A survey was conducted to study perception and attitudes of examinees of, health screening center towards items, cost and procedures of health examination and degree of satisfaction with health examination, from March 2 to May 31, 1995. The study population was 468 examinees received health examination at Health Screening & Diagnosis Center of Yeungnam University Hospital. A questionnaire method was used to collect data. The followings are summaries of findings Examinees were predominantly male(77.4%) ; had college education(68.6%), and held white-collar workers (57.8%). Statistical significance of association between frequency of periodic health examination and other variables
Diagnosis ; Mass Screening*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to investigate what aspects of evaluation was ordered for diagnosis of dementia up to the present in Korea. METHODS: Article review was performed via web searching. We searched the Korean Medical Database (KMbase) for title words containing 'dementia'. Only original articles were used for the analysis. According to the published year, all articles were divided into three stage (1990-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2003). The data was collected for what instruments were used and what clinical diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of dementia. RESULTS: 97 studies were identified through a KM base search of all Korean-language publications between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2003. Mini-Mental State Examination was not only most commonly applied screening test for dementia in all three stage, also mainly employed as a standard test for validating other screening test. The trends that the DSM clinical diagnotic criteria was soley used were changed in later stage, and then much more studies used NINCDS-ADRDA and NINDS-AIREN criteria in conjunction with DSM diagnostic criteria. Variable instruments to assess functional impairment and behavioral problem were more widely used in three stage than before. In addition, usage of the neuroimage was significantly increased in the 3rd stage. CONCLUSION: This results show increasing trend in study on dementia in Korea with the aid of systematic diagnosis of dementia including specific clinical diagnosis, screening test, cognitive function test, functional and behavioral assessment.
Dementia* ; Diagnosis* ; Korea ; Mass Screening

Once diagnosed as "cell paucity" or "atypia" by the cytospin (CS) preparation, this CS preparation does not secure a precise diagnosis by repeated testing alone. Although the ThinPrep(R) (TP) preparation is acknowledged to show increased cellularity, performing the screening tests for the cases that have enough cellularity, according to CS, raises issues for the cost-effectiveness. To obtain a more precise diagnosis through increasing the cellularity by performing TP, we selected the cases that were diagnosed as "cell paucity" or "atypia" by CS, but they required a more precise diagnosis, and the samples were processed via both CS and TP to compare the results. 11 patients diagnosed as "cell paucity" and 22 patients diagnosed as "atypia" by CS participated in this study. When the detection rate of atypical cells in both preparations with repeated urine cytology was compared, the overall detection rate of TP (16cases, 48.5%) was superior than that of CS (11cases, 33.3%), with statistical significance. The cellularity of both preparations was compared on repeated urine cytology; the general cellularity of TP (29cases, 87.9%) was higher than that of CS (20cases, 60.6%), but there was no statistical significance. Particularly, we repeated the TP for the 1 case that was diagnosed as "atypia" and we performed polyoma virus immunohistochemical staining, which confirmed polyoma virus. In conclusion, we can avoid obtaining negative diagnosis from cases with uncertain "atypia" or "cell paucity" by performing repeated TP testing.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Polyomavirus

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is common nail problem and requires administration of antifungal agent for long period. But several cutaneous diseases can produce similar nail changes and an inexpensive, quick and sensitive test is essential for screening nail specimens. Recently, there have been several reports of new method for diagnosing onychomycosis and fungi-Fluor(R)stain, which had been used to detect fungal elements in the tissue, was not used for diagnosing onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of the new method using Fungi-Fluor(R)solution for the diagnosis of onychomycosis, and compare with other methods. METHODS: During the study period, nail samples obtained from 72 patients with onychomycosis were tested for Fungi-Fluor(R)solution and the results of that were compared with those of KOH smear, fungal culture and KONCPA test. RESULTS: The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. The positive rates of conventional KOH nail scraping preparation, fungal culture, KONCPA and Fungi-Fluor(R)staining were 47.2%,40.3%, 77.8%, and 86.1%, respectively. 2. Fungi-Fluor(R)staining proved to be less time-consuming than KONCPA test. 3. Compared to KONCPA and Fungi-Fluor(R)staining, KOH preparation and fungal culture showed high false positive rate. 4. Though both KONCPA and Fungi-Fluor(R)staining showed higher positive rate in toenail than fingernail, there were no statistic significance. CONCLUSION: The Fungi-Fluor(R)solution staining is rapid, inexpensive, and highly sensitive method to detect fungal elements in the nails.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nails ; Onychomycosis*

BACKGROUND: Fundus photographs performed during health check-up were reviewed to determine the usefulness in mass screening. METHODS: Subjects consistine of 3017 people who had undergone physical health check up at the Health Clinic, Dong-Eui Medical Center in 1997 and whose fundus photographs of both eyes were taken showing clearly visible posterior pole and optic disc were chosen as subjects. Medical records which included cases of reported close exam and causes, actual cases of close exam and final diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 3017 people, reported close exam was performed in 665 (22.0%). Among them glaucoma was suspected in 460 retinal hemorrhagic lesion in 63, retinal degenerative lesion in 67 and others in 75. There were 187 actual cases(28.1%) of close exam including glaucoma suspect in 79, retinal hemorrhagic lesion 47, retinal degenerative lesion 34 and others 27. Among 187 actual cases of close exam, 140 people (1.3%) were eventually diagnosed as glaucoma suspect (60), retinal hemorrhagic lesion (38), retinal degenerative lesion (21) and others (21). CONCLUSIONS: Fundus photographs are useful in mass screening, but performing close exam to enhance the usefulness of the fundus photographs is necessary.
Diagnosis ; Glaucoma ; Mass Screening* ; Medical Records ; Retinaldehyde

Correct diagnosis and successful therapy are extremely important to enjoy a healthy life when suffering from a disease. To achieve these aims, various cutting-edge technologies have been designed and fabricated to diagnose and treat specific diseases. Among these technologies, aptamer–nanomaterial hybrids have received considerable attention from scientists and doctors because they have numerous advantages over other methods, such as good biocompatibility, low immunogenicity and controllable selectivity. In particular, aptamers, oligonucleic acids or peptides that bind to a specific target molecule, are regarded as outstanding biomolecules. In this review, several screening techniques for aptamers, also called systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) methods, are introduced, and diagnostic and therapeutic aptamer applications are also presented. Furthermore, we describe diverse aptamer–nanomaterial conjugate designs and their applications for diagnosis and therapy.
Diagnosis ; Mass Screening ; Peptides ; SELEX Aptamer Technique

BACKGROUND: Serologic testing is considered a standard method for syphilis diagnosis. We compared Auto RPR Plus and Auto TPIM Plus with previously developed assays. METHODS: The precision around the cut-off, linearity, and recovery rate of Auto RPR Plus and Auto TPIM Plus was evaluated using their positive/negative control materials. The results of these two tests were compared with those of Mediace RPR and Abbott Syphilis TP using 431 remnant serum samples collected from people who underwent medical examinations. RESULTS: The within-run precisions (coefficient of variation, CV values) of negative/positive control materials of Auto RPR Plus, Mediace RPR, Auto TPIM Plus and Abbott Syphilis TP were 15.7/2.3%, 20.4/2.3%, -/2.7%, and 8.5/2.3%, respectively; between-run precisions were 67.7/3.3%, 39.1/3.4%, -/4.0%, and 7.0/1.5%, respectively. Auto RPR Plus showed better precision around the cutoff level (1.0 U) compared to Mediace RPR (7.2–7.3% vs. 12.2–14.3%). The CVs of Auto TPIM Plus around the cutoff (10.0 U) were 13.5% at 10.5 U and 6.6% at 12.5 U. Agreement rates between Auto RPR Plus and Mediace RPR and between Auto TPIM Plus and Abbott Syphilis TP were 97.2% and 98.4%, respectively. However, twelve samples showed discrepant results for Auto RPR Plus (−)/Mediace RPR (+) and false-positive Mediace RPR results could not be excluded around the cutoff of 1.0 U. CONCLUSIONS: Auto RPR Plus showing good precision near the cutoff can be used for syphilis screening in health checkups. However, Auto TPIM Plus needs improvement in precision and adjusting the cutoff to be used for syphilis screening.
Diagnosis* ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*

There has been great progress in diagnosis of dementia. Diagnosis of dementia involves the early detection of a significant cognitive deficit from normal aging and differential diagnostic approach of the cause of the cognitive impairment. Although there is controversy whether screening tools are useful for early detection of dementia, many brief screening tests have been developed and widely used. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the brief instrument most commonly used to assess cognitive changes in dementia. The MMSE has limitations, but it has been translated into many languages with modest adjustments. It also has been translated and standardized into three Korean versions (MMSE-K, K-MMSE, MMSE-KC) and there are several studies comparing the diagnostic validities between Korean MMSE versions. All three versions have good validities for screening dementia. Other brief screening instruments that have been translated and standardized in Korean may have clinical utility in early diagnosis of dementia. In conclusion, use of screening instruments such as the MMSE, especially in high risk elderly group can be recommended to increase early detection of dementia.
Aged ; Aging ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mass Screening*

BACKGROUND: Rapid detection of bacteriuria is desirable for diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the cytocentrifuge Gram stain, uncentrifuged Gram stain, and urinary nitrite, leukocyte esterase to determine the exclusion of urine culture. METHODS: A cytocentrifuge Gram stain procedure and urine dipstick test were performed to screen for bacteriuria using 155 random fresh urine specimens submitted for routine culture. The authors compared the results of the cytocentrifuge Gram stain, urinary nitrite, leukocyte esterase and multiapplication of three tests with the results of culture. Result: Compared with positive urine culture(>105CFU/mL), cytocentrifuge Gram stain had a good negative predictive value(96.0%) and sensitivity(89.1%). The urinary nitrite and leukocyte esterase test had very low sensitivity(27.0%, 45.9%), respectively. The multiapplication of cytocentrifuge Gram stain, urinary nitrite and leukocyte esterase had a excellent negative predictive value(98.9%) and sensitivity(97.3%), and agree with urine culture positive(36/37 cases, 97.3%). CONCLUSION: Multiapplication of urinary cytocentrifuge Gram stain, nitrite and leukocyte esterase test is a useful screening test for the rapid exclusion of bacteriuria and provides rapid morphologic information about suspected pathogens in cases with positive urine culture.
Bacteriuria* ; Diagnosis ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Urinary Tract Infections

This study concerns the reaction of clinistix paper to tear sugar in normal and diabetics patients. 54 proven cases of diabetes mellitus were studies. In addition, 20 more cases of non-diabetic patients were used as control. The result showed that the percentage of negative tear sugar tests in patients whose fasting sugar was definitely elevated was much lower than the urine sugar test. In addition, the tear sugar tests 2 hours after a loading dose of glucose were all positive in diabetic patients, while this was not always so with urine sugar tests. Our conclusion is that tear sugar test is a much more sensitive test for the screening of diabetes mellitus than urine sugar may be helpful in detecting latent diabetic.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diagnosis* ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Mass Screening