BACKGROUND: Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is mainly caused by the infection of coxsackievirus A16. But recently several epidemics of HFMD with meningitis or myocarditis due to enterovirus 71 have been reported in Southeast Asia. It was necessary that the possibility of enterovirus 71 epidemic in Korea should be ruled out. This study was designed for the determination of causative agents of HFMD in Cheju province in the spring of 1998. METHODS: Serum specimens were collected from 45 pediatric patients with HFMD at Cheju Hankook Hospital in March and April,1998. Virus isolation was performed with RD cell culture through up to three passages. Reverse transcription-PCR and nucleotide sequencing were performed by the method of Oberste et al.(J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:1288-93). The serotypes of viral isolates were determined by BLAST program of National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S.A. RESULTS: Virus could be isolates from 4 patients, whose age was ranged from 11 months to 3 years. All of 4 viral isolates showed about 430-bp product of RT-PCR using primers 011 and 012. The serotype showing the highest similarity with the nucleotide sequences of all of these viral isolates was coxsackievirus A16. CONCLUSIONS: The causative enteroviral agent of HFMD in Cheju province in the spring of 1998 was coxsackievirus A16. We could not detect enterovirus 71 from the patients' sera in Cheju Province in the spring of 1998.
Asia, Southeastern ; Base Sequence ; Biotechnology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Enterovirus ; Humans ; Jeju-do* ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Myocarditis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

The cliniopathological analysis was done on the 104 cases of malignant melanoma diagnosed at the Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) from 1984 to 1993. The basic clinical data and the pathological items were based on the New Mexico Melanoma Registry Worksheet. The results were as follows. The male to female ratio was 1 : 0.79. Primary cutaneous melanoma was more common in the male (M : F=1 : 0.56) but primary extracutaneous melanoma with slight female dominancy (M : F=1 : 1.25). The peak age was the 6th decade in both cutaneous and extracutaneous malignant melanoma. In 66% (35 cases) of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma, the primary site was located in the acral area (including cases of acral lentiginous and nodular type), of which 63% (41% of total cutaneous melanoma) was acral lentiginous type. Major components of tumor cells were epithelioid. Clark's level of tumor was III or more at the time of the first visit in the majority of the cases (85%). The incidence rate of extracutaneous melanoma was 34.6% (36 cases) among the primary melanoma, and the eyeball (17.3%) was the most prevalent organ. All these features suggest that the racial difference between the Korean and the Caucasian is evident and also that etiologic role of sun damage is not quite marked in the Korean. We also suggest that an early detection program is very important to cure this malignant tumor.
Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Melanoma* ; New Mexico ; Seoul ; Solar System

BACKGROUND: The determination of serotype of enteroviruses is useful for the discrimination between sporadic and epidemic infections. The conventional serotyping method is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recently, molecular method was introduced for the serotyping of enteroviruses. The aim of this study was to establish a method to isolate and analyze enteroviruses from various specimens utilizing molecular biological techniques and to determine which strains were phylogenetically related to clinical samples. METHODS: Clinical samples in this study included 164 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 136 stool, 15 sera, 6 throat swab, 5 urine, and 4 sputa, which were obtained from hospitalized patients, primarily infants or children presenting symptoms of aseptic meningitis in 1998. RD cells were used for enterovirus isolation. RT-PCR was performed with RD cell lysate showing CPE. The primers 011 and 012 were used for the VP1 region, and the primers EN1 and EN2 for 5'-UTR. The nucleotide sequences of VP1 region were determined and analyzed with BLAST program. RESULTS: Among 333 samples, only 23 samples produced CPE: 17 samples at first and six samples at the second blind passage. Fifteen isolates were related to coxsackievirus B2 two to echovirus 4, three to echovirus 6, and three to echovirus 18. All 23 viral isolates displayed a nucleotide sequence identity of 80-95%, compared with the reference serotypes. However, the identity was increased up to 93-100% when the VP1 region was translated into amino acids CONCLUSIONS: Since CB2 type was 55% among enteroviral isolates, the CB2 was determined as the major causative serotype of enteroviral meningitis in 1998. CB2 type was emerged between June and July, EC4 and EC6 was limited to July, and EC18 was in August.
Amino Acids ; Base Sequence ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus* ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Pharynx ; Serotyping*

BACKGROUND: The determination of serotype of enteroviruses is useful for the discrimination between sporadic and epidemic infections. The conventional serotyping method is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recently, molecular method was introduced for the serotyping of enteroviruses. The aim of this study was to establish a method to isolate and analyze enteroviruses from various specimens utilizing molecular biological techniques and to determine which strains were phylogenetically related to clinical samples. METHODS: Clinical samples in this study included 164 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 136 stool, 15 sera, 6 throat swab, 5 urine, and 4 sputa, which were obtained from hospitalized patients, primarily infants or children presenting symptoms of aseptic meningitis in 1998. RD cells were used for enterovirus isolation. RT-PCR was performed with RD cell lysate showing CPE. The primers 011 and 012 were used for the VP1 region, and the primers EN1 and EN2 for 5'-UTR. The nucleotide sequences of VP1 region were determined and analyzed with BLAST program. RESULTS: Among 333 samples, only 23 samples produced CPE: 17 samples at first and six samples at the second blind passage. Fifteen isolates were related to coxsackievirus B2 two to echovirus 4, three to echovirus 6, and three to echovirus 18. All 23 viral isolates displayed a nucleotide sequence identity of 80-95%, compared with the reference serotypes. However, the identity was increased up to 93-100% when the VP1 region was translated into amino acids CONCLUSIONS: Since CB2 type was 55% among enteroviral isolates, the CB2 was determined as the major causative serotype of enteroviral meningitis in 1998. CB2 type was emerged between June and July, EC4 and EC6 was limited to July, and EC18 was in August.
Amino Acids ; Base Sequence ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus* ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Pharynx ; Serotyping*

Spirochetes were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes persulcatus ticks captured at Chungju, Korea and identified as Borrelia afzelii strains by polymerase chain reaction. To determine the pathogenicity of the B. afzelii strains isolated in Korea, the microbiological and pathological features of Lyme disease were observed in C3H/He mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of the fresh isolate of B. afzelii strain. The results are summarized as follows 1) The Borrelia were detected in the tissues of heart, spleen, kidney, urinary bladder and knee joint within 7 days after inoculation of infection by dark field microscopic examination. The isolation rate from heart, urinary bladder and joint was significantly higher than the rate from spleen, kidney, and blood samples. 2) The Borrelia was detected in heart muscle by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. 3) Antibody to the Borrelia was detected as early as one week after inoculation. 4) The marked tropism of the Borrelia was observed in myocardial, urinary tract and joint tissue. The main pathological features are inflammation in tissues of heart, kidney, joint and urinary bladder. From these results, the Borrelia afzelii strain isolated in Korea were determined as pathogenic strain.
Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi Group* ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Heart ; Inflammation ; Ixodes ; Joints ; Kidney ; Knee Joint ; Korea* ; Lyme Disease ; Mice ; Myocardium ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spirochaetales ; Spleen ; Ticks ; Tropism ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Virulence*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of dacryoscintigraphy in the assessment of patients with a clinical diagnosis of functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dacryoscintigraphy was performed in symptomatic 35 lacrimal drainage systems in 18 patients (age range: 37~76, 8 males, 10 females) that were patent on syringing. RESULTS: Abnormalities were detected with dacryoscintigraphy in 75.8% of systems. The positive scintigrams were subdivided into those demonstrating prelacrimal sac delay (31.8%), delay at the lacrimal sac/junction (40.9%), or delay within the duct (27%). CONCLUSION: Dacryoscintigraphy is noninvasive useful technique in the assessment of the functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction and very sensitive at detecting abnormalities in patients with lid laxity caused by senile change and facial nerve palsy.
Diagnosis* ; Drainage ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Male ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Paralysis

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a spouse’s aromatherapy hand massage on fatigue, stress, and a couple’s relationship in pregnant women. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Pregnant women were selected as participants on prenatal education program of 2 health centers. For the experimental group, 28 pregnant women were selected from 1 health centers. Thirty-two pregnant women were assigned to a control group from another. Bergamot, lavender, and sandalwood oil were mixed at a ratio of 1:1:1 and diluted to 1% in a jojoba carrier oil. This oil was used for aromatherapy and had already been identified as not being hazardous to pregnant women. Participants received an aroma hand massage from their spouses 5 times a week for 4 weeks, a total of 20 times. Pre and post written survey were collected from both groups. The data were analyzed by χ2 test, independent t-test, paired t-test and analysis of covariance using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 25.0 program.Result: There was a statistically significant difference in stress (F=17.39, p<0.001) and the couple’s relationship (F=18.87, p<0.001) between the experimental group and the control group. Fatigue was not significantly different between the 2 groups (F=2.61, p=0.112), but there was a difference pre and post the experimental group (t=-5.30, p<0.001). Conclusion These findings indicate that a spouse’s aroma hand massage is effective as a nursing intervention for pregnant women to relieve fatigue and stress, and improve the couple’s relationship.

OBJECTIVES: Health is closely related to an individual's assessment of their quality of life and their subjective level of happiness. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between happiness index and self-rated health by utilizing a community health survey in Korea. METHODS: The study participants were 17,937 people living in Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, who completed a community health survey in 2014. The non-subjective variables included in the statistical analysis were sex, age, region, education, income, and economic activity. The subjective awareness variables included self-rated health, self-rated oral health, chewing difficulty, pronunciation difficulty, and happiness index. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Evaluation of the subjective awareness levels revealed that the respondents that were better educated, whose income levels were higher, and those who engaged in an economic activity found themselves to be in better physical health and oral health. In contrast, the respondents that were female, older, and with residence in the counties reported a higher incidence of chewing difficulty. There was a positive correlation between happiness index and subjective awareness level, and a negative correlation between chewing difficulty and pronunciation difficulty. Happiness index was influenced the most by subjective health levels, followed by income, age, pronunciation difficulty, subjective oral health, chewing difficulty, academic credential, region, and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, in order to improve the happiness index of community residents, regular health checkups and systematic oral health education should be prepared in order to improve awareness of subjective health and reduce discomfort in the oral cavity, and efforts should be made to reduce the gap between regions.
Diagnostic Self Evaluation* ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Happiness* ; Health Surveys* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Oral Health ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires