BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transfection of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome requires the cloning of tandem HBV sequences inserted into a plasmid vector, which is usually screened for by the restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid minipreparation from at least a dozen of bacterial colonies. The aim of this study was to develop a simple alternative screening method for bacterial colonies harbouring tandem HBV sequences by a PCR. METHODS: A set of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer was designed to detect the bacterial colonies harbouring "head to tail" dimeric HBV DNA. PCR which amplifies the head to tail junction site of two tandem HBV molecules was performed. RESULTS: PCR products with appropriate size (1.2kb) were obtained. The accurate detection by PCR screening technique was confirmed by enzyme digestion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PCR screening technique is a simple and rapid method for the identification of bacterial colonies containing tandem HBV sequences.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Digestion ; DNA ; Genome ; Head ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans* ; Mass Screening* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Transfection

Ninety two injuries of the main nerves in the upper extremity observed in 79 patients, were studied at the Department of the Orthopedic Surgery, 17th Army Hospital from May 1965 to Aug. 1968. The treatment given consisted of neurolysis in 15, neurorrhapy in 77(primary 43 and secondary 34) and tendon transplantation and transfer in 11 cases. The results for the median, ulnar and radial nerves after primary and secondary suture were analyzed with respect to the level of injury(high and lower). The results of the median nerve repair were more succesful than those of the ulnar nerve, In these two nerve injuries, the sensory recovery was better than the motor and secondary suture gave better results than primary suture. Thirteen cases failed to respond to primary or secondary nerve repair, among those tendon transfer or tendon transplantation was tried in eleven cases, from the latter approximately 25% of motor recovery could be seen.
Hospitals, Military ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Orthopedics ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; Radial Nerve ; Sutures ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Ulnar Nerve ; Upper Extremity

Lumbar braces, cast jackets and lumbar corsets are commonly prescribed for the relief of low back pain or the prevention of instability of lumbar or lumbosacral vertebrae. These devices have been presumed to achive their effect by (1) decreasing movement at the involved intervertebral joints, (2) shifting a portion of the load from the spine to the rest of the trunk by compressing the abdomen, (3) decreasing lumbar lordosis and therefore, mechanical stress on the spine and (4) providing sufficient support to allow relaxation of the muscles of the trunk. But it is doubtful that lumbar braces or corsets significantly decrease movement between lumbar vertebrae. To maintain the stability of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine, abdominal muscles and intrinsic muscles of the back play an important role. When these muscles weaken the lumbar lordosis becomes exaggerated possibly bringing about degenerative changes in the articular processes and approximation of the spinous processes. In severe cases results in the so-called kissing spine which causes low back pain. The pain may be relieved by use of lumbo-sacral corsets or knight braces, which diminish lordosis. However, there has been no scientific report on adequate types of braces, duration of use or muscle weakness resulting from its use as yet. The prupose of this study is to provide a theoretical braces for, planning adequate prevention and early treatment, so that labour loss from retirement or change of job due to low back pain could be minimized, permitting early return to employment and resumption of activities of daily living. In other words, this study concentrates on the indications for use and selection of which will produce optimum results in the treatment of patients with low back pain. The EMG was taken immediately after admission, and after 3 weeks of bed rest accompanied by pelvic traction with or without heating, and also it was taken after 6 weeks of use of brace. The results obtained from this study were as follows; 1. After bed rest the EMG activities were increased in back muscles, such as longissimus dorsi, multifidus and iliocostalis lumborum and in abdominal muscles of internus abdominis while decreased in rectus abdominis. 2. There has been no significant change after use of corset in acute cases while the muscle activities. were increased after use of lumbar corset in chronic cases. 3. Rectus abdominis was most senstively influenced by bed rest or use of brace both in acute and chronic cases. And it was the last to recover probably because it does not contract in ordinary alow walking. 4. Knight brace was considered to be preferable to lumbar corset in acute cases with evidence of weakness in abdominal muscles by EMG. 5. There was no difference between bed rest and use of brace in patients who had radiculopathy with functional difficulties or not.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Muscles ; Activities of Daily Living ; Animals ; Back Muscles ; Bed Rest ; Braces ; Employment ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Joints ; Lordosis ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Radiculopathy ; Rectus Abdominis ; Relaxation ; Retirement ; Spine ; Stress, Mechanical ; Traction ; Walking

Six thumb reconstructions and one index reconstruction were performed by use of the wrap-around technique. All successful digital reconstructions were reviewed at an average of 37 months after surgery. There were complications related to the digits in three patients ; these included pin site infection (1), malrotation (1), and nail deformity (1). But we considered that function and cosmesis were excellent with a 100% viability rate. All patients regained protective sensation and sttained two-point discrimination (average 10mm). The wrap-around technique represents an esthetically and functionally excellent procedure of digit reconstruction for amputation at the level of metacarpo-phalangeal joint or distal to it.
Amputation ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Humans ; Joints ; Sensation ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Dinoprost* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal*

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Fistula*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cells, Cultured*

No abstract available.
Cells, Cultured*

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the rate for handwashing by intensive care unit nurses according to the content of nursing tasks, to investigate the relationship between hand washing practice evaluated by nurses themselves and their actual practice observed, and finallly to provide basic materials for strategy for hand washing education. METHOD: Data were collected by observing 27 nurses working in intensive care units of a hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do and by using observation and a structured self-assessment tool. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS and SAS. RESULTS: The handwashing rate for the nurses was 4.3%. The handwashing rate was high in proportion to the risk of cross infection. In addition, the handwashing rate was highest in nurses working in the neurosurgery intensive care unit. The average score for self-assessment of handwashing was 49.42+/-3.78 points and it was higher than their actual practice of handwashing. CONCLUSION: In order to improve handwashing by nurses, it is necessary to educate them on the importance of handwashing. In addition, there should be strategies for standardizing knowledge and attitudes to handwashing and inducing nurses to practice hand washing in compliance with the policies and working conditions of the institution.
Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Education ; Faculty, Nursing* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Neurosurgery ; Nursing Faculty Practice* ; Nursing* ; Self-Assessment