Sodium and potassium intake was assessed on the basis of its respective excretion levels in 24 hr urine samples. However, owing to the inconvenience of collection, we evaluated random spot urine for alternative sodium and potassium excretion markers. We included 250 patients who submitted 24 hr- and spot urine for clinical tests. However, 22 patients who showed 24 hr urine creatinine excretion levels <500 mg/day were excluded, because these samples possibly resulted from incomplete urine collection. Moreover, 24 patients were excluded because of their use of diuretics during the urine collection period. We observed significant correlations between 24 hr urine sodium excretion and both the sodium/creatinine (r=0.34, P<0.0001) and the sodium/specific gravity unit (SGU) ratios (r=0.19, P=0.007) in random urine samples. Similarly, 24 hr urine potassium excretion and both the spot urine potassium/creatinine (r=0.47, P<0.0001) and potassium/SGU ratios (r=0.28, P<0.0001) were significantly correlated. Although the estimated sodium/creatinine and potassium/creatinine ratios showed a significant correlation with 24 hr urine sodium and potassium excretion, respectively, further studies are required to develop a spot urine test for individualized monitoring of sodium and potassium excretion.
Biomarkers/urine ; Creatinine/*urine ; Humans ; Hypertension/pathology/urine ; Potassium/*urine ; Sodium/*urine ; Urinalysis ; Urine Specimen Collection

BACKGROUND: Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection remains prevalent, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance has made the treatment and control of gonorrhea more difficult. Therefore, it is important to compare isolation methods and transport media to overcome gonorrhea via epidemiologic understanding and to determine co-infection rates with other sexually transmitted diseases among primary-care hospitals. In this study, we determine the recovery rate of transferred specimens according to type of transport media and co-infection rate using PCR. METHODS: Genital specimens were collected at three primary-care hospitals from January 2010 to November 2012 using transgrow media and commercial BD transport media. Culture and multiplex PCR were conducted to isolate N. gonorrhoeae. RESULTS: Among 162 specimens, 57 (35.2%) isolates were recovered, and 146 (90.1%) specimens were positive for multiplex PCR. The recovery rate was 29.9% (78/261) using transgrow media and 19.2% (50/261) using BD transport media. The most common co-infected bacteria with N. gonorrhoeae was Chlamydia trachomatis (15.8%), followed by Mycoplasma hominis (6.2%) and M. genitalium (3.4%). CONCLUSION: Under general transport conditions, the rate of recovery of N. gonorrhoeae was as low as 19.2-29.9% depending on the type of transport media, suggesting that molecular diagnostic methods are required to detect the remaining 70% of gonorrhea-infected patients. Co-infection with other sexually transmitted diseases was not rare, and other tests for accurate additional antimicrobial regimens should also be considered.
Bacteria ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; Coinfection* ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae* ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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OBJECTIVE: Until now, there is minimal number of research for overall domestic status of orphan drug use in Korea. The purpose of this study is to identify the list of orphan drugs available in Korea and to understand the status of orphan drug usage in tertiary Hospitals and rare incurable disease Hospital. METHODS: We made domestic orphan drug lists based on available orphan drugs in Korea. Based on this lists, we conducted e-mail survey from August, 2014 to September, 2014 to identify domestic status of orphan drug usage including the availability and management of orphan drugs. RESULTS: There are three hundred and eighteen orphan drugs (184 ingredients) registered in Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Among the three hundred and eighteen orphan drugs, Two hundred and twenty-eight drugs (102 ingredients) were selected. Information on each item was collected and documented with generic and brand names, manufacturers, wholesalers, indications, FDA approval status and insurance coverage. Forty-three tertiary hospitals and thirty-two rare incurable hospitals responded to the survey questionnaire (57.3%). According to the survey result, the antineoplastics and immunomodulating agents group has the highest percentage (40%) usage in the hospital. Of fortythree tertiary hospitals, thirteen hospitals manage orphan drugs separately (30.2%). Based on the reply, most of the healthcare professionals commented the drug information related to efficacy and safety including medication counseling of orphan drugs is insufficient. CONCLUSION: Through this study we anticipate providing an understanding of orphan drug usage status in Korea. We found the limited resources to the information on orphan drugs and this information requires updating on a regular basis. This can be the basis for further studies about preparing drug information, educational resources for rare disease patients.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Child ; Child, Orphaned* ; Counseling ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Orphan Drug Production* ; Rare Diseases ; Tertiary Care Centers*