Rabbits were immunized with free-living amoebas by intravenous injections. The amoebas were Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri and obtained by axenic cultivation in CGVS medium. Each rabbit received 10(6) of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and 10(5) of Naegleria fowleri trophozoites respectively every other day in three doses and finally one booster dose at 1 week later. Antiserum was collected from thc following day of the booster injection up to 2 months period, and stored at -30 degree C until use. The immobilization test was performed. One drop of amoeba suspension was mixed with the test serum on slide and observed the mobile state under microscope. Maximal immobilizing phenomenon observed in 30 minutes and, then gradually recovered to normal state. Inactivation of antiserum at 56 degree C for 30 minutes did not affect the immobilization phenomenon. The immobilization rates decreased by the serial dilution of antiserum. At dilution more than 1:8, the immobilization was almost the same as in the normal serum. The immobilizing antibody in anti-Acanthamoeba culbertsoni rabbit serum showed highest titre in 3rd day after booster immunization and from first to 6th week in anti-Naegleria fowleri rabbit serum. Cross matching of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri showed antigenic difference of the two species. It is suggested that the immobilization reaction may be of value as a supplementary test in the diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
parasitology-protozoa ; free-living amoeba ; Naegleria fowleri ; Acanthamoeba culbertsoni ; rabbit ; immunology

BACKGROUND: Detection of causative allergens in respiratory allergy patients is important for diagnosis and selection of treatment modality. Allergen sensitization depends on the genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to allergens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we tried to find causative inhalant allergens in respiratory allergy patients who underwent skin prick test with common 55 inhalant allergens and RAST at Chungbuk National University Hospital in Chungbuk district. We also evaluated the changes of causative allergens because the environment here may be quite different, since the main population lives in the urban area and industrialization began later than in the other cities and districts. RESULTS: The major allergen was house dust mite, and its sensitivity rate did not change annually. Other indoor allergens such as cockroach, and animal dander including cat and dog showed similar trends. But the sensitization rate to tree and weed pollen except grass had significantly increased since 1995. Among pollens, the increase of sensntization to weed pollen was more marked. Ratio of sensitization rate to double or triple kinds of allergens also increased. CONCLUSION: Taken together, house dust mite is still the major allergen, but rate to pollen sensitization, especially to weed pollen has increased rapidly and significantly. It is suggested that causative allergens in repiratory allergy patients has begun to shift to pollen recently.
Allergens* ; Animals ; Cats ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Environmental Exposure ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

No abstract available.
Stomach Neoplasms*

Nosocomial infections surveillance is the basic activity of infection control programs, and many countries conduct surveillance using various methods. We convinced that each country should conduct an adequate and efficient surveillance system depending on their situations. Here we reviewed the recent nosocomial surveillance systems of other countries. As many countries have succeeded in reducing hospital infections, we expect that Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System would contribute to nosocomial infection prevention and health promotion in Korea through an active surveillance at the national level.
Cross Infection* ; Health Promotion ; Infection Control ; Korea*

PURPOSE: This study sought to find a nursing intervention tool for enhancing elderly women's lives by investigating the causes and the meaning of their grief. METHOD: This research was derived from a phenomenological tool such as qualitative research design. The data collection took place from December of 2000 until April of 2001 Through systematic interviews and participatory observations of five elderly women attending C welfare center located in downtown Seoul the data was collected. Each interview lasted an hour and a half and was arranged five times. The analysis of this research was conducted using the Giorgi method. RESULTS: (1) There was obvious physical and physiological decline caused by aging old; as well as there being spouse health problems, additional physical suffering, signs of senility, adn insomnia, (2) Further grief was imposed by unpleasant memories of the spouse; infidelity, incapability, and even disregard of her own well-being, (3) Then there was pity for children; unfaithful children, uncertain futures of the children, and early death of a child, (4) Also, regrettable fate, painful daily acttrities, unreliable factors, bad circumstances, and feelings emptiness were reported, (5) Finally, anxiety for the future; ac sense of despair, loneliness, economic hardship, and the fear of imminent death increased grief levels. CONCLUSION: A variety of programs and social meetings for the elderly to overcome their physiological or psychological crisis should be substantially developed and supported by the government. In order to implement the social welfare for the elderly women, special consideration whether on the governmental level or the personal level, should be devoted to the elderly who live without any financial support or social concern.
Aged* ; Aging ; Anxiety ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Financial Support ; Grief* ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Social Welfare ; Spouses

The purpose of this study is to seek the nursing intervention for the elderly people's positive lives by investigating the causes for their loss and its meanings. The method of this research derives from a phenomenological tool as a qualitative research design. The data collection had been performed from February, 2001 until August, 2001 through systematic interviews and participatory observations of six elderly people (4 elderly women and 2 elderly men) residing in downtown Seoul. It took one and a half hour for each interview arranged five times. The analysis of this research is based upon Giorgi method and the research results on the causes for elderly people's sense of loss and its meaning are as follows. 1) bitter disappointment of family members : unfaithful children, husband's infidelity, conflict with daughter-inlaw, economic hardships. 2) bereavement : loss of spouse or children, a sense of one's own mortality. 3) regret for the past : sorrowful things, unfair treatment, a sense of resentment, a sense of futility, a feeling of helplessness, despair, resignation. 4) unpleasant memories of others : hurt of self-esteem, hostile feelings aroused by betrayal or distrust. 5) grief of lost youth : loss of health, hard married life, unlucky fate. 6) sense of another superable life : regret, awareness, maturity through suffering. As a person ages, the number of deaths of close friends and family members usually increases. The occurrence of such multiple losses can cause the elderly to become overwhelmed by the events. Care givers need to be sensitive to these losses and need to be aware that the elderly can experience an overload of grief. Counselling can often be useful in helping them to come to terms with such multiple losses.
Adolescent ; Aged* ; Bereavement ; Caregivers ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Friends ; Grief ; Humans ; Medical Futility ; Mortality ; Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul ; Spouses

PURPOSE: This study explored and described the living spiritual experience and was attempted to gain an understanding of spirituality. This was done by eliciting participants' verbal descriptions of their experiences. METHOD: Data was obtained from in-depth interviews with one cancer patient, one pastor, and three missionaries after obtaining informed consent from each. Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Sandelowski's evaluation criteria for qualitative research, such as reliability, suitability and auditability, were also used to establish reliability and validity of this study. RESULT: The five major theme clusters that designated the essence of the spiritual experience, "spiritual awareness," "interconnectedness," "love," "transcendent energy," "purpose and meaning in life," emerged from the analysis. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that spirituality was activated by awareness through introspection and interconnectedness with a Supreme Being. The interconnectedness with a Supreme Being played an important role in harmonious relationships with others and self. It also resulted in revealing the other beneticial attributes of spirituality. Love, the core concept of the interconnectedness, worked as a transcendent energy. Also, the ability to see beyond reality and resulted in finding meaning in life and accomplishing well being.
Humans ; Informed Consent ; Love ; Missions and Missionaries ; Qualitative Research ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spirituality*

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans ; Internship and Residency*

A total of 162 patients with invasive cervical cancer was investigated retrospectively with a view to elucidate the efficacy of pretreatment staging procedures of application with intravenous pyelography, cystoscopy, rectosigmoidoscopy. All 72 intravenous pyelograms, 155 sigmoidoscopies, 158 cystoscopies were normal. Of 111 patients with stage Ib who had paraaortic lymph node biopsies, two patients had a positive node(0.02%). Of 51 patients with stage II who had paraaortic lymph node biopsies, five patients had positive paraaortic lymph node(10%). And the accuracy of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of invasive cervical cancer was assessed. In evaluating stage of cervical cancer, clinical staging had an accuracy of 78.9%, compared with 65.7% for CT and 58.9% for MRI. And for detection of parametrial invasion, clincal staging had an accuracy of 85.9%, compared with 85.1% for CT and 78.9% for MRI. Both modalities were comparable in evaluating lymph node metastasis ( 76.1% for CT, 74.4% for MRI ). IVP, cystoscopy and sigmoidoscopy for staging procedure evaluated in this study are unnecessary and should no longer be performed in patients with early stage cervical cancer. In addition, paraaortic lymph node biopsies in the absence of clinically suspicious nodes are not warranted. Compared with CT and MRI, pelvic examination offered improved evaluation of cervical cancer staging, parametrial invasion, but CT and MRI was useful in detecting the pelvic lymph node metastasis which was nearly impossible by clinical evaluation.
Biopsy ; Cystoscopy ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Urography ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Catatracts are an infrequent but well-known complication of electrical injury, remains poorly understood. We report two cases of electric cataract with maculopathy experienced recently. The first case was a 58-year-old man who had exposed to 22000 voltage current and sustained third degree, 15% burn. 54th day after burn, the lenticular changes showed total opacity of both eyes and the intraocular pressure of left eye was 28 mmHg. 65th day after burn, extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation on left eye was performed. After the operation, naked vision was 1.0, but hard exudates were showed in macular area. The second case was a 23-year-old man who had exposed to 54000 voltage current and sustained third degree, 20% burn. 82th day after burn, the lenticular changes showed moderate opacities in the anterior and posterior subcapsular area of both eyes. 137th day after burn, extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation on right eye was performed. The final corrected visual acuity was 0.5 on 7th week after the operation due to lamellar macular hole.
Male ; Humans