No abstract available.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of the pathogenic Yersinia pestis from other Yersinia spp. was developed. Five Y. pestis strains, ninety-two other Yersinia species and twenty-four Enterobacteriaceae strains were collected in Korea and from other countries. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from pathogenic gene of antiphagocytic protein capsule gene (fra 1) and plasminogen activator gene (pla). The 428 bp DNA fragment was amplified from five Y. pestis which contained the fra I gene. No product was amplified from other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. The 439 bp DNA fragment was amplified from three K pestis which contained the pla gene. No product was amplified from two Y. pestis, other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. These showed that the designed primers were specific for detection of Y. pestis among other Yersinia species and Enterobacteriaceae strains. Amplification was successful whether the template was derived from purified DNA or from aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 100 pg of DNA and 100 colony forming units (CFU) for fra I and 100 pg DNA and 10 CFU for pla, respectively. Our results prove that the PCR method using specific primers for Y. pestis is a rapid and convenient procedure for routine clinical detection and identification of Y. pestis.
DNA ; DNA Primers ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Plasminogen Activators ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia pestis* ; Yersinia*

A ruptured Achilles tendon at the calcaneus attachment, which does not include a bone that can be fixed, is called “sleeve avulsion”. A small amount of tendon in the calcaneal region can be sutured to the proximal portion of the ruptured Achilles tendon or insufficient bone to be fixed. Hence, tendon-bone healing is expected, but the results are not good compared to other parts of the tear. The incidence of Achilles tendon rupture is 7 to 40 per 100,000 patients, and 25% of patients undergo direct suture or reconstruction surgery, and 7.6% of patients with sleeve avulsion injuries undergo surgery. Surgical treatment may be a better choice for Achilles tendon sleeve avulsion because no successful case of conservative treatment has been reported. Distal wounds above the ruptured tendon adjacent to the bony eminence can have wound healing problems because of the thin, soft tissue and hypovascularity. An appropriate surgical method must be selected for each patient.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of team-based learning using concept mapping on critical thinking disposition and metacognition on college of nursing students. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The experimental group was provided team-based learning using concept mapping. The control group was provided team-based learning. A total of 77 nursing students participated. RESULTS: The experimental group increased significantly in critical thinking, however, there were no significant differences in critical thinking or metacognition between the two groups. The four essential themes extracted were as follows: (1) Expanding the scope of thinking; (2) Strengthening learning competency; (3) Enhancing communication skill; and (4) Burden of new learning method. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that team-based learning using concept maps may be an effective teaching-learning method for nursing students.
Humans ; Learning ; Metacognition ; Methods ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing ; Thinking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of sex education in university freshman. METHODS: The participants were 275 freshman students under the age of 20 years old. Data were collected in 2017 using a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: The average scores of participants' sexual knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of sex education were 24.22±4.94 out of 38 points, 90.81±15.86 out of 168 points, and 11.05±3.08 out of 20 points, respectively. With respect to the demographic characteristics, there were statically significant differences in sexual knowledge according to chances of relationship engagement (F=6.19, p=.002) and residence type (F=3.67, p=.013). Both sexual attitudes and satisfaction of sex education showed significant differences by major (t=3.20, p=.002; t=2.65, p=.009), types of high school (F=3.39, p=.019; F=3.53, p=.015), and interest in previous sex education during teenage years (F=2.88, p=.015; F=6.22, p<.001). Sexual knowledge showed a statistically significant correlation with attitudes (r=.153, p=.011). CONCLUSION: There is insufficient sex information available for college students. It is necessary in the future to develop sex education programs that are matched to college students' needs.
Education ; Humans ; Sex Education ; Sexuality

PURPOSE: Either gated myocardial perfusion SPECT or attenuation corrected SPECT can be used to improve specificity in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. We investigated in this study whether gating or attenuation correction improved diagnostic performance of rest/stress perfusion SPECT in patients having intermediate pre-test likelihood of coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients underwent rest attenuation-corrected T1-20l/dipyridamole stress gated attenuation-corrected Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT using an ADAC vertex camera (M:F=29:39, aged 59+/-12 years, coronary artery stenosis> or =70%. one vessel: 13, two vessel: 18, three vessel: 8, normal: 29). Using a five-point scale, three physicians graded the post-test likelihood of coronary artery disease for each arterial territory (1 normal, 2: possibly normal 3:equivocal, 4: possibly abnormal, 5: abnormal). Sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver-operating-characteristic curves were compared for each operator between three METHODS: (A) non-attenuation-corrected SPECT; (B) gated SPECT added to (A); and (C) attenuation-corrected SPECT added to (B). RESULTS: When grade 3 was used as the criteria for coronary artery disease, no differences in sensitivity and specificity were found between the three methods for each operator Areas under receiver- operating-characteristic curves for diagnosis of coronary artery disease revealed no differences between each modality (p>005). CONCLUSION: In patients at intermediate risk of coronary artery disease, gated SPECT and attenuation-corrected SPECT did not improve diagnostic performance.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: Cryoablation has been used successfully for the local treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Besides local destruction, Cryoablation has an immunogenic nature. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor immune response induced by cryoablation in renal cell carcinoma murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal cell carcinoma was produced in BALB/c mice by the subcutaneous inoculation of Renca cells in the thigh. After 7 days, the tumors were removed using liquid nitrogen in cryoablation group and bipolar electrocoagulation in electrocautery group. For twelve days after re-inoculation of Renca cells at contralateral thigh, tumor volumes were measured daily to assess the effect against the growth of tumor. The immunocyte levels (T4, T8, B and NK cell) were determined to evaluate immune activity by FACS (Fluorescence activated cell sorter) analysis. The effect of cryoablation to induce apoptosis of tumor was evaluated by TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling) assay. RESULTS: The tumor volume of cryoablation group was significantly smaller than that of electrocautery group and control (p<0.05). Comparing with control, T cell level was significantly increased after cryoablation (p<0.05), but no group had a significant difference in the levels of B cell and NK cell by FACS analysis. The apoptosis index % of cryoablation group was significantly increased than that of control group (p<0.05) by TUNEL. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoablation could result in the inhibition of re-inoculated tumor growth and induce T cell mediated immune response. The active immune response may be attributed to the apoptosis of tumor after cryoablation.
Allergy and Immunology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cryosurgery* ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Electrocoagulation ; Immunity, Active ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Mice ; Nitrogen ; Thigh ; Tumor Burden

The clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is made step by step. The evidences that have been published were searched and a group of experts make a consensus based in the evidences. The CPGs in the medical field, where utilizations and interests are increasing, must be confirmed in the management of quality. The Korean Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (K-AGREE II) tool that helps to manage the quality of CPGs and to develop CPGs was translated by the Steering Committee for Clinical Practice Guideline. It is divided into 6 domains and each domains are independent. It is consisted of 23 items as detail and 2 items for the overall evaluation. Only fifteen CPGs are successfully certified using the K-AGREE II tool in the Korean Medical Guideline Information Center from 2013 and 3 CPGs made by the Korea Urological Association and the associated societies are certified successfully. With the level of certification of CPGs is higher, the Korea Urological Association and the associated societies are also try to develop CPGs that meet their level of certification. The Korean clinical practice guideline for the treatment of prostate cancer developed recently is the evidence of effort.
Certification ; Consensus ; Information Centers ; Korea ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Quality Improvement ; Urology

PURPOSE: Interictal F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET and ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT are found to be useful in localizing epileptogenic zones in neocortical lateral temporal or frontal lobe epilepsy. We investigated whether interictal F-18-FDG PET or ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT was useful to find epileptogenic zones in occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed patterns of hypometabolism in interictal F-18-FDG PET and of hyperperfusion in ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT in 17 OLE patients (mean age=27+/-6.8 year, M:F=10:7, injection time=30+/-17 sec). OLE was diagnosed based on invasive electroencephalography (EEG) study, surgery and post-surgical outcome (Engel class I in all for average 14 months). RESULTS: Epileptogenic zones were correctly localized in 9 (60%) out of 15 patients by interictal F-18-FDG PET. Epiletogenic hemispheres were correctly lateralized in 14 patients (93%). By ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT, epileptogenic hemispheres were correctly lateralized in 13 patients (76%), but localization was possible only in 3 patients (18%). Among patients who showed no abnormality with MR imaging and no correct localization with ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT, interictal F-18-FDG PET was helpful in 2 patients. CONCLUSION:: Ictal Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT was helpful in lateralization but not in localization in OLE. Interictal F-18-FDG PET was helpful for localization of epileptogenic zones even in patients with ambiguous MR or ictal SPECT findings. Key KW: Occipital lobe epilepsy, Tc-99m-HMPAO, Ictal perfusion SPECT, F-18-FDG, PET, SPECT
Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial* ; Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occipital Lobe* ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigrapy in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and compare with the results of triphasic bone scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 39 patients (22 male, 17 female) who had uncertain diagnoses of osteomyelitis. Fifteen patients had history of orthopedic surgery, and 5 had previous fracture. One milligram of monoclonal antibody against NCA-95 was labeled with 370 MBq of Tc-99m, injected intravenously, and 4 hour images were obtained. Triphasic bone scan images were obtained in 30 p;tients. The final diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriologic culture, biopsy or long term clinical follow up. RESULTS: Twenty one patients were confirmed to have osteomyelitis (1 acute, 20 chronic). Eighteen patients were without osteomyelitis. Antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy had a sensitivity of 71% (15/21), and a specificity of 89% (16/18), while the sensitivity and specificity of triphasic bone scan was 93% (13/14) and 38% (6/16), respectively. Antigranulocyte antibody scan showed higher specificity of 100% (11/11) in comparison with 33% (3/9) of triphasic bone scan in patients with history of orthopedic surgery or fracture. CONCLUSION: Antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy is more specific than that of triphasic bone scan and may be helpful in patients with history of surgery or fracture. However, sensitivity is lower than triphasic bone scan in the detection of chronic osteomyelitis.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Osteomyelitis ; Sensitivity and Specificity