No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Endoscopy* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Dermatomyositis*

BACKGROUND: Human cancel can be induced by various environmental factors such as virus, chemicals, and radiations. However, susceptibility of host to these environmental factors is not well studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chromosomal vulnerability to gamma-1rradiation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with luring, gastric, and liver cancer. METHODS: Micronuclei (MN) test was done in 15 patients with gastric cancer, 18 patients with lung cancer, and 20 normal controls. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test was done in 13 patients with hepatocellular cancer and 14 normal controls. RESULTS: The baseline frequency of MN before irradiation in patients with lung cancer and gastric cancel was significantly higher than in controls (47+/-8, 73+/-9, and 8+/-l, respectively; p<0.01). After gamma-irradiation, the frequency of MN was also significantly higher than in controls (223+/-19, 269+/-43, and 285+/-56, respectively; p<0.05). The frequency of SCE in Patients with hepatocellular cancer was significantly higher her than in controls (9.0+/-0.6, 4.3+/-0.7, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From this preliminay data, we concluded that chromosomes of peripheyal blood lymphocytes in patients with various cancers were more vulnerable to gamma-irradiation as compared to normal controls.
Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphocytes* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the Vitros 950 (Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., NY, USA) in the measurement of digoxin and theophylline levels and compared its results to those of the TDxFLx II (Abbott Laboratories, IL, USA) used for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) world-widely in order to assess the utility of the Vitros 950 as a TDM instrument. METHODS: From June 1997 to August 1997, 125 and 135 candidates for TDM were randomly chosen to measure digoxin and theophylline, respectively, using the Vitros 950 and TDxFLx II. The relationship between its results and those of TDxFLx II were determined. The within-run and between-run precisions of the Vitros 950 were determined using two controls (Vitros Performance Verifier I and II; J & J Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., NY, USA). The high-concentration control (Vitros Performance Verifier II) was diluted in Vitros 7% BSA to 5 dilutions. And linearity for quantitative analysis of digoxin and theophylline were determined. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation (CV) for the within-run of the Vitro 950 were 0.8% - 4.4%. And the CV for between-run precision of the Vitro 950 were 1.7% - 12.3%. The linearity of digoxin and theophylline were relatively good. The correlations (r) of digoxin and theophylline levels with those determined by the Abbott TDxFLx II were 0.95 and 0.93, respectively (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The recently developed dry slide method of the Vitros 950 proves to good precision and linearity for quantitative analysis of digoxin and theophylline. Its results correlate well with those of the TDxFLx II. The Vitros 950 does not require an elaborate preparatory protocol for the sample, and is easy to use and maintain.So it is considered a highly feasible instrument for stat test.
Digoxin* ; Drug Monitoring ; Theophylline*

We investigated the seroepidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of patients suspected to have toxocariasis in Gwangju and Jeonnam-province, Korea. In total, 228 specimens were analyzed for anti-Toxocara canis IgG at two university hospitals from 2010 to 2012. The overall seropositive rate was 67.1%, and the seropositive rates among the eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic groups were 76.1% (105/138) and 53.3% (48/90), respectively. Risk factors for eosinophilia and toxocariasis were male sex (odds ratios [OR]=2.632 and 3.477, respectively) and a history of ingesting raw meat (OR=2.884 and 3.274, respectively), especially raw cow liver (OR=2.089 and 10.038, respectively). T. canis seropositivity (OR=5.807, P=0.004) and a history of consuming raw cow liver (OR=2.766, P=0.052) were risk factors for organ involvement. The anti-T. canis IgG level showed weakly positive correlations with eosinophil counts (r=0.234, P<0.001) and the duration of eosinophilia (r=0.155, P=0.019). Although limited to the regions of Gwangju and Jeonnam-province, this study supports the opinion that toxocariasis is a reasonable focus as a cause of eosinophilia and that it is also associated with organ involvement.
Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Gwangju ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Meat ; Risk Factors ; Toxocariasis*

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus sepsis, a highly fatal and relatively common disease in Korea, requires rapid bacteriological diagnosis for optimal management of the patient. The Vitek GNI+ card(bioMerieux Vitek. Inc., MO., USA) has been introduced to accomplish more accurate and more rapid reporting for gram-negative bacilli identification. The present study evaluated the ability of the Vitek GNI+ card to identify the species of V. vulnificus. METHODS: A total 103 strains of V. vulnificus isolated from clinical specimens in Chonnam University Hospital during 1986-1999, were tested. Identification of GNI+ card was carried out in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer, except the suspension medium of 0.85% NaCl rather than the original concentration of 0.45%. Additional tests for growth on TCBS, salt tolerance, and the antimicrobial susceptibility to colistin were also performed. RESULTS: At the completion of the appropriate incubation period, the GNI+ system correctly identified 96.1%(99 strains) of the total isolates. The misidentification rate for the GNI+ system was 3.9%(4 strains) of the total isolates. The misidentified organisms were confirmed to V. vulnificus by the additional tests. The average time to identify the organisms by GNI+ System was 6.8 +/- 1.4 hour. Total 103 isolates could be separated into 24 different bionumber types in Vitek system. CONCLUSION: This results indicate that Vitek GNI+ card is adequate for the identification of clinical isolates of V. vulnificus within several hours, but additional tests should be performed for a few isolates misidentified by the Vitek GNI+ card.
Colistin ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Salt-Tolerance ; Sepsis ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) has been widely used as a substi-tute of bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of various solid tumors or hematologic malig-nancies. The success of PBSCT is correlated with peripheral blood CD34+ cell count per kilogram of the recipient body weight. Standardization of flow cytometric CD34+ cell enumeration was improved by the modified International Society of Hematotherapy and Gene Engineering (ISHAGE) protocol. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the peripheral parameters (WBCs, mononuclear cells, the CD 34+ cells) that may predict the total CD34+ cell count in the harvest product, using the Stem-Kit (Beck-man Coulter Inc., Fullerton, CA, USA). METHODS: The study tested 88 PBSC harvests and peripheral blood (PB) on the day before collection from 26 patients. The CD34+ cells were analyzed using the Stem-Kit. The WBC and MNC count were measured by Coulter STKS (Beckman Coulter Inc.). The correlation and regression analysis between peripheral parameters (WBCs, MNCs, CD34+ cells) and the total CD34+ cell count in the harvest product were performed. RESULTS: The CD34+ cell count per weight (kg) of 88 PBSC harvests was 1.59 +/- 2.61 (0.01 -17.35). The mean number of WBC, MNC, and CD34+ cell in PB prior to harvest were 10.57 +/- 8.36 (1.50 - 32.50) X 10(3)/micro L, 1.85 +/- 1.28 (0.39- 7.43) X 10(3)/micro L, and 17.21 +/- 33.19 (0.12-239.19)/micro L, respectively. With the CD34+ cells numbering under 3/micro L in peripheral blood (PB), we could not harvest more than 0.5 X 10(6) /kg PBSC. With the cells numbering 3-6/micro L (59%) and 10- 20/micro L (89%), however, we could harvest more than 0.5 X 10(6) /kg and 1.0 X 10(6) /kg, respectively. More than 2.0 X 10(6)/kg of PBSC was collected with 10-20/micro L (31%). The peripheral blood CD34+ cell count prior to harvest significantly correlated with the total CD34+ cell count in the harvest product (r=0.97, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood CD34+ cell enumeration using the Stem-Kit was an efficient predictor of when to harvest peripheral blood stem cells after mobilization therapy. We could not collected the CD34+ cell in harvest product of more than 0.5 X 10(6)/kg if the peripheral blood CD34+ cell count was less than 3/micro L.
Body Weight ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cell Count* ; Humans ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells*

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus from hands and nasal cavities of physicians and nurses and to determine the relationship between the isolates of S. aureus from patients with nosocomial infection and the isolates from physicians, nurses and the hospital environment. METHODS: Twenty-three S. aureus isolates which consisted of 8 strains from patients, 7 strains from doctors and nurses, 7 strains from hospital environments, and S. aureus ATCC 25923 were examined. Biochemical profile by the use of API Staph (API system, La Balme-Les Grottes, France), antibiogram by disk diffusion method, and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) were used for the strain differentiation and molecular typing of S. aureus isolates. RESULTS: The isolation rate of S. aureus in hands and nasal cavities of doctors and nurses was 21% (25/ 120) and 28% (33/120), respectively. The isolation frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from doctors, nurses, and hospital environments was 57% (8/ 14). The isolates disclosed 13 different biochemical profiles and 14 different resistant patterns of antimicrobials. All isolates were divided into five molecular types (A~E) by RAPD with a similarity (S) value of 0.55; 10 strains (45%) belonged to type A, 7 (32%) to type C, 3 (14%) to type B, one each to type D and E, respectively. The S value between strain 11 from hospital environments and strain 12 from a patient was 1.00, which means that they are the same on the genetic level. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal the existence of a close relationship between clinical isolates and isolates from hospital environment, including those from physicians and nurses. Thus, the implementation of an infection control programs to reduce the spread of MRSA within hospitals is important for the prevention of nosocomial infections.
Cross Infection ; Diffusion ; DNA ; Hand ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Epidemiology* ; Molecular Typing ; Nasal Cavity ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common and occasionally severe in newborns, immunocompromised hosts, cancer patients, and recipients of organ transplant. Consequently, sensitive and rapid methods for CMV detection are of great diagnostic value since antiviral drugs have become available, which might be more effective upon early administration. We evaluated a polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR- ELISA) to detect human CMV infection as an aid in making a prompt diagnosis and a determination of therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: CMV DNA was amplified by single PCR, using primers chosen from genomic regions (major immediate-early [MIE] protein coding region), and the microwell plate hybridization assay was performed for specific detection of 5'-biotinylated PCR products using CMV-specific probes labeled with digoxigenin. A total of 35 clinical specimens from 14 patients who were suspected CMV infectious state was analyzed by PCR-ELISA and its results were compared with those of serum anti-CMV IgM, shell vial culture assay and PCR. RESULTS: The sensitivity for detection of PCR-amplified CMV DNA by the ELISA was 102 copies, which was ten-fold greater than ethidium bromide staining of agarose gels. The positive rates of 35 clinical specimens by serology, shell vial culture assay, PCR and PCR-ELISA were 37.9%, 40.0%, 60.0% and 68.6%, respectively. The OD ranges of 24 positive specimens by PCR-ELISA were from 0.042 to above 2.5. In follow-up studies of two patients with bone marrow transplantation, positive CMV results by PCR-ELISA earlier than by other methods including serologic method, shell vial culture assay and PCR. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that PCR-ELISA may show higher sensitivity and positive rate than serologic method, shell vial culture assay and conventional PCR. PCR-ELISA can be useful to manage CMV infection rapidly in patients at risk.
Antiviral Agents ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Clinical Coding ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Digoxigenin ; DNA* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethidium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gels ; Humans* ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sepharose ; Transplants