No abstract available.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Choledochal Cyst*

No abstract available.
Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms* ; Maxillary Sinus*

Neisseria animaloris is a common flora in animals, but its pathogenicity is rarely reported. In this case report, N. animaloris was isolated from a hospitalized cat with pneumonia. The cat was discharged after testing and treatment with appropriate antibiotics. This paper reports the first case of N. animaloris pneumonia in Korea.

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: We created an 'AAPM TG18 Evaluation Tool' and we determined its usefulness for the quality control of a diagnostic monitor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We created an evaluation tool (the AAPM TG18) for conducting quality control of a diagnostic monitor, and we evaluated the measurement items of the AAPM TG18 evaluation tool. The measurement items were geometric distortion, fixed quantity assessment and visual assessment of the veiling glare, and we carried out adjustment for the luminance meter 0% calibration, which was used to revise the diagnostic monitor DICOM LUT. RESULTS: With the AAPM TG18 Evaluation Tool, we measured the 2-dimensional length when evaluating the quantitative geometric distortions in the TG18-QC test pattern, and we measured the veiling-glare ring response function, which provided information regarding the spatial extent of the luminance spread, and this measurement of the can be performed using the TG18-GV pattern. Additionally, the AAPM TG18 Evaluation Tool can be used for sensor calibration to standardize the basic rate of 0% luminance when performing periodic calibration. CONCLUSION: The evaluation tool is a very useful for easily evaluating many of the examination items of the AAPM TG18 for performing quality control of a diagnostic monitor.
Calibration ; Computer Terminals ; Glare ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Quality Control ; Radiology Information Systems ; Total Quality Management

BACKGROUND: Two results have been conflict regarding the pH of gastric contents in obese and lean surgical patients. Obese patients have been considered to have lower pH of gastric contents than lean surgical patients since the study by Vaughan, whereas Harter reported no significant difference in the pH's of obese and lean surgical patients. The author wanted to investigate whether gastric content pH differs or not between obese and lean surgical patients aged from 20 to 60 years. METHODS: Forty patients scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy under general endotracheal anesthesia were studied. Group I (n = 20) was composed of lean patients whose body mass indices (BMIs) were between 20 and 25, whereas Group II (n = 20) was composed of obese patients whose BMIs were above 30. Every patient was fasted between 8 and 14 hours preoperatively. Within 10 minutes of endotracheal intubation, gastric contents were withdrawn with a 20 cc syringe connected to a 16F nasogastric tube placed in the stomach. pH and the incidences of pH <2.5, and pH <1.8 were compared. RESULTS: No significant difference in pH (P = 0.199) or in the incidences of pH less than 2.5 (P = 0.23) or 1.8 (P = 0.52) were observed between obese and lean patients. CONCLUSIONS: Obese and lean patients have similar fasting gastric pH's, as long as the obesity is not too severe (BMI under 40).
Anesthesia ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Obesity ; Stomach ; Syringes

We examined the hepatitis G virus infections among 227 Koreans who were healthy or were suspected of hepatitis and determined the phylogenetic relationship based on a part of the NS-5 region of 5 positive samples. Viral RNA was extracted from sera and cDNA was synthesized and subsequently amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) or RT-nested PCR using random hexamer and NS-5 specific primers (470-20-1-77F, 470-20-1-211R, HGVNESTFO, HGVNESTRE). Five positives were found to belong to samples of patients showing symptoms of viral hepatitis. Primers used for PCR or nested PCR were derived from the NS-5 region. On the other hand, no amplification was detected using primers derived from the 5'-NCR (G-146F, G-401R). We performed TA cloning and sequencing of 5 amplified fragments, and their sequences were compared with those of foreign isolates of HGV. The phylogenetic analysis using MegAlign programme of DNAstar has shown that the Korean isolates are clustered on the phylogenetic tree. In summary, we confirmed the hepatitis G virus infection in 5 cases out of 12 patients showing the symptoms of viral hepatitis. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences of 5 amplified fragments showed that their relations to each other were closer than those to the foreign HGV isolates reported.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary ; GB virus C* ; Hand ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral

PURPOSE: Our research was designed to test and explore the relationships among embitterment, social support, and perceptions of meaning in life in the Danwon High School survivors of the Sewol ferry disaster. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five Sewol ferry disaster survivors were eligible for participation, and were invited to participate in the study 28 months after the disaster. Forty-eight (64%) survivors (24 males, 24 females) completed questionnaires; the Posttraumatic Embitterment Disorder (PTED) scale, the Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ), and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). RESULTS: PTED scores were negatively correlated with scores on the FSSQ and the Presence of Meaning (MLQ-P) (r=-0.43 and -0.40, respectively). The hierarchical regression analysis showed that FSSQ scores may fully mediate the effects of PTED scores on MLQ-P scores, given that the indirect effect was significant whereas the direct effect was not (95% confidence interval=-0.5912 to -0.0365). CONCLUSION: These findings imply that therapies targeting embitterment may play a vital role in increasing positive cognitions, such as those related to perceived social support and the meaningfulness of life.
Cognition ; Disasters* ; Humans ; Male ; Survivors*

This study was undertaken to investigate the morphological changes of scalp hair according to weathering after burial and to offer basic data for forensic science. To examine the effect of weathering degree, the 51 human scalp hairs buried after death were taken from deceased individuals in tombs in Korea. The morphological changes in weathering hair shafts of the scalp were investigated using the transmission electron microscopes (TEM). There were little morphological differences of weathering depending on the burial period. The weathering changes includes detachment of cuticle layer, aggregation of macrofibril and hollow formation in the cortex according to the burial period. These results could provide basic data to the field of forensic medicine.
Burial ; Electrons ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea ; Scalp ; Weather