transverse ; Female ; Fistula ; Gallstones ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ileus ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pancreatitis

PURPOSE: The clinical significance of preoperative serum levels of tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 was evaluated in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: Serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 were measured in 1, 310 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparotomies over a recent 10-year period (1992~2001). The correlations between the serum levels of tumor markers and several clinicopathological factors were evaluated by univariate analysis. The significance of the tumor markers as prognostic factor was assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The positivity rates of CEA and CA19-9 were 17.5% and 13.4%, respectively. The positivity rate of CEA was higher in the elderly, in male patients, and in those with histologically differentiated tumors, whereas CA19-9 positivity was related to tumor location. In addition, the positivity rates of each tumor marker were significantly correlated with tumor size, gross type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal and liver metastases, and cancer stage. A significant difference in survival was observed between patients positive and negative for CEA and CA19-9. The multivariate analysis showed that in addition to gross type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal and liver metastasis, preoperative serum CEA and CA19-9 levels among those undergoing However, multivariate analysis of curatively resected cases identified gross type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and CA19-9 as significant prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum CEA and CA19-9 determination in patients with gastric cancer is of value for the prediction of tumor progression and prognosis. However, serum CA19-9 level was more useful than CEA as a1 prognostic factor in patients undergoing curative resection.
Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms*

The remote surveillance system based on the wireless home sensor network, wireless internet connection, and the portable, hand-held device has been designed for the patron to get the emergency alarm for immediate care for the Dementia aged, when the patron is not at home. It consists of transmitting server and the receiving terminal. The transmitting server gathers the information through bluetooth connection regarding to environment threatening the safety of the Dementia aged from five sensors, including fire, gas, conductivity, photo, and motion sensors, and cameras up to the number of 16, fixated within home. It also determines the emergency situation automatically from sensors' environmental condition and the motion detected from the camera output targeted to the aged people, and sends the alarm message with the picture taken from home to the patrol for comprehending the emergency situation remotely. Either the PDA or the cellular phone is used as the receiving terminal device through wireless connectivity without the location limitation for the patrol. The functional evaluation via the implemented prototype system has been performed to initially demonstrate the efficacy, the usefulness, and ease to operate for later use for either solitarily living old people or nursery schools and infantile shelters.
Cellular Phone ; Dementia ; Emergencies ; Fires ; Internet ; Schools, Nursery