BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antibiotic usage and increasingly aging populations have led to increased incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in worldwide. Recent studies in Korea have also reported increasing CDI incidence; however, there have been no reports on the long-term outcomes of CDI. We therefore investigated the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with CDI, including delayed recurrence, associated risk factors and mortality. METHODS: Hospitalized patients diagnosed with CDI at Seoul Paik Hospital between January 2007 and December 2008 were included. Their medical records were retrospectively investigated. 'Delayed recurrence' was defined as a relapse 8 weeks after a successful initial treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the delayed recurrence. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze mortality rates. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were enrolled; among them, 87 were followed-up for at least 1 year, with a mean follow-up period of 34.1+/-25.1 months. Delayed recurrence was observed in 17 patients (19.5%), and significant risk factors were age (over 70 years, P=0.049), nasogastric tube insertion (P=0.008), and proton pump inhibitor or H2-blocker treatments (P=0.028). The 12- and 24-month mortality rates were 24.6% and 32.5%, respectively. No deaths were directly attributed to CDI. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed recurrence of CDI was not rare, occurring in 19.5% of the study population. Although CDI-related mortality was not reported, 2-year (32.5%) mortality rate of CDI patients implies that a CDI diagnosis may predict severe morbidity and poor prognosis of the underlying disease.
Aging ; Clostridium difficile* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Proton Pumps ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Since the introduction of the concept of osseointegration in dental implants, high long-term success rates have been achieved. Though the use of dental implants have increased dramatically, there are few studies on domestic implants with clinical and objective long-term data. PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to provide long-term data on the Implantium(R) implant, which features a sandblasted and acid-etched surface and internal connection with microthreads. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 106 Implantium(R) implants placed in 38 patients at Yonsei University Hospital were examined to determine the effect of various factors on implant success and marginal bone loss, through clinical and radiographic results during a 6 to 30 month period. RESULTS: 1. Out of a total of 106 implants placed in 38 patients, one fixture was lost, resulting in a 99.1% cumulative survival rate. 2. Among the 96 implants which were observed throughout the study period, the survival rates were 97.0% in the maxilla and 100% in the mandible. The survival rate in the posterior regions was 98.9% and 100% in the anterior regions. 3. The mean bone loss during the first year after prosthesis placement was 0.17 mm, while the mean annual bone loss after the first year was 0.04 mm, which was statistically less than during the first year (P < .05). 4. There was no significant difference in marginal bone loss according to age during the first year (P > .05), but after the first year, the mean annual bone loss in patients above 50 years was significantly greater (P < .05) compared with patients under 50 years. 5. No significant difference in marginal bone loss was found according to the following factors: gender, jaw, location in the arch, type of implant (submerged or non-submerged), presence of bone grafts, type of prostheses, and type of opposing dentition (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the sole factor influencing marginal bone loss was age, while factors such as gender, jaw, location in the arch, type of implant, presence of bone grafts, type of prostheses and type of opposing dentition had no significant effect on bone loss. In the present study, the success rate of the Implantium(R) implant with a SLA surface and internal connection with microthreads was satisfactory up to a maximum 30 month period, and the marginal bone loss was in accord with the success criteria of dental implants.
Dental Implants ; Dentition ; Humans ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Osseointegration ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: Since the evaluation of negative symptoms has depended on the clinician's objective observation, the patients' subjective experience of negative symptoms has been neglected. However, in fact, a lot of patients are aware of their negative symptoms. There are several reports suggesting that patients suffer from the subjective experiences of their deficit symptoms, even though the objective positive and negative symtoms cannot be observed. Under these circumstances, we have attempted this study with the idea that it would be helpful in understanding the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Also it would help clarifying the relationship between subjective experience of negative symptoms and objective positive and negative symptoms, depression, anxiety symptoms, and extrapyramidal symptoms. METHOD: All the 37 patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV for schizophrenia . The subjective experiences of negative symptoms were evaluated using Scale for the Subjective Experience of Negative Symptoms, Korean version(K-SENS), and for the depression, anxiety, extrapyramidal symptoms, we used Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), and Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale(ESRS). The correlation between each psychopathology was tested by calculating Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the ratio of items experienced as uncomfortable symptoms among 24 items of K-SENS, and the score of PANSS positive subscale(gamma=-0.40, p<0.05). Among the positive symptoms, grandiosity(gamma=-0.46, p<0.05), suspiciousnes/persecution(gamma=-0.34, p<0.05), and hostility(gamma=-0.52, p<0.05) showed a significant correlation with the ratio of items experienced as uncomfortable symptoms among 24 items of K-SENS. There was no significant correlation between the ratio of items experienced as uncomfortable symptoms among 24 items of K-SENS, and PANSS total score(gamma=-0.25, p>0.05), or negative subscale score(gamma=-0.20, p>0.05), or general psychopathology subscale score(gamma=-0.08, p>0.05), respectively. There was no significant correlation between the ratio of items experienced as uncomfortable symptoms among 24 items of K-SENS, and HAM-D(gamma=-0.01, p>0.05), or HAM-A(gamma=-0.11, p>0.05), ESRS(gamma=0.34. p>0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: These results revealed that the negative correlation between the subjective negative symptoms experienced as an uncomfortable ones and the objective positive symptoms such as grandi-osity, suspiciousness/persecution, and hostility. From these results, the possibility that positive symptoms are used as a defense to hide from the subjectively experienced negative symptoms, or that patients may not be aware of their negative symptoms because they are overwhelmed by their positive symtpoms. is suggested. These results also suggest that subjective experiences of negative symptoms are independent from depression, anxiety and extrapyramidal symptoms.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Hostility ; Humans ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVE: Pattern with essential hypertension generally shows the same circadian pattern as the normothensive person with a night-time reduction or "DIP" in blood pressure in sleep. The definition of "Dipper" and "Non-dipper" are assigned according to arbitrary criteria e.g. a night time average blood pressure which is at least 10% less than the average daytime blood pressure. Prospective evidence that the absence of an overnight dip is a strong adverse prognostic indicator for target organ damage .Thus we investigate circardian rhythm of blood pressure, related target organ damage, its frequency & drug in hypertensive subjects. Method : 24hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, history taking, physical examination, fundoscopy, ECG, chest X ray, dipstick urinanlysis, serum creatinine level are performed in essential hypertensive subjects. Exclusion criteria are duration of hypertension over 5 years, DM, renovascular hypertension & heart failure. RESULTS: Total 42 patients performed study.17 subjects classify dipper group,25 subjects classify non-dipper group. Between dipper & non-dipper group shows no significantly difference at stroke history, C/T ratio over 0.5 in chest X-ray, left ventrcular hypertrophy in ECG,ST-T change in ECG, proteinuria & serum creatinine level. Non-dipper group shows significantly difference to dipper group in frequency of hypertensive retinopathy and number of combined drug used subjects. CONCLUSION: Number of hypertensive retinopathy is significantly frequency in non-dipper group. Hypertensive retinopathy is atherosclerotic complication, thus we predict other target organ damage, therefore non-dipper type circardian rhythm of blood pressure is adverse prognostic factor for target organ damage of hypertensive subjects.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Blood Pressure* ; Creatinine ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Hypertrophy ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Stroke ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Heart Rate Variability help us to diagnose the impairment of autonomic nervous system in patients with diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic renal disease, and arrhythmia. Change of autonomic nervous system is related to circadian rhythm, stress, physical activity, and so on. Especially, impairment of vagal nervous system with age help us to expect sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia. So we survey heart rate variability by using 24 hours holter monitoring to expect impairment of autonomic nervous system in elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS: In order to assess 24 hours heart rate variability, we use Del Mar Avionics 563 holter monitoring on 11 elderly hypertensive patients( > or =65 years), 12 younger hypertensive patients( <65 years), and 15 normal subjects. RESULTS: 1) Standard deviation of mean R-R interval, LF(low frequency), HF(high frequency), TPSD(total power spectral density) are more decreased in elderly hypertensive patients than in younger hypertensive patients in 24 hours health rate variability analysis(t-test p<0.05). 2) According to age, elderly control group had lower LF power spectral parameter than younger control group had, but other parameters were not decreased, and elderly hypertensive group had lower LF, HF, TPSD, SD of mean R-R interval than younger hypertensive group did(p<0.05). 3) In circardian rhythm, normal subjects had high HF power spectral parameter and low LF power spectral parameter at evening and night. On the other hand, elderly hypertensive group had constant low level of LF, HF power spectral parameter during the day and night. CONCLUSIONS: On heart rate variability analysis using by 24 hours Holter monitoring, heart rate variability was decreased, and impairment of autonomic nervous system was accelerated in elderly hypertensive patients.
Aged* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Circadian Rhythm ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Hand ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Motor Activity ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nervous System ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

BACKGROUND: Glycemic profile has traditionally been with the use of HbAlc over a 2 to 4 month period. Recently, serum fructosamine is highly sensitive to acute metabolic deterioration(period 2 to 3 weeks), and is suitable for automation, allowing multiple assays with minimal effort. In some report, despite evidence suggesting a reduction in serum albumin level with increasing age, serum fructosamine was strongly correlated with HbAlc in elderly diabetic patients. This study was conducted to define the correlation between fructosamine and other parameters in elderly diabetic patients. METHODS: The study group consisted of 56 elderly patients(age range : 66-85 years, group A) and 58 adult patients(age range: 18-64 years, group B), who were stable over recent 2 months in fasting glucose values and serum albumin levels. Fructosamine was measured in 114 diabetic patients. The measured levels were related to HbAlc and fructosamine/albumin index(FAI). RESULTS: 1) There was significant correlation between HbAlc and fructosamine in all diabetic patients(r=0.705, p=0.0001). The correlation between HbAlc and fructosamine was stronger in group A than in group B [group A: r=0.831, group B: r=0.367, p=0.0001](p<0.05). 2) The correlation between HbAlc and FAI was significantly stronger compared to that between HbAlc and fructosamine in elderly diabetic patients(p<0.05). 3) Glycation ratio provides a vector-like insight into the recent trend of glycemia, and Glycation ratio was stable in all diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that correlation between HbAlc and fructosamine in elderly daibetic patients was significantly lower in adult diabetic patients. Further studies are needed to determine the ultimate values of this test in the clinical management of elderly patient with diabetes.
Adult ; Aged* ; Automation ; Fasting ; Fructosamine* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Serum Albumin

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness for vagal stimulation by ice water aplication to face during metronome-controlled respiration of 15 breaths/minute was examed. The importance of basal vagal tone and sympathovagal interaction in the individual variability of responsiveness to the vagal stimulation was investigated. METHOD: Fifty three 12~13 year old healthy volunteers were included. Vagal tone and sympathovagal interaction before and after application of ice water to the face were assessed by power spectral analysis of RR interval(heart rate) variability. RESULT: Basal heart rate, high frequency power, and low to high frequency power ratio were 81+/-13(58~110 beats/min), 791+/-1061(56~4161 msec2) and 1.08+/-1.22(0.04~4.85) during controlled respiration. After ice water application twenty three children developed 5 more nodal escape beats due to severe bradycardia. Minimum heart rate, high frequency power and low to high power ratio changed to 42+/-12(19~72/min), 1890+/-1882(221~7258msec2) and 0.64+/-0.43(0.12~1.46). The increased ratio of high frequency power, maximum heart rate decrement and its percent after stimulation were 5.44+/-5.62(0.63~24.26), 39+/-14(10~81/min) and 47+/-15(16~81%) respectively. The increased ratio of high frequency power was correlated with basal logarithmic high frequency power(r=-0.60, p=0.0004). Maximum heart rate decrement was correlated with basal logarithmic high frequency power(r=-0.41, p=0.0018) and low to high frequency power ratio(r=0.27, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Application of ice water to the face during controlled respiration produces powerful vagal stimulation and bradycardia, however, there is a wide individual variability of responsiveness to it. The absolute basal vagal tone contribute to this individual variability.
Bradycardia ; Child ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Ice* ; Respiration* ; United Nations ; Water*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that systemic blood pressure oscillates with low(0.04~0.1Hz), mid(0.1~0.15Hz), and high(respiratory) frequency range. But there has been no study about oscillation of pulmonary artery pressure(PAP). METHOD: We measured PAP for 5 minutes in 32 patients of ventricular septal defect and stored them to computer files. Power spectral density curve was obtained. Low, mid, respiratory frequency power were measured by integrating the area within each frequency range below the power density curve. RESULT: The incidence of significant low frequency power(more than 5% of total power) were higher in patients of high PAP and hign Rp/Rs than those of low PAP and Rp/Rs(p<0.01 and p<0.005 respectively). The low frequency power positively correlates with PAP and Rp/Rs(r=0.62, p<0.0005 and r=0.61, p=0.0005 respectively). CONCLUSION: It can be said conclusively that as PAP and pulmonary vascular resistance elevates, the PAP tends to definitively oscillate in low frequency range.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of coronary artery disease(CAD) by radionuclide myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is safe, convenient and informative for diagnosis of CAD & assessment of functional significance of stenotic lesions. We tried to evaluate the characteristics of CAD in dibetics by intravenous dipyridamloe (99m)Tc-MIBI(methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) SPECT(Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). METHOD: (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT and coronary arteriography(CAG) were performed simultaneously in less than 2 week interval in 41 diabetics(diabetic group) and 103 non-diabetics(non-diabetic group) with clinical suspicion of CAD. The sensitivity and specificity of (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT for detection of CAD were compared between two groups. The site and number of involved vessels, the extent of perfusion defect and redistribution pattern were compared between two groups. RESULT: 1) The sensitivity and specificity of (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT for detection of CAD were 97% and 80% in diabetics, these were comparable to those in non-diabetics(97% and 78%). 2) Three vessel disease were common(p<0.01)in diabetics(SPECT 28.1%, CAG 32.3%) than in non-diabetics(SPECT 11.4%, CAG 7.5%). Distal lesions were also more common(p<0.005) in diabetics(CAG 40.3%) than in non-diabetics(CAG 15.7%). 3) On stress SPECT, the extent of perfusion defect was not different in individual vessel areas between diabetics and non-diabetics. However the perfusion defect of left ventricle as a whole was significantly higher(p<0.05) in diabetics(35.2+/-16.2%) than in non-diabetics(26.4+/-15.5%). 4) On rest SPECT, the percent redistribution was significantly lower in diabetics than in non-diabetics(left anterior descending artery area ; diabetic group 31.1+/-22.5% vs non-diabetic group ; 49+/-28.5%, p<0.05, left ventricle as a whole ; diabetic group 30.6+/-21.2% vs non-diabetic group 48.2+/-27.6%, p<0.02). CONCLUSION: Quantitative (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT provided high sensitivity and specificity for detection of CAD in diabetics. Multiple vessel disease, distal lesion and fixed lesions were more common in diabetics than in non-diabetics, (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT is useful noninvasive test for diagnosis of CAD & important prognostic implications.
Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Heart Ventricles ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Coronary Sinus*