No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: As many as several weeks of incubation may be necessary for the recovery of mycobacteria when conventional culture media are used. Previous studies evaluating Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) as a rapid for the growth and detection of mycobacteria from clinical specimens have been reported. We compared MGIT with Ogawa media for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. METHODS: Ninety nine clinical specimens received in the laboratory of Wonju Christian Hospital from June to September 199 were used for this study. The specimens from nonsterile body sites were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated, for culture and Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and specimen were inoculated onto MGIT tube and 3% Ogawa egg medium, and cultured for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 38 specimens culture-positive for mycobacteria, 3 grew isolates in MGIT medium only, 8 grew isolates in Ogawa media only, and 27 grew isolates in both media. Mean (median, range) times to detection of mycobacteria were 13.7 (5.5, 2-48) days with MGIT and 19.6 (18, 13-37) days with Ogawa (P>0.05). The number recovered with MGIT plus Ogawa media was 24 (63.2%) within 14 days of receipt of specimen, and 31 (81.6%) within 21 days. The contamination rates were 31 % for MGIT and 1 % for Ogawa media. CONCLUSIONS: MGIT appears useful to quickly detect and identify mycobacteria from clinical specimens. However, because the number of culture-positive specimen in MGIT was not greater than those recovered with Ogawa media, MGIT should be used in combination with solid media to reduce turnaround times and increase the isolation rate.
Culture Media ; Gangwon-do ; Mycobacterium ; Ovum

BACKGROUND: As many as several weeks of incubation may be necessary for the recovery of mycobacteria when conventional culture media are used. Previous studies evaluating Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) as a rapid for the growth and detection of mycobacteria from clinical specimens have been reported. We compared MGIT with Ogawa media for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. METHODS: Ninety nine clinical specimens received in the laboratory of Wonju Christian Hospital from June to September 199 were used for this study. The specimens from nonsterile body sites were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated, for culture and Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and specimen were inoculated onto MGIT tube and 3% Ogawa egg medium, and cultured for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 38 specimens culture-positive for mycobacteria, 3 grew isolates in MGIT medium only, 8 grew isolates in Ogawa media only, and 27 grew isolates in both media. Mean (median, range) times to detection of mycobacteria were 13.7 (5.5, 2-48) days with MGIT and 19.6 (18, 13-37) days with Ogawa (P>0.05). The number recovered with MGIT plus Ogawa media was 24 (63.2%) within 14 days of receipt of specimen, and 31 (81.6%) within 21 days. The contamination rates were 31 % for MGIT and 1 % for Ogawa media. CONCLUSIONS: MGIT appears useful to quickly detect and identify mycobacteria from clinical specimens. However, because the number of culture-positive specimen in MGIT was not greater than those recovered with Ogawa media, MGIT should be used in combination with solid media to reduce turnaround times and increase the isolation rate.
Culture Media ; Gangwon-do ; Mycobacterium ; Ovum

No abstract available.
Hypoglycemia*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Reference Values*

Left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) is one of common cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients and it is well known that hypertensive cardiac disease accompained by LVH is still common cause of congestive heart failure in spite of treatment of hypertension. The authors assessed the prevalence of anatomical and functional abnormalities of left ventricle by EKG, chest X-ray and echocardiography in 45 essential hypertensive patients and also in 20 normal controls. Average values of left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWd), interventricular septal thickness(IVSd), left ventricular mass(LVM), and left ventricular mass index(LVM/BSA) by echocardiography in hypertensive groups with LVH by EKG or chest X-ray were significantly higher than those of hypertensive groups without LVH by EKG or chest X-ray(P<0.005). Among 27 hypertensive patients with LVH by EKG and chest X-ray increased LVPWd was found in 24 patients(18%) and increased LVH in 26 patients(19%). Increased LVPWd and LVM were found in 3 patients(23%) among 13 hypertensives without LVH by EKG and chest X-ray. Hypertensive patients with increased LVH showed LVH by EKG and chest X-ray more frequently than those with increased LVPWd. Also, hypertensive patients without increased LVM showed MVH by EKG and chest X-ray less frequently than those without increased LVPWd. Therefore, echocardiography appears to be superior to routine chest X-ray and EKG for defecting LVH in hypertensive patients, especially without LVH by these tests. In conclusion, even though estimation of LVM by echocardiography seems to be a better method than single measurement of LVPWd, it seems thant estimation of LVM together with LVPWd will be more valuable in diagnosis of LVH in hypertensive patients.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Prevalence ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of hand reflexology on the physiological?emotional responses and immunity of the patients with chronic illness. This study looked specifically at patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) and cancer patients. METHOD: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre and post test. Subjects were 54 patients who received dialysis and chemotherapy in one hospital. Thirty-one patients were assigned to the experimental group and 23 to the control group. The hand reflexology was applied to both hands of the experiment group for ten minutes each time, 5 times during three days. For data collection, physiological lab levels, immune cells of blood and questionnaires for emotional responses were measured before and after the program. RESULT: BT of the experiment group was decreased significantly on both of the 1st and the 5th application. PR and BP were decreased significantly on the 1st times, but not 5th times. Hb levels of the experimental group were significantly increased. And emotional responses, vigor and mood scores of the experiment group were significantly increased. B cell and CD19 were increased significantly on the experiment group. Suppressor T cell and NK cell showed significant decrease after the program, but no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: We have found that the hand reflexology helps the chronic patients to improve physiological emotional responses and the immune reaction. Through this result, the hand reflexology is effective as a intervention of psychoneuroimmunologic function.
Chronic Disease* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dialysis ; Drug Therapy ; Hand* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Massage*

The hypotensive effect and side reactions of Buterazine were evaluated in 21 patients with essential hypertension. The results were as follows; 1) Before medication and after 2 and 4 weeks of medication, the over all average systolic and diastolic pressure were 188+/-23/112+/-7, 168+/-13/101+/-17, and 158+/-12/95+/-8mmHg, respectively. After 2 and 4 weeks of medication, the over all average systolic pressure decreased by 20 and 30mmHg(P<0.005, P<0.001), and the over all average diastolic pressure decreased by 11 and 17mmHg(P<0.025, P<0.001), respectively. In 69% of all cases, marked or moderate degree of hypotensive effect was observed. 2) There was no significant changes in heart rates before and after treatment. 3) In 84% of all cases, improvement of symptoms were observed. 4) There was no side effects which required discontinuing the treatment, except 2 cases which discontinued the medication.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common neuropathies. Although pathologic studies show both segmental demyelination and axonal loss in diabetic neuropathy, the relative importance of segmental demyelination is debated. Conduction block (CB) is a physiologic hallmark of segmental demyelination. If segmental demyelination were a main pathology of diabetic neuropathy, CB should be common. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of CB in diabetic patients. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive diabetic patients (M=30, F=22) were referred to EMG laboratory and underwent routine nerve conduction studies (NCS). CB was defined by two methods. One was > 20% drop in peak-to-peak amplitude and < 15% change in negative-peak duration between proximal and distal stimulation sites. The other was > 50% drop in the amplitude and area. Clinical findings, electrophysiological data, and effectiveness of immunomodulating therapy for some patients with CB were reviewed. RESULTS: A total 326 nerves were studied. The criteria for 20% and 50% CB were met in 35 nerves in 19 patients and 7 nerves in 6 patients, respectively (prevalence=10.7%, 2.1%, respectively). Some patients with CB were treated with IVIG or steroid and had a good response. CONCLUSIONS: CB in diabetic neuropathy is not a common finding. The rarity of CB in diabetic neuropathy suggests that segmental demyelination is not a prominent part of the underlying pathology. The presence of CB and good responsiveness to immunomodulating therapy in diabetic neuropathy also suggest alternative or additional causes for neuropathy, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Axons ; Demyelinating Diseases* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Neural Conduction ; Pathology ; Polyneuropathies ; Prevalence