BACKGROUND: Recently malaria infection became one of the most important parasitic diseases in Korea. After the re-emergence of malaria in a young soldier in 1993 near the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ), three to four thousand people have been infected per year in the last few years and the cases of infection have been increasing threefold each year. Microscopic examination of a thick blood smear is a conventional and confirmatory method for diagnosis. However, it requires labor-intensive procedures and its interpretation is quite subjective. Faster and more reliable methods are needed for the diagnosis of malaria. METHODS: We evaluated 155 patients who were diagnosed as malaria. We performed point-of-care rapid diagnostic methods recently introduced: two antibody detection tests manufactured by Korean companies and one antigen (Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase, pLDH) detection test. The results were compared with those of microscopic examinations of thick blood smears. RESULTS: Sensitivities of two antibody detection assays and one antigen detection assay in acute attacks of malaria were 64.7%, 72.5%, and 96.1%; and, specificities were 88.5%, 89.4%, and 95.1%, respectively. Overall accuracy for all samples were 80.6%, 83.9%, and 95.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antibody detection tests for malaria have limitations in sensitivity and accuracy to replace microscopic examination of blood film. Antigen tests detecting pLDH could replace conventional microscopic examinations of blood film, especially in emergency situations in cases that require prompt medication.
Diagnosis* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Korea* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Malaria* ; Military Personnel ; Parasitic Diseases ; Plasmodium

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Vibration*

No abstract available.
Asbestos*

Immune responses associated with bacterial infection involve various inflammatory cells. Clinical symptoms and pathologic features are particularly influenced by the predominant cells. Among inflammatory cells, T cells have the heterogenity. T cells may develop into the mature cells expressing the cell surface markers with different functions and T helper cells are categorized into Th1 and Th2 cells based on their different patterns of cytokine production. The objective of this study was to investigate the change of expression of surface markers on T cells and the Th1/Th2 immune response in pulpal inflammation associated with specific bacteria. We experimentally induced pulpal inflammation in rat incisors by drilling without coolant and innoculated with Streptococcus mutans (S.M. group), Porphyromonas endodontalis (P.E. group), or only sterile cotton (control group). After 1, 2, and 5 days, mandibular incisors were extracted and the pulp tissues were extirpated. The expressions of IL-2 recepters (CD25) and ICAM-1 (CD54) on CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the pulps were determined using a flow cytometer, and the concentration of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-4 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were as follows; 1. In the S.M. group, CD4+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day and in the P.E. group, CD8+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day. 2. The percentages of CD4+, CD4+25+ and CD4+54+ cells were decreased in the pulp tissues at 5th day after irritation in all groups. 3. The ratios of CD4+/CD8+, CD4+/CD4+25+ and CD4+/CD4+54+ in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis were significantly lower than the other groups. 4. The higher concentrations of IFN-gamma than IL-4 in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis showed that T helper 1 reaction were predominant in the early stage of the pulpal inflammation induced by P. endodontalis. 5. The higher concentrations of IL-4 than IFN-gamma in the pulps at 1st day and 5th day after irritation by S. mutans were measured but the differences were not significant.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Incisor ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphocytes ; Mandrillus ; Porphyromonas endodontalis ; Rats ; Streptococcus mutans ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Th2 Cells

Early recognition of coalescence in pneumoconiotic lesions is important because such coalescence is associated with the respiratory symptoms and deterioration of lung function. This complicated form of pneumoconiosis also has worse prognosis than does simple pneumoconiosis. High resolution computerized tomography(HRCT) provides significant additional information on the stage of the pneumoconiosis because it easily detects coalescence of nodules and emphysema that may not be apparent on the simple radiograph. The Purpose of this study is to clarify the role of HRCT in detection of large opacity and the relationship of change between the coalescence of nodules or emphysema and lung function in dust exposed workers. 1. There was good correlation between the HRCT grade of pneumoconiosis and ILO category of profusion. 5(9.09%) in 55 study population had confluent nodule extending over two or more cuts on HRCT. HRCT could identify the pneumoconiotic nodules which was not found by simple radiography in 6 workers with category 0/0. 2. No significant difference was observed coalescence of nodules and emphysema by dust type. 3. There was no significant difference in pulmonary function according to ILO and HRCT classification. 4. HRCT could detect the significant reduction in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEER, FEF25, FEF50, and FEF75 and remarkable increase in RV and TLC in study persons with emphysema compared with non-emphysema group. 5. Emphysema was found more often in nodules-coalescence group than small opacity group by HRCT. We found that HRCT could easily detect areas of coalescence and complicated emphysema compared to plain chest X-ray. Also our data suggest that it is primarily the degree of emphysema rather than the degree of pneumoconiosis that determines the level of pulmonary function.
Classification ; Dust ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Thorax

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors for widespread pain and its influence on quality of life in residents of Korean communities. A rural and an urban community were selected, and 5,037 subjects were surveyed. Participants were asked if they had pain, aching, or stiffness in any of their joints on most days. Widespread pain was defined as pain above the waist, below the waist, on both sides of the body and in the axial region. The prevalence of widespread pain was 12% (16.2% and 5.5% in females and males, respectively). It was more frequent among females and increased with age in both genders. Age, female gender, and the presence of hand or knee arthritis were significantly associated with widespread pain after multivariate analysis. Except for mental health, all the items in the SF-12 were adversely affected in the widespread pain group after adjustment for confounding factors. Our findings show that the prevalence of widespread pain among residents of Korean communities is comparable to that reported among Caucasians. The significantly worse quality of life among subjects with widespread pain suggests that it may cause major health issues in the aging population.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Demography ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Pain/*epidemiology/psychology ; Prevalence ; *Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Urban Population

No abstract available.
Erythrocyte Membrane* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Mineral Fibers*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to construct reference data for birth length of full-term and preterm Korean infants by sex and to define a sex-specific birth length cut-off to identify small for gestational age (SGA).METHODS: Data were collected from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2009), comprising 843 children with birth length data and birth history.RESULTS: References for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles of birth length and weight were created using singleton neonates of gestational age (GA) 36–37 weeks and 38–41 weeks by sex. The birth length cutoff value for SGA (<10th percentile) was 48 cm in both male and female neonates, and the ≤3rd percentile cutoff was 47 cm in males and 46 cm in females born at a GA of 38–41 weeks.CONCLUSION: New Korean reference data were created for birth length and differed from those of other ethnicities. Further research on short-term and long-term health outcomes of SGA infants based on the new reference data is needed.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Parturition ; Reproductive History