No abstract available.
DNA*

BACKGROUND: Enterococci exhibit intrinsic resistance or high-level minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to beta-lactams than other streptococci. This appears to be due to low affinity of penicillin-binding proteins and rarely production of beta-lactamase, which gives the reason of testing beta-lactamase for blood and cerebrospinal fluid isolates. Ampicillin is more effective than penicillin in vitro, and MIC of ampicillin is generally 1 dilution lower than that of penicillin. The purpose of this study is to detect beta-lactamase producing enterococci an6 to compare MICs of ampicillin and penicillin by Vitek system (bioMerieux, Hazelwood, MO, USA) with those by agar dilution method. METHODS: We collected 110 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and 51 isolates of E. faecium from clinical specimens in 1998. MICs of antibiotics were determined by agar dilution method and Vitek system. We also performed beta-lactamase test by the Cefinase (Becton Dickinson, USA) for 512 isolates of E. faecalis and 189 isolates of E. faecium collected in 1998. RESULTS: The most common sites of isolates were blood, bile, surgical/traumatic wounds, closed and open pus and urine. MICs of ampicillin were 1 to 2 dilution lower than those of penicillin for E. faecalis (P=0.03). But there were no significant differences in MICs for E. faecium (P=0.19). Five isolates (4 E. faecalis and 1 E. faecium) were susceptible to ampicillin but resistant to penicillin. There were no beta-lactamase producing enterococci among 701 isolates tested. CONCLUSIONS: MIC by Vitek system tends to be 1 to 2 dilution lower than MIC by agar dilution method to beta-lactams, and MIC of ampicillin is 1 to 2 dilution lower than MIC of penicillin, which could result in discrepancy in interpretation of susceptibilty tests. A beta-lactamase test for enterococci is not recommeneded for routine test in Korea.
Agar ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; beta-Lactamases ; beta-Lactams ; Bile ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus* ; Korea ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; Penicillins ; Suppuration ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in terms of services and cost between CVA without typical diseases (Group I), and CVA with typical diseases (Group II), in their Hospital-based home health care. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 308 CVA patients who used home care nursing during the second phase demonstration project of their hospital-based home health care. Results: The results of the study was as follows 1. Group II had more home visit (15.3/12.7) (p>0.05), and cases of death when home care (16.8/11.4) (p<0.05). 2. Group II needed more services than Group I such as bladder irrigation, skin care, bed sore care, glycerin enema, finger enema, lung care, urine sugar test, monitoring and surveillance of fluid infusion and R.O.M exercise (p<0.05). 3. The variables that showed statistical significance in the regression analysis were family style, OPD visit, level of consciousness, patient's state on termination of home care, and some extend of home health care services (R2=0.373, 0.205). CONCLUSION: Home nursing care needs to be planned by severity in Hospital-based home health care for CVA patients.
Consciousness ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Enema ; Fingers ; Glycerol ; Home Care Services ; Home Nursing ; House Calls ; Humans ; Lung ; Nursing ; Pressure Ulcer ; Skin Care ; Urinary Bladder

OBJECTIVE: We examined the vasoconstricting poperties of endothelin (ET) on isolated arteries from pregnant as well as non-pregnant uterus. METHODS: Arteries of the uterus were obtained from both hysterectomized uterus and during pregnany hysterectomy for control group and cesarean section for pregnant group. Rings of uterine artery were suspended on muscle chambers at their optimal length for generating tension and contractile properties were examined. RESULTS: ET-1 and ET-2 induced concentration-dependent constriction of both isolated arterial strips from non-pregnant and pregnant uterus. The contraction to ET-1 and ET-2 were more enhanced in full-term pregnancy. Furthermore, in pregnant group, sarafotoxin S6c and IRL 1620, ET. agonists, induced a dose-dependent contraction, which was not shown in those from non-pregnant human. Pretreatment of human uterine arterial strips from pregnant uterus with BQ610, an ET. antagonist, for 10 min resulted in a dose-related rightward shift of ET-1 response curve with diminution of maximal response. Schild plot analysis yielded a pA value of 7.29 with a slope of 0.98. However, BQ788, an ET antagonist, did not produce any rightward shift. The contraction to lower concentration (10-8~3*10-7 M) of sarafotoxin S6c was not affected by BQ788, whereas that to higher concentration (10-s-8*10-7 M) was marked diminished. However, BQ610 did not exnt any efFect on sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction in arterial staips from pregnant uterus. When the bath solution was replaced with Ca-free physiological salt solution (PSS) containing 1 mM EGTA for 10 min prior to adding sarafotoxin S6c, sarafotoxin S6c-induced contraction was completely abolished. Sarafotoxin S6c (10 nM)-induced contraction was prefetentially blocked by a protein kinase C antagonist, H-7, whereas it was less sensitive to a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium, CONCLUSION: Based on above results, we concluded that ET plays an important role in regulating uterine blood flow through the activation of ETa and ETB receptors. Furthermote, ETB receptors may predominantly contribute to the modulation of human uterine circulation in full-term pregnancy.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Arteries* ; Baths ; Calmodulin ; Cesarean Section ; Constriction ; Egtazic Acid ; Endothelin-2 ; Endothelins* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinase C ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Uterine Artery ; Uterus*

This erratum is being published to revise the website address of the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB) and correct two typographical errors in the article.

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; Hypothyroidism*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting prenatal care (PNC) by married immigrant women. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of "Reproductive Health Status of Married Immigrant Women and Policy Directions in Korea" by the Korea Institute for Health & Social Affairs. The participants were 727 married immigrant women from Asia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi2 test and logistic regression with SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: Of the 727 women interviewed, 91.7% visited prenatal clinic. However, first time for PNC was late and total number of PNC was lower (9.07) than the average of Korean women. Timing and number of PNC in rural area were later and fewer than those in urban area. PNC by these women was significantly lower in those who had lived in Korea longer and for those who the employed. However, PNC was significantly higher in those who attended health education during pregnancy and had not experienced premature delivery. Those who attended health education during pregnancy (OR=2.84, CI=1.49~5.40) or were unemployed (OR=0.51, CI=0.26~0.99) were more likely to have PNC. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate the need to strengthen the public information and provide special services to their demands about PNC for married immigrant women.
Asia ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care

No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans* ; Ovulation*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The status of tumor suppression gene can be assessed indirectly by analyzing the loss of heterozygosity. Hepatoblastoma is a malignant liver tumor in childhood. To find the molecular carcinogenetic mechanism of hepatoblastoma, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of p73, APC and p53 was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatoblastoma tissues from thirty-three cases were collected by lobectomy or tumorectomy. On H- stained sections, normal and tumor cells were microdissected separately and LOH analysis was perfomed using 8 markers: six of p73, one of APC and one of p53. RESULTS: Number of cases showing at least one LOH in six p73 markers was four out of twenty- six (15.4%): each LOH frequencies in D1S160, D1S170, D1S199, D1S228, D1S243 and D1S253 were in order of 7.7%, 0%, 9.1%, 0%, 12.5% and 0%. LOH frequency of APC was 41.7% and that of p53 was 13.3%. CONCLUSION: Low LOH frequency of p73 related markers indicates that p73 gene may not be implicated in carcinogenesis of hepatoblastoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Hepatoblastoma* ; Liver ; Loss of Heterozygosity*

PURPOSE: Communication in hospitals is one of the major factors in patient safety. So, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between intra-organizational communication satisfaction and the safety attitude of nurses in hospitals. METHOD: A descriptive survey design with convenience sampling was used. Data collection was done using a self-report questionnaire answered by 278 nurses from one university hospital located in Kyeoung-gi Province, Korea. RESULT: Intra-organizational communication satisfaction positively correlated with safety attitude (r=.747, p<.01). Among the 6 sub dimensions of safety attitude, perceptions of management (r=.675, p<.01), job satisfaction (r=.640, p<.01) and teamwork climate (r=.600. p<.01) were strongly related to intra-organizational communication satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis was done to identify explanation power of intra-organizational communication satisfaction against safety attitude. The model was significant (F=48.540, p<.01). Intra-organizational communication satisfaction accounted for 60.9% of variance in safety attitude (Adj R2=.609). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that higher levels of intra-organizational communication satisfaction promote positive safety attitude in hospital nurses and that communication media quality is an important factor in patient safety attitude. Therefore, developing interventions to revitalize intra-organizational communication level based on communication media quality will help in the construction of positive safety attitude in nurses.
Climate ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Job Satisfaction ; Patient Safety