No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemorrhage*

The acid digestion method for extracting diatoms has been widely used to confirm death by drowning, but its reliability is still disputed because some diatoms can be destroyed during the extraction process due to treatment with strong acid and heat. There is a need to develop an efficient and reliable digestive method to overcome the limitation of the present analytical procedure. In this study, the reliability and efficacy of quantitative and qualitative diatom analysis from seawater by an enzymatic digestion method was evaluated. We confirmed the merit of the enzymatic method that used proteinase K instead of nitric acid in the conventional method. As a result, the enzymatic method showed a higher recovery ratio and better preservation of the diatom structure, which is essential for quantitative (diatom density) and qualitative (species) interpretation of diatom analysis. This result indicates that the enzymatic method can replace the conventional acid digestion method to confirm cases of death by drowning since it is more reliable and yields conclusive results.
Diatoms ; Digestion ; Drowning ; Endopeptidase K ; Hot Temperature ; Nitric Acid ; Plankton ; Seawater

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Diatomology has provided important evidences for diagnosis of drowning in forensic practice. However, conflicting opinions about the reliability of diatom test still exist. As a part of efforts to end this controversy, it is very important to secure the diatom profile in the water sample of drowning site. Our results obtained in this study show the characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution of diatom collected from the main drowning sites of Han river in Korea. During spring, 111 taxa (98 species and 13 varieties) were identified from 31 genera, and 87 taxa (77 species and 10 varieties) were identified from 22 genera during summer. At the level of genus Achnanthes, Cyclotella, Cymbella, Fragilaria, Navicula, Nitzschia, and Stephanodiscus represented the highest numbers, and were the most widely occurred during two seasons. The centric diatoms, Stephanodiscus hantzschii f. tenuis and Cyclotella atomus were typical of spring and summer, respectively, and identified as dominant indicator species. The commonly occurred species, including dominant species in the seasonal cluster analysis influenced the formation of site - specific groups. As a result, our results will be able to be used not only as the comparison data of diatom found in the drowning victim's tissue but also a reference data to rule out the possibility of contamination.
Diatoms ; Drowning ; Korea ; Rivers ; Seasons ; Water

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of meconium intestinal obstruction (MIO) in preterm infants. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records and radiologic images was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit over a 3-year period (2009-2011). In addition, birth year- and gestational age-matched babies were selected by random sampling with twice the number as the control group. RESULTS: There were 43 infants with MIO who were appropriate as subjects. In perinatal factors, a maternal history of hypertension and the use of magnesium sulfate were more frequent in patients with MIO, but not significant. Feeding intolerance was more common in the MIO group than the control (86% vs. 24.4%; P<0.001). The frequency of gastrografin enema was once in all but one of the patients, and the microcolon was detected in 7 cases (16.3%. Radiographic change after enema was seen earlier than clinical improvement (P<0.05).The patients with MIO took longer to achieve full enteral feeding, and had a more prolonged hospital stay (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Feeding intolerance in preterm infants may be an early clinical finding of MIO. Meconium obstruction causes a delay of full enteral feeding and extension of hospital stay.
Colon ; Diatrizoate Meglumine ; Enema ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Length of Stay ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Meconium ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease by Trichomonas vaginalis infection that may be associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight in the newborn infants. T. vaginalis may be transmitted to neonates during passage through an infected birth canal and neonatal infection is usually self-limiting course, but rare cases of symptomatic neonatal infection such as vaginitis, urinary tract infection and respiratory infection have been reported. We experienced a case of symptomatic neonatal trichomoniasis which was confirmed by wet mount examination of vaginal discharge and urine specimens in premature baby with intrauterine growth retardation. The patient had complete resolution of symptoms such as vaginal discharge and pyuria after treatment with ornidazole (tiberalR). We report this case with a brief review of the related literatures.
Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Ornidazole ; Parturition ; Pyuria ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Trichomonas vaginalis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vaginal Discharge ; Vaginitis

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the clinical features and outcome of neonatal gastrointestinal perforation due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and other etiologic diseases (non-NEC). METHODS: The medical records of neonates, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Dongsan Medical Center for gastrointestinal perforation between January 1999 and December 2009, were reviewed retrospectively. The admission records for clinical findings and mortality were reviewed and statistically analyzed for both groups. RESULTS: Among 28 neonates, NEC group was 35.7% and the other group (intestinal atresia, malrotation, meconium peritonitis, etc) was 64.3%. The mean gestational age was significantly shorter (32.8+/-4.6 weeks vs. 36.8+/-2.7 weeks, P=0.028) and the mean diagnostic day was significantly later (16.3+/-9.7 days vs. 2.2+/-1.8 days, P=0.001) in the NEC group than that of the non-NEC group. The mortality rate was markedly higher in the NEC group (50%) than that of the non-NEC group (5.6%)(P=0.013). By simple logistic regression analysis, gestational age (OR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51-0.95, P=0.022) and NEC (OR 17.00, 95% CI: 1.60-181.36, P=0.019) were the significant risk factors to increase the mortality rate. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed NEC (OR 7.70, 95% CI: 0.55-108.06, P=0.130) and gestational age (OR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.58-1.09, P=0.151) were not the significant independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that gestational age was shorter and mortality rate was higher in the NEC group than the non-NEC group. However, after multiple logistic regression analysis, NEC or lower gestational age itself did not increase the mortality rate significantly.
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Logistic Models ; Meconium ; Medical Records ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

An African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in wild boars was first reported on October 2, 2019, in South Korea. Since then, additional cases were reported in South Korea's border areas. We here report the identification of ASF virus (ASFV) DNAs from two out of eight environmental abiotic matter samples collected from areas where ASF-positive wild boar carcasses were found. Comparative genomic investigations suggested that the contaminating ASFV DNAs originated from the wild boar whose carcass had been found near the positive sample sites.This is the first report on the identification of ASF viral material in wild boar habitats.

An African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in wild boars was first reported on October 2, 2019, in South Korea. Since then, additional cases were reported in South Korea's border areas. We here report the identification of ASF virus (ASFV) DNAs from two out of eight environmental abiotic matter samples collected from areas where ASF-positive wild boar carcasses were found. Comparative genomic investigations suggested that the contaminating ASFV DNAs originated from the wild boar whose carcass had been found near the positive sample sites.This is the first report on the identification of ASF viral material in wild boar habitats.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine personality traits associated with suicidal symptoms (with history of suicide attempt or suicidal idea) in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample 186 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder was divided into two groups : suicidal group (with history of suicide attempt or suicidal idea, n=70) and non-suicidal group (without history of suicide attempt or suicidal idea, n=116). NEO Personality Assessment System were used to evaluate personality trait. RESULTS: Neuroticism was high in suicidal group (p=0.041). In multivariate logistic regression, Neuroticism was also a significant influence on suicidal symptoms (Odds Ratio=1.04, 95% Confidence Interval 1.01–1.07, p=0.0145). CONCLUSIONS High Neuroticism is a useful information to identify individuals at high risk of suicide in depressive patients.