We analyzed the occurrence of enteric viruses and bacteria at 22 places of drinkable groundwater (civil defense emergency water-supply facility), 8 places of the groundwater used for drinking water in group food services, and 10 places of spring-water. When the 40 concentrated samples were analyzed using nested RT-PCR and real-time RT PCR methods, norovirus and other enteric viruses were not detected in all samples tested. The detection percentages for total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica of fecal indicator were 57.5%, 22.5% and 7.5%, respectively. Colipages were not detected. These results suggest that high levels of fecal indicator bacteria in groundwater and spring-water are not directly related to occurrence of enteric viruses.
Bacteria ; Drinking Water ; Emergencies ; Escherichia coli ; Food Services ; Groundwater ; Norovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Yersinia enterocolitica

Intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma is an infrequent lesion which can be explained by abnormalities during embryonic migration of the parathyroid glands. Extracapsular hemorrhage from a intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma is extremely rare, however, due to its location near upper airway, it might cause a life-threatening situation. Therefore, if patients presented with anterior neck painful swelling, skin ecchymosis associated with dysphagia and/or hoarseness, extracapsular hemorrhage from parathyroid adenoma should be considered as a possible diagnosis. Estimation of serum calcium level is essential as the presence of hypercalcemia can help to make the diagnosis pre-operatively. As rupture of a parathyroid adenoma and cyst may lead to local dissemination of tumor cells and an increased risk of recurrent hyperparathyroidism, careful longterm follow-up is required. We report an unusual case of spontaneous rupture of intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma with a review of literature.
Calcium ; Deglutition Disorders ; Ecchymosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Neck Pain ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Skin

The associations between storm events, urban runoff and costal water quality have not been well investigated in Korea. A temporal and spatial analysis during summer, 2015 was conducted to determine associates between urban runoff and fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus) levels at two popular coastal beaches (Gwanganri beach and Haundae beach) in Busan. In this study, a clear relationship between rainfall and elevated number of indicators was observed. Two beaches met the costal beach water health standards after less than 3.0 mm of rain. Only for storms less than 2.5 mm was no observable rainfall effect. Our results revealed that exceedances were greatest in 5 hours following 41.0~45.5 rainfall, then declined the bacterial concentrations in 8 hours after the storm and they generally returned to levels below water health standards within 10~14 hours. But it took 2.7 days to get the level of water quality of dry days. The time required for water quality recovery depends on the intensity and duration of rainfall. In the event of intense rainfall issuance of beach closure by public authorities is warranted to protect public health.
Bacteria ; Busan ; Enterococcus ; Korea ; Public Health ; Rain ; Spatial Analysis ; Swimming* ; Water Quality* ; Water*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the CT findings of four patients with hepatic abscess secondary to perforated acute cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT findingsof four patients with surgically proven hepatic abscess secondary to perforated acute cholecystitis. CT findings were analysed with respect to the observation of the gallbladder, pericholecystic space, hepatic lesions, and peritoneal cavity. All patients underwent cholecystectomy, with drainage of the hepatic abscess. RESULTS: CT findings of hepatic abscess secondary to perforated acute cholecystitis were hypodense mass formation in the pericholecystic space(n=3), irreguarity and wall defect of Gallbladder(n=4), thickened Gallbladder wall(n=4),stone with debris(n=4), and local or diffuse infiltration of the pericholecystic area(n=3), omentum, and mesentery. CONCLUSION: CT was helpful in diagnosing the hepatic abscess secondary to perforated acutecholecystitis.
Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Drainage ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Omentum ; Retrospective Studies

T cell mediated immunity amlifies macrophage capacities to kill and digest the bacilli through production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The secreted cytokines of Th1 and Th2 cells can mutually regulate and inhibit each other's function. Therefore, the fine balance between the secreted cytokines is important for the resulting nature of tuberculosis. In this study, activation marker and cytokine production profiles were compared in patients with active tuberculosis and healthy control, and according to degree of radiographic extent and pleural involvement. METHOD:Forty-four patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 25 normal controls were recruited. We measuerd soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R), IFN-r, IL-4 and IL-5 produced from blood mononuclear cells in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin by ELISA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R and IFN-gamma from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were significantly lower than normal control, while IL-4 and IL-5 were not different between two group. The sIL-2R and IFN-r decreased in proportion to the extent of pulmonary involvement, and the sIL-2R and IFN-r from pulmonary tuberculosis with pleural effusion were significantly lower than those without pleural effusion. CONCLUSION: At the level of systemic T cells, development of tuberculosis is associated with diminished Th1 but not enhanced Th2 response.
Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Macrophages ; Pleural Effusion ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th2 Cells ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) with impaired cellular immunity and extrapulmonary TB is more common in patients with chronic kidney disease. We explored the clinical features and treatment outcomes of extrapulmonary TB according to renal function. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with extrapulmonary TB between January 2003 and December 2007. We classified the patients into two groups using the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula cut-off of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and evaluated their clinical features, treatment outcome and mortality (Group I vs. Group II, > or = 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RESULTS: The mean eGFR of Groups I (n=30) and II (n=312) was 34+/-19 and 102+/-26 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The pleura was the most frequent site of TB in both groups (Group I, 30.0% vs. Group II, 28.2%; p=0.379). There was no treatment failure or recurrence in either group. The mortality was higher in Group I (22.2% vs. 2.8%; p<0.01). In a multivariate analysis, eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was an independent risk factor for mortality (HR=11.51, CI 2.512-52.741; p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality related to extrapulmonary TB was higher in patients with impaired kidney function and kidney function was an independent predictor. However, there was no difference in treatment failure and recurrence according to renal function.
Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Kidney ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pleura ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Cervical tuberculous lymphadenopathy is a very common disease with a similar incidence to pulmonary tuberculosis. Dendritic cells play a role of initial antigen presentation of this illness. Nevertheless, the precise role of these antigen-presenting cells according to the clinical features in unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical implication of dendritic cell infiltration in the cervical lymph nodes. METHODS: A review of the clinical characteristics was carried out retrospectively based on the clinical records and radiography. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on the available histology specimens of 72 cases using the S-100b polyclonal antibody for dendritic cells. The number of dendritic cells with tuberculous granuloma were determined. A x2 test, unpaired T test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: Thirty percent of subjects had previous or concurrent pulmonary TB. Twenty one percent of cases showed a positive reaction on the AFB stain. Within a granuloma, the number of infiltrated dendritic cells was 113.0+/-7.0. The incidence of fever and cough decreased with increasing infiltration of dendritic cells Multivariate regression analysis showed that the infiltration of dendritic cells could significantly contribute to fever. CONCLUSION: Overall, dendritic cells can control a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and modulate the immune response, as well as resolve the clinical manifestations of TB lymphadenopathy.
Antigen Presentation ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Cough ; Dendritic Cells* ; Fever ; Granuloma ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

The purpose of this research was to identify nursing interventions performed by MICU and SICU nurses. For data collection this study used the taxonomy of the Nursing Interventions Classification(NIC: 433 nursing interventions) which was modified by McCloskey and Bulecheck(1996). Each of the 433 interventions were identified as used by MICU and SICU nurses. More than 50% of the ICU nurses performed 280 nursing interventions at least monthly. Rarely used interventions included 26 nursing interventions in the childbearing care class. Overall, both MICU and SICU nurses used interventions in the Physicological : Complex domain most often on a daily basis and the interventions in the Family domain least often. The most frequently reported interventions as being used daily in the MICU were chest physioterapy, airway suctioning and coughing enhancement and, in the SICU, documentation and airway suctioning. There were significant differences between MICU and SICU nurses differences interventions childbearing care, cognitive therapy, communication enhancement, coping assistance, elimination management, lifespan care, health system mediation, immobility management, medication management, neurologic management, patient education psychological comfort promotion, physical comfort program, respiratory management, risk management and information management. The SICU nurses performed there interventions more frequently than the MICU nurses. These findings will help in building of a standardized language for the MICU and SICU and enhance the quality of nursing care.
Classification ; Cognitive Therapy ; Cough ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Information Management ; Negotiating ; Nursing Care ; Nursing* ; Patient Education as Topic ; Risk Management ; Suction ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Korean Academy of Schizophrenia developed the Korean medication algorithm project for schizophrenia (KMAP) to aid clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to investigate problems and revision of Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia after feasibility test. METHODS: A total of 108 schizophrenia patients were enrolled at 19 centers and treated according to the algorithm. Prescribing investigators were able to change the recommended treatment strategies of the algorithm if necessary. All subjects were assessed over a 4-month period. Appropriateness of choice, dosage, duration and switch of antipsychotics and definition of treatment response were examined. RESULTS: Compliance of 1(st) choice antipsychotics in KMAP was favorable. Atypical antipsychotics which is a 1(st) stage drug selected first was above 84%, especially in case of no previous medical history was nearly all. In case that shift of stage was needed, there is a trend that combination treatment stage (6(th) stage) and clozapine treatment stage (5(th) stage) were preferred to rather than 3(rd) stage and 4(th) stage (typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics treatment stage). The rates of switching antipsychotics at the time points other than CDP (critical decision points) was low and the reason was almost the side effects. So the compliance of CDPs in KMAP was good in case of insufficiency of treatment response. Also the reasons why many investigators continued using current antipsychotics without switching despite insufficiency of treatment response were definition of treatment response, discrepancy between brief symptom rating scale for negative symptom and decision of clinicians. In addition, compliance of co-existence symptoms and side effect of medication in KMAP was favorable. CONCLUSION: It is some difference from clinical practice such as stage of antipsychotics, definition of treatment response and usefulness of brief symptom rating scale for negative symptom. But the majority apart from points of preceding paragraph is feasible in clinical practice. These results are essential to revise the next version of KMAP.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Clozapine ; Compliance ; Cytidine Diphosphate ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: Osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption are considered a potential therapeutic target to the treatment of erosive bone diseases, including osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Poria cocos Wolf (PCW), commonly used herbal medicine, has previously been reported to induce anti-inflammatory effect and anti-cancer effect, and to modulate immunologic responses. However, the effects of PCW on osteoclasts, and its detailed mechanisms are not proven. Therefore, we examined the inhibitory mechanism of PCW on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To analyze the effects of PCW on osteoclast differentiation, we examined osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with or without of PCW by TRAP staining. The expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP and OSCAR mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and the protein levels of c-Fos, NFATc1, p38, ERK, JNK, Akt and IkappaB were assessed by western blot. Also, we evaluated the effect of PCW on bone resorption using hydroxyapatite plate. RESULTS: PCW significantly inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation without any evidence of cytotoxicity. We founded that PCW strongly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation when added during the early stage of cultures, suggesting that PCW acts on osteoclast precursors to inhibit RANKL/RANK signaling. Among the RANK signaling pathways, PCW inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, also inhibited RANKL-induced expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP and OSCAR. In addition, PCW suppressed the bone resorption of mature osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that PCW may be a potential novel drug for bone disorders by targeting the differentiation of osteoclasts as well as their functions.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Resorption ; Cocos ; Durapatite ; Herbal Medicine ; Macrophages ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Phosphorylation ; Poria ; RNA, Messenger ; Wolves