PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify awareness and knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among North Korean immigrants who had resided in South Korea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, community based study. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 198 North Korean immigrants aged 18 years old through 65 years old among those who had attended community centers, local churches, and gathering places in four cities. The questionnaire included 15 items about participants' knowledge on HBV infection and its consequences, mode of transmission, and preventive measures. RESULTS: The mean score of HBV knowledge was 6.3±3.8 (range 0~15). The items that over 60% of the respondents checked correct answer regarding knowledge about HBV were 'There is blood screening for hepatitis B infection', 'Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sharing needles with infected person'. Multivariate analysis showed that received education for the prevention of HBV infection and disease morbidity were significantly associated with the knowledge of HBV infection. Overall, approximately 11% of total variability in the knowledge of HBV infection could be explained by the 2 variables in this model (R²=.109, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that North Korean immigrants need more education on HBV infection and prevention to improve their knowledge about HBV.
Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Needles ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Myocardial SPECT is an effective test for detecting coronary artery disease in the general population. But the diagnostic accuracy between sexes is not defined. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy between males and females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy seven male and 98 female patients who underwent myocardial SPECT within 1 month of coronary angiography were studied. Myocardial SPECTs were considered abnormal if fixed or reversible perfusion defects were detected. Stenosis severity of > or = 50% luminal diameter reduction of any artery defined coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS: Overall sensitivity for detection of CAD was 98% in men and 97% in women (p=not significant). However, specificities, accuracies, and positive predictive values (PPV) in men and women were 49% vs 31% (p<0.05), 81% vs 57% (p<0.01), 78% vs 48% (P<0.01), respectively Diagnostic accuracies for detection of right coronary artery disease were not different in both sexes, however, accuracies for detection of left anterior descending artery disease and left circumflex artery disease were significantly lower in female (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between sexes, especially in LAD and LCx disease, was noted. Artifacts from breast attenuation might be a cause for the lower diagnostic accuracy in female.
Arteries ; Artifacts ; Breast ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Perfusion* ; Phenobarbital ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

In treating young women for gestational trophoblastic tumor ( G.T.T. ), all efforts are made to preserve fertility and hysterectomy is avoided unless absolutely essential. However, in some cases the operation may be lifesaving. During the last 20 years among the 310 cases of G.T.T. treated at Il Sin Christian Hospital, there were 3 cases in which hysterectomy was avoided by the excision of a localized uterine lesion thus preserving fertility.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms

A 47-year-old man with end-stage renal disease due to diabetic nephropathy underwent a peritoneal scintigraphy to evaluate the cause of recently developed scrotal swelling. Two liters of dialysate mixed with 111 MBq of Tc-99m sulfur colloid were administered into the peritoneal cavity via the dialysis catheter. Various anterior images of the abdomen and pelvis were obtained at 15 min, 2 hr and 4 hr after the tracer instillation. At 15 min, anterior images of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated linear tracts of activity through both inguinal canals, which were more prominent in the right side (A). Images at 2 hr revealed a passage of the radioactive fluid into the right hemiscrotum. At the same time, there was a considerable accumulation of activity in the right inguinal canal (B). In the delayed image, there was a progressive accumulation of activity in the inguinal canals and a prominent passage of the tracer into the scrotum (C). Both abdominal and inguinal hernias are commonly associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Overall incidence of CAPD-induced hernia ranges from 2.7% to 25%.1) Inguinal hernias were frequently manifested as scrotal swelling. Leakages of dialysate fluid into the scrotum has been noted in CAPD patients with scrotal swelling, with or without clinical findings of inguinal hernia.1,2) In the present case, the right side had leakage from a clinical inguinal hernia and the left side, leakage from a subclinial inguinal hernia. A subclinical inguinal hernia was easily demonstrable with peritoneal scintigraphy. Peritoneal scintigraphy is extremely helpful in the evaluation of scrotal swelling in a patient on CAPD.
Abdomen ; Catheters ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Dialysis ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inguinal Canal ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Scrotum ; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid

PURPOSE: There was little evidence that Tc-99m labeled ciprofloxacin (Infecton) located inside of bacteria. Antimicrobial activity of Infecton could be an indirect evidence of its location. We compared in vitro antimicrobial activities of Infecton and ciprofloxacin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Infecton and ciprofloxacin against three standard strains of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were measured using modified broth macrodilution techniques and pour plate methods, respectively. Data were expressed as mean+/-SE (range). RESULTS: MICs of Infecton and ciprofloxacin were 1.12+/-0.20 (0.8~1.6) microgram/ml and 0.36+/-0.04 (0.2~0.4) microgram/ml for S. aureus, 0.03+/-0.005 (0.025~0.05) microgram/ml and 0.011+/-0.001 (0.006~0.012) microgram/ml for E. coli, and 0.96+/-0.16 (0.8~1.6) microgram/ml and 0.56+/-0.098 (0.4~0.8) microgram/ml for P. aeruginosa, respectively. MBCs of Infecton and ciprofloxacin were 2.56+/-0.39 (1.6~3.2) microgram/ml and 0.88+/-0.2 (0.4~1.6) microgram/ml for S. aureus, 0.04+/-0.06 (0.025~0.05) microgram/ml and 0.02+/-0.01 (0.025~0.05) microgram/ml for E. coli, and 2.24+/-0.39 (1.6~3.2) microgram/ml and 1.44+/-0.16 (0.8~1.6) microgram/ml for P. aeruginosa, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although both MICs and MBCs of Infecton were higher than those of ciprofloxacin, all three standard bacterial strains were sensitive to Infecton. It could be an indirect evidence that Tc-99m Infecton be a specific imaging agent for bacterial infection.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Escherichia coli ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the most appropriate shelf life for sterilized products according to their packaging material. METHODS: Samples were prepared to target six nursing units in one general hospital in Seoul. After steam and E.O gas sterilization, sterilized product, samples were supplied to wards. Data collection was conducted for 3 months, after the expiration date of 3 months had passed for samples packaged with crepe paper and nonwoven wraps. For samples packaged with paper-plastic pouches, data collection conducted for 3 months when the expiration date of 9 months had passed. The sterilized products were collected and tested for microbial contamination. Identification of the storage environment was done as samples were collected. RESULTS: This study confirmed that the storage environment met international standards such as CDC, except for temperature. For steam sterilized crepe paper packaging samples and steam and E.O gas sterilized for nonwoven packaging samples no contamination in all products was found for 3 months past the expiration date. However, in the E.O gas sterilized paper-plastic pouch packaging sterile samples, Gram-positive bacilli were detected in one sample from a surgical intensive care unit at 45 weeks and another sample from an operating room at 47 weeks. Furthermore, the results did not show any microorganisms for up to 52 weeks in all products. CONCLUSION According to the results of this study, sterilized product packaging made with crepe paper and nonwoven wraps is better able an extended shelf life from 3 months to 6 months, reducing unnecessary costs.

We report a case of a patient with cystic subdural hygroma who underwent pre-operative Tc-99m DTPA cistrenoscintigraphy to determine the course of operation. A 68-year-old female was admitted to the department of neurosurgery because of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. After emergency ventricular drainage, the hydrocephalus and cystic subdural hygroma in the right fronto-temporal area developed. She underwent Tc-99m DTPA cisternoscintigraphy to evaluate the type of hydrocephalus, which revealed obstructive communicating hydrocephalus and the communication between the subdural hygroma and the subarachnoid space. As a result of these findings, she underwent the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation without removal of the subdural hygroma. Post-operative brain CT showed nearly normalized shape and size of the right ventricle and disappearance of subdural hygroma. We recommend the pre-operative cisternoscintigraphy in patients with complex hygroma to evaluate the communication between subdural hygroma and the subarachnoid space.
Aged ; Brain ; Decision Making* ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Neurosurgery ; Pentetic Acid ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Subarachnoid Space ; Subdural Effusion* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

We report a false positive case of I-131 scan due to a sialolithiasis in right submandibular gland. I-131 images showed not only remnant thyroid tissues and functional metastases in the anterior neck but also a hot uptake near right submandibular gland. We confirmed the sialolithiasis by radiologic studies. Sialolithiasis should be regarded as a false positive cause when I-131 scan shows a hot spot near salivary bed.
Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Cystadenoma*

No abstract available.
Cystadenoma*