BACKGROUND: The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay is rapid, sensitive analytical technique but has problem of high false-positive rate. We applied dUTP-UDG PCR (dU-PCR) method to prevent carryover contamination major source of high false positive in PCR assays, for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: The PCRs for detection of M. tuberculosis were performed with P1 and P2 primers based on IS6110 repeated sequence. FTC-2000 was used for capillary PCR and Uno-Thermoblock was used for heating block PCR. In order to evaluate the effect of dU-PCR controlling carryover contamination, PCRs were performed in the presence of UDG and the absence of UDG. To compare the sensitivity of usual dT-PCR with dU-PCR, chromosomal DNA of M. tuberculosis ranging 500pg to 0.5fg were amplified by dT-PCR and dU-PCR method using two different thermocycler, capillary and heating block type, respectively. RESULT: The dU-PCR using UDG prevented carryover contamination by amplicon DNA up to 500pg. By capillay PCR method, the lower limits of detectability of dT-PCR and dU-PCR were 0.5fg and 500fg, respectively, which indicates the sensitivity of dU-PCR was lower than dT-PCR. But by heating block method, the lower limits of detectability of both method of dU and dT-PCR were 0.5fg. So the sensitivity of dU-PCR was same as dT-PCR. CONCLUSION: The dU-PCR by heating-block method was sensitive test for detection of M. tuberculosis that effectively prevent carryover contamination by amplicon.
Capillaries ; DNA ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use finite element analysis to predict the fatigue life of an implant system subjected to fatigue load by mastication (chewing force). The reliability and the stability of implant system can be defined in terms of the fatigue strength. Not only an implant is expensive but also it is almost impossible to correct after it is inserted. From a bio-engineering standpoint, the fatigue strength of the dental implant system must be evaluated by simulation (FEA). Material and Methods: Finite element analysis and fatigue test are performed to estimate the fatigue strength of the implant system. Mesh of implant is generated with the actual shape and size. In this paper, the fatigue strength of implant system is estimated: U-fit (T.Strong, Korea, internal type). The stress field in implant is calculated by elastic-plastic finite element analysis. The equivalent fatigue stress, considering the contact and preload stretching of a screw by torque for tightening an abutment, is obtained by means of Sine's method. To evaluate the reliability of the calculated fatigue strength, fatigue test is performed. Results: A comparison of the calculated fatigue strength with experimental data showed the validity and accuracy of the proposed method. The initiation points of the fatigue failure in the implant system exist in the region of high equivalent fatigue stress values. Conclusion: The above proposed method for fatigue life estimation can be applied to other configurations of the differently designed and improved implant. In order to prove reliability of prototype implant, fatigue test should be executed. The proposed method is economical for the prediction of fatigue life because fatigue testing, which is time consuming and precision-dependent, is not required.
Bioengineering ; Dental Implants ; Fatigue* ; Finite Element Analysis ; Korea ; Mastication ; Torque

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a stress management program on mental health and coping behavior for children of alcoholics. METHOD: Data was collected from January to February, 2003. The subjects were 20 adolescents from 13 to 18 years old. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and t-test with the SAS program. RESULT: There were statistically significant differences in mental health, active coping, positive cognitive restructuring, and support-seeking for problem solving between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The stress management program helped children of alcoholics by enhancing self-esteem, providing information about alcohol, and improving emotional and problem focused coping abilities. This eventually enhanced mental health.
Stress, Psychological/*therapy ; *Mental Health ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Child of Impaired Parents/*psychology ; *Alcoholism ; Adolescent ; *Adaptation, Psychological

No abstract available.
Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure*

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence and functional impairment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome(PMS) in young women. METHODS: A total of 1063 female college students were recruited from two urban areas(Seoul and Suwon) of Korea. Questionnaires for sociodemographic data and risk factors of PMDD, attitude about menstruation, and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool(PSST) were applied. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe moderate to severe PMS and PMDD were 16.9% and 11.7%, respectively. There were differences in the alcohol and coffee consumption, severity of menstrual cramp, and family history of PMS among the moderate to severe PMS, PMDD, and no/mild PMS groups. Although some participants did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for PMDD, they showed significant functional impairment. Participants with negative attitude about menstruation reported premenstrual symptoms more frequently than those with positive or ambivalent attitude about menstruation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PMS and PMDD were prevalent and associated with functional impairment in young females. Some participants reported significant functional impairments although they did not meet the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PMDD. Negative attitude about menstruation was associated with more premenstrual symptoms experiences.
Coffee ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Menstruation ; Muscle Cramp ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

Malignant tumor is found in 1-2% of ovarian benign cystic teratomas. Among these malignant neoplasms, squamous cell carcinoma is by far the most common malignancy, whereas the incidence of struma ovarii is less than 5% in mature teratoma. As far as concerned the struma ovarii, a very small percentage is associated with carcinoid, mucinous or serous cystadenoma, or Brenner tumor. However, any reports of struma ovarii associated with squamous cell carcinoma in the same ovary could not be found in English literature. Recently we have experienced a case of squamous cell carcinoma and struma ovarii arising in an ovarian benign cystic teratoma in 72 year old female patient.
Female ; Humans ; Incidence

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the effects of foot reflexomassage on constipated college women for the treatment of constipation. METHOD: The researcher sampled nursing students attending a college of nursing science in Gyeonggi-Do, and checked if they were affected by constipation in reference to the Rome II criteria & CAS. They were randomly divided into an experimental group(15 subjects) and a control group(15 subjects). Foot reflexomassage was applied to the experimental group 10 times in 2 weeks : each time lasted 40 minutes. The frequency of defecation and severity of constipation by CAS were measured. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS 11.5 program. RESULT: The CAS score of the experimental group was significantly lower after foot reflexomassage than those of the control group (p=.000). CONCLUSION: Foot reflexomassage can be considered an effective alternative treatment for constipated young women.
Complementary Therapies ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Female ; Foot* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing

No abstract available.
Lymphocele*

The ultrasound is easily available and noninvasive diagnostic method without radiation hazard. We can approachto differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors by gray sale ultrasound which can display the detailed structure ofsoft tissue. In department of radiology, Korea Veterans Hospital, 27 cases of histologically confiremd ovariantumors collected from March 1984 to February 1986 were analized. The results were as follows: 1. The agedistribution was from 13 to 72 years. 2. The histologic diagnosis of ovarian tumors(27 cases) are as follows:teratoma(14), mucinous cystadenoma(8), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma(1), serous cystadenoma (2), Krukenburg tumor(1)and malignant thecoma (1). 3. The long diameter of ovarian tumors ranges from 4cm to 28cm. In these, mucinouscystadenoma is the largest and their size are as follows; less than 10cm; 25%, 11–15 cm; 12%, 16–20 cm; 25% andmore than 20cm; 38%. 4. The ultrasonographic findings of teratoma(14) were mainly cystic (8) or echogenic(6).There were echogenic solid components showing distal acoustic shadowing or fat-fluid level within cystic masses.Echogenecity of solid masses was heterogenous. 5. The ultrasonographic findings of mucinous cystadenoma&cystadenocarcinoma(9) were unilocular cystic (3) or multilocular cystic(6). There were variable amount ofechogenic component within cystic masses. 6. Those of serous cystadenoma(2) were unilocular cystic (1) ormultilocular cystic (1). 7. Krukenburg tumor(1) and Malignant thecoma(1) were heterogenously echogenic.
Acoustics ; Commerce ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Korea ; Methods ; Mucins ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Thecoma ; Ultrasonography

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics of colleges implementing the accelerated second-degree bachelor of science in nursing program in South Korea and provide insight into strategies to improve the program outcomes. Methods: An on-line questionnaire developed for this study was emailed to deans of nursing colleges who were members of the Korean Association of College of Nursing. Questions included items related to nursing college, students, curriculum, and anticipated difficulty in relation to an increase of the number of second-degree students. Results: Out of 117 nursing schools, 33 schools (28.2%) participated in the on-line survey. The actual number of second-degree students and their ratio (about 10%) to regular students significantly increased in 2019. Male students were enrolled nearly twice as many times as regular students. Among the anticipated difficulties, clinical practice institutions (3.94) and clinical practice instructors (3.73) showed relatively higher scores than other difficulties such as teaching (3.58) and education facilities (3.30). Conclusion In order to improve the quality of nursing education for second-degree students, more nursing faculties and innovative clinical practice support systems are needed. Future study is warranted to investigate the educational experience of second-degree students and graduates.