Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent nosocomial pathogens in Korea. The prevalence of MRSA is nearly 70% of clinical isolates of S. aureus, and the importance of infection control has increased. Many DNA-based molecular techniques have been introduced to type MRSA strains, but no single method of molecular techniques is universally applicable. This review summarizes the molecular techniques in epidemiological analyses of MRSA, describing some practical applicatiais of these techniques.
Epidemiologic Methods* ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Prevalence

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Ulcer*

Hyperacute rejection (HAR) is the major obstacle to xenotransplantation. In HAR complement (C') cascade is activated following the binding of xenoreactive antibodies to the donor tissue. Complement receptor type 1 (CR1), the most efficient protein in inhibiting activated C's, was modified with membrane cofactor protein (MCP) to make a more efficient C'-inhibiting hybrid molecule. Modification was done by swapping the four active site short consensus repeats (SCRs) of MCP for the SCRs 8-11 of CR1. The hybrid molecule (CR1/MCP) was expressed on the surface of mouse L cells. When the complement inhibitory activity of the CR1/MCP protein was compared with that of the wild CR1 (wCR 1) protein, CR1/MCP's inhibitory activity was weaker than wCR1's. CR1/MCP protein's L cell protecting activity from complement's attack was more prominent in adherent state than in suspension state. From these results it was suggested that the conformational direction of MCP's inhibitory action on C' is different from that of CR1 and most of the MCP expression seems to be confined to the apical side but not to the basal side of the L cell in adherent state. The wCR1's expression seems to be present on all sides of the L cell. Finally, the inverted direction of SCRS-11 of CR1 or variable length of the serine-threoninrich structure of MCP could be tried to make other CR1/MCP variants with more powerful C' inhibitory activities.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antigens, CD46 ; Catalytic Domain ; Complement System Proteins* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Mice ; Receptors, Complement ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterologous

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

We experienced a boy manifesting sexual precocity with unilateral testicular tumor, who was finally diagnosed as CAH with 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Initial laboratory findings were compatible with peripheral precocious puberty. Ultrasonogram for testes showed heterogenous high echoic mass in the right testicle. Radical orchiectomy was performed and its pathology revealed benign Leydig cell tumor without Reinke crystal. But, testosterone was not decreased after 1 month of surgery. Second laboratory exam revealed increased DHEA-S and 17-hydroxyprogesterone. Finally, this case was recognized as CAH(simple virilizing type) with unilateral testicular adrenal rest tumor. In conclusion, CAH should always be considered during etiologic study for the male sexulal precocity even with unilateral testicular tumor.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Adrenal Rest Tumor ; Humans ; Leydig Cell Tumor* ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Pathology ; Puberty, Precocious ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Ultrasonography

Mass casualty disasters have complex communication requirement. The involvement of many different communication systems and agencies and the difficulty of exchanging information between them is a perplexing problem. This may be compounded by telecommunication systems overload or failure, and electric service disruptions in the disaster area. In addition, emergencies are characterized by a sudden need for an increased information flow, an explosion in the topographical complexity of the information network, and a feeling of intense psychological pressure among the participants. The rescue, treatment, evacuation of a lot of patients from a natural disaster or mass casualties must be performed in accordance to several national agencies. Without an effective communication system, morbidity and mortality will needlessly rise. The stabilization and evacuation off lot of patients in a disaster is a serious and complex medical problem that must be resolved expeditiously. The potential far maximizing care depends on an well-organized rescue. However, without adequate communications, the patient may experience needless delays into the health care system an6 thus compromise prognosis. Established communication systems in most communities consist of private services, provincial and national agencies, and military and amateur radio operator. A disaster situation can severely disrupt routine telephone and radio communication. Customary frequencies may be incompatible with military and emergency civilian frequencies or become overloaded and useless because of intense activity. In a disaster, local telephone communication resources may be destroyed: qualified staffing of communications networks may be inadequate or unavailable to cope with the demands of the emergency. So, we recommend, that Amateur Radio should be provide as a effective emergency communication in a disaster.
Delivery of Health Care ; Disasters* ; Emergencies* ; Explosions ; Humans ; Information Services ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Military Personnel ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Telecommunications ; Telephone

A variety of malignant neoplasms have been shown to induce neovascularization, and in some cases the degree of vascularization appears to correlate with an aggressive behavior and risk of metastasis. We compared the degree of vascularization in 11 benign and 33 cancerous lesions of the cervix. The microvessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using antibody to Factor VIII-related antigen in 44 hystrectomy specimens. Three highly vascularized microscopic fields were selected and counted the number of microvessels in 400 magnification. The proportion of the endothelial cell area was also quantified by using the CAS 200 image analysis system. All 33 cases of carcinomas demonstrated a significantly higher microvessel count and an endothelial cell area than those of the benign lesions (p<0.01). There were no significant difference in microvessel count and endothelial cell area among carcinoma in situ, microinvasive carcinoma and invasive carcinoma (p>0.05). Microvessel count and an endothelial cell area in invasive cancers were not correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion, or histologic type (p>0.05).This study showed cervical cancer induces neovascularization in an early stage but it is difficult to predict prognosis and metastasis with microvessel count and an endothelial cell area.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; von Willebrand Factor

No abstract available.
Acrospiroma* ; Lip