Rabbits were immunized with free-living amoebas by intravenous injections. The amoebas were Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri and obtained by axenic cultivation in CGVS medium. Each rabbit received 10(6) of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and 10(5) of Naegleria fowleri trophozoites respectively every other day in three doses and finally one booster dose at 1 week later. Antiserum was collected from thc following day of the booster injection up to 2 months period, and stored at -30 degree C until use. The immobilization test was performed. One drop of amoeba suspension was mixed with the test serum on slide and observed the mobile state under microscope. Maximal immobilizing phenomenon observed in 30 minutes and, then gradually recovered to normal state. Inactivation of antiserum at 56 degree C for 30 minutes did not affect the immobilization phenomenon. The immobilization rates decreased by the serial dilution of antiserum. At dilution more than 1:8, the immobilization was almost the same as in the normal serum. The immobilizing antibody in anti-Acanthamoeba culbertsoni rabbit serum showed highest titre in 3rd day after booster immunization and from first to 6th week in anti-Naegleria fowleri rabbit serum. Cross matching of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri showed antigenic difference of the two species. It is suggested that the immobilization reaction may be of value as a supplementary test in the diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
parasitology-protozoa ; free-living amoeba ; Naegleria fowleri ; Acanthamoeba culbertsoni ; rabbit ; immunology

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a nationwide health survey in Korea. This survey is composed of three parts: the Health Interview Survey, the Health Examination Survey, and the Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to refine the nutrition survey system in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on the literature review, we summarized international survey systems and the limitations of the current system in Korea and proposed an improved system. We suggested the following: 1) A government agency which will be exclusively responsible for KNHANES overall is needed. 2) The current short-term nutrition survey should be a year-round survey. 3) The objectives of this survey should be written with more clarity and detail. 4) Biochemical measures in relation to nutritional status should be added. 5) The budget to set up various databases in the nutrition survey should be increased. 6) Various other issues should be addressed, including the definition of raw data (i.e., whether nutrient intake data per day is raw data), ethical issues in survey techniques, and strategies to produce evidence for the public using this survey data. Not all suggestions could be adopted in the short-term, but should be integrated into long-term goals for survey system improvement.
Budgets ; Ethics ; Government Agencies ; Health Surveys ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status

Leiomyoma is rare. Most of patients present with urinary tract infection, hematuria, dyspareunia, or complaint of mass. A case of leiomyoma on urethrovaginal septum in a 36 years old female was presented. The presenting symptom was a protruding mass at the anterior vaginal wall The mass was removed surgically and confirmed as a leiomyoma pathologically.
Adult ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Although it is well known that surgical treatment has been gold standard in most cases of ureteral stricture, but its effect was not satisfactory. The development of balloon catheters and advances in endourology offer attractive alternative management compared to surgery in the treatment of urethral strictures. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of balloon dilatation as an alternative treatment in the management of benign ureteral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 32 patients, treated during the last 5 years for benign ureteral stricture disease. Balloon dilatation of benign ureteral strictures were performed in a percutaneous antegrade(10 patients) or retrograde(22 patients) fashion followed by placement of a 6 Fr. stent for 6-8 weeks. The underlying diseases or conditions of the benign ureteral stricture were tuberculous ureteritis in 15, surgery to ureter in 8, iatrogenic cause in 5, and primary cause in 4. RESULTS: The over-all rate of succesful management of benign ureteral stricture diseases using endoscopic techniques was 75 percent. The significant complications were not observed in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the result of our experiences, we suggest the use of balloon dilatation as the initial treatment method in benign urethral stricture.
Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Stents ; Ureter* ; Urethral Stricture

Solid and papillary cystic neoplasm of pancreas is an uncommon low grade malignant tumor found predominantly in young female in their second or third decade of life, and amenable cure by surgical treatment. The authors report two cases of solid and papillary neoplasm of pancreas pathologically verified at Kyung Hee university hospital. The first case was 11-years old male patient and the other case was 12-years old male patient. Symptoms of two patients were abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain in the female patient. CT finding of solid and papillary neoplasm of pancreas depict a well-demarcated mass with solid and cystic necrosis component. In female patient, large hematoma was shown. Gross findings of tumor revealed apparent encapsulation, cystic degeneration and hemorrhagic necrosis. Microscopically the tumors were characterized by distinctive solid and papillary patterns of cellular arrangement without local invasion. All patients were discharged and follow up without any problem.
Abdominal Pain ; Child* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Pancreas* ; Vomiting

The pulsed laser lithotripsy has been used in the treatment of urinary calculi. We treated 153 patients of stones, via the pulsed dye laser(Technomed Pulsolith) with 7.5 and 6.5 F. rigid ureteroscope between January 1992 and January 1995. Stones were in bladder(4 cases), upper ureter(17), mid ureter(31) and lower ureter(101). The laser lithotripsies were applied for impacted stones and relatively large stones(more than 6 mm) The success rates according to location were 47%(8/17) in upper ureter, 77%(24/31)in middle ureter, 95%(96/101)in lower ureter and 100%(4/4) in bladder and mean success rate was 86% (132/153). There were 21 failures due to upward migration(9 cases), poor visual field(7), laser resistant stone(3) and malfunction of laser(2). Complications were showed in 28 cases that were gross hematuria(16 cases), ureteral perforation(6), fever(4) and ileus(2), but most of them might be related to ureteroscopy rather than laser, and all of them were resolved with conservative management. So laser lithotripsy is safe and effective method of middle and lower ureteral calculi, and upward migration of stones, the major cause of failure may be resolved by use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and flexible ureteroscope.
Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Lithotripsy, Laser* ; Shock ; Ureter ; Ureteral Calculi ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Calculi

The partial replacement of the human duodenal mucosa by epithelial cells containing gastric-type mucus(gastric metaplasia) is not an uncommon finding, and an emphasis on its etiological role in duodenal ulcerogenesis has been proposed. It is unclear, Furthermore, all the previous studies were done with endoscopic biopsy specimens. We reviewed a total of 118 surgically resected stomachs with attached duodenal stumps(24 cases of gastric ulcer, 15 duodenal ulcer and 79 advanced gastric cancer). The gastric-type mucous cells were homogeneously stained red with PAS in contrast to the intestinal cells which gave a strong PAS stainability only along the the brush border. The gastric metaplasia was seen near the tips or on the sides of the villi and occasionally in the crypts. It was observed in 8 cases(53%) in duodenal ulcer, 12 cases(50%) in gastric ulcer and 29 cases(37%) in gastric cancer. There were no significant statistical differences in incidence among the groups. Nevertheless, diffuse form of gastric metaplasia was more prevalent in patients with duodenal ulcer(p<0.05).
Humans ; Incidence ; Biopsy ; Stomach Neoplasms

The conventional sugical procedure for hydrocele, eversion of sac (with or without partial excision of sac), still remains the most popular one for hydrocele. The new technique is an easy, quick and simple operation. And it avoids postoperative complications. A clinical observation was made on 14 patients of hydrocele who were admitted to the Department of UroIogy, Han-Il. Hospital during the 12 months period from May, 1989 to April, 1990 and surgically treated by `window procedure` with good results.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications

Bone defect occurs due to various causes, such as neoplasms, cysts, trauma, infection, congenital disease and surgical intervention. Autograft is generally considered to be the gold standard in bone graft surgery. But, allograft, xenograft and bone substitutes have been used because of complication and limited quantity of autograft. Calcium sulfate is one of the bone substitutes. We reviewed and analyzed 18 cases with bone defects that were treated with calcium sulfate from January 1997 to April 1997. We used the Osteoset' pellets that contained calcium sulfate 98%, produced by Wright Medical Technology Inc. in U.S.A., to fill defects in all cases. Except in 2 cases, autogenous cancellous bone from patients own iliac crest was mixed with calcium sulfate from 30% to 50%. Follow-up time averaged 13.7 months(range, from 12 to 15 months). The degree of absorption of calcium sulfate and new bone growth at conventional roentgenography was represented by percentage at each follow-up. The results were as follows. First, 8 weeks after operation, 93% of calcium sulfate was absorbed. Second, 6 months after operation, nearly 90% of new bone growth was observed. Third, until last follow-up, there was no noticeable complication, such as infection or foreign body reaction. We concluded that calcium sulfate might be on effective material for bone defects because of rapid absorption rate and easy recognition of new bone growth.
Absorption ; Allografts ; Autografts ; Bone Development ; Bone Substitutes* ; Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Radiography ; Transplants

Treatment for the femoral shaft fractures in adolescents is somewhat controversial. These fractures have been treated nonoperatively, but adolescents tolerate prolonged immobilization less well than younger children and conservative treatment in this age group may result in more complicationssuch as malunion, shortening and angular deformities more often than those in the younger age group. Recently there has been a tendency to choose the operative method rather than traditional traction and casting technique for femoral shaft fractures in elderly children and adolescent The purpose of this study is to find better treatment for the femoral shaft fractures in adolescents. Fifty six femoral shaft fractures in 56 patients aged 10 to 14 years old were treated with traction followed by casting, open reduction and internal fixation with plate, closed intramedullary nailing, or external fixation using A-0 external fixator, and evaluated respectively for at least 1 year. External fixation may be benefit to patients with concomittant injuries and result in psychological settle down, early mobilization out of bed, short hospital stay, save of cost,and early return to daily living activities without any disadvantages such as malunion, leg length discrepancy or awareness of growing arrest in spite of negligible pin tract infection. Result of this study suggests that external fixation for the femoral shaft fractures may be an one of the attractive treatment option in adolescents.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adolescent* ; Aged ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Early Ambulation ; External Fixators ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Traction