No Abstract available.
Korea*

BACKGROUND: During the last three decades, the resistance of S. pneumoniae to penicillin has been rapidly increasing in many parts of the world, especially in Korea. To characterize the clinical features and epidemiology of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) infections in the community and hospital, as well as to investigate the possible spread of resistant clone, we performed the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, pulsed filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and penicillin-binding protein (PBP) profile analysis of PRSP isolates. METHODS: A total 48 PRSP isolates from patients who visited or were admitted to Korea University Guro hospital during the period form July 1998 to June 1999 were studied. Anitimicrobial susceptibility tests for 48 isolates were performed with microbroth dilution method to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of 11 antibiotics. 39 isolates and 35 isolates were subjected to PFGE and PBP profile analysis, respectively to investigate the genetic relatedness between PRSP isolates. RESULTS: Pneumonia was most common site of infection in the community and the hospital as 50%. There were no significant differences of clinical features and prognosis between community and hospital isolates. But, patients with serious underlying diseases had poor prognosis despite of acquisition site. High level penicillin resistance were observed in 69%, multi-drug resistance were 64.6% of isolates. PFGE showed that 13 of 29 community acquired infection were identical PFGE pattern but not that of 23F Spanish clone. There were various PFGE patterns were observed from community and hospital acquired infection isolates. Some of them were existed in both. PBP profiles showed more diverse, even if in isoaltes of the same PFGE pattern. CONCLUSOIN: In our study, high level penicillin resistance and multi-drug resistance were observed in PRSP clinical isolates. No clinical and prognostic differeces were observed between community and hospital acquired infections. Molecular epidemiology study were suggest the there were various genotypes of PRSP within our society. Some of them were observed in the hospital and community. Therefore, there was an evidence of communication of PRSP clones between the community and hospital.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clone Cells ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Electrophoresis ; Epidemiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Penicillin Resistance ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; Penicillins ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

Influenza vaccination is increasing with the concern of pandemic advance. Worldwide, two types of influenza vaccines are available; inactivated, trivalent, intramuscular vaccine (ITIV) is approved for use among children (> or =6 months of age) and adults, while live attenuated intranasal vaccine (LAIV) is indicated for healthy persons 5 to 49 years of age. LAIV has not been used in Korea. In this review, the safety of ITIV is discussed with a particular attention to various subgroups at high risk. In general, local skin reactions are relatively frequent (10~65%), but these are usually self-limiting within 2 days after vaccination. Systemic adverse reactions are very rare compared to local reactions; fever, arthralgia, myalgia, and headache are noted with the incidence less than 15%. The risk of influenza vaccine-related Guillain-Barre syndrome is reported to be lower than that among non-recipients. As for the thimerosal (vaccine preservative), many people have worried about its neurotoxicity, but the benefits from influenza vaccination are considered to outweigh; single-syringe vaccine is recommended only for infants, pregnant women, and persons with thimerosal hypersensitivity. As in healthy persons, ITIV is proven safe in infants, pregnant women, elderly persons, immunocompromised patients, and patients with asthma. ITIV should be avoided in patients with egg allergy; instead, cell-cultured influenza vaccine or antiviral chemoprophylaxis would be recommended.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; Asthma ; Chemoprevention ; Child ; Egg Hypersensitivity ; Female ; Fever ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Infant ; Influenza Vaccines* ; Influenza, Human* ; Korea ; Myalgia ; Pandemics ; Pregnant Women ; Skin ; Thimerosal ; Vaccination

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The various kinds of properties of post and core may affect the stress distribution to the root of endodontically treated teeth. PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of various kinds of properties of post and core to the stress distribution to the root of endodontically treated teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mandibular first premolar, prepared by general shape of post and core with gold crown, was used to two dimensional axisymmetric modeling for finite element analysis. Then property values of 8 different kinds of post and core was substituted for each. Finally, stress distribution shown areas around the root of post and core was analysed after applying 50N of vertical and oblique load. RESULTS: 1. Stress value of oblique load was much higher than the maximum stress value of vertical load. 2. Under oblique load, very concentrated stress was located on post periapical area and variations in stress were very severe. Contrary to this, stress distribution was relatively uniform in vertical load. 3. Post materials with higher elastic modulus showed relatively more apically focused stress, and post materials with lower elastic modulus showed stress focused on cervical area on the axial wall of post. 4. Stress change according to the properties of core was shown only in the cervical area of post and below core as the higher elastic modulus, then increased in stress. 5. Post and core with medium value of elastic modulus showed relatively uniform stress distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Post materials with higher elastic modulus showed relatively more apically focused stress, and post materials with lower elastic modulus showed stress focused on cervical area on the axial wall of post. Stress change according to the properties of core was shown only in the cervical area of post and below core.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Elastic Modulus ; Finite Element Analysis ; Tooth*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The various kinds of properties of post and core may affect the stress distribution to the root of endodontically treated teeth. PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of various kinds of properties of post and core to the stress distribution to the root of endodontically treated teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mandibular first premolar, prepared by general shape of post and core with gold crown, was used to two dimensional axisymmetric modeling for finite element analysis. Then property values of 8 different kinds of post and core was substituted for each. Finally, stress distribution shown areas around the root of post and core was analysed after applying 50N of vertical and oblique load. RESULTS: 1. Stress value of oblique load was much higher than the maximum stress value of vertical load. 2. Under oblique load, very concentrated stress was located on post periapical area and variations in stress were very severe. Contrary to this, stress distribution was relatively uniform in vertical load. 3. Post materials with higher elastic modulus showed relatively more apically focused stress, and post materials with lower elastic modulus showed stress focused on cervical area on the axial wall of post. 4. Stress change according to the properties of core was shown only in the cervical area of post and below core as the higher elastic modulus, then increased in stress. 5. Post and core with medium value of elastic modulus showed relatively uniform stress distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Post materials with higher elastic modulus showed relatively more apically focused stress, and post materials with lower elastic modulus showed stress focused on cervical area on the axial wall of post. Stress change according to the properties of core was shown only in the cervical area of post and below core.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Elastic Modulus ; Finite Element Analysis ; Tooth*

No abstract available.
Adult ; Humans ; Vaccination

Influenza is an acute febrile disease caused by influenza virus (type A or B). Influenza virus is the major culprit of viral diseases in the respiratory tract with the highest mortality in the human history and can affect 10~40% of the general population within only 4 weeks when it is epidemic. In immunocompetent individuals, influenza infection is mostly limited as 'flu' for several days, but in immunocompromised hosts such as elderly individuals and those with chronic diseases it can result in serious complications such as pneumonia and can also aggravate underlying diseases requiring admission and increasing mortality. Despite the wide application of influenza vaccines for the last decades, influenza still remains an important health issue due to the increase of the susceptible individuals and the recent outbreaks of avian flu along with the emergence of new strains.
Aged ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Influenza in Birds* ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Mortality ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Virus Diseases

The effects of pretreatment of Co-Cr alloy, including two adhesive primers that contain either MDP or MAC-10, and silicoating on the bond. The results obtained as follows : Strength of 4-META/MMA-TBB resin were investigated using FT-IR SEM, and EDAX. in the SEM observation of surface morphologies, the sandblasted specimen exibited a very rough surface, whereas the surfaces of the two groups primed with either MDR or MAC-10 were covered with a layer of primer, and the surface morphology of the silicoated specimen remained almost the same after sandblasting. Before the thermocycling tests, the group treated with MDP demonstrated the highest mean tensile bond strength and the sandblasted group showed the lowest bond strength. After 20,000 themocyling, the mean tensile bond strength of the sandblasted group exhibited a 50% reduction in bond strength, while the other showed a 20~30% reduction. Observation of the metal-resin interface revealed that in all groups the resin permeated the rough surface formed by sandblasting thereby producing a mechnical bond between the metal and the resin, It was also found that thermocycling resulted in a gap formation at the metal-resin interface of the specimens, and the sandblasted group exhibited a larger gap width than the other groups. in fracture mode, all specimens indicated a cohesive fracture within the resin before thermocycling. However, thermocyling produced adhesive failure at the edge of the resin-metal interface in most specimens, The sandblasted group, which exhibited the lowest bond strength after thermocycling, also demonstrated the largest area of adhexive failure.
Adhesives ; Alloys*

BACKGROUND: The enteroviruses are the most common etiologic agent of aseptic meningitis in adults and children. The incidence of enteroviral meningitis in childhood meningitis is up to 80%, but in adults is not known, worldwidely. In Korea, where tuberculosis is endemic, the rapid and accurate diagnostic method for enteroviral meningitis is required especially because early differential diagnosis of viral meningitis from tuberculous meningitis is very important. The aims of this study were the demonstration of enteroviruses from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of adult patients with aseptic meningitis by PCR/Southern hybridization and the verification of the usefulness of PCR/southern hybridization as a rapid diagnostic tool. METHODS: From July 1992 to June 1995, total 34 CSF samples (10 from children, 24 from adults) of patients with aseptic meningitis were studied. As a control group, 15 patients with tuberculous meningitis and 15 patients with bacterial meningitis were studied. Viral RNA was extracted from CSF, reverse transcriptied into cDNA and amplified. The PCR products were Southern hybridizied with enteroviruses-specific digoxigenin-labelled probe. RESULTS: 16/24(66.7%) samples of adult patients with aseptic meningitis were positive for enteroviruses, while in child patients with aseptic meningitis, 9/10(90%) samples were positive. And in one patient, PCR was positive from asymptomatic, onset-7th day CSF sample. CONCLUSION: Enteroviruses were the most common causative organisms of adult aseptic meningitis in Korea. And, this study showed the usefulness of PCR/Southern hybridization of enteroviruses from CSF for etiologic diagnosis of adult aseptic meningitis in subclinical, asymptomatic period.
Adult* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; DNA, Complementary ; Enterovirus* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Meningitis, Viral ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal

Influenza is a one type of acute febrile upper respiratory infection. Even though the clinical course of influenza is self-limited in majority of cases, some patients are admitted and expire due to its complications. The influenza vaccine is used for the purpose of prevention of influenza itself or reduction of influenza related morbidity and mortality. Several kinds of inactivated, trivalent influenza vaccine are commonly used in the world. Influenza vaccine is recommended in the high risk group (>50yeras old, 6~23 month of age, patients with chronic medical disease, etc) in Korea. In recent days, there is big oncern of impending pandemic influenza that is linked to the avian flu outbreak in poultry. We have to prepare the planning and stockpiling of prepandemic and pandemic vaccine.
Animals ; Humans ; Influenza in Birds ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Pandemics ; Poultry