BACKGROUND: The recently developed nucleic acid amplification methods may provide us with very sensitive, specific and rapid tests for the detection of M. tuberculosis. So the aim of this study was to compare the commercial Amplicor M. tuberculosis kit and our in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the conventional culture and direct AFB staining method. Materials and METHODS: Among the total of 2,340 clinical specimens, 1,314 sputum samples were tested for the presence of M. tuberculosis by Amplicor PCR and 1,026 sputum samples were tested by in-house PCR performing with resin matrix preparation and DNA extraction, synthesized primer pair, detection using agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: One hundred-seventeen specimens were positive by Amplicor PCR, 105 were positive by in-house PCR, 185 were positive by culture. The sensitivity of the Amplicor PCR for all of the specimens and for smear-positive and smear-negative specimens was 92.9%, 97.9% and 88.2%, respectively after discrepant analysis. The sensitivity of the in-house PCR for all of the specimens and for smear-positive and smear-negative specimens was 80.0%, 93.6% and 65.5%, respectively after discrepant analysis. The specificity of the Amplicor PCR and in-house PCR for all of the specimens was 97.9% and 99.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Amplicor PCR was more sensitive than in-house PCR, but there was another problems such as high false positive rate and high cost. So PCR may certainly become very useful in microbiological laboratories if PCR method is selected according to the laboratory conditions.
DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum* ; Tuberculosis

A monoclonal antibody to PCNA, which can be used on routinely processed tissue, was applied to 25 cases of gastric adenomas and 64 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas in order to diffentiate adenoma and adenocarcinoma and also to evaluate the prognostic value in adenocarcinoma. The results were summerized as follows: The PCNA labelling index was 29.14+/-12.77% in control, 44.09+/-17.11% in adenoma and 80.15+/-10. 69 in adenocarcinoma, resulting in significant increase in adenocarcinoma compared to adenoma. In adenocarcinoma, no significant correlation was observed between PCNA labelling index and histologic grade, and there -was increased tendency of PCNA labelling index in proportion to depth of invasion without statistical significance. The PCNA index was significantly increased in advanced adenocarcinoma compared to early gastric carcinoma, and also in positive nodal metastasis group than in negative group. From above results, the PCNA stain will be able to provide a helpful method for the differential diagnosis between gastric adenoma and adenocarcinoma, and could be a useful prognostic factor in adenocarcinoma if other factors are considered together.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Stomach

Hepatic fibrosis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rate to evaluate the ultrastructural changes of fat-storing cells (Ito cells). For experimental induction of liver fibrosis, the rats were administered intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml of 50% Ccl4 solution per Kg body weight, twice weekly for 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed every week. The liver tissues were examined under light and electron microscopes. And the immunohistochemical study of desmin was also performed. The results were summarized as follows: Light microscopic findings: The cellular infiltrations was inflammatory cells and Kupffer cells developed from 1 week after Ccl4 injection, and were the most severe in 4 weeks. The strong immunoreactivity for desmin was also evident in 4 weeks. The centrilobular necrosis and fibrosis developed from 2 weeks after injection, and the necrosis persisted until 8 weeks. The progress of fibrosis was accompanied by decreases in cellular infiltration and reactivity for desmin, and increased gradual nodular formation was also observed. The cirrhosis was developed after 10 weeks. Electron microscopic findings: An increase in number of fat-storing cells was observed from 1 week after injection. Transitional cells characterized by a depletion of lipid droplets and a hypertrophy of the rER appeared after 2 weeks. The number of transitional cells with abundant collagen fibers in the extracellular spaces increased in 4 weeks. With progression of fibrosis the number of fat-strong cells decreased and proliferating fibroblasts with dilated rER were observed. According to these results it was revealed that there was an apparent transition from fatstrong cells to transitional cells and to fibroblasts. These cells had a few similar characteristics and may belong to the same cell population. Thus it was suggested that fatstrong cells might play an important role in hepatic fibrosis.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Collagen ; Desmin ; Extracellular Space ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis* ; Hypertrophy ; Kupffer Cells ; Lipid Droplets ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Necrosis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

It has suggested that a significant proportion of intraepithelial lesion of the cervix may be related to the influence of human papillomaviurs (HPV). Its etiological relation with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma has recently been proposed. The 131 cases of CIN and 6 condyloma acuminata were stained by immunoperoxidase technique for HPV anigen. The results are as follows: The 18 cases (13.1%) exhibited positive staining, localized in nuclei of koilocytotic cells confined to superficial and intermediate layer of epithelium. HPV antigen was found in 1 case (16.7) of 6 condyloma acuminata, 4 cases (12.5%) of 32 mild dysplasia, 3 cases (13.6%) of 22 moderate dysplasia, 2 cases (14.3%) of 14 severe dysplasia and 8 cases (12.7%) of 63 carcinoma in situ. In the positive cases of mild and moderate dysplasia, HPV antigen was localized directly within the lesion, while those cases of severe dysplaia and carcinoma in situ contained positive cells in areas of mild or moderate dysplasia adjacent to the lesion. Of three distinct morphologic patterns, flat type was most common and papillary type was least. Histologically condylomatous lesions were present in 67 cases (51.1%) out of 131 cases of CIN. The histological and cytological feature encountered most frequently was koilocytotic arypia. Other main histological features are bi- or multinucleation, exocytosis of inflammatory cells, acanthosis, mitotic figures, dyskeratosis and epithelial pearl. On the cervical smear, the evidence of condyloma was proved in 50.0%. Cytologically in the condyloma with high degree of CIN, the nuclear atypia was so prominent that the differentiation from dysplasia or carcinoma in situ was very difficult, although the chromatin appeared somewhat smudged. The mean age of 18 cases was 42.4 years which is older than previous study. The results of this study provide common association with HPV and CIN and add great weight to the suggestion that the infection with HPV plays an important part in genesis of cervical cancer.
Humans

A 50 year-old woman was scheduled for clipping of giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm. Preoperative four-vessel angiography and computed tomography scan revealed a giant aneurysm (3.5x3.3x3.5 cm) at bifurcation of right MCA. Induced hypotension and brain protection using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and thiopental loading were planned to prevent cerebral damage during the operation. Before induction, esmolol, lidocaine and vecuronium were administered. Mask ventilation with isoflurane in N2O and O2 was performed over 5 minutes and then tracheal intubation was done. Anesthesia was maintained by isoflurane+N2O+O2 with pancuronium. Electrocardiography, pulse oxymetry, capnography, central venous pressure, evoked potential and invasive arterial blood pressure were monitored. She was hyperventilated intraoperatively with a PaCO2 around 30 mmHg. Perioperative hypotension was achieved with infusion of SNP (0.3~1.0 microg/kg/min). During the actual aneurysm surgery, mean arterial pressure was lowered to approximately 50 mmHg. Adjuvant drugs such as methylprednisolone, mannitol and furosemide to reduce intracranial pressure were also administered. This technique established good brain conditions during clipping of the aneurysm. A thiopental loading (4 mg/kg) was supplied while the aneurysm was approached. Satisfactory and well-controlled hypotension was obtained after thiopental and SNP. Postoperatively, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit.
Anesthesia ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arterial Pressure ; Brain ; Capnography ; Central Venous Pressure ; Electrocardiography ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Intubation ; Isoflurane ; Lidocaine ; Mannitol ; Masks ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Nitroprusside ; Pancuronium ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: The authors studied to estimate the frequency of irregular antibodies and their significance in blood transfusion and antenatal care in Korea. METHODS: Irregular antibodies were tested by immediate saline spin, 37degrees C albumin and antiglobulin test for 2,008 transfusion candidates and 1,047 pregnant women at Severance hospital using commercial screening and identification cells (Dade, U.S.A.). RESULTS: The irregular antibodies were detected in 38 (1.24%) of total 3,055 subjects (transfusion candidates: 0.9%, pregnant women: 1.91%) . In transfusion candidates, the detected antibodies were Lewis antibodies, cold antibodies (anti-M, anti-P 1), Rh antibodies and unspeified warm antibodies, and their distributions were 56%, 22%, 17%, and 5%, respectively. In pregnant women, the detected antibodies were Lewis antibodies, Rh antibodies, anti-Jra, and unspeified warm antibodies, and their distributions were 45%, 45%, 5% and 5%, respectively. At immediate saline phase, 58% of irregular antibodies were detected. At 37degrees C albumin phase, 90% of irregular antibodies were detected and only 10% of irregular antibodies were detected at antiglobulin phase. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence rates of clinically important irregular antibodies were low, 1/1000 of irregular antibodies could not be detected. Therefore, irregular antibody screening should be performed in all pretransfusion test. And, if antibody detection tests are negative, immediate saline crossmaching methods are acceptable in Korea.
Antibodies* ; Blood Transfusion ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND: The authors studied to estimate the frequency of irregular antibodies and their significance in blood transfusion and antenatal care in Korea. METHODS: Irregular antibodies were tested by immediate saline spin, 37degrees C albumin and antiglobulin test for 2,008 transfusion candidates and 1,047 pregnant women at Severance hospital using commercial screening and identification cells (Dade, U.S.A.). RESULTS: The irregular antibodies were detected in 38 (1.24%) of total 3,055 subjects (transfusion candidates: 0.9%, pregnant women: 1.91%) . In transfusion candidates, the detected antibodies were Lewis antibodies, cold antibodies (anti-M, anti-P 1), Rh antibodies and unspeified warm antibodies, and their distributions were 56%, 22%, 17%, and 5%, respectively. In pregnant women, the detected antibodies were Lewis antibodies, Rh antibodies, anti-Jra, and unspeified warm antibodies, and their distributions were 45%, 45%, 5% and 5%, respectively. At immediate saline phase, 58% of irregular antibodies were detected. At 37degrees C albumin phase, 90% of irregular antibodies were detected and only 10% of irregular antibodies were detected at antiglobulin phase. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence rates of clinically important irregular antibodies were low, 1/1000 of irregular antibodies could not be detected. Therefore, irregular antibody screening should be performed in all pretransfusion test. And, if antibody detection tests are negative, immediate saline crossmaching methods are acceptable in Korea.
Antibodies* ; Blood Transfusion ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Rehabilitation* ; Rural Population* ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the usefulness of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin assay for the prediction of rupture of membrane and preterm labor. METHODS: A group of 39 pregnant women was involved in this prospective study. Out of 139 pregnant women, 96 were clinically diagnosed as ruptured membranes (group A). The remaining 43 of 139 pregnant women were clinically diagnosed as preterm labor(group B). The assay was performed by using the ROMCheckTM kit (Adeza Biomedical Corp., Sunnyvale, CA). RESULTS: In group 4, fetal fibronectin (fFN) positive rate is 55% (53 patients) and negative rate is 45% (43 patients). In group B, fFN positive rate is 56% (24 patients) and negative rate is 44% (19 patients). Both group of fFN positive patients show a significantly shorter interval from sampling to delivery than fFN negative patients. Also in group A, the percentage of fFN positive patients who delivered at less than 48 hours after sampling is greater than those with fFN negative patients and in group B, the preterm delivery rate is 79% with positive fFN and 37% with negative fFN. As a predictor for preterm delivery, the presence of fFN has the sensitivity 79%, the specificity 84%, the positive Predictive value 76% and the negative predictive value 86%. CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that a positive fFN in pregnant women who have uterine contractions and ruptured membrane indicates a significant risk for preterm delivery and labor onset, and a negative fFN is a reassuring sign.
Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Contraction

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of the solution-focused group counseling program on the nursing students' problem-solving capacity. METHODS: The research design was one-group pretest-posttest design in quasi-experimental research. The subjects were 16 sophomore nursing students being in K university located in D city. Korea. The period of this research was from January 9 to February 20, 2002. from January 10 to February 21. 2003. The group counseling program that was developed by Kim, Hyeon Mi (2001) on the basis of the fundamental principles of solution-focused therapy of de Shazer. et al. (1986) and the solution-focused group counseling process proposed by Selekman (1991). LaFountain. et al. (1996) and Metcalf (1998) was used after being modified and complemented for the nursing students. The group counseling was carried out six times for 120 minutes per week. The instruments used for this study were the Problem Solving Inventory developed by Heppner and Petersen (1982) and Scaling question. Collected data were analyzed by paired t-test with SPSS program. RESULTS: 1) Problem solving capacity increased after solution-focused group counseling program, but a significant difference was not revealed(t=0.835, p=0.057). 2) The scores of self-confidence with the problem-solving were significantly increased when it was compared with the 1st and the 6th(t=3.587, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It seems that the solution-focused group counseling program should be considered as an effective nursing intervention program for the nursing students by improving self-confidence with the problem-solving. As a results, this study suggests that the specific techniques used in the solution focused therapy should be applied actively in areas of counseling and communication training for the nursing students and nurses.
Complement System Proteins ; Counseling* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Problem Solving ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing*