Standard plaque assay using agarose-overlay has long been used for titration of many infectious virus particle. Plaque assay for the titration of varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine requires three intermittent agarose overlay to visualize plaques. Overall procedure of the assay takes at least nine days from virus inoculation and microbe contamination including fungi is frequently accompanied during incubation period. We studied whether an immunofocus assay in conjunction with peroxidase-mediated immunohistochemical reaction may replace the standard plaque assay for the virus titration by comparing the two methods. A linear relationship was observed between number of foci and virus dilution. The number of foci in a given dilution of virus appeared a little higher than counted plaques formed in standard plaque assay. Independent titration results obtained from two assay methods for a given dilution of virus demonstrated a strong correlation (r2=0.99). Foci of virus infected cells as revealed by the enzyme reaction could be counted either 4 days post-infection (p.i.) under low magnification (40X) microscopy, or 6 days p.i. by naked eye observation. Larger size of cell cuture plate, virus adsorption at 35 degrees C, and 10% FBS in diluent appeared to be better conditions for the assay. Immunofocus assay will be an effective and dependable titration method for varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine in place of the standard plaque assay in respect to accuracy, costs, and experimental convenience.
Adsorption ; Fungi ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Microscopy ; Sepharose ; Virion

Colorecal cancer undergo relatively long preneoplastic processes before being invasive. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) has been a useful tool to detect the advanced colorectal cancers with cost-effectiveness. However, the patient’s compliance to FOBT was poor because of low sensitivity and annual sampling. The sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy have the ten-year preventive effect for the advanced cancer. Recently the DNA stool test for detection of mutations has showed excellent sensitivity and specificity. It has several adventages such as collection of samples and automated analysis. Virtual colonoscopy, especially CT colonograpy, can be a viable option for the colorecal cancer screening. In November 2001, the Korean Society of Coloproctology (KSCP) and the Natinal Cancer Center (NCC) developed the guidelines on screening and surveillance for early detection of colorectal cancers in Korea. Average-risk men and women should start colonoscopic examination with a 10-year interval at the age of 50. Individuals with increased risk such as those with a family or personal history of colorectal cancer or colorectal adenomas, or family history of familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer should consult their surveillance to the specialty-physicians. The ideal screening tools may change by age.
Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Compliance ; DNA ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sigmoidoscopy

Tuberous sclerosis is a systemic disorder of hamartoma format on includes facial angiofibromas, subungal fibromas, hypomelanic maciles Shagreens patches. The earliest skin manifestation of tuberous sileiule, but it may appear later. We present a case of fibrous plaqu a recognized skin signs. Forehead plaque can be the earliest skin near in many organs. Skin involvement less forehead fibrous plaques, and vsis is usually hypornelanotic inacipearing before any of these more festation of tuberous sclerosis. Its presence may lead to early diagnosis and appropriate genetic couise hng hut may be a poor prognostic sign.
Angiofibroma ; Early Diagnosis ; Fibroma ; Forehead* ; Hamartoma ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

Oil granuloma is a foreignbody reaction which occurs after injection of lipid usually for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. I present a case of eyelid oil granuloma caused by accidental high pressure injury in a 39-year-old man. The patient had a 2 x 0.5cm sized, firm, normardear subcutaneous nodule on the Rt. upper eyelid. Histopathologic examination showed a characteris swiss-cheese appearance. Eyelid oil granuloma caused by high pressure injury is very rare and my case is the first described in Korean medical literatures.
Adult ; Eyelids* ; Granuloma* ; Humans

Potter's syndrome including bilateral renal agenesis or polycystic renal disease, bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia and characteristic face was first described in 1946. Although a great number of cases of Potter's syndrome was reported, Potter's syndrome with adult polycystic kidney disease(Potter type III) was very rarely found. In this report, we described an autopsy case of Potter's syndrome having adult polycystic kidneys disease, bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia and characteristic face in conjunction with multiple hepatic cysts, features of congenital hepatic fibrosis and a pancreatic cyst. Microscopically, all cysts were lined by cuboidal epithelial cells, showing positive for epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratins.
Adult* ; Autopsy* ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mucin-1 ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases*

No abstract available.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Drug Therapy* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Remission Induction*

The authors determined the value of performing urine microscopy on biochemically negative urine sepcimens in a pediatric population. The 746 urine specimens of patients who were either visited or admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, National Police Hospital, from March 1991 to July 1992 were reviewed on the basis of comparative evaluation of biochemical and microscopic urine analysis. Eight reactions of Clinitek(r) 200 were used as biochemical indicators, namely, pH, nitrite, albumin, glucose, ketone, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and blood. Out of 746 urine specimens studied, 186 were true positive. Thirty-six specimens reacted biochemically in the absence of positive microscopic findings (false postive), 492 specimens were true negatives. Thirty-two specimens had negative biochemical indicators, in spite of positive microscopy. The sensitivity of the biochemical parameters for predicting significant microscopy of urinary sediment is 85% and the specificity is 99%. The positive predictive value is 69.7% and the negative predictive value is 99.3%. The sensitivity of blood for RBC is 94%. and the specificity is 99%. The predictive value of a positive result is 84.6% and that of a negative result is 99.7%. We therefore conclude that urine microscopy is less necessary in biochemically negative urine specimens from asymptomatic pediatric patients, with hopefully resultant time and cost effectiveness.
Bilirubin ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy ; Pediatrics ; Police ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis* ; Urobilinogen

The efficacy of acetaminophen, sponging plus acetaminophen, and sponging alone as method of lowering body temperature was compared in 108 children aged 8 weeks to 5 years who presented with an axillary temperature of 38.5degrees C or greater during the period from January 1993 to April 1993. The following results were obtained. 1) The male to female ratio was 2.5:1 and clinical diagnosis in the order of frequency were upper respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, chickenpox and hand-foot-mouth disease. 2) At thirty minutes after treatment, there was no significant difference on the decrement of temperature among the three groups. 3) At sixty minutes, the temperature decrement was the greatest in the group of sponging plus acetaminophen and that was statistically significant (P<0.01). But there was no significant difference between the group of acetaminophen and that of sponging.
Acetaminophen ; Body Temperature ; Cellulitis ; Chickenpox ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever* ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Atopy is a state of allergic response, mediated by IgE, to common environmental allergens. In recent decades, there has been an increase in prevalence of atopic disorders in children in developed countries. The factor associated with the rise of atopy incidence may be declining exposure to some infection opportunities. The aim of this study is to determine if the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis can suppress atopy by investigating the association between tuberculin responses and serum IgE. METHODS: We divided the patients into two groups according to tuberculin skin test. Group A showed positive response (induration diameter > or =10mm), while Group B showed negative response (induration diameter< l0mm). A comparison was made between the two groups in terms of age, sex, serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients comprised Group A and 72 comprised Group B. The mean serum total IgE concentration and the number of patients showing positive MAST in Group B was significantly higher than that of Group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, there was an inverse association between delayed hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atopy.
Allergens ; Child ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Incidence ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Prevalence ; Skin Tests ; Tuberculin*

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma(CTCL) is a rare cutaneous malignant disease and is typically a disease of older adults. There is no optimal treatment for CTCL, which ranges from topical steroid to systemic chemotherapy. Hence until curative therapy is found, therapies that keep CTCL in check and prevent progression to more advanced lymphoma may be desirable alternatives and may presetve quality of life. Herein we report our experience in treating a stage 11B CTCL patient with triple combination of interferon alfa, oral retinoid, and psoralen plus WA(PWA) therapy.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Ficusin ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Quality of Life ; T-Lymphocytes