PURPOSE: To evaluate the degree of Group B streptococcal colonization in Korean pregnant women of gestational age 35-37 weeks. METHODS: From May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2003, the medical records of 53 pregnant(gestational age from 35 to 37 weeks) women who visited the department of Ob & Gyn, Pusan National Hospital for antenatal care, were reviewed. By use of CDC recommendations, specimens were obtained from lower vagina, cervix and rectum, and inoculated on Lim Broth(selective media, Becton Dikinson Co., Cokeysville, MD, USA) to isolate group B streptococci. RESULTS: The prevalence of group B streptococci in pregnant women was 3.44%(2/58). Two specimens were obtained from cervicovagina; there were no GBS infection signs in their neonate. CONCLUSION: This study reported a 3.44% prevalence rate. GBS colonization in pregnant women (gestational age 35-37weeks) was lower than other countries. By use of CDC recommendation, we reported that our results were meaning. To resolve the reason for low the GBS infection of Korean pregnant women, further studies will be needed.
Busan ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Culture Media ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence ; Rectum ; Streptococcal Infections* ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Vagina

PURPOSE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent cause of lower respiratory infections in infants and young children. Early detection allows quarantining of infected inpatients to prevent nosocomial transmission and to choose a treatment. To achieve rapid reporting, to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy, and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, an easy, rapid diagnostic method for RSV is needed. We evaluated a lateral flow immunochromatography (RSV Respi-Strip test) and EIA (Enzyme immuno assay) compared to RT-PCR. METHODS: From April 2007 to March 2008, 112 consecutive respiratory specimens (nasopharyngeal aspirates, throat swabs, tracheal aspirates, sputum) from patients who were suffering from the clinical signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection were enrolled in Busan. A total of 112 patients were tested with RSV Respi-Strip (Corio-BioConcept, Belgium), EIA, and RT-PCR at the same time. RESULTS: Of the 112 specimens tested, the number of children who showed positive results at RT-PCR and Respi-Strip were 45 and 42, respectively. The Respi-Strip rapid antigen test had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 94%. The positive and negative predictive values were 90% and 92%, respectively. The agreement was 83%. CONCLUSION: In our study, the rapid antigen test had as much sensitivity as any method for detection of RSV. The test has many advantages such as easy performance, simple interpretation, and rapid results. If the rapid antigen test is widely applied in the clinical setting, the may be useful for diagnostic and epidemiological studies of RSV infection.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Pharynx ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
Humans ; Sexual Behavior* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

In order to investigate the occurrence characteristics of cancer in terms of industry in Kwangju-Chonnam area, medical utilization records of industrial medical insurance corporations during the period of 1987 to 1988 were reviewed for the identification of neoplastic disease. The cases obtained from the medical records were followed up for the verification and to get additional information. Standardized incidence data were compared by occupational characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the difference of incidence or distribution of cancer as a whole or of some selected cancer. Total cases of cancer identified were 242 during the study period. Annual incidence rate was calculated as 123.1 per 100,000 person. The frequent types of cancer were cancers of stomach, liver, lung, colon and rectum, bladder and lymphoma in descending order. Employees of mine and other sand handling industries showed significantly higher risks for cancer of stomach and cancer as a whole. Employees of the transportation industry showed the higher risk for cancer of liver. Workers in small-sized industry (< or = 100) had a higher risk for cancer than who in large-sized industry (>100). These findings suggested the effect of occupational environmental exposure to cancer development.
Colon ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance* ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Rectum ; Silicon Dioxide ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transportation ; Urinary Bladder

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resin infiltration into dentin of one-bottle adhesive systems and self-etching primer bonded to Class V cavities using confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty Class V cavities were prepared from freshly extracted caries-free human teeth. These teeth were divided into two groups based on the presence of cervical abrasion: Group I, cervical abrasion; Group II, wedge-shaped cavity preparation. Resin-dentin interfaces were produced with two one-bottle dentin bonding systems-ONE COAT BOND(OCB; Coltene(R)) and Syntac(R)Srint(TM)(SS; VIVADENT)-, one self-etching priming system-CLEARFIL(TM) SE BOND(SB; KURARAY)- and one multi-step dentin bonding system-Scotchbond(TM)Multi-Purpose(SBMP, 3M Dental Products)-as control according to manufacturers'instructions. Cavities were restored with Spectrum(R)(Dentsply). Specimens were immersed in saline for 24 hours and sectioned longitudinally with a low-speed diamond disc. The resin-dentin interfaces were microscopically observed using CLSM. The quality of resin-infiltrated dentin layers were evaluated by five dentists using 0-4 scale. RESULTS: Confocal laser scanning microscopal investigations using primer labeled with rhodamine B showed that the penetration of the primer occurred along the cavity margins. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's Multiple Range test revealed that the primer penetration of the group 2(wedge-shaped cavity preparation) was more effective than group 1(cervical abrasion) and that of the gingival interfaces was more effective than the occlusal interfaces. In the one-bottle dentin bonding systems, the resin penetration score of OCB was compatible to SBMP, but those of SS and self-etching priming system, SB were lower than SBMP.
Adhesives ; Dentin ; Dentists ; Diamond ; Humans ; Rhodamines ; Tooth

In periodontal regeneration treatment, access to the frucation area is very difficult. Thus complete removal of plaque, calculus and endotoxin is somewhat impossible. In this study, teeth that were extracted due to periodontal disease were used. The furcation area was treated with periodontal curette, ultrasonic scaler, roto bur and they observed using SEM. The result was follows 1. The group treatment with curette showed remaining plaque, the cementum existed in most of the surface and partial dentinal tubule orifice could be seen. 2. The group treatment with ultrasonic scaler showed less removalof plaque compared to curette and irregular surface could be seen. 3. The group treatment with roto bur showed cleaner surface and many dentinal tubule orifice could be seen compared to the curette and ultrasonic scaler groups. Thus when suing treatments such as bone grafting or guided tissue regeneration, it is considered that the furcation area should be treatment with Roto bur.
Bone Transplantation ; Calculi ; Dental Cementum ; Dentin ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Periodontal Diseases ; Regeneration ; Tooth ; Ultrasonics

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Scleroderma, Localized*

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Scleroderma, Localized*

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic agents, are now approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of various types of cancer. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs varies among patients and cancer types. Moreover, most patients do not develop durable antitumor responses after ICI therapy due to an ephemeral reversal of T-cell dysfunction. As co-stimulatory receptors play key roles in regulating the effector functions of T cells, activating co-stimulatory pathways may improve checkpoint inhibition efficacy, and lead to durable antitumor responses. Here, we review recent advances in our understating of co-stimulatory receptors in cancers, providing the necessary groundwork for the rational design of cancer immunotherapy.
Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; United States Food and Drug Administration

In cases of L4-5 spinal fusions, L5-S1 segment used to be included in the fusion traditionally for fear of progressive deterioration of the lumbosacral motion segment after fusion above. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advisability of extension to L5-S1 segment in cases of L4-5 fusion for an isolated pathologic condition in L4-5 sement. A retrospective review of 72 patients with spinal fusion for an isolated pathologic condition in L4-5 segment was undertaken to compare the clinical results and adverse effects in two groups. One group consisted of 39 patients with floating L4-5 fusion(SF), and the other group consisted of 33 patients with L4-S1 fusion(LSF). The age, pathologic condition at L4-5, and the fusion method(lateral fusion) were matched in two groups. The mean follow-up period was 43.6 months(ranging 24-69 months). Comparisons were made for operative problems, post-operative complications, the amount of changes in angular motion at the adjacent segments to fusion at the last follow-up compared to the pre-operative motion, and the clinical results of treatment. The LSF group took 38 more minutes and lost 245 grams of more blood in averages to complete the additional surgical procedures compared with those in SF group. Several considerable post-operative complications were one deep infection in SF group and three metal failures of sacral fixation with subsequent two fusion failures in LSF group which were mostly concerned with the sacral fixations. The changes of angular motion at follow up compared to pre-operative motion in SF group were 1.5° gain in average (ranging 3° loss-6° gain) in L3-4 segment and 0.6° gain in average (ranging 5° loss-5° gain) in the L5-S1 segment. Those in L3-4 segment of LSF were 2.8° gain in average (ranging 2°-loss 9° gain). Therefore the higher stress and subsequent degeneration are more likely expected above the L4-S1 fusion rather than below the L4-5 fusion. The satisfactory clinical results were 89.7% in SF group and 87.9% in LSF group without significant difference between two groups. In conclusion there is no need to include the L5-S1 segment in the L4-5 fusion when the pathology is limited to L4-5 segment.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion