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

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of needlestick/sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students in Korea. METHODS: The study was based on a survey of questionnaires completed by 341 nursing students who had sustained at least one NSI during clinical practice in hospitals. RESULTS: The NSI incidence rate was 36.4%. Approximately half of the students reported two to four NSIs. Most (90.2%) of the NSIs occurred on the fingertips and were caused by a hollow-bore needle (46.8%) or lancet (45.8%). Some students were exposed to used needles contaminated with unknown pathogens (37.3%), HBs Ag (2.3%), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) (0.8%), or HIV (0.6%). Students cited the reason for injury as carelessness, inexperience, hastiness, or recapping. Almost two-thirds of students who reported having experienced an NSI knew about post-exposure treatment. However, only one-third of the students with NSIs completed an official report. CONCLUSION: Korean nursing students lack knowledge about injury prevention, report procedures, and treatment after NSI. A revised educational approach with emphasis on occupational risk, skill development, and injury reporting is necessary to prevent NSI and to ensure that students obtain post-exposure prophylaxis.
Dietary Sucrose ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Detailed mechanism of uterine cervical cancer progression still remains unclear. Altered programmed cell death (apoptosis) and cellular proliferation are associated with the development of neoplasia. The authors investigated the expressions of bcl-2, which inhibit apoptosis, and caspase-3, which is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to be correlated with apoptosis, and proliferating activity according to the degree of malignancy in the squamous neoplasia of the uterine cervix. Correlation between bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression and proliferating activity was done. The materials were low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL, n=15), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL, n=15), microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (n=15), and squamous cell carcinoma (n=15). Immunohistochemical stainings for bcl-2, caspase-3, and MIB-1 were done. bcl-2 and MIB-1 expressions were progressively increased in accordance with the increasing degree of malignancy, but caspase-3 immunoreactivity was higher in LSIL than invasive cancers. There was an inverse relationship between bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. No significant correlation between MIB-1, bcl-2, and caspase-3 expressions was observed. These results suggest that an inhibition of apoptosis and the augmentation of proliferating activity of tumor cells might be separately involved in the development of the cervical squamous neoplasia.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Caspase 3* ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis continues to be a major threat to health throughout the world, with an estimated 8 to 10 million new cases and 3 million deaths annually. And control of the disease is further threatened by the emergence of drug resistance. Recent major advances have been made in unravelling the molecular basis of M. tuberculosis resistance to isoniazid, streptomycin, quinolones and rifampin. And rifampin resistance is the useful indicator for the occurance of the multi-drug resistance. Hence, the rapid detection of rifampin resistant strain of M. tuberculosis is the key to have successful anti-tuberculosis therapy. Here we present our experience using PCR and line probe assay (INNO-LiPA) for easy and rapid detection of rifampin resistance of M. tuberculosis. METHODS: Thirty rifampin resistant and twenty susceptible strains of M. tuberculosis were collected from the routine culture and analyzed with INNO-LiPA. And results were compared with conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing. After amplification of the region of the RNA polymerase(rpoB), the amplified product is hybridized with a set of 10 oligonucleotides immobilized onto a membrane strip. From the pattern obtained the presence or not of rifampin resistance M. tuberculosis can be assessed. RESULTS: Ninety three percent of patients who had rifampin resistant strain revealed the multidrug resistance while only two showed resistance to rifampin only. The INNO-LiPA test results were generally agreeable with that of the conventional susceptibility testing(90%). The mutations in codon 531 (absence of 55 probe) were most commonly observed. In 55.2% of the 31 rifampin resistance M. tuberculosis confirmed on mutation by R-probes on the INNO-LiPA strips. CONCLUSIONS: The line probe assay after polymerase chain reaction is a fast and convenient method to detect both presence of M. tuberculosis complex strains and its resistance to rifampin in clinical specimens. We have suggested that detection of rifampin resistance may play a key role in monitoring multi-drug resistance. Consequently, the INNO-LiPA test may constitute an important tool for the control of tuberculosis.
Codon ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Membranes ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Oligonucleotides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinolones ; Rifampin* ; RNA ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: The quality of specimen for Papanicolaou smear depends on the sampling methods of uterine cervix. This study was designed to test specimen adequacy and the detection of disease using t,wo cervical cytological sampling methods. pastic spatula plus Cytobrish and Cervex-Brush. METHODS: Research subjects were t.he exarninee for screening for cevical cancer in Farnily Practice Center and Health Promotion Center of University Hospital. Research sub jects were classified to two groups randomly. 5 physicians used each device at random. A group 80 test smples(plast,ic spatula plus Cytobrush) were compared with B group test samples(Cervex Brush) for the presence rate of endocervial cells and specimen adequacy. The laborat.ory was blind to the sampling met,hods. RESULTS: The plastic spatula plus Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush were comparable in cap- turing in endocervical cells. But the capturing rates of both methods were high(over 70%). Both the pastic spatula plus Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush produced adequate samples, and the adequacy scores between two methods were not different. significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the plastic spatula puls Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush produced adequate smear for interpretation.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Papanicolaou Test ; Plastics ; Research Subjects

Pleomorphic adenoma presenting as primary lesion of the bronchus is very rarely encountered, and in our knowledge only 6 cases have been reported in the literature of the western world, and no case report has been published in Korea. Currently, we experienced a case of bronchial pleomorphic adenoma occuring in a 38 years old woman. On X-ray examination, hazy density in the right upper lobe and emphysematous change in the right lower lobe were noted. A right pneumonectomy was done under bronchoscopic diagnosis of bronchial adeoma. The pathologic examination of the present case showed a polypoid endobronchial tumor, 1.4 x 1.1 cm (with extraluminal portion, 2.2 x 1.7 cm) in the right upper bronchus. The microscopic examination revealed a pleomorphic adenoma showing same morphology as those found in the salivary gland. This case, therefore, was believed to be a genuine example of bronchial pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland type. We compared this case with 6 cases in the literature.
Female ; Humans ; Adenoma

Recently, surmountable amounts of genes are being cloned without information about them and it has become neccessary to develop new techniques for discovering genes with more informaiion like as chromosomal location and possible functions. We have developed one such a method and applied it to search for genes that may be related with the neural development. The mRNAs were extracted from cerebral cortex of 18 week old human fetus, cDNAs were made by reverse transcription from these mRNAs and Uni-amp cDNAs having Uni-amp adapters at both ends were made for subsequent PCR. To observe the distribution of the Uni-amp cDNAs on the chromosome, fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed with biotin labeled Uni-amp cDNAs. Among the chromosome bands showing strong hybridization with the cDNAs, 7q22 was microdissected from the chromosome hybridized with unlabeled Uni-amp cDNAs and amplified by PCR with Uni-amp primers. These amplified cDNA fragment were subcloned to vectors and the nucleic acid sequences were analysed. As a result, 46 different clones were obtained. They were categorized as 12 clones of well characterized genes, 14 clones showing low homology with known genes, 13 clones of simply registered uncharacterized human cDNAs, 7 clones of unknown genes. In situ hybridization histochemistry of 34 novel genes, except 12 known genes, were performed on developing and adult rat tissue sections to see the tissue specificity and developmental expression of these genes. The expression of several novel genes were restricted to the nervous system. From these results, it may be suggested that our technique is very useful to clone the genes expressed in the developing human braine with confirmed chromosomal location. In addition, this cloning technique can be used to discover the new genes related with neural development in combination with functional screening methods.
Adult ; Animals ; Biotin ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary* ; Fetus ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mass Screening ; Microdissection ; Nervous System ; Organ Specificity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

We produced two murine monoclonal antibodies designated S2E1 and S2C11, which recognize S antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg). S2E1 could bind to denatured form of recombinant HBsAg as well as native form of HBsAg, but S2C11 could bind only to native form of HBsAg. Both antibodies reacted with HBsAg in the hepatocyte of patient infected with hepatitis B virus. Analyses of the nucleotide sequences encoding the variable regions of these antibodies revealed that S2E1 and S2C11 utilize variable gene segment which belong to V4/5 gene family and utilize the J5 and Jk4 gene segments, respectively. In addition, the heavy chain of S2E1 express a member of V14 gene family and a member of DSP2.9 and Jh3 gene families. S2C11 is related to the V1 gene family and expresses DFL16.1 gene regions in conjunction with the Jh3 gene segment.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatocytes ; Humans

This study was undertaken to investigate the characterization and distribution patterns of MHC class II positive dendritic cells[DCs] and ED2 positive tissue macrophages throughout the estrous cycle and during pregnancy in the rat ovary. The immunohistochemical characterization of the cells was carried out using the monoclonal antibodies OX6 and ED2 in cryostat-cut sections. DCs were distributed in the theca cell layer of the growing and mature follicles,stroma and corpus luteum. Tissue macrophages were distributed in the theca externa of the growing and mature follicles, stroma and corpus luteum but they were smaller in number than DCs. None of DC and tissue macrophage was found in the ovum, granulosa layer and follicular cavity of the ovarian follicle. However, DCs and tissue macrophages were present in the granulosa layer and follicular cavity in the atretic follicles. Degenerating corpus luteum contained a vast number of OX6 positive cells. On the contrary, fewer tissue macrophages were founcl in the degenerating corpus luteum. More macrophages tended to be observed in the former follicular cavity and theca lutein cell layer than in the granulosa lutein cell layer of the corpus luteum. In stroma,DCs and tissue macrophages were more frequently found around the blood vessels than in the other region, however, DCs were relatively greater in number than tissue macrophages. There was no estrous cycle and pregnancy dependent variation in the numbers and distribution patterns of DCs and tissue macrophages. In conclusion, the rat ovary contains rich networks of MHC class II positive dendritic cells and ED2 positive tissue macrophages. These findings suggest the existence of a well-developed system of immunological surveillance in the rat ovary. The results of this study have potentially important implications for the understanding not only of the ovarian immune system and the pathogenesis of various ovarian diseases but also of various physiologic functions of the ovary.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Vessels ; Corpus Luteum ; Dendritic Cells* ; Estrous Cycle ; Female ; Immune System ; Immunologic Surveillance ; Luteal Cells ; Macrophages* ; Ovarian Diseases ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary* ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Theca Cells

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of clinical nutrition services provided at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals in Korea. In total, 157 questionnaires were distributed to the departments of nutrition at hospitals on September 2013. The results of this study are as follows. The median number of beds was 607 and average length of stay was 8 days. 63.1% of dietitians had over 5 years of career experience. Nutritional screening rate was 97% in tertiary hospitals but only 67.2% in general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of equipment with computerized nutritional screening system was 100% in tertiary hospitals but 71.9% in general hospitals (P<0.001). Hospitals with the best regarding nutritional care were hospitals accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International). On the other hand, hospitals not accredited by the JCI but KOIHA (Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) showed the lowest performance rate of nutritional care. Nutrition support teams (NSTs) were established in all tertiary hospitals but in only 73% of general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of actively operating NSTs was 89% in tertiary hospitals but only 62% in general hospitals (P<0.001). There is a need to provide proper standardized clinical nutrition services as a primary treatment and we observed large variations in the quality of nutritional service between hospitals. Therefore, local solutions are needed to implement nutritional programs and policies for improved service and care.
Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hand ; Hospitals, General* ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Mass Screening ; Nutritionists ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Care Centers*