BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the clinical outcome and identify the characteristics of a group of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who completed anti-tuberculosis therapy with the First-line drugs in spite of having positive smear results with negative sputum culture results over the previous six months. METHOD: A retrospective chart review of 21 patients who fulfilled the above criteria between 1995 and 1999 was performed. The laboratory data as well as the clinical data of the patient with positive smear results and negative culture results over a six months period were reviewed. RESULTS: The negative conversion of sputum culture results was achieved within 1.3±1.2 months and the negative conversion of the sputum smear results was accomplished during 9.5±3.3 months. Chest X-rays at 5 months following the institution of anti-tuberculosis therapy from all patients revealed improvements. Four out of 21 patients(19%) relapsed during the follow up, 15.2±13.4 months after administering anti-tuberculosis therapy for 13.3±3.1 months. Relapses were confirmed from between 3 months and 4 months after the treatment completion. Only one of the four relapses had no past history of anti-tuberculosis therapy and the others had prior treatment twice (p<0.01). The period of anti-tuberculosis treatment was extended to a mean of 4.6±2.6 months in 12 patients. However, prolongation of anti-tuberculosis therapy had no affect on the relapse rate (odds ratio, 95% CI 0.18, 2.15). CONCLUSION: Prolongation of therapy with the First-line drugs is not necessary for patients with persistently positive smear results over 6 months and negative culture results. A patient who has had prior anti-tuberculosis therapy more than twice should be paid the closest attention.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum* ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationships of perception of JCI (Joint Commission International) hospital accreditation, nursing performance, self-concept and retention intention in nurses. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 199 JCI-accredited nurses in general hospitals located in Gyeonggi Province. Data collection was done in May 2015 and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé's test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The scores for perception, and nursing performance were (on a five-point Likert scale) 3.34, 3.78 respectively, and self-concept and retention intention were (on a eight-point Likert scale) 5.40 and 5.21 respectively. Nurses' perception, nursing performance, self-concept, and retention intention showed significant differences depending on age, marital status, education, department, work experience, position, Korean accreditation, and JCI accreditation. A positive correlation was observed between perception, nursing performance, self-concept, and retention intention. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that enhancing positive perception and good nursing performance can produce good self-concept and retention intention.
Accreditation* ; Data Collection ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, General ; Intention* ; Joints* ; Marital Status ; Nursing*

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Control Groups ; Durapatite ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Granulation Tissue ; Hematoxylin ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteonectin ; Rats ; Skull ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transplants

No abstract available in English.
Congenital Abnormalities

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery. RESULTS: VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.
Acetaminophen ; Analgesics ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Meperidine ; Morphine ; Patient Satisfaction ; Thyroidectomy

Body surface potential map, an electric potential distribution on the body torso surface, enables us to infer the electrical activities of the heart. Therefore, observing electric potential projected to the torso surface can be highly useful for diagnosing heart diseases such as coronary occlusion. The BSPM for the heart of a patient show a higher level of sensitivity than 12-lead ECG. Relevant research has been mostly based on clinical statistics obtained from patients, and, therefore, a simulation for a variety of pathological phenomena of the heart is required. In this study, by using computer simulation, a body surface potential map was implemented according to various occlusion locations (distal, mid, proximal occlusion) in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Electrophysiological characteristics of the body surface during the ST segment period were observed and analyzed based on an ST isointegral map. We developed an integrated system that takes into account the cellular to organ levels, and performed simulation regarding the electrophysiological phenomena of the heart that occur during the first 5 minutes (stage 1) and 10 minutes (stage 2) after commencement of coronary occlusion. Subsequently, we calculated the bipolar angle and amplitude of the ST isointegral map, and observed the correlation between the relevant characteristics and the location of coronary occlusion. In the result, in the ventricle model during the stage 1, a wider area of ischemia led to counterclockwise rotation of the bipolar angle; and, during the stage 2, the amplitude increased when the ischemia area exceeded a certain size.
Cardiac Electrophysiology* ; Computer Simulation* ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels* ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Electrophysiology ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Torso

BACKGROUND: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the primary biochemical marker used to monitor patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) for residual or recurrent disease after total thyroidectomy, as only normal or well-differentiated malignant thyroid cells produce Tg. Here, we evaluated the precision and functional sensitivity (FS) of a recently developed highly sensitive Tg (hsTg) electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (ECLIA) and compared it to that of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method using pooled human serum with low levels of Tg. METHODS: For the ECLIA method, the Elecsys Tg II kit (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) was used with an E170 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). For the RIA method, the Tg-plus-RIA kit (BRAHAMS, Germany) was used with a Cobra Quantum gamma counter (Packard Instrument Company, USA). The precision and limit of detection (LOD) were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. FS was determined using a modification of the CLSI guideline. RESULTS: The total precision of the hsTg ECLIA and RIA methods was 9.6% and 48.2%, respectively. The manufacturer-reported LOD was verified by the hsTg ECLIA (0.04 ng/mL), but not by the RIA method (>0.08 ng/mL). The hsTg ECLIA showed better FS (0.04 ng/mL at a coefficient of variation [CV] of 10%) than the RIA method (0.37 ng/mL at a CV of 20%). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the hsTg ECLIA performed better than the RIA method in terms of FS, which is extremely important for the early detection of residual or recurrent disease in DTC patients after total thyroidectomy. The excellent performance of the hsTg ECLIA could allow for clinical Tg measurement without thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation, in contrast to the insufficient performance of the RIA method.
Biomarkers ; Elapidae ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Limit of Detection ; Methods ; Radioimmunoassay* ; Thyroglobulin* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of denture placement on nutrition status and quality of life in the urban elderly. Material and method: The first survey was conducted from 45 targeted elderly people(25 experimental group, 20 control). In the first survey, information on general characteristics, chewing ability, food intake and nutrient intake, anthropometric measurement, and degree of satisfaction in life were obtained. The second survey was conducted to evaluate the effect of denture placement with same method as the first survey. Results: Before denture placement, there are no statistical significant differences (in general characteristics, chewing ability, nutrient intake, anthropometric measurement, and degree of satisfaction in life) between experimental group and control. But after denture placement, survey shows that there is statistically significant difference in chewing ability between two groups. The experimental group have higher intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, iron, and vitamin C. in nutrient intake. And after denture replacement, there is significant improvement in degree of satisfaction in life. After denture placement there are significant changes in agitation and attitude toward own aging according to Lawton's factor classification. Conclusion: In short, this study shows that chewing ability improvement of the elderly has strong positive effects to their food intake, nutrient status and quality of life.
Aged* ; Aging ; Ascorbic Acid ; Classification ; Dentures* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Eating ; Humans ; Iron ; Mastication ; Nutritional Status* ; Quality of Life*

OBJECTIVE: Immunofluorescence microscopy including confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy were used to study the production of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin in the cumulus-corona (CC) cells surrounding mature, unfertilized oocytes after ovulation in view of their presumptive importance in the coordination of the processes leading to fertilization and early embryo cleavage, including the final maturation of the ovum, the sperm-egg interaction, and the complex biochemical mechanism between the ovum and the oviduct. METHODS: Mature oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) was cultured for 24 and 48 hour and fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde. Specimens were incubated with a mixture of primary monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of fibronectin, tenascin, and laminin, and then with a mixture of secondary antibodies containing FITC, TRITC, and Cy-5 conjugated antibodies. Observation was made by confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with epifluorescece optics. Transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the OCC at 24 and 48 hours after cultrue. RESULTS: The immunocytochemical date demonstrated that CC masses are capable of producing fibronectin and tenascin but their production is heterogeneous in the CC population. Immunoreactivity to fibronectin and tenascin was shown mostly by inner corona cells, and the intensity of immunofluorescence decreased from the central corona cells to the peripheral cumulus cells. Colocalization of fibronectin and tenascin was evident in most CC cells. Moreover, fibronectin and tenascin immunoreactive material was observed in the intracytoplasmic areas, at the plasma membrane level as well as in the extracellular matrix. Whereas, laminin immunofluorescence was found around plasma membrane and extracellular area, but a intracytoplasmic reaction was rarely observed. The distribution of laminin immunofluorescence was similar to that of fibronectin and tenascin, but in some cumulus cells, colocalization between them was not found. Ultrastructurally, cumulus cells projected numerous long, thin microvilli into the intercellular area and some micovilli penetrated into zona pellucida. The inner layer of the cumulus mass was loose arrangement of relatively uniform, small cells with widened intercellular spaces, whereas in the outer layer, cumulus cells are rather larger in size and compact arrangement by narrow, irregular spaces. A small and large linear gap junctions were easily found at cell contacts. The cytoplasm of most cells had abundant organelles typical of steroidogenesis: numerous mitochondrias, a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, electron dense lipid droplets, and bundles of microtubules and microfilaments. Rudimentary disrupted basal lamina along the cytoplasmic border was rarely seen in a few inner conora cells. CONCLUSION: Even though the functional role of these extracellular matrix proteins remains still unclear, it is reasonable to suggest that they are necessary in various steps of the reproductive process. Cumulus cells appears to be a heterogeneous and dynamic system for suitable microenviroment of fertilization. And functional differences between corona and cumulus cells during the oocyte denudation may be accounted for particular distribution of these adhesive proteins and steroidogenesis-related organelles.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adhesives ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cumulus Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Embryonic Structures ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth ; Epitopes ; Extracellular Matrix ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fibronectins* ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Formaldehyde ; Gap Junctions ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microtubules ; Microvilli ; Mitochondria ; Oocytes ; Organelles ; Oviducts ; Ovulation ; Ovum ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Tenascin* ; Zona Pellucida

BACKGROUND: The effects of intravenous thrombolytic therapy depend on maintaining the patency of infarct-related artery in acute myocardial infarction. Thirty-two patients with acute myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation were studied to determine the usefulness of early resolution of ST segment elevation as an index of recanalization after intravenous urokinase administration. METHOD: 32 patients(male 24, female 8, mean age+/-standard deviation 62+/-11 years) were given intravenous urokinase therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Patients were classified into two groups according to changes of Summation operator ST segment elevation : early resolution(group I)=resolution to <25% of peak value within 12 hours of commencing urokinase therapy : no resolution(group II)=decreased in Summation operator ST segment elevation to > or =25% of peak value. The relationship between early changes in Summation operator ST segment elevation, time to peak creatinine kinase(CK), peak CK, changes of QRS score and & stenosis of infarct-related artery were investigated in both group. RESULTS: 1) The Summation operator ST segment elevation decreased by more than 75% of initial Summation operator ST within 12 hours after urokinase administration in 13 patients(40.6%). 2) The initial Summation operator ST segment was higher in the early resolution group than in the nonresolution group(26.0+/-4.2 vs 15.2+/-1.9mm, p<0.05). 3) The initial QRS score in both groups were not different significantly(7.2+/-0.9 vs 5.4+/-0.6 p<0.05), but QRS score decreased in the early resolution group and did not change in the no resolution group(-0.69+/-0.23 vs 0.63+/-0.16, p<0.05). 4) The early resolution group showed higher peak CK level(2409.2+/-347.7 vs 1445.2+/-280.4, p<0.05) and earlier peak time(10.6+/-1.0 vs 24.2+/-4.6, p<0.05). 5) There was no total occluded artery in both group, but the early resolution group tended to less stenosis in infarct related arteries(66.7+/-80 vs 86.7+/-3.3%, p=0.13) in predischarge coronary angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Early ST resolution after intravenous urokinase administration in acute myocardial infarction is an useful clinical index of recanalization or benefit induced by thrombolytic therapy.
Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*