We compared the performance of three screening kits for the detection of anti-HIV in 187 samples; Enzygnost Anti-HIV 1/2 Plus, ABBOTT TESTPACK HIV- 1/HIV-2 & SERODIA. HIV- 1/2. Four samples, 3 serums and 1 CSF, from 2 patients were repeatedly reactive in all three screening kits and 2 serum specimens were confirmed positive(HIV-1) by the western blot assay. The sensitivity and specificity of all three screening kits were 100% and 98.9%, respectively. In Korea, the cause of AIDS is mostly HIV-1 and the prevalence is very low. So, all three screening kits were useful for the detection of anti-HIV from patients and blood donors. But the use of screening kit for the detection of anti-HIV-1, anti-HIV-2 and anti-HIV-I subtype O will be needed for the decrement of false negative rate because HIV infection has been increased, especially, HIV-2 infection and pediatric AIDS patient by vertical transmission were also reported, currently.
Antibodies* ; Blood Donors ; Blotting, Western ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; HIV-2 ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We report two cass of HIV infection associated with condyeloma acuminatum. Two patients were healthy men who showed multiple pinkish verruc ous papules on the perianal area. Anti-HIV antibodies were detected in the patients' secatory particle agglutination test and confirmed by Western blot assay.
Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Male

We report a case of HIV, infection associated with syphilis. A 40-year-old heterosexual man presented with headache, malaise, and a cutaneous lesion consisting of a whitish patch and petechiae on the hard palate. The serum VDRL titer wss positive at 1:64 and the cerebrospinal fluid VDRL titer was negative. Anti-HIV antibodies were detected in the patient sera by particle agglutination test and confirmed by Western blot test.
Adult ; Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Headache ; Heterosexuality ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Palate, Hard ; Purpura ; Syphilis*

BACKGROUND: Because of the differences in dermatophytoses by ographic distribution in Korea, we studied the incidence of dermatophytoses in the Kyongju area. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the recant clinical and mycological features of dermatophytoses in the Kyongju area. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical and mycological aspects flermatophytoses in 431 patients from September 1992 to August 1994 in the Kyongju area. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of dermatophytoses was 7.8% out of a total of 5,549 out patients. 2) The incidence of dermatophytoses was Tinea(T.) pedis (36%), T. unguium (30.2%), T. corporis (12.0%), T. cruris, (11.5%), T. manus (7.3%), T. faic (2.2%), T. capitis (0.6%) in order of decreasing frequency. 3) Among the age groups, the in idence rate was highest in the third decade (21.3%). 4) The ratio of male to female patients was 1.5: l.5) Coexisting fungal infections were found in 1 patients (41.0%), and the cases of T. pedis with T. unguium was the most common. 6) In dercimatophytoses, the positive rate of KOH mount examination was 95.7 %, and the positive rate of culture was 77.6%. 7) Trichophytone T. rubrum was the most common causative organism of dermatophytoses (91.8%), T. mentagrophages (4.3%), T. verrucosum (2,3%), Microsporum(M.) canis (1.0%), M. gypseum (0.3%). Epidermoplyte floccosum (0.3%), presenting in order of decreasing freqiency. CONCLUSION: We find that the incidence rate of T. veriosum infection & coexisting dermatophytosis in the Kyongju area are higher than previous studies in Korea
Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton

Therapeutic plasma exchange is used in almost every condition in which there is a plasma factor thought possibly to the etiology or pathogenesis of a disease or one of its manifestations. In order to evaluate plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution, eighty four therapeutic plasma exchanges were carried out in eighteen patients. In standardized procedures, 1.5 times the calculated plasma volume was replaced with a Hartman's solution and fresh frozen plasma. Anticoagulation was achieved using a whole venous blood to 2.5% trisodium citrate in the ratio of 10 to 1. Total calcium, phosphorus, glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, creatine kinase, IgG, C3, total white and red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and differential count were not significantly affected by the procedure. In contrast, serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, ionized calcium, IgM, C4 and platelet were significantly decreased by the plasma exchange. All these measurements had returned to the first pre-exchange level within 24 hours, while the C4 and platelet count took between 24 and 72 hours, and the IgM level, between 72 hours and 1 week. These data indicated that in an isovolemic plasma exchange there was a transient but rapidly reversible effect on all the components studied, with C4 and platelet count, returning more slowly to pre-exchange level than the others, and IgM levels responding the slowest. In summary, plasma exchanges using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution were assumed to be not significantly affected the function of various organs.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amylases ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Citric Acid ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Erythrocyte Count ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma Volume ; Plasma* ; Platelet Count ; Urea

A large body of evidence indicates that Helicobacter pylori is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Several techniques are currently used for detecting H. pylori. Recently the immunohistochemical method was introduced for rapid detection of H. pylori. To compare the result of the immunohistochemical method with those obtained by microbiologic methods, we glean formalin fixed, paraffin embbeded gastric and duodenal biopsy specimens from 85 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. We set fifty cases which H. pylori was cultivated and identified by Gram stain as Group I, and thirty-five cases without H. pylori in Gram stain and culture as Group II. The results were as follows. 1) The sensitivity and the specificity of immunohistochemical method were 94% and 80% compared with the microbiologic method. Positive and negative predictive value of the immunohistochemical method were respectively 87% and 90%. However, in seven cases of Group II, H. pylori were identified by immunohistichemical method. 2) Immunohistochemical staining exhibited bacteria that were present in the mucus layer, the surface of the gastric mucosa and metaplastic gastric epithelium in duodenum. With reference to the distribution and density of H. pylori in Group I and II, a significant correlation existed between microbiologic results and bacterial load of the biopsy specimen (p<0.01). 3) Chronic inflammation of gastric biopsies were seen in all 45 H. pylori-positive cases(100%) and 16 out of 19 H. pylori-negative cases(84%). The degree of chronic inflammation was more severe in positive cases than negative cases. Activity of inflammation was seen 98% of H. pylori-positive cases and 16% of H. pylori-negative cases. Intestinal metaplasia was seen 40% of H. pylori-positive cases and 58% of H. pylori-negative cases. Lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 47%(27 cases) of H. pylori-positive cases. Among 47%, cases with lymphoid follicles were 9%(4 cases) and cases with lymphoid aggregates were 38%(17 cases). In H. pylori-negative cases, lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 16%(3 cases). It is possible to obtain samples from most of the individuals who underwent the endoscopy in Korea. And this method is simple, rapid and sensitive. We conclude that the immunohistochemical method is another useful diagnostic tool for detection of Helicobacter pylori.
Predictive Value of Tests ; Biopsy

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria is the main parameter used in diabetic patients for clinical evaluation of early diabetic nephropathy and other complications. The most common method for quantitative urinary protein relies on a 24-hour urine collection or overnight urine collection; however, this method is time consuming and sometimes obtains inaccurate results. This study is aimed to test whether the microalbumin to creatinine ratio (Uma/Ucr) in the first-morning urine samples correlates with the microalbumin content in the 24-hour urine collection. METHODS: 59 urine samples from 59 type 2 diabetic patients were analyzed for Uma/Ucr, and for 24-hour urine microalbumin that were successively collected. RESULTS: Daily microalbumin excretion varied from 2.4 to 168.7 mg/24 hr with a median value of 22.9 mg, and Uma/Ucr ranged from 3.4 to 200 g/mg with a median value of 29.0 g/mg. An excellent correlation was found between the microalbumin excretion measured from the 24-hour urine collections and the first-morning urine Uma/Ucr ratio (R=0.93, P<0.001). All patients that excreted more than 30 mg albumin in the 24-hour urine samples also had an Uma/Ucr of more than 30 g/mg. Patients who had less than 30 g/mg of Uma/Ucr were unlikely candidates for microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that measurements of Uma/Ucr in first-morning urine samples are a simple and reliable alternative to measurements of the urinary albumin excretion rate in the 24-hour urine collections.
Creatinine* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Urine Specimen Collection

No abstract available.
Hedgehogs ; Tinea ; Trichophyton

No abstract available.
Chromosome Aberrations*

BACKGROUND: Because of recent concern about occurrence of otomycosis in otolaryngologic practice, we studied them. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and mycological features of otomycosis. METHOD: We evaluated the clinical and mycological aspects of otomycosis in 38 patients from March 1996 to February 1998 in Dongguk University Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Otomycosis showed high incidence in the twenties (23.7%). The ratio of male to female patient was 1:1.5. The seasonal prevalence was highest in autumn. Most common symptoms were otorrhea (39.4%) followed by itching, obstruction sensation, otalgia, and hearing disturbance. The common causative organisms of otomycosis were Aspergillus(A.) niger (36.8%) followed by A. terreus (26.3%), A. flavus (21.1%), A. fumigatus (7.9%), Candida albicans (5.3%), and Mucor sp. (2.6%).
Candida albicans ; Earache ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mucor ; Niger ; Otomycosis* ; Prevalence ; Pruritus ; Seasons ; Sensation