BACKGROUND: Primary human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy is a major cause of congenital malformation. We detected primary CMV infection in pregnant Korean women by using an algorithm that comprises CMV IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity tests. METHODS: During a 2-month period, 744 pregnant women who were at 10-19 weeks of gestation were consecutively enrolled in this study. Human anti-CMV IgG and IgM levels in their sera were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassays. Serum samples from the women who were positive for CMV IgG and IgM were assayed by the ARCHITECT CMV IgG avidity test in order to distinguish primary from non-primary CMV infection. Gross examination of the neonates of the women who were positive for CMV IgM was conducted. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of CMV IgG and IgM was estimated to be 98.1% and 1.7%, respectively. The samples from all the women who were positive for CMV IgM or with grey zone results contained high avidity CMV IgG. Seven women with positive CMV IgG and IgM results who completed follow-up up to delivery showed no gross evidence of in utero CMV transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal primary CMV infection was not detected in any of the pregnant women included in this study cohort. CMV IgG avidity test enabled the identification of women who were at a low risk of transmitting CMV infection and provided informative for subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Compared to previous studies, the seroprevalence of CMV IgG antibody across pregnant Korean women remained unchanged.
Adult ; Antibodies, Viral/*blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chemiluminescent Measurements ; Cytomegalovirus/*immunology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Republic of Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is now accepted as an important clinical marker of ovarian reserve and is increasingly measured as an initial evaluation at infertility clinics. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for the revised second generation (Gen II) assay using population-based data. In this population-based cohort study, AMH data from unselected infertile women aged 25–45 years from June 2013 to June 2014 (n = 15,801) were collected. The AMH values were measured using the revised Gen II assay. We established and validated 5 AMH-age regression models. Based on the optimal AMH-age model, reference values and centile charts were obtained. The quadratic model (log AMH = 0.410 × age − 0.008 × age²− 3.791) was the most appropriate for describing the age-dependent decrease in AMH measured using the revised Gen II assay. This is the largest population-based study to establish age-specific reference values of AMH using the revised Gen II assay. These reference values may provide more specific information regarding the ovarian reserve estimation of infertile women.
Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Ovarian Reserve ; Reference Values*

BACKGROUND: Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) is used as a marker for early diagnosis, monitoring of therapy, and detection of recurrence of the prostatic tumor or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In Korea, over 15 instruments have been used for measuring PSA. In this study, chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay Architect total PSA (Abbott Lab., Abbott Park, IL, USA) was evaluated for analytical performance and diagnostic usefulness as a marker for prostate cancer. METHODS: The within-run and between-run precision, lower detection limits, correlation with AxSYM total PSA (Abbott Lab., Abbott Park, IL, USA) and clinical investigation were evaluated. Three level control serums (0.5, 4.0, and 23.0 ng/mL) were used for a precision test. The linearity was evaluated using a patient serum sample with a PSA concentration of 100 ng/mL. Functional and analytical sensitivities were tested using a patient serum sample with a PSA concentration of less than 0.1 ng/ mL and saline. A correlation study with AxSYM total PSA was done with 42 serum samples. Clinical evaluation was done with 230 patients of whom 17 had prostate cancer. RESULTS: The total PSA showed a good precision result with less than 5 % of CV and showed linearity to 100 ng/mL. The functional sensitivity was 0.025 ng/mL and analytical sensitivity 0.001 ng/mL. The correlation evaluation showed Y (Architect)=1.0575X(AxSYM)+0.1895, r=0.9960. A Cut-off value of 8.35 ng/mL showed 88.2% sensitivity, 80.3% specificity as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Architect total PSA showed an acceptable analytical performance with its high sensitivity and could be a useful marker for early detection and recurrence of prostate cancer.
Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Luminescence* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Statistics as Topic

BACKGROUND: Recently, non-typhoidal salmonellosis is increasing and it constituted over 90% of total salmonellosis in 1990s. The antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella gets higher. So we described the change of serogroup and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from clinical specimens in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital during 6 years. METHODS: Clinical specimens were submitted from 1997 to 2002. Stool cultures were inoculated onto MacConkey (MAC) agar and Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar and into Selenite F (SF) enrichment broth. Identification of Salmonella were performed by Vitek GNI card (BioMerieux, Marcy-I'Eltoile, France) and serotyping were done. Antimicrobial resistance test were performed by Vitek GNS card (BioMerieux, Marcy-I'Eltoile, France). RESULTS: From 1997 to 2002, 594 strains of Salmonella were isolated. Non-typhoidal Salmonella and Salmonella typhi constituted 94.4% and 5.6%. Non-typhoidal Salmonella were mainly composed of group B (21.5%) and group D (48.0%), but in 2002, group C (12.4%) and group E (27.9%) were increased in number. The antimicrobial resistance rate of non-typhpoidal Salmonella were 28% to ampicillin, 4.1% to SXT, 0.2% to ciprofloxacin and 0.7% to ceftriaxone. The animicrobial resistance rate of group B and D Salmonella showed 37.5% and 32.6% to ampicillin, 7.8% and 4.2% to SXT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serogroup B and D Salmonella were most frequently isolated, but group C and E Salmonella have been increased in 2002. Antimicrobial resistance of group B and D Salmonella were higher than other serogroups and have been increased year by year.
Agar ; Ampicillin ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Female ; Humans ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella typhi ; Salmonella* ; Selenious Acid ; Serotyping

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and dental caries experience in Korean adolescents based on the 2010 ~ 2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. METHODS: The study subjects were 2,655 Korean adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. Subjects were classified into four groups according to their serum 25(OH)D levels. We used logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D and for dental caries experience after adjusting for age, household income level, recipient of basic livelihood, tooth brushing and visiting dental clinics. RESULT: Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D insufficiency (20 ng/mL≤25(OH)D<30 ng/mL) was associated with increased odd ratios (ORs) for dental caries experience in boys (OR = 2.577, 95% CI = 1.013–6.557), compared with serum 25(OH)D sufficiency (25(OH)D≥30.0 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: The serum 25(OH)D levels were found to be related to risk of dental caries experience in Korean adolescent boys.
Adolescent* ; Dental Caries* ; Dental Clinics ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Tooth ; Vitamin D

Objective: We investigated the agreement between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels measured with revised Gen II (rev-Gen II) and automated AMH (Access) assays and evaluated the reproducibility of each method under various blood/serum storage conditions. Methods: AMH levels in blood samples from 74 volunteers were measured by rev-Gen II and Access assays under various conditions: immediate serum separation and AMH measurement (fresh control); serum stored at –20 °C and AMH measured after 48 hours, 1 week, and 2 years; serum stored at 0 to 4 °C and AMH measured after 48 hours and 1 week; and blood kept at room temperature and delayed serum separation after 48 hours and 1 week, with immediate AMH measurement. Results: In fresh controls, all rev-Gen II-AMH values were higher than comparable Access-AMH values (difference, 8.3% to 19.7%). AMH levels measured with the two methods were strongly correlated for all sample conditions (r=0.977 to 0.995, all p<0.001). For sera stored at –20 °C or 0 to 4 °C for 48 hours, Access-AMH values were comparable to control measurements, but rev-Gen II-AMH values were significantly lower. AMH levels in sera stored at –20 °C or 0 to 4 °C for 1 week were significantly lower than in fresh controls, irrespective of method. Across methods, long-term storage at –20 °C for 2 years yielded AMH measurements significantly higher than control values. When serum separation was delayed, rev-Gen II-AMH values were significantly lower than control measurements, but Access-AMH values varied. Conclusion The rev-Gen II and Access-AMH assays showed varying reproducibility across blood/serum storage conditions, but automated Access yielded superior stability to rev-Gen II.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with schizophrenia are aware of the current status and have accurate information about COVID-19. Methods: The participants consisted of 161 inpatients and 117 outpatients with schizophrenia and 40 normal controls. The subjects completed self-report questionnaires measuring changes in their daily life, their perceptions of the current status of COVID-19 and their basic knowledge about the disease. Results: Compared to the normal control group, the inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia underestimated the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and overestimated the mortality rate of COVID-19. The mortality rates of COVID-19 and the common cold were higher in the order of inpatients, outpatients, and normal controls. The main route of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the main symptoms of COVID-19 were accurately recognized by more than 95% in the normal group and more than 80% in outpatients, but inpatients chose the correct answers at a lower rate. In the questions about misperceptions about COVID-19, the correct answer rate was high in the order of normal controls, outpatients, and inpatients. Most patients with schizophrenia obtained information about COVID-19 on TV, while most normal controls collected information through the internet. Conclusion This study showed that awareness of COVID-19 among patients with schizophrenia is insufficient. Additional measures are needed to provide accurate information and the current status of COVID-19 to patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: As bladder cancer is a superficial tumor with frequent recurrences, early detection and confirmation of recurrence are important. We evaluated the usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek (NMP22BC) for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. METHODS: From July to December 2004, we enrolled in the study 670 patients who visited the urology clinic in Ewha Womans University, Dongdaemun Hospital with hematuria or dysuria and were tested with NMP22BC. We also performed the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests simultaneously in 21 patients and interference test in 10 patients. RESULTS: NMP22BC tests were negative in 97% of the patients who had been cured of bladder cancer and were positive in 95% of the patients with recurred bladder cancer. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and efficiency were 95.0%, 91.5%, 25.7%, 99.8%, and 91.6%, respectively, with 8.5% false positive and 5% false negative rates. Fifty-five patients showed false positive in the NMP22BC test, the main cause of which was the presence of WBCs in urine. There was a good agreement between the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests (kappa agreement value, 0.5; P=0.008). According to the interference test, two patients with more than 3+ in leukocyte esterase results showed false positive in the NMP22BC test. CONCLUSIONS: NMP22BC test was simple to perform, rapid to produce the results, and useful in diagnosing a bladder cancer recurrence; the test shows a high efficiency with a high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and low false negative rate.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins/*urine ; Nuclear Proteins/*urine ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*diagnosis

Objective: Menopause symptoms can vary in type, duration, and severity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the key factors predicting severe symptoms among Korean perimenopausal women with various demographic data, obstetric and psychiatric histories, and menopausal symptoms screening scale scores. Methods: Data were collected from 1,060 women, and 4 latent classes were identified using latent profile analysis, with 6 major categories of menopausal complaints. Among the 4 classes, we selectively used data from the “all unimpaired” and “all impaired” groups. Menopause rating scale (MRS), sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychiatric factors were assessed, and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted with the “all impaired” group as a dependent variable. Results: Marital status and scores on the psychological and somatic subscales of the MRS were statistically related to being in the “all impaired” group. Otherwise, family history of menopausal symptoms, menarche age, and history of other psychiatric disorders were not statistically significant predictors of being in the “all impaired” group. Conclusion The psychological and somatic subscales of the MRS predict the severity of perimenopausal syndrome better than obstetric and psychiatric history do among Korean perimenopausal women. Psychological and somatic symptoms as well as genitourinary symptoms in menopausal patients should be closely evaluated.

Objective: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, several studies have found that Internet usage and gaming times have increased among adolescents. Parents’ Internet literacy and attitudes toward Internet gaming have been reported to affect children’s Internet gaming disorder (IGD). We hypothesized that parents’ attitudes toward Internet use and gaming would affect the prevalence of IGD among adolescents. Methods: A total of 199 mothers of children who played Internet games were surveyed online to gather information regarding their demographic characteristics, children’s Internet use patterns, psychological factors, and Internet gaming literacy. Results: Among adolescents, increased Internet usage or gaming time was not associated with IGD, but the presence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was. Among parents, anxiety, depression, and family togetherness were not related to IGD, but a positive perception of gaming protected against the development of IGD, whereas a negative perception was a risk factor for IGD. Conclusion Increased gaming time neither causes nor correlates with IGD in adolescents, even though ADHD may be a risk factor for IGD. Parents’ positive or negative perceptions of gaming can be protective or present a risk factor, respectively, for their children’s development of IGD.