BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial culture is a confirmatory test to detect M.tuberculosis, but it takes at least 6 weeks to diagnose. PCR is a rapid and sensitive method, but it is known that PCR has a high false positive rate due to contamination, and a high false negative rate due to inhibitors. It is also known that LCR and PCR-Hybridization, recently developed methods, are more specific methods than PCR in terms of detection M.tuberculosis. In this study, we estimated the clinical utility of in house PCR, LCR and PCR-Hybridization for the detection of M.tuberculosis. METHODS: We evaluated 75 specimens, upon which M.tuberculosis culture based testing was requested, by PCR LCR, and PCR-Hybridization and compared results. Mycobacterial culture was performed on 3% Ogawa media for 8 weeks, and an in house PCR, LCx Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay kit(Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, III) and the AMPLICOR M.tuberculosis test kit(Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Branchburg, NJ, USA). RESULTS: In the view of the culture results, the sensitivities of the three tests were 40%, 80%, and 100% and their specificities were 98.6%, 94.3%, and 94.3%. CONCLUSION: LCR and PCR-Hybridization and rapid and sensitive methods for detecting M.tuberculosis in clinical laboratories.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Appointments and Schedules* ; Erythrocytes*

No abstract available.
Appointments and Schedules* ; Erythrocytes*

We experienced a case of primary aldosteronism due to adrenal adenoma. The patient was 45-year old female, whose main complaints were weakness, headache, and fatigue. By use of abdominal CT scan, ultrasonogram, adrenal angiogram and by result of clinical laboratory findings, we conculuded the diagnosis of adrenal adenoma, and confirmed it by surgical and pathologucal findigs. The clinical sympyoms disappeared after left adrenalectomy, and laboratory findings of renin, aldosterone, electrolutes were normalized but hypertension persisted, so she has been managed by antihypertensives.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy* ; Aldosterone ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Diagnosis ; Fatigue ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism* ; Hypertension* ; Middle Aged ; Renin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

This study was conducted to compare the maternal characteristics, and birth weight of infants delivered at five different categories of medical facility in Taegu to examine the risk level of pregnant women and children by the medical facility for delivery. The study population included 1,410 pregnant women who delivered a baby at one of nine medical facilities (3 university hospitals, 2 general hospitals, 2 private clinics, 1 midwife clinic, 1 MCH center) in Taegu in April, 1987(April and May, 1987 for K university hospital). Pregnant women were interviewed to ask the age and educational level of woman, payment of medical fee, birth order, delivery method. Birth weight of infant was obtained from medical record. Mean ages of the women delivering at the university hospitals(27.5 years) and at general hospitals(26.7 years) were higher than those at midwife clinic(25.4 years) and at MCH center(26.1 years). Also, mean years of school education were higher in women of university hospitals(12.7 years) and general hospitals(12.2 years) than in women of midwife clinic(9.2 years) and MCH center (9.3 years). The percentages of women covered by the medical insurance were far greater in the university hospitals(78.1%) and general hospitals(82.9%) than in private clinics(44.3%), midwife clinic(29.1%) and MCH center (5.4%). Infants born at the MCH center were mostly the second birth (47.3%) while 56.0% to 61.7% of infants born at all the other medical facilities were the first birth more women delivering at the university hospitals had history of spontaneous abortion as well as still birth than the women delivering at the other medical facilities. The preterm birth rate (11.4%) and low birthweight incidence rates(5.8-13.0%) in university hospitals were significantly higher than those of other medical facilities. Accordingly, c-section rates showed a wide variation among the medical facilities. Study findings revealed that most of women delivering at the university hospitals and general hospitals are in the middle of or upper socio-economic class and obstetrically high risk group regardless of socioeconomic class while the women delivering at the midwife clinic and MCH center are low risk group of low socioeconomic class. Therefore, the data of a specific medical facility are highly limited in interpretation and can not be generalized.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Birth Order ; Birth Weight* ; Child ; Daegu* ; Education ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Insurance ; Medical Records ; Midwifery ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth

Holoprosencephaly(HPE), a common developmental defect affecting the forebrain and cranioface, is etiologically heterogenous. Teratogen, chromosomal anomalies, genetic syndrome, or genetic disorder of non-syndromic HPE are usually accepted as etiology. But the severity of brain and craniofacial malformation are not associated with etiology. Individuals with microform of HPE, who usually have normal cognition and brain imaging, are at the risk of having children with HPE. Several studies on the basis of HPE gene have been performed, which shed valuable insight on normal brain development. As additional HPE genes are identified, more accurate recurrent risk counseling can be given. We experienced a case of recurrent HPE diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasound examinations at 22 weeks' gestation.
Brain ; Child ; Cognition ; Counseling ; Holoprosencephaly* ; Humans ; Microfilming ; Neuroimaging ; Pregnancy ; Prosencephalon ; Ultrasonography

Using computerized motion analysis techniques, kinematics of foot trajectories were quantitatively analyzed in twelve rats before and after dorsal spinal cord hemisection at the T6 level. Although overground locomotion in these animals returned to normal within four weeks, some kinematic variables during treadmill locomotion did not recover to pre-lesion level. Immediately following dorsal hemisection, amplitudes of both hindfeet horizontal and vertical movements were dramatically reduces. However, in three weeks, the amplitudes of horizontal movement(stride length) became significantly larger than of pre-lesion strides. On the other hand, amplitude of hindlimb vertical movement showed very little recovery. Forelimb-hindmill coordination was also disrupted initially but returned to normal within three weeks. The duration of hindlimb swing phase became significantly longer after sectioning and gradually recovered, but never to pre-lesion levels. Interestingly, amplitudes of forelimb vertical movement. which was depressed initially, became significantly largery three weeks after lesioning. A dramatic increase in the statistical variation of limb kinematics, which persisted even after motor recovery, is an important parameter for the evaluation of neural deficits in spinal cord injuries. Kinematic analysis is a sensitive technique for the detection of minor motor deficits following nerve injuries.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Extremities ; Foot ; Forelimb ; Hand ; Hindlimb ; Locomotion* ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord*

Corticosteroid, 5-fluorouracil and Mitomycin C(MMC) have been used to suppress proliferation of subconjunctival connective tissue. However, the various complication and undesirable side effects associated with the use of these drugs have prompted the search for alternative drugs with less toxicity. In present study, I have evaluated the effect of corticosteroid(dexamethsone sodium phophate), cyclooxygenase inhibitor(diclofenac sodium) and lipoxygenase inhibitor(nordihydroguaratic acid, NDGA) to inhibit human pterygial fibroblast proliferation in tissue culture. Human pterygial fibroblast were cultured and exposed to various concentration of each drug for 1, 2 and 3 days. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. There was no different in antiproliferative activity between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents(NSAIDs) and steroid. Dexamethasone caused inhibition of proliferation with LD 50 of 0.5mM by day 2, NDGA of 0.5mM by day 3 and diclofenac sodium of 1.0mM by day 3. These results suggest that NSAIDs may be useful as both antiproliferative and less toxicity agents.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal* ; Cell Survival ; Connective Tissue ; Dexamethasone ; Diclofenac ; Fibroblasts* ; Fluorouracil ; Humans* ; Lipoxygenase ; Mitomycin ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sodium ; Steroids*

PURPOSE: To compare conventional laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and LPI combined with laser peripheral iridoplasty in eyes with primary angle closure suspect (PACS) by assessment of anterior chamber dimensional changes using a Pentacam. METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 24 subjects with bilateral PACS were recruited consecutively. Each eye was randomly allocated to treatment with conventional LPI, argon LPI only, or LPI plus iridoplasty, which consisted of simultaneous argon LPI and peripheral iridoplasty. Anterior chamber measurements were performed on each eye using a Pentacam, both before and after treatment. Mean anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and anterior chamber angle were measured, and topographic ACD analysis was performed. Results were compared between the two treatment groups. RESULTS: After treatment with either conventional LPI or LPI plus iridoplasty, the mean ACD and ACV increased significantly. Topographic ACD analysis revealed that the mid-to-peripheral ACD increase was significantly greater in the LPI plus iridoplasty group than in eyes treated with conventional LPI. Intraocular pressure changes and post-LPI complications did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional LPI, our study showed that LPI plus iridoplasty improved the mid-to-peripheral ACD increase. This procedure may have a role as an adjunct for reducing angle closure by simultaneously eliminating pupillary and non-pupillary block components.
Adult ; Aged ; Anterior Chamber/*pathology/surgery ; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological/*instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/pathology/physiopathology/*surgery ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iridectomy/*methods ; Iris/pathology/*surgery ; Laser Therapy/*methods ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tonometry, Ocular

No abstract available.
Shoes*