• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-50
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• 2023

As the field of interventional pain management (IPM) grows, the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) is increasing. SSI is defined as an infection of the incision or organ/space that occurs within one month after operation or three months after implantation. It is also common to find patients with suspected infection in an outpatient clinic. The most frequent IPM procedures are performed in the spine. Even though primary pyogenic spondylodiscitis via hematogenous spread is the most common type among spinal infections, secondary spinal infections from direct inoculation should be monitored after IPM procedures. Various preventive guidelines for SSI have been published. Cefazolin, followed by vancomycin, is the most commonly used surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in IPM. Diagnosis of SSI is confirmed by purulent discharge, isolation of causative organisms, pain/tenderness, swelling, redness, or heat, or diagnosis by a surgeon or attending physician. Inflammatory markers include traditional (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count) and novel (procalcitonin, serum amyloid A, and presepsin) markers. Empirical antibiotic therapy is defined as the initial administration of antibiotics within at least 24 hours prior to the results of blood culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Definitive antibiotic therapy is initiated based on the above culture and testing. Combination antibiotic therapy for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria infections appears to be superior to monotherapy in mortality with the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance rates. The never-ending war between bacterial resistance and new antibiotics is continuing. This article reviews prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infection in pain medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1391-1396
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• 2014

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and the most common cause of lung cancer death. Currently, the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor gefitinib is used for its treatment; however, drug resistance is a major obstacle. Expression of Met has been associated with both primary and acquired resistance to gefitinib, but the mechanisms regulating its expression are not fully understood. Recently, miRNAs such as miR-130a have been shown to play a role in gefitinib resistance, but importance in NSCLC and relationships with Met have not been fully explored. Here we show that miR-130a is over-expressed in gefitinibsensitive NSCLC cell lines, but is low in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines. Moreover, miR-130a expression was negatively correlated with that of Met. Further analysis revealed that over-expression of miR-130a increased cell apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of NSCLC cells treated with gefitinib, whereas lowering the expression of miR-130a decreased cell apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation after treatment with gefitinib in both gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant NSCLC cell lines, suggesting that miR-130a overcomes gefitinib resistance. We also demonstrated that miR-130a binds to the 3'-UTR of Met and significantly suppresses its expression. Finally, our results showed that over-expressing Met could "rescue" the functions of miR-130a regarding cell apoptosis and proliferation after cells are treated with gefitinib. These findings indicate that the miR-130a/Met axis plays an important role in gefitinib resistance in NSCLC. Thus, the miR-130a/Met axis may be an effective therapeutic target in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1995

Background: Although pulmonary tuberculosis is effectively controlled with 6 months or 9 months short course standard regimens, comparable numbers of treatment failures ensued because of inadequate treatment mainly due to patient's poor compliance. Indequate treatment with standard regimens during initial treatment may cause emergence of drug resistance and prolong the duration of chemotherapy. Also it may make the patient lesser compliant and finally increase the morbidity and the mortality. Methods: A clinical study was done to evaluate clinical and bacteriological characteristics of 94 patients who were retreated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: 1) 62 of the 94 patients were male and 32 patients were female. Mean age is 51 years old in male and 45 years old in female. 2) The extent of the disease on the chest radiograph was minimal in 10(11.1%) patients, moderate in 31(33.3%) patients, and far advanced in 52(55.6%) patients. 3) On sputum bacteriologic examination, 73(77.7%) patients were positive in sputum AFB smear and/or culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 4) Results of drug sensitivity test performed in 42 patients showed that the resistance to one drug is in 9(20.5%) patients, two drugs in 18(40.8%) patients, and more than three drugs in 14(31.8%) patients. 5) Poor patient's compliance was the leading cause of the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis(43.6%) 6) Only 24(25.5%) patients of the 94 retreatment patients were successfully treated and 39(41.6%) patients were dropped out during follow-up. Conclusion: We concluded that poor patient's compliance was the most important cause of treatment failure not only in primary treatment patients but also in retreatment patients. Primary treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis should be completed under strict monitoring of the patient because significant number of retreatment patients had multiple drug resistance and poor outcome.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2004

Many strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from pus samples from primary, secondary, and tertiary medical institutions and were subjected to an antibiotic sensitivity test. Ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, oxacillin penicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin and teicoplanin were used for the antibiotic sensitivity test. The strains showed hightest resistance to penicillin(91%), but all of strains tested were susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. The isolated multi-drug(penicillin-tetracycline-ciprofloxacin-clindamycin-erythromycin- oxacillin-gentamicin) resistant S. aureus were analyzed genotypically using an AP-PCR(Arbitrarily Primed polymerase chain reaction) with an arbitrary 3 primers. Based on the result for genotype analysis, the genotypes identified by S1 primer did not coincide with those of S2 or E2 primers. Genotypes identified by S2 primer did not coincide with those of S1 or E2 primers. Also genotypes identified by the E2 primer did not coincide with those of S1 or S2 primers. Therefore, an analysis of AP-PCR test with multiple primers will provide more sensitive identification. A strain from a secondary medical institution and a strain from a tertiary medical institution which showed the same genotype for S1, S2, and E2 primers are required for further epidemiological study.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.300-315
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• 2024

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the deadliest malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a primary protein secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs); however, its role and mechanisms of action of Gal-1 in GC remain unclear. In this study, we stimulated GC cells with exogenous human recombinant galectin-1 protein (rhGal-1) to investigate its effects on the proliferation, migration, and resistance to cisplatin. Materials and Methods: We used simulated rhGal-1 protein as a paracrine factor produced by CAFs to induce GC cells and investigated its promotional effects and mechanisms in GC progression and cisplatin resistance. Immunohistochemical (IHC) assay confirmed that Gal-1 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters and correlated with the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), c-JUN, and Wee1. Results: Our study reveals Gal-1 expression was significantly associated with poor outcomes. Gal-1 boosts the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells by activating the NRP-1/C-JUN/Wee1 pathway. Gal-1 notably increases GC cell resistance to cisplatin The NRP-1 inhibitor, EG00229, effectively counteracts these effects. Conclusions: These findings revealed a potential mechanism by which Gal-1 promotes GC growth and contributes to chemoresistance, offering new therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 2008

To isolate Bacillus cereus presenting at a level of 5 log CFU/g in kochujang, a primary dilution ($10^{-1}$) of kochujang was heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for 5 min. Two isolated strains Voges-Proskauer positive colony (KBC) and a negative colony (KBM) were identified as B. cereus and Bacillus mycoides, respectively, by biochemical test and 16S rDNA sequencing. $D_{100^{\circ}C}$-Values of KBC and KBM strains was 8.37 and 7.08 min, respectively. When spores of KBC strain were inoculated to kochujang at the level of 4-5 log spores/g, the number of spores was no significant difference (p<0.05) for each sample from 1 up to 60 day of aging. When kochujang was inoculated with 4 log spores/g and heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, the number of spores was similar to that of unheated kochujang. Therefore, we estimated that B. cereus isolated from kochujang resistant on the heat treatment ($85^{\circ}C$, 15 min) and its heat resistance characteristics could be used to count the number in kochtjang.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2014

The resistance against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in wild marine crab Gaetice depressus by the immunization of a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fused VP28 protein (GST-VP28) was evaluated. The cumulative mortalities of GST-VP28 injected groups were lower than those of the control groups at 10 days of post-challenge, and the time to death of 50% crab ($TD_{50}$) was delayed by the immunization using GST-VP28. The group boosted with GST-VP28 after 2 weeks of primary immunization clearly showed longer $TD_{50}$ than non-boosted group against challenge with WSSV. This result suggests that boosting with the antigen protein elicit stronger immune responses similar to adaptive immune responses of vertebrates. However, the short $TD_{50}$ was observed in the group challenged at 3 weeks post boosting comparing to the group challenged at 1 week post boosting. This suggests that the protective strength of immunization decreased by the time.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2013

Staphylococcus species are one of prevalent pathogens found in hospitals. Microbes that are a primary cause of nosocomial infection were isolated from a dental and medical environment it may assist the reader to explain what this is and how it differs from the 'dental health care providers and ward health care providers'. To investigate the distribution of staphylococcus species in this environment, we used vitek II to measure drug sensitivity, and further performed biochemical testing. The isolation rate of staphylococcus species from the dental and medical environment was 100% but from dental health care providers and ward health care providers were 44.4% and 33.3%, respectively. In the analyses, staphylococcus species showed resistance to diffusion of cefoxitin and oxacillin discs. These staphylococci may be sufficiently positive for the mecA gene. Our results suggest that staphylococci might be an important cause of nosocomial infection in the dental clinic.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.672-679
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• 2010

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide epidemic with high mortality. As concern over this disease rises, the number and value of research grants awarded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) have increased. Diabetes mellitus is classified into two groups. Type 1 diabetes requires insulin treatment, whereas type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by insulin resistance, can be treated using a variety of therapeutic approaches. Hyperglycemia is thought to be a primary factor in the onset of diabetes, although hyperlipidemia also plays a role. The major organs active in the regulation of blood glucose are the pancreas, liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, intestine, and kidney. Diabetic complications are generally classified as macrovascular (e.g., stroke and heart disease) or microvascular (i.e., diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy). Several animal models of diabetes have been used to develop oral therapeutic agents, including sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, acarbose, and miglitol, for both type 1 and type 2 diseases. This review provides an overview of diabetes mellitus, describes oral therapeutic agents for diabetes and their targets, and discusses new developments in diabetic drug research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.111-132
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• 2001

Depression in the medically ill is a common clinical problem that primary physicians and psychiatric consultants encounter. Treatment of such patients begins with a careful evaluation of the patient's medical and psychiatric conditions. The assessment of depression in the medical patients requires a multidimensional approach. Psychological instruments are also used as a method of assessment in these patients. First of all, what the therapists have to do is to find and remove organic causes. Psychosoical treatment includes dealing with the patient's resistance and despondency relevant to physical diseases. For biological treatment, it is important to select appropriate antidepressants. Therapists should be familiar with the side effects of the antidepressants as well as the patient's primary depressive symptoms, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the available agents. In addition, special attention should be paid to the potential for drug-illness and drug-drug interactions. Tricyclic antidepressants can be still effectively used for patients with pain disorder, although a variety of new antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), bupropion and venlafaxine could have more benefits in depression of the medically ill. However, electroconvulsive therapy can be recommended for refractory cases of depression in patients with medical illness.