No abstract available.
Colonoscopy* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

No abstract available.
China* ; Depression* ; Republic of Korea*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many people experience problems with a dry nasal mucous membrane, often without wondering why. The cause of problem is known as rhinitis sicca, senile rhinitis, and atrophic rhinitis, etc. A common form of treatment for patients who have such symptoms has been to begin by rinsing the inside of the nose with saline solution, to drop peanut oil, to apply antibiotic-ointment and moisturizing agents. Lanolin has been know as a safe skin moisturizing agent and used to treat dry nose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lanolin on a group of patients seeking treatment for dryness of the nose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients experiencing problems with dry nasal mucosa were selected from the out-patient clinic. Fifty-seven patients, average age 36.3 years old, were treated with 1:2 mixture of lanolin and vaseline ointment. Thirty-six patients, average age 32.0 years, were treated with vaseline ointment. Both ointments were applied three times a day for two weeks. The efficacy of treatment was determined with pre and post-treatment six symptoms on a visual analogue scale: nasal obstruction, crust formation, mucosal dryness, respiratory discomfort, sleep disturbance, and general discomfort. RESULTS: For subjects treated with lanolin, the average VAS value for nasal obstruction was 5.84+/-2.28 and it decreased to 2.89+/-1.29, while the corresponding values for subjects treated with vaseline were 4.39+/-1.77 decreasing to 3.11+/- 1.24 (p<0.05). Crust formation of lanolin treated subjects were 5.67+/-2.39 and it decreased to 2.09+/-1.46, while the vaseline treated subjects were 4.83+/-1.99 decreasing to 2.33+/-1.31 (p<0.05). Average total symptom improvement was 65.7% (from 27.95+/-9.30 to 9.86+/-4.58) in lanolin treated group, while it was 44.8% (from 20.9+/-76.59 to 11.64+/-4.18) in vaseline treated group. CONCLUSION: We found that the efficacy of lanolin was statistically signigicantly better than that of vaseline. During the study period, there was no local reactions have been reported, nor have any allergic reactions. The present study underlines the fact that the way to treat nasal mucosal dryness is to use lanolin ointment.
Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lanolin* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose* ; Ointments ; Outpatients ; Petrolatum ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Atrophic ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment and their products may contribute to the development and exacerbation of airway diseases. The respiratory epithelium is the first barrier encountered by airborne allergens and an active participant in airway inflammation. During inflammatory reaction, many inflammatory cells are recruited to tissue from circulation, and they are located in close proximity to the epithelium. In this study, we hypothesized that respiratory epithelial cells and immune cells would interact and fungi could enhance their inflammatory reactions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: BEAS-2B was stimulated with airborne fungi (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, etc) for 24 hours, and then co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), CD4+ lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and monocytes for 3 to 5 days. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, granulocyte- macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured to determine the activation of immune cells. Transwell insert system was used to determine the importance of physical contact between epithelial cells and immune cells. RESULTS: Fungi, especially Alternaria, enhanced the production of chemical mediators from respiratory epithelial cells. When epithelial cells were co-cultured with immune cells, supernatants contained larger amounts of chemical mediators than when epithelial cells were cultured alone. When co-cultured with activated epithelial cells, TNF-alpha production was significantly increased by PBMCs, and physical contact was needed to interact between epithelial cells and PBMCs. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that fungi enhances the immune reaction between respiratory epithelial cells and peripheral blood immune cells, and the physical contact between epithelial cells and immune cells is needed to enhance the production of cytokines.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Aspergillus ; Cladosporium ; Colony-Stimulating Factors ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Fungi ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Taste disorders have not received sufficient attention by otolaryngologists and only a few studies have documented the clinical characteristics of taste disorders. We therefore analyzed the characteristics of patients with taste disorders who visited our Taste and Smell Clinic over a 3-year period. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Sixty patients with taste disorders were investigated. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated according to the age, sex, duration of symptom, cause, and severity of taste disorder. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients visited the clinic within 6 months of the onset of decrease in taste sensation. Multiple etiology was more common than single etiology. Taste disorder due to olfactory disorder was the most frequent etiology, followed by drug induced taste disorder and taste disorder due to zinc deficiency. Sixty percent of the patients experienced improvement of the taste abnormality. The efficacy of treatment decreased with increasing severity of taste disorder at the initial visit. CONCLUSION: Careful history taking and physical examination are needed for determination of the cause of any taste abnormality. The site and severity of dysgeusia should be determined through the chemical and electrical taste threshold test. Treatment should direct toward the causative abnormality, if possible.
Dysgeusia ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Sensation ; Smell ; Taste Disorders ; Taste Threshold ; Zinc

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare tumor accounting for less than 1% of all cervical adenocarcinoma. This tumor is characterized by aggressive biological behavior with frequent local recurrence or metastatic spread, postmenopausal onset, and occasional association with conventional squamous cell carcinoma. The cytologic diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the uterine cervix is often difficult because of negative smear due to intact overlying mucosa, cytologic findings mimicking endometrial cells, and masquerade as squamous cell carcinoma. Recently we have experienced a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in the uterine cervix, which was identified on the routine Papanicolaou smear and was histologically confirmed by the consequent biopsy. The smear showed abundant cellularity composed of relatively uniform cells. The tumor cells were arranged in small clusters, acini, naked cells, and loose sheets with abortive cribriform pattern. There were scattered globoid basement membrane-like materials and tumor diathesis. The nuclei were pleomorphic and showed hyperchromatic and coarsely granular choromatin with inconspicuous nucleoli. The punch biopsy of the uterine cervix showed typical histologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma characterized by tumor nests composed of hyperchromatic uniform basaloid cells, cribriform pattern, and cylindrical hyaline bodies.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoids* ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hyalin ; Mucous Membrane ; Papanicolaou Test ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Little Is known about the compared efficiency of different third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) fort the detection of anti-HCV. We examine the relative sensitivity and specificity of three third-generation anti-HCV assays, and results of discrepant samples among the anti-HCV ELISA are compared with data of a third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . METHODS:A total of 167 samples (61 positive and 106 negative), screened by a second-generation IMx(R) anti-HCV assay (Abbott 2.0; Abbott Laboratories, USA), weve tested with Innotest HCV 3.0(R) (Green Cross, Korea), LG HCD 3.0(R) (LG, Korea) and DONG-A HCV 3.0(R) (Dong-4, Korea). The discrepant specimens among the 4 anti-HCV ELISA were tested by LG HCD Confirm(R) (LG, Korea) and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The concordance rates of all 4 ansi-HCV ELISA were 80.2% (134/167) and 92.2% (154/167), respectively. The 28 and 31 of 33 specimens showing discrepancy among 4 anti-HCV ELISA were tested with LG HCD Confirm and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum HCV RNA was positive in 2 of 2 reactive and in 6 of 26 nonreactive on LG HCD Confirm. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and concordance rate of 4 anti-HCV ELISA were 97.7%, 85.2%, 70.0%, 99.0% and 88.5% (Abbott 2.0) ; 81.4%, 96.7%, 89.7%, 93.7% and 92 7% (Innotest 3.0), 81.4%, 98.4%, 94.6%, 93.8% and 93.9% (LG 3.0), 86.0%, 95.7%, 88.1%, 95.1% and 93.3% (DONG-A 3.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the sensitivity and specificity of 3 third-generation anti-HCV ELISA are comparable, and that these reagents demonstrate improved specificity compared to the second-generation ELISA.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Annual proficiency surveys were conducted in March, May, and August of 2017 as the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service. Overall, four image samples (MPI-17-01, MPI-17-02, MPI-17-03, MPI-17-04) in the first trial, three image samples (MPI-17-05, MPI-17-06 , MPI-17-07) in the second trial, and a slide specimen (MPS-17-01) using parasite samples in the third trial were distributed to participating institutions. The first and second trial specimens were prepared by photographing slides made of formalin-ether concentrate of positive samples stored for educational purposes. The slide distributed in the third trial was prepared using cellophane tape, which was stored after diagnosis of the patients infected with Enterobius vermicularis . There were 191 participating institutions in the first, 204 in the second, and 212 in the third trial. The correct identification rates were 27.2% for MPI-17-01 Diphyllobothrium species (sp.), 96.6% for MPI-17-02 no parasite, 67.5% for MPI-17-03 Metagonimus yokogawai , 71.2% for MPI-17-04 Balantidium coli , 99.0% for MPI-17-05 Taenia sp., 99.0% for MPI-17-06 Trichuris trichiura , 92.7% for MPI-17-07 Cryptosporidium sp., and 96.7% for MPS-17-01 E. vermicularis . The current external quality assessment for clinical parasitology was performed using image samples and standard slides. Surveys of parasitic infections should be accompanied by continuous education on various parasitic infections, for which there was lack of experience of inspection in clinical laboratories. In the future, it will be necessary to establish a standard material using parasitic samples, and ultimately to conduct a survey on whole series of tests for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.
Balantidium ; Cellophane ; Cryptosporidium ; Diagnosis ; Diphyllobothrium ; Education ; Enterobius ; Heterophyidae ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Parasitology* ; Quality Control ; Taenia ; Trichuris

BACKGROUND: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) allows rapid and accurate identification of clinical yeast isolates. In-tube formic acid/acetonitrile (FA/ACN) extraction is recommended prior to the analysis with MALDI Biotyper, but the direct on-plate FA extraction is simpler. We compared the Biotyper with the VITEK MS for the identification of various clinically relevant yeast species, focusing on the use of the FA extraction method. METHODS: We analyzed 309 clinical isolates of 42 yeast species (four common Candida species, Cryptococcus neoformans, and 37 uncommon yeast species) using the Biotyper and VITEK MS systems. FA extraction was used initially for all isolates. If ‘no identification' result was obtained following the initial FA extraction, these samples were then retested by using FA (both systems, additive FA) or FA/ACN (Biotyper only, additive FA/ACN) extraction. These results were compared with those obtained by sequence-based identification. RESULTS: Both systems correctly identified all 158 isolates of the four common Candida species after the initial FA extraction. The Biotyper correctly identified 8.7%, 30.4%, and 100% of 23 C. neoformans isolates after performing initial FA, additive FA, and FA/ACN extractions, respectively, while VITEK MS identified all C. neoformans isolates after the initial FA extraction. Both systems had comparable identification rates of 37 uncommon yeast species (128 isolates), following the initial FA (Biotyper, 74.2%; VITEK MS, 73.4%) or additive FA (Biotyper, 82.0%; VITEK MS, 73.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The identification rate of most common and uncommon yeast isolates is comparable between simple FA extraction/Biotyper method and VITEK MS methods, but FA/ACN extraction is necessary for C. neoformans identification by Biotyper.
Candida ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Mass Spectrometry* ; Methods* ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Because of a lack of quality control (QC) materials, stool examination has not been standardised. This study examined intestinal parasites in diarrhea specimens to manufacture and evaluate the performance stability of QC materials for stool examination. METHODS: This study examined diarrhea specimens submitted for stool culture. Microscopic examination was performed using the direct smear and formalin-ether concentration method (Military General Laboratory, MGL). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (R-Biopharm AG, Germany) and xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (Luminex Corp., USA) were used for the three major protozoa: Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis. The QC materials for stool examination were generated using Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense ova. The manufactured QC materials were evaluated under different storage conditions, with varying preservatives, temperatures, and storage times. RESULTS: From November 2015 to April 2016, 82 diarrhea specimens were collected and tested. All results from microscopy and ELISA were negative; C. parvum (n=2) and G. lamblia (n=1) were detected by xTAG, while D. fragilis (n=10) and B. hominis (n=2) were detected by PCR. High- and low-concentration QC materials were manufactured. Using the high-concentration QC material, ova were observed in all storage conditions using MGL. Using the low-concentration QC material, the ova were observed until 14 days, but not after 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: It should be considered for making QC materials for stool examinations that focus on D. fragilis and B. hominis frequently found in Korea and with the caution to the low-concentration of QC materials could be unstable.
Blastocystis hominis ; Cryptosporidium parvum ; Diarrhea* ; Dientamoeba ; Diphyllobothrium ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Giardia ; Giardia lamblia ; Korea ; Methods* ; Microscopy ; Ovum ; Parasites* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quality Control*