Diagnostic ; Neisseria ; Gonorrhea ; Comparative Study

The “Kokon Hoi” was compiled by Koga Tsugen and was the most widely used formulary in the Edo era. Here are the results of this author's examination of various “Kokon Hoi” editions.1) Koga Tsugen received the source book of “Kokon Hoi” from the publisher Umemura, and compiled “Sanpo Kokon Hoi”.2) The original edition of “Kokon Hoi” was published by Umemura in around1692. This edition was a lengthwise book and contained 1263 prescriptions, which is the fewest of all the editions examined here.3) Umemura published an expanded edition of the original “Kokon Hoi” around1696. This was an oblong book, and included almost all of the prescriptions of the original “Kokon Hoi” with an additional 273 prescriptions.4) At the request of Umemura, Koga Tsugen published “Sanpo Kokon Hoi” with an additional 348 prescriptions in 1733, and subsequently, “Jutei Kokon Hoi” with an additional 43 prescriptions in 1747. “Jutei Kokon Hoi” was then reprinted in the years 1780, 1808 and 1862.
Books ; Editions ; Comparative Study ; historical period ; seconds

The clinical bacteriology laboratory has to be prepared to isolate and identify anaerobes as the implication of anaerobes in clinical infections is increasing. Although many types of thioglycollate media have been widely used for the enrichment growth of anerobes, different types are known to have different growth supporting ability. GAM is a recently developed medium, which is said to support a good growth of anaerobes. This study was made to compare GAM and the commonly used thioglycollate medium. It was found that BTM was superior to FTM, but GAM was showing the heaviest growth after a short incubation time. Hemoglobin powder added to FTM or BTM greatly improved growth of Bacteroides without impairing the clarity of the media. Supplementation of FTM with 1/4 strength each of BHI and TSB, and 1000 mg of hemoglobin per liter of medium improved growth of anaerobes. Among all of the tested media, GAM gave the best results for the cultivation of anaerobes including Bacteroides and Fusobacterium.
Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/growth & development* ; Comparative Study ; Culture Media* ; Hemoglobins ; Thioglycolates*

A daily count of air borne pollen was done within the city limits of Seoul, Korea for a period of two years (1984-1985) using Durham's Gravity Sampling Device. Two major pollen seasons, March through May, and the month of September, were easily distinguishable. The concentration of the different types of pollen as well as all of the pollens combined varied similarly both years to a significant degree. The pollen types found in the greatest numbers were Alnus (March), Populus (April), Quercus (April-May), Pinus(May), grasses (September), and weeds (September). The main weed pollens detected in September, sagebrush, ragweed and Japanese hop would also be considered to be important allergenic pollens of respiratory allergy in Korea. The results of the survey are discussed in the light of especially relevant published literature.
Air Pollution/analysis* ; Comparative Study ; Human ; Korea ; Pollen/analysis* ; Seasons

Pulmonary Function tests are widely used in clinical practice in the assessment of a variety of patients. the values obtained in this test are obtained using the standard formula made by Morris et al based on the age and height of Caucasian population.

in this study, a comparison was made of the PFT results of 358 patients using both the Morris Standard formula and those made by Roa et al based on a filipino population, using the statistical program MICROSTAT. results revealed a statistically significant difference in practically all variables, except for the FEV% and the FVC in males, this means therefore that the filipino standard developed by Roa et al should be used since the final patient classification significantly changes.

The number and sizes of corneocytes in 10 different sites on young, healthy adults of both sexes were estimated, using the detergent scrub technique and an automatic cytographic counter. At all collection sites the count was higher in the males-significantly so at all sites except the palm and cubital fossa. At all collection sites except the popliteal fossa and the heel, the corneocytes were larger in the females-significantly so at the cubital fossa, medial upper arm, abdomen, and back sites.
Adult ; Cell Count ; Comparative Study ; Epidermis/cytology* ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Sex Factors

This study was undertaken to determine if better results could be achieved by comparing the results of a thoracic sympathetic ramicotomy (division of rami communicantes) with a conventional thoracic sympathicotomy (division of sympathetic trunk) for treating essential hyperhidrosis. From August 2001 to February 2002, 29 consecutive patients underwent surgery of the sympathetic nerves in order to treat severe essential hyperhidrosis. Of these patients, a ramicotomy was performed under VATS (VATS-R) in 13 patients, sympathicotomy under VATS (VATS-S) in 13, a unilateral ramicotomy and contralateral sympathicotomy under VATS (VATS-RS) in 2 and a sympathicotomy via a thoracotomy (T-S) in 1. There was no significant difference between the VATS ramicotomy group (VATS-R, n=13) and VATS sympathicotomy group (VATS-S, n=13) in terms of gender, pleural adhesions or comorbidities. However, the age of the VATS-S group at surgery was higher than that of the VATS-R group (p=0.050). The operation times, and hospital stays of the groups were 51.5 and 41.9 minutes, and 2.0 and 2.3 days, respectively. The recurrence rate of the operated sites according to the surgical methods (ramicotomy and sympathicotomy regardless of VATS) was 21.4% (6/28) in the ramicotomy group and 6.7% (2/30) in the sympathicotomy group, but there was no statistical significance (p=0.101). This study compared the dryness of the enervated sites and the severity of compensatory sweating among the ramicotomy (n=11, excluded 2 re-operated cases from 13 VATS-R), sympathicotomy (n=14, VATS-S 13 and T-S 1) and the synchronous or metachronous ramicotomy/sympathicotomy groups (n=4, included 2 reoperated cases of VATS-R). The sympathicotomy group had an over-dryness of the enervated sites (dryness 1.4, from 1 to 3; 1: over-dried, 2: humid, 3: persistent sweating) and complained of severe compensatory sweating (severity 3.5, from 1 to 4; 1: absent, 2: mild, 3: embarrassing, 4: disabling). However, the patients whounderwent a ramicotomy maintained some humidity of the enervated sites (dryness 2.0, p=0.012) and showed milder compensatory sweating (severity 2.7, p=0.056) than those in the sympathicotomy group. Furthermore, the dryness of the ramicotomy side was different from that of the sympathicotomy side in 3 out of 4 ramicotomy / sympathicotomy (R+S) patients (the side of the ramicotomy was humid and that of the sympathicotomy was over-dried). The average dryness and the compensatory sweating at these sites were in the midst of the two groups (dryness and severity 1.6 and 3.0, respectively). A ramicotomy can prevent over-dryness of the enervated area and decrease the severity of compensatory sweating through the selective division of the rami communicantes of the thoracic sympathetic ganglia. Postoperatively, almost all ramicotomy patients had no functional problems in daily life or in their occupational activity, because they could maintain hand humidity. Moreover, they showed no more than a mild degree of compensatory sweating and reported high long-term satisfaction rates. Therefore, a sympathetic ramicotomy rather than a conventional sympathicotomy is recommended as a more selective and physiologic modality for treating essential hyperhidrosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Hyperhidrosis/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Sympathectomy ; *Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

A comparative study was made of the sounds produced by normal prosthetic valves (St. Jude Medical, Bjork-Shiley, polymer) with those produced by the same valves but having simulated thrombosis at the stent, hinge, or strut. Comparisons of the closing sound were made for the power frequency spectra associated with individual valves. We used periodogram approach to obtain the spectral characteristics of the valve prostheses. The closing sound of the abnormal mechanical valves displayed lower apparent peak frequency. But the abnormal polymer valve produced higher apparent peak frequency. The results showed that frequency spectra gave information pertinent to the simulated malfunction. Sound spectral analysis is believed to be a simple and a good diagnostic tool for detection of prosthetic valve malfunction. Also it seemed to be superior to other methods such as phonocardiography and echocardiography.
Comparative Study ; Fourier Analysis ; *Heart Sounds ; *Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Human ; *Models, Cardiovascular ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

The present study compares three centering methods for excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK. VISX 20/20) by analyzing the corneal topography. The subjects were grouped according to three different centering methods used in the procedure: an ablation using a light reflex from the patient's cornea pursued by both eyes of the surgeon (Group 1, n = 49); an ablation using a red light reflex from the patient's cornea pursued by the surgeon's left eye only while the right eye remained closed (Group 2, n = 27); an ablation using the patient's center of the pupil pursued by the surgeon's left eye only while the right eye remained closed (Group 3, n = 21). The mean distance from the center of ablation zone to the center of the pupil were; 0.69 +/- 0.45 mm for Group 1, 1.05 +/- 0.48 mm for Group 2 and 0.63 +/- 0.28 mm for Group 3. The degree of deviation in Group 2 was significantly greater than in Group 1 or Group 3. The deviation was greater in the right eyes than the left eyes in Group 2 only. The decentration of the right eye in Group 2 was due to angle Kappa with misalignment of the fixation light and viewing tube containing reticule.
Adult ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Keratectomy, Photorefractive, Excimer Laser/methods* ; Male

OBJECTICE: To compare the use of conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging in the evaluation of breast nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two breast nodules were included in this study, conducted between May and December 2000, in which conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic images were obtained in the same plane. Three radiologists, each blinded to the interpretations of the other two, evaluated the findings, characterizing the lesions and ranking the three techniques from grade 1, the worst, to grade 3, the best. Lesion conspicuity was assessed, and lesions were also characterized in terms of their margin, clarity of internal echotexture, and clarity of posterior echo pattern. The three techniques were compared using Friedman's test, and interobserver agreement in image interpretation was assessed by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: With regard to lesion conspicuity, margin, and internal echotexture of the nodules, real-time compound imaging was the best technique (p < 0.05); in terms of posterior echo pattern, the best was pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (p < 0.05). Real-time compound and pulse inversion harmonic imaging were better than conventional sonography in all evaluative aspects. Interobserver agreement was greater than moderate. CONCLUSION: Real-time compound and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging procedures are superior to conventional sonography in terms of both lesion conspicuity and the further characterization of breast nodules. Real-time compound imaging is the best technique for evaluation of the margin and internal echotexture of nodules, while pulse-inversion harmonic imaging is very effective for the evaluation of the posterior echo patterns.
Breast Neoplasms/*ultrasonography ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fibrocystic Disease of Breast/*ultrasonography ; Human ; Middle Age ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/*methods