OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

We have cloned a alpha-COP homolog, ancop, from Aspergillus nidulans by colony hybridization of chromosome specific library using alpha-COP homologous fragment as a probe. The probe DNA was amplified with degenerated primers designed by comparison of conserved region of the amino acid sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-COP, Homo sapiens HEP-COP, and Drosophila melanogaster alpha-COP. Full length cDNA clone was also amplified by RT-PCR. Comparison of genomic DNA sequence with cDNA sequence obtained by RT-PCR revealed 7 introns. Amino acid sequence similarity search of the anCop with other alpha-COPs gave an overall identity of 52% with S. cerevisiae, 47% with human and bovine, 45% with Drosophila and Arabidopsis . In upstream region from the transcription start site, a putative TATA and CAAT motif were also identified.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis ; Aspergillus nidulans* ; Aspergillus* ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Coatomer Protein* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Humans ; Introns ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Sequence Homology ; Transcription Initiation Site

Synthetic genes encoding the gag p24 and the part of the envelope protein gp41 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) were cloned and overexpressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, using an expression vector carrying 77 promoter and the poly-histidine leader sequence. The overexpressed p24 fusion protein was purified by centrifugation, Ni-affinity chromatography and CM-sepharose chromatography The overexpressed gp41 fusion protein was purified by centrifugation, C4 chromatography and DEAE-sepharose chromatography. The purified fusion proteins showed a high level of purity and immunoreactivity in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis. These results suggest that this prokaryotic expression-purification method is suitable for obtaining a large amount of the viral antigen which may be useful for screening of antibodies to HIV-1 in human blood samples.
Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography ; Clone Cells ; Electrophoresis ; Escherichia coli ; Genes, Synthetic ; HIV* ; HIV-1* ; Humans* ; Mass Screening

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Unlike screw-retention type, fixture-abutment retention in Locking taper connection depends on frictional force so it has possibility of abutment to sink. PURPOSE: In this study, Bicon(R) Implant System, one of the conical internal connection implant system, was used with applying loading force to the abutments connected to the fixture. Then the amount of sinking was measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 Bicon(R) implant fixtures were used. First, the abutment was connected to the fixture with finger force. Then it was tapped with a mallet for 3 times and loads of 20 kg corresponding to masticatory force using loading application instrument were applied successively. The abutment state, slightly connected to the fixture without pressure was considered as a reference length, and every new abutment length was measured after each load's step was added. The amount of abutment sinking (mm) was gained by subtracting the length of abutment-fixture under each loading condition from reference length. RESULTS: It was evident, that the amount of abutment sinking in Bicon(R) Implant System increased as loads were added. When loads of 20 kg were applied more than 5 - 7 times, sinking stopped at 0.45 +/- 0.09 mm. CONCLUSION: Even though locking taper connection type implant shows good adaption to occlusal force, it has potential for abutment sinking as loads are given. When locking taper connection type implant is used, satisfactory loads are recommended for precise abutment location.
Bite Force ; Fingers ; Friction ; Retention (Psychology)

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to provide basic data on the nursing Happiness Index and identify factors influencing nurses by describing their perception of lifestyle, health behavior, nursing professionalism, Happiness Index, and turnover intention. METHODS: On July 2012, 700 nurses from 10 general hospitals were surveyed, but 23 were omitted due to missing or incomplete data. The focus of this study was the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Happiness Index, consisting of 11 OECD identified topics concerning living conditions and quality of life. Data were analyzed using chi2-tests, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression with SPSS/WINdow 14.0. RESULTS: Mean score for nurses' Happiness Index was 3.03 on a scale of 5. There were significant differences on the Happiness Index for the following: age, marriage, children, education, position, work experience, wages, number of beds, medical institution, health behavior, weight, and meal patterns. There was a positive correlation between the happiness index and nursing professionalism but a negative correlation between the happiness index and turnover intention. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that factors influencing happiness are autonomy, sense of calling and turnover intention suggesting the need to improve nursing professionalism for a life of happiness among hospital nurses.
Child ; Happiness ; Health Behavior ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intention ; Life Style ; Marriage ; Meals ; Quality of Life ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Social Conditions

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) lymphadenitis is the most common complication of BCG vaccination. It commonly occurs in infants aged <6 months involving ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. We described BCG lymphadenitis in a 22-month-old boy presenting swelling of left supraclavicular lymph node that was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the multiplex PCR targeting the region of difference (RD).
Humans ; Infant ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vaccination*

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify 3 to 5 years of future management issues in hospital information systems (HIS). METHODS: Two rounds of interview surveys were conducted based on the sample survey of 50 managers from 28 hospital information centers utilizing the Delphi method. RESULTS: From the survey, management issues in HIS were identified in the following order: 'top management support', 'close relationship with users', 'PACS', 'disaster recovery', improving IS strategic planning'. Compared with the 1999 survey, the issues that rank within the top 10 management issues were as follows: 'top management support', 'security and control', 'close relationship with users'. Recently surfaced issues are 'disaster recovery' and 'standardization'. The issues that dropped out of the top 10 ranks were 'network management', 'recruiting and developing IS human resource'which were very fundamental issues in the initial state of the introduction of the hospital information system. CONCLUSION: The two main significance of this study involves predicting future management issues based on the comparison of the current issues with the 1999 issues and recommendingmanagement strategies based on the classification of issues by importance and persistence.
Classification ; Hospital Information Systems* ; Humans ; Information Centers

This article is being retracted as a part of the manuscript was a 'duplicate publication'.

PURPOSE: The study tried to suggest the ways to improve the national disability welfare information projects with evaluating the present condition of the projects. METHOD: Firstly, the study analyzed the disability information system and disability websites. Secondly, the study found out the problems of the registration of disability and management system through the situation analysis. Finally, the study conducted a survey of the disabled and the information system workers and performance evaluation of the information system. RESULTS: The study offered a proposal of The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) for the disability registration and management. When the disabled visit the hospital or the public health center, their information is registered automatically in The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS), which helps not to miss out the disability registration. Through this system, they are given the proper service which they need, and the information can be shared with the facilities providing the service for the disabled. CONCLUSION: The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) contributes significantly in avoiding the repetition of the support for the disabled and improving the quality of service.
Disabled Persons ; Humans ; Information Systems* ; Public Health ; Registries

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9) mRNA in mouse embryos. Materials and METHOD: From October 1997 to December 1998, morula stage mouse embryos were cultured for 48 hours with G-CSF and GM-CSF at concentrations of 0.1 pg/ml, 1 pg/ml, 10 pg/ml, 100 pg/ml, 1 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Embryos not treated with G-CSF or GM-CSF were served as control. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been used to examine the expression of MMP-2, 9 mRNA in developed blastocysts. Following reverse transcription, strategically designed nested primers, optimized for specificity, were used for amplification from the cDNA equivalent of a single embryo. The products were then verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequence analysis. Results were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical significance was defined as p< 0.05. RESULTS: The relative quantities (relative volume x intensity) of MMP-2 mRNA expressed in embryos of all G-CSF treatment groups were significantly increased than in the control, especially in 10, 100 pg/ml and 1 ng/ml treatment groups. The relative quantities of MMP-2 mRNA in all GM-CSF treatment groups were also significantly increased than in the control, especially in 100 pg/ml treatment group. The relative quantities of MMP-9 mRNA of all GM-CSF treatment groups except 10 ng/ml group were significantly increased than in the control, especially 10, 100 pg/ml and 1 ng/ml treatment group. However, the relative quantity of MMP-9 mRNA was significantly increased in only 10 ng/ml G-CSF treatment group than in the control and other treatment groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that G-CSF and GM-CSF may increase the m-RNA expression of MMP-2 or 9 in mouse blastocysts with the concentration-specific manner.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Colony-Stimulating Factors* ; Digestion ; DNA, Complementary ; Embryonic Structures* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Granulocytes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Mice* ; Morula ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis