Two types of urine dipstick assays, Multistix-SG and Comber-9-Test RL, were compared for compatibility, accuracy, specificity and predictive values of a positive and negative test in 501 patients' urine and artificially prepared specimen. We found that the results of semiquantitative tests of Multistix-SG and Comber-9-Test RL performed were statistically similar in patients' specimen. The urinary leukocyte esterase tests of Comber-9-Test RL assays compared with urine sediment microscopy in regard to compatibility, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of a positive and negative test 83.7%, 48.1%, 90.3%, 47.4% and 90.1%, respectively. The urinary nitrite tests of Comber-9-Test RL assays compared with urine culture tests, in regard to compatibility, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of a positive and negative test were 90.3%, 19.4%, 84.7%, 53.8% and 94.1, respectively. For the urinary protein, the sulfosalicylic acid method was the most sensitive test for any kinds of protein, and Multistix-SG appeared more sensitive than Comber-9-Test RL for the albuminuria. For the urinary bilirubin and glucose, two dipstick assays were similar in their diagnostic efficiency. Finally in the urinary occult blood tests, Comber-9-Test RL assays was more sensitive than Multistix-SG.
Albuminuria ; Bilirubin ; Glucose ; Leukocytes ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.

Screening test of Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infection was introduced on Korean Blood Donor Test Program in July 1987, and the test results between July 1987 and December 1990 were reported on the Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion on May 1992. Moreover, we assessed anti-HIV ELISA screening test result of 3,905,986 blood donors donated at Korean Red Cross Blood Centers between January 1991 and December 1993. The seropositivity of anti-HIV ELISA screening test was 0.26% in 1991, 0.30% in 1992 and 0.18% in 1993.0.15% of all donors in 1991 was reactive repeatedly, and 0.15% in 1992 and 0.08% in 1993. The prevalence of HIV infected donors confirmed by Western Blot Assay was 0.0003% in 1991, 0.0015% in 1992, and 0.0009% in 1993. The sero-positivities of anti-HIV screening tests with AIDSDIA reagent and HIVIRO reagent were 0.32% and 0.17% and the difference was significantly(p<0.05). The sero-positivities of ELISA screening and Western Blot. Assay detecting anti-HIV were lower in soldier group than in non-soldier donor group (p< 0.05).
Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence* ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

o evaluate the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis marker among Korean healthy voluntary blood donors, the positive rates of both serum HBsAg and anti-HCV were analyzed. HBsAg testing was performed in 9,561,768 donors from January 1986 to June 1994 and anti-HCV testing was performed in 4,407,933 donors from May 1991 to June 1994. Positive rates of HBsAg were 3.76% to 6.87% per year and anti-HCV were 0.37% to 0.58% per year. The sex distribution of positive HBsAg and anti-HCV showed higher in male that in female. The age distribution of positive HBsAg was higher in 3th decade and anti-HCV was in 5th decade. The positive prevalence rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV showed highter above the serum ALT 45 IU. The positive rate of HBsAg was higher in group voluntary donors and anti-HCV in various other type of voluntary blood donors. In generally, the positive prevalence rate of HBsAg and anti-HCV showing however decreasing number in every year.
Age Distribution ; Blood Donors* ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Tissue Donors

It is known that the painful sensation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) results in sleep problems in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is not known that the painless DPN also is associated with poor sleep quality in T2DM. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between painless DPN and poor sleep quality in T2DM.

It is known that the painful sensation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) results in sleep problems in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is not known that the painless DPN also is associated with poor sleep quality in T2DM. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between painless DPN and poor sleep quality in T2DM.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the cleansing performance of a distilled water, a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite as a household bleaching cleanser and three alkaline peroxide cleansers in vivo plaque deposits by using scanning electron microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five individuals were selected from department of the prosthodontics in Pusan National University Hospital, and each of them was inserted with specimens for plaque accumulation in their temporary dentures for 48 hours. The specimens were removed and cleaned by each cleansing agents for 8 hours. Scanning electron micrographs were made from the specimens at a magnification of x2,000. A panel of ten persons with a dental or paradental background, but not directly involved in the study, was selected to analyze the photomicrographs to determine which denture cleanser was more effective in removing plaque. RESULTS: Diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite was the most effective at removing plaque following Polident(R), Cleadent(R)e, Bonyplus(R) and distilled water in order. But there was no significant difference of cleansing efficacy between diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite and Polident(R), Polident(R) and Cleadent(R)e, Cleadent(R)e and Bonyplus(R), respectively (P > .05). Alkaline peroxide cleansers by themselves cannot adequately remove accumulated plaque deposits, especially if the deposits are heavy. Corrosion could be seen on the surface of non-precious alloy specimens immersed in diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to use of alkaline peroxide type cleansers with brushing whenever possible, since denture cleanliness is often poor due to the relative inefficiency of these cleansers.
Alloys ; Corrosion ; Denture Cleansers ; Dentures ; Detergents ; Electrons ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Prosthodontics ; Sodium ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Water

BACKGROUND: Staphylococci are major nosocomial pathogens and reveal an increase in resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. For treatment of infection and prevention of dissemination, rapid and reliable identification methods are required but the conventional bacterial identification and susceptibility tests require at least 24 hours. In this study, we evaluated the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the antibiotic resistant genes by comparing with the disk diffusion susceptibility test for the detection of resistance to penicillin, oxacillin and gentamicin. METHODS: A hundred-thirty-five staphylococci including 95 S. aureus and 40 S. epidermidis were from clinical specimens from June to December 2000. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done using the NCCLS disk diffusion method. PCRs were performed with primer sets specific for mecA, blaZ and aac(6')-aph(2"). The species-specific PCR was also used to identify S. aureus and S. epidermidis. RESULTS: All four penicillin-susceptible staphylococci were negative for blaZ and 108 of 131 penicillin resistant-staphylococci were positive for blaZ. The concordance rate for PCR of the blaZ gene and penicillin disk diffusion test was 83.0%. 110 of 115 oxacillin-resistant staphylococci were positive for mecA and all five mecA negative oxacillin-resistant strains were positive for blaZ and have the phenotype beta-Lactamase hyperproducer. One of the oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus was positive for mecA. The concordance rate of PCR for the mecA gene and oxacillin disk diffusion test and those of the aac(6')-aph(2") gene and gentamicin disk diffusion test was 95.6% and 97.8%, respectively. CONCLUSTIONS: The disk diffusion tests misdiagnosed 25% of the mecA negative staphylococci as methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) and lost one of the mecA positive strain. We considered that the detection of the mecA and blaZ gene using the PCR was more useful than the disk diffusion test for detection of methicillin-resistant staphylococci.
beta-Lactamases ; Diffusion ; Gentamicins ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oxacillin ; Penicillins ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E may protect against the toxic effect of oxygen free radicals that are preferentially produced after exposures to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). This study investigated the effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on lung after HBO exposure. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 to 250 g were exposed to HBO at 3 ATA of 100% O2 for 3 hours. The experimental groups were given vitamin C (125 mg/day per rat) and/or vitamin E (50 mg/day per rat) orally, from 5 days prior to the HBO exposure to the day of sacrifice. Serum NO concentrations were determined by measuring NO end product nitrite by non-enzymatic Griess assay. Expression of ICAM-1 on lung was observed by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The serum nitrite levels were significantly increased after HBO exposure and were higher at 24 hours after HBO exposure than at 0 h (P<0.05). The expression of ICAM-1 was weak immediately after HBO exposure and enhanced at 24 hours. There were no pronounced suppressive effects of vitamins on serum NO production and ICAM-1 expression induced by the 3 hours HBO exposure. CONCLUSION: The 3 hours HBO exposure induces the serum NO production and ICAM-1 expression on lung. The short-term supplementation of vitamin C or/and E do not suppress the NO production and ICAM-1 expression on lung.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Lung ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; Oxygen* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

Tensiomyography (TMG) is known as non-invasive method which assesses the muscular characteristics such as contraction velocity or maximal displacement of the belly. The aim of this study was to evaluate muscular responses by TMG after muscle injury and to introduce using TMG first in Korea. This study was performed with a subject who was diagnosed with muscular injury and consent measuring and following up TMG analyses. A female patient, who was diagnosed left hip adductor muscle strain, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and TMG at intervals of two weeks. We obtained decreased in displace maximum (Dm, 4.14 vs. 5.69) and altered curve shape in the injured muscle at the initial TMG assessment in comparison to the non-injured side. After two weeks, MRI findings and symptom were improved and Dm in the injured side increased as in the non-injured muscle. These findings suggest that a decrease in Dm indicate increased in muscle stiffness after muscle injury, and an increase in Dm as in the non-injured side after two weeks indicate recovered status. TMG may be useful as a simple and non-invasive device for monitoring muscle function after muscle injury and during the recovery.
Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging