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

The clinical and pathological features of trichoadenoma are presented. Trichoadenoma is very rare, and as far as we know, no report on the trichoadenoma has been published in korea literature. We experienced a case of trichoadenoma occured in a 29 year-old male, who had a 0.9x0.7x0.4cm sized and slowly growing mass in the right buttock. The histopathological findings and histogenesis of trichoadenoma were discussed and a brief review of the literature was made.

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Calcinosis*

Reactive perforating collagenosis is one of a range of essential perforating disorders and is characterized by the transepithelial elimination of altered collagen. Two types have been recognized: the inherited, or childhood form and the acquired, or adult form. Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis is associated with systemic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus and/or renal failure. We report that a low-dose allopurinol showed dramatic effects on acquired reactive perforating collagenosis, which was associated with hypothyroidism and chronic renal failure caused by diabetic nephropathy.
Adult ; Allopurinol* ; Collagen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Renal Insufficiency

Eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare recurrent inflammatory dermatosis, characterized clinically by well-circumscribed erythematous plaques. The histopathologic features of the lesions are dermal edema, infiltration of eosinophils and development of 'flame figures' in the dermis. A 64-year-old female presented pruritic erythematous plaques, with associated bullae, on her right hand and wrist. Histopathologic examination showed infiltration of eosinophils and characteristic flame figures in the dermis. The clinical presentation and histopathologic alterations are consistent with the diagnosis of eosinophilic cellulitis. Herein, we report a case of bullous eosinophilic cellulitis which is an uncommon variant of eosinophilc cellulitis.
Blister ; Cellulitis ; Dermis ; Edema ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases ; Wrist

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of diabetes education program on Glucose Metabolism(blood sugar. HbAlc) and Lipid Metabolism(total cholesterol. triglyceride. low density lipoprotein. high density lipoprotein). Self-efficacy in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from March 12 to June 19, 2001. Sixty-two research subjects were assigned to experimental (36) and control (26) groups. The collected data was analyzed using the Chi-Square test. t-test by spsswin program The results are as follows: 1. Experimental group had higher level of glucose metabolism than control group(FBS: t=-3.317. p=.002. HbAlc: t=-4.956. p=.000). 2. Level of lipid metabolism were partly a significant different between experimental group and control group(Triglyceride: t=-2.108. p=.039). 3. Experimental group had higher efficacy score than control group(t=4.651. p=.000). In conclusion. the study supported the effects of diabetes education program to increase metabolism and self-efficacy. Further study with a longitudinal design is suggested to verify the effect of diabetes education program in NIDDM and standardized diabetes education program.
Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Education* ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Lipoproteins ; Metabolism* ; Research Subjects ; Triglycerides

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting a hypothetical model of testing for general hospital nurses’ job embeddedness. Methods: Data were collected from August 20 to September 19, 2021, by a self-administered questionnaire answered by 428 general hospital nurses. The data were analyzed by SPSS and AMOS. Results: Nine of the hypothetical model’s 12 hypotheses were supported by the data collected from all participants. The test results indicate that ego resilience, subjective career success, and recovery experience from job stress directly affect participants’ job embeddedness. Nurses’ work environments were reported to affect ego resilience and subjective career success, while at the same time ego resilience and subjective career success affected the participants’ job embeddedness. Work-life balance was found to affect ego resilience and ego resilience affected subjective career success, and at the same time subjective career success directly affected participants’ recovery experiences from job stress and job embeddedness. Of these variables, subjective career success had the strongest direct effect on participants’ job embeddedness. Work-life balance affected the participants’ recovery experiences from job stress, and their recovery experiences from job stress were found to directly affect job embeddedness. Conclusion These results suggest that different management strategies to enhance hospital nurses’ job embeddedness should address nurses’ ego resilience, subjective career success, and recovery experiences from job stress.

BACKGROUND: Epidural adhesion can cause pain from compression and irritation of nerves. But a simple injection into the lumbar epidural space usually goes into the area of least resistance and cannot deliver the medication to the target area. Thus, the adhesiolysis of the affected area is sometimes mandatory. We performed an adhesiolysis, irrigating with normal saline, and targeted an injection of a local anesthetic and steroid mixture to the epidural space, using a flexible catheter-secured epiduroscopic unit in 15 patients with low back pain, and assessed the pain score changes. METHODS: With the patient in the prone position, the epidural space was entered with a 17-gauge Tuohy needle. A guide-wire was inserted through the needle and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to the level of the suspected pathology. A catheter was then advanced over the guide-wire. After the removal of the guide-wire, an adapter was then attached to the proximal end of the catheter, and its side arm was connected to a syringe containing normal saline flush. The 0.9 mm diameter fiberoptic scope was introduced into the catheter via the adaptor, and a video camera was then attached. Gentle irrigation of normal saline less than 50 ml distended the epidural space. The catheter and fiberoptic scope were advanced to the adhesion area and adhesiolysis was done by moving the tip of the steering catheter. Assuming that original NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) before the procedure was 10, we asked the NRS at 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after the epiduroscope. RESULTS: NRS at 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after the epiduroscope showed significant decrease of both low back pain and radiating pain, compared with the original pain (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The flexible catheter-secured epiduroscopic unit proved to be painless, safe, and more simple, than an operation, it is, thus, a practical method for pain relief using adhesiolysis and irrigation of epidural space under the direct visualization of the epidural space in patients with low back and lower extremity pain.
Arm ; Catheters ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity* ; Needles ; Pathology ; Prone Position ; Syringes

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatologic diseases and the main method of treatment is antibiotics and retinoids. However, many patients experience a need for a different treatment because of the transient effect and severe adverse effects. The study reported herein evaluated the effect and safety on acne vulgaris of 805 nm diode laser and topical Indocyanine green (ICG). OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of the near-infrared diode laser phototherapy in combination with topical application of ICG in the treatment of acne vulgaris. METHODS: Twenty-three volunteers with varying degrees of acne were enrolled in the study. Half of the face was stained by ICG. After 15 minutes, the whole face was irradiated by 805 nm diode laser. The procedure was carried out two times a week for 4 weeks. Inflammatory, non-inflammatory acne lesions were counted and sebum levels of both cheeks were measured. RESULTS: The mean reduction of the inflammatory lesion counts was 43% in the ICG-diode laser group. The mean clearance of non-inflammatory lesions was 25% in the ICG-diode laser group. Significant reduction of acne lesions were observed in ICG-diode laser group compared to diode laser group (p<0.05). The adverse effects were negligible on both sides of the face. CONCLUSION: ICG and diode laser therapy is effective in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris, and none of significant adverse effects were observed.
Acne Vulgaris ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cheek ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Photochemotherapy ; Phototherapy ; Retinoids ; Sebum