No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Cord*

Importance of anaerobic bacteria is often neglected in clinical bacteriology due to difficulties of isolation and identification. Anaerobic infection became more important as more patients with defective defence against microbial invasion are treated at hospitals. This is a report of studies of anaerobe isolation from clinical specimens and antibiotic susceptibilities. Clinical cases with anaerobe isolation are also presented to stress importance of anaerobes as etiologic agents. 128 anaerobe strains from 111 patients, were isolated in 1972 and 1973. Among these, 82% were non-sporeforming anaerobes. Isolation of anaerobes was frequent from specimens of pleural, and abdominal fluid, and liver. In some patients, anaerobes were isolated in pure culture. Gram-positive organisms were susceptible to many antibiotics. Bacteroides fragilis was susceptible to chloramphenicol and tetracyline, but resistant to many other antibiotics. Overall antibiotic susceptibility was similar to the results by other workers in other countries.
Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections/diagnosis* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Human ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVE: Permanent occlusion of an aneurysm with platinum coil embolization is achieved by thrombus formation and subsequent organization of the thrombus. However, these processes are often delayed or imcomplete. In this study, the authors present the effects of autologous fibroblasts-attached platinum coils on thrombus organization. METHODS: Experimental aneurysms were made on common carotid arteries bilaterally in four dogs. During the operation, dermal fibroblasts were obtained from the neck skin. The fibroblasts were attached on platinum coils by a simple co-culture for 5 days. In each animal, one aneurysm was embolized with autologous fibroblast-attached platinum coils(study group) and the other with plain platinum coils(control group). Two weeks later, the degree of intraaneurysmal thrombus organization was compared. RESULTS: The study group aneurysms showed more advanced organization than the control group(area occupied by organized thrombus / aneurysm cross sectional area = 79% vs. 54%, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: As a pilot study, this experiment demonstrates autologous fibroblast-attached platinum coils can facilitate permanent aneurysm obliteration. Autologous fibroblast-attached platinum coils may be used for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.
Aneurysm* ; Animals ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Coculture Techniques ; Dogs ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fibroblasts ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Pilot Projects ; Platinum* ; Skin ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus* ; Seoul*

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels have rarely been determined in an Asian population. We evaluated the analytical performance of a test for measuring CDT levels by using capillary electrophoresis (EP). METHODS: We determined the precision of CDT measurement by using capillary EP and nephelometry and compared the CDT values obtained using both the methods. We included healthy control subjects, abstinent patients with liver disease, and individuals consuming varying amounts of alcohol. RESULTS: The CDT measurement by using capillary EP were correlated well with those CDT measurement by using nephelometry, N Latex CDT assay, Y=0.5706X+1.581, R=0.930. The results obtained from both methods showed good qualitative agreement with each other (kappa coefficient=0.61). Genetic variants of transferrin isoforms were detected in 4.1% of the tested population. Both the CDT and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in the abstinent patients with liver disease were significantly higher than those in healthy abstinent individuals (0.9% vs. 0.5%, 109.5 mg/dL vs. 28.5 mg/dL, respectively), but the difference in CDT values in the 2 groups was less pronounced for the CDT values. Individuals who had a mean daily alcohol intake of more than 60 g/day showed significantly higher CDT levels than those who had a mean daily alcohol intake of less than 60 g/day (1.9% vs. 0.7%, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The CDT test using capillary EP showed good performance, and this method has several advantages such as automation and detection of variant forms. Thus, CDT can be a more useful marker than GGT for monitoring alcohol abstinence, especially in patients with liver disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Automation ; Electrophoresis, Capillary/*methods ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry/methods ; Protein Isoforms/analysis ; ROC Curve ; Republic of Korea ; Transferrin/*analogs & derivatives/analysis ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quantitation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is an increasingly popular method to determine the treatment response in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The clinical value of HBsAg level measurement during rescue therapy for lamivudine (LMV)-resistant CHB patients have not been evaluated to date. Therefore, this study investigated the correlation between HBsAg level and treatment response in LMV-resistant CHB patients treated with adefovir (ADV) add-on therapy. METHODS: LMV-resistant CHB patients treated with LMV-ADV combination therapy for over 2 years were included. HBsAg levels were measured at 6 month intervals until 1 year, and annually thereafter. Treatment response was assessed by determining the virological response (VR, undetectable HBV DNA levels) during treatment. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included, of which 40 showed a VR. HBsAg levels were not different significantly at baseline (4.0 vs. 3.6 Log10 IU/mL, P=0.072). However, the HBsAg level decreased after 6 months of treatment in patients with a VR and became different significantly between the groups thereafter (3.9 vs. 3.3 at 6 months, P=0.002; 3.8 vs. 3.2 at 1 year, P=0.004; 3.9 vs. 3.2 at 2 years, P=0.008; 3.7 vs. 3.1 at 3 years, P =0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The HBsAg level at 6 months after treatment can help predict treatment response.
Adenine/*therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Area Under Curve ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphates/*therapeutic use ; ROC Curve ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsies have been partially replaced by noninvasive methods for assessing liver fibrosis. We explored the usefulness of four novel biomarkers, enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF), glycosylation isomer of Mac-2 binding protein (M2BPGi), galectin-3, and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), in association with liver fibrosis. METHODS: ELF, M2BPGi, galectin-3, and sST2 were assayed in 173 patients with chronic liver diseases. The results were analyzed according to fibrosis grade (F0/1, F2, and F3/4) by transient elastography (TE). RESULTS: ELF, M2BPGi, galectin-3, and sST2 values differed significantly according to TE grade; ELF and M2BPGi values were higher in F2 and F3/4 than in F0/1 (P≤0.001, all), sST2 values were higher in F3/4 than in F0/1 and F2 (P < 0.05), and galectin-3 values were higher in F3/4 than in F0/1 (P=0.0036). ELF and M2BPGi showed good TE fibrosis detection performance (area under the curves [AUC], 0.841 and 0.833 for ≥F2; and 0.837 and 0.808 for ≥F3). The sensitivity and specificity for predicting TE grade F≥2 were 84.1% and 76.7% for ELF and 63.6% and 91.5% for M2BPGi. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to compare the liver fibrosis assessment of four novel biomarkers: ELF, M2BPGi, galectin-3, and sST2. The biomarkers varied significantly according to TE grade, and each biomarker showed a different trend. ELF and M2BPGi seem to have comparable good performance for detecting liver fibrosis.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Carrier Proteins* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Fibrosis ; Galectin 3* ; Glycosylation* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Precise fluid administration is important to prevent hypo- or hypervolemia. However, the accuracy of scales marked on intravenous (IV) fluid plastic bags had remained unknown. Ten 1 L sized IV crystalloids were prepared from each of three manufacturers (H, J, and D). At each scale, the actual volume of the IV fluid was measured. Differences with the measured volumes for each scale were investigated between the three manufacturers. All initial total volume was greater than 1 L. Except for the full-filled level, H overfilled, whereas J and D filled less. For J and D, the maximal differences between the scale and the measured volume were about 200 mL. Fluid volumes of each scale were significantly different among the three manufacturers (P < 0.001). It is inaccurate to measure the amount of fluid depending on the IV bag scales. Clinicians must use electronic infusion pumps for accurate fluid administration.

In 2007, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases recommended an immunization schedule for adults residing in Korea. This recommendation includes four categories: standard immunization for healthy persons, supplementary immunization for persons with underlying illnesses, recommendations for health-care personnel and for international travelers. The Standard Immunization Schedule consists of universal vaccination (tetanus-diphtheria/tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Td/Tdap); hepatitis A vaccine for persons aged 20s; human papilloma virus vaccine for women under 26 years old; meningococcal vaccine for military recruits and college students in dormitories; influenza vaccination for persons aged 50 years or more and pregnant women; and pneumococcal vaccination for persons aged 65 years or more) and catch-up vaccination (hepatitis A vaccine for persons aged 30s; hepatitis B vaccine, varicella and MMR vaccines for persons who have uncertain specific immunities). The Supplementary Immunization Schedule recommends 4 vaccines, i.e., pneumococcal, influenza, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, appropriate to the underlying illnesses, and confirmation of the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The Recommendation for Health-Care Personnel includes universal vaccination (influenza and pertussis) and catch-up vaccination (hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella and varicella for seronegative health-care personnel). The Recommended Immunization for International Travelers focuses reinforcement of vaccinations for healthy persons and includes certain immunizations necessary for international travel (yellow fever, meningococcal, plaque, tick-borne encephalitis, and cholera). These guidelines can be seen at www.ksid.or.kr.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies ; Chickenpox ; Collodion ; Communicable Diseases ; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne ; Female ; Fever ; Haemophilus influenzae type b ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization Schedule ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Military Personnel ; Papilloma ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Viruses

In 2007, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases recommended an immunization schedule for adults residing in Korea. This recommendation includes four categories: standard immunization for healthy persons, supplementary immunization for persons with underlying illnesses, recommendations for health-care personnel and for international travelers. The Standard Immunization Schedule consists of universal vaccination (tetanus-diphtheria/tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Td/Tdap); hepatitis A vaccine for persons aged 20s; human papilloma virus vaccine for women under 26 years old; meningococcal vaccine for military recruits and college students in dormitories; influenza vaccination for persons aged 50 years or more and pregnant women; and pneumococcal vaccination for persons aged 65 years or more) and catch-up vaccination (hepatitis A vaccine for persons aged 30s; hepatitis B vaccine, varicella and MMR vaccines for persons who have uncertain specific immunities). The Supplementary Immunization Schedule recommends 4 vaccines, i.e., pneumococcal, influenza, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, appropriate to the underlying illnesses, and confirmation of the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The Recommendation for Health-Care Personnel includes universal vaccination (influenza and pertussis) and catch-up vaccination (hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella and varicella for seronegative health-care personnel). The Recommended Immunization for International Travelers focuses reinforcement of vaccinations for healthy persons and includes certain immunizations necessary for international travel (yellow fever, meningococcal, plaque, tick-borne encephalitis, and cholera). These guidelines can be seen at www.ksid.or.kr.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies ; Chickenpox ; Collodion ; Communicable Diseases ; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne ; Female ; Fever ; Haemophilus influenzae type b ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunization Schedule ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Military Personnel ; Papilloma ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Viruses