No abstract available.
Intellectual Disability ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne*

BACKGROUND: As living and dead Mycobacteria could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), it was considered that PCR was inappropriate for the monitoring of pulmonary tuberculosis after treatment. But we found negative conversion of PCR after successful treatment. We would like to know about the negative conversion rate of PCR and its conversion time after antituberculous treatment. METHODS: We collected 113 sputums from the 16 patients of pulmonary tuberculsosis visiting Catholic University Hospital of Taegu Hyosung. We consecutively tested AFB smear, AFB culture and PCR by 2 to 4 weeks after antituberculous therapy. The patients were classified according 13 the chest X ray findings. RESULTS: We detectsd negative conversion of PCR from all 16 patients of the pulmonary tuberculosis within 30 weeks after treatment. The average negative conversion time was 16 +/- 8 weeks. The conversion time according to the chest X-ray findings were as follows : For the 8 cases of minimum were 9 +/- 5 weeks,4 cases of modreate advanced were 20 +/- 8 weeks, and 4 cases of far advanced were 23 +/- 2 weeks. The product of PCR was gradually decreased according to the duration of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the results of our study, we could utilize M. tubercuosis PCR for the prediction of therapy response and monitoring of the patient with pulmonary tuberculosis after treatment.
Daegu ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

BACKGROUND: To investigate epidemiology of a specific strain, and evaluate correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and antimicrobial susceptibility, we studied about Mycobacterium tuberculosis RFLP isolated from Taegu area. METHODS: From Oct. 1997 and Mar. 1999, we isolated 54 strains of M. tuberculosis from the patients visiting Catholic University of Taegu Hyosung, Taegu, Korea. We studied their drug susceptibility and analyzed the Pvu treated RFLP using digoxigenin labeled IS6110 probe. RESULTS: Fifty-three had more than 6 bands of RFLP and strains with 10 bands were predominant (15 strain). Cluster analysis reveals eleven distinct clusters showing 57.4% of clustered rate (31 strains from A to K) and 35 independent patterns showing 64.8% of the diversity rate at 70% similarity level. Cluster A was the largest group (7 strains) and the next was cluster B (5 strains). Most of the patients with cluster A lived in Taegu city (85.7%) and all of 2 cluster K patients lived in Euisung area. There was no correlation between RFLP pattern and antimicrobial susceptibility, but all two strains of cluster H were resistant to isoniazid. Strains of clustered were also prevalent in the people of middle class. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the RFLP analysis in the developed countries, Korea disclosed lower rate of diversity and higher clustered patterns of M. tuberculosis. The clustered strains were also prevalent among the people of middle class.
Daegu* ; Developed Countries ; Digoxigenin ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Tuberculosis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.

Background: After the global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lifestyle changes to curb the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., wearing a mask, hand washing, and social distancing) have also affected the outbreak of other infectious diseases. However, few studies have been conducted on whether the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed over the past year with COVID-19. In this study, we examined how the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed since COVID-19 outbreak through open data. Methods: We summarized the data on the several viruses and bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections from the open data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 3 years from March 2018 to February 2021 (from Spring 2018 to Winter 2020). Moreover, we confirmed three most common legal gastrointestinal infectious pathogens from March 2016. Results: From March 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic was in full swing and social distancing and personal hygiene management were heavily emphasized, the incidence of infection from each virus was drastically decreased. The reduction rates compared to the averages of the last 2 years were as follows: total viruses 31.9%, norovirus 40.2%, group A rotavirus 31.8%, enteric adenovirus 13.4%, astrovirus 7.0%, and sapovirus 12.2%. Among bacterial pathogens, the infection rates of Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens did not decrease but rather increased in some periods when compared to the average of the last two years. The incidence of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, or enteropathogenic Escherichia coli somewhat decreased but not significantly compared to the previous two years. Conclusion The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal viruses, which are mainly caused by the fecal-to-oral route and require direct contact among people, was significantly reduced, whereas the incidence of bacterial pathogens, which have food-mediated transmission as the main cause of infection, did not decrease significantly.

Background: After the global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lifestyle changes to curb the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., wearing a mask, hand washing, and social distancing) have also affected the outbreak of other infectious diseases. However, few studies have been conducted on whether the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed over the past year with COVID-19. In this study, we examined how the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed since COVID-19 outbreak through open data. Methods: We summarized the data on the several viruses and bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections from the open data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 3 years from March 2018 to February 2021 (from Spring 2018 to Winter 2020). Moreover, we confirmed three most common legal gastrointestinal infectious pathogens from March 2016. Results: From March 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic was in full swing and social distancing and personal hygiene management were heavily emphasized, the incidence of infection from each virus was drastically decreased. The reduction rates compared to the averages of the last 2 years were as follows: total viruses 31.9%, norovirus 40.2%, group A rotavirus 31.8%, enteric adenovirus 13.4%, astrovirus 7.0%, and sapovirus 12.2%. Among bacterial pathogens, the infection rates of Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens did not decrease but rather increased in some periods when compared to the average of the last two years. The incidence of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, or enteropathogenic Escherichia coli somewhat decreased but not significantly compared to the previous two years. Conclusion The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal viruses, which are mainly caused by the fecal-to-oral route and require direct contact among people, was significantly reduced, whereas the incidence of bacterial pathogens, which have food-mediated transmission as the main cause of infection, did not decrease significantly.

BACKGROUND: We addressed the problem of the circadian changes in neural control of the circulation in ambulant hypertensive subjects. With spectral analysis of heart rate variability the tonic sympathetic and vagal activities and their changes are respectively assessed by the power of 0.050 - 0.015Hz(low frequency, LF) and 0.150 - 0.350Hz(respiratory linked, high frequency, HF) components of the spectrum of the beat by beat variability of RR interval. METHODS: Heart rate variability(HRV) and its circadian rhythm were evaluated in 15 patients with hypertension. By using 24-h Holter monitoring, HRV and its spectral components were measured. Finding were compared with 15 age-matched normal controls. RESULTS: The 24-hour plot of the SDs revealed that heart rate variability was significantly lower in the hypertensive patients, and the differences reached statistical significance during hours 2, 3, 9, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 23(p<0.05). Spectral analysis showed that power in the high-frequency range(0.150 to 0.350Hz) was lower among the hypertensive patients than among the normal controls during 22 of 24 hours but that the difference was statistically significant only during 2 hours(p<0.05). Power in the low frequency range(0.050 to 0.150Hz) was low at night, increased in the morning, and high during the day among controls ; this circadian rhythm was absent among hypertensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among hypertensive patients, HRV is decreased with a partial withdrawal of parasympathetic tone, and the circadian rhythm of sympathetic/parasympathetic tone is altered.
Circadian Rhythm ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe inflammatory pulmonary edema of unknown pathogenesis. To investigate the pathogenesis of ARDS associated with neutrophilic oxidative stress, the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was evaluated by the inhibition of calcium channel. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats, acute lung injury (ALI) was induced by the instillation of E.coli endotoxin (ETX) into the trachea. At the same time, diltiazem was given 60 min prior to tracheal instillation of ETX. Parameters of ALI such as lung and neutrophil PLA2, lung myeloperoxidase (MPO), BAL neutrophils, protein, surfactant were measured. Production of free radicals from neutrophils was measured also. Morphological studies with light microscope and electron microscope were carried out and electron microscopic cytochemistry for detection of free radicals was performed also. RESULTS: Diltiazem had decreased the ALI parameters effectively in ETX given rats and decreased the production of free radicals from neutrophils and lung tissues. Morphological studies denoted the protective effects of diltiazem. CONCLUSION: Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, was effective in amelioration of ALI by the suppression of neutrophilic oxidative stress mediated by PLA2 activation.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Calcium Channels ; Diltiazem* ; Free Radicals ; Histocytochemistry ; Lung ; Neutrophils* ; Oxidative Stress* ; Peroxidase ; Phospholipases A2 ; Pulmonary Edema ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Trachea

The nm23 gene was originally identified by differential screening of a cDNA library with RNA from low and high metastatic clones of a murine melanoma cell line. And the nm23 gene has been represented as a metastasis suppressor gene. The product of nm23 gene is known to be identical to nucleoside diphosphate(NDP) kinase. The lack of expression of nm23 protein has been correlated with a poorer prognosis in some human tumors, among which are breast carcinoma, malignant melanoma, gastric carcinoma and hepatcelluar cacin-oma. However, in several types of malignant tumors such as colon carcinoma, neuroblastoma and pancreatic carcinoma, unexpected overexpression of nm23 protein was found as compared with normal tissues. Also in a few studies with cervical carcinoma, the expression of nm23 protein was found to be increased as compared with normal cervical tissue recently. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the expression of nm23-H1 protein by immunohistochemistry method in a series of 40 cervical carcinomas, to determine whether the alterations in the expression of nm23-H1 protein occured in cervical carcinoma as compared with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and normal cervices, and also analyzed the possible association between nm23 protein expression and prognostic parameters of cervical carcinoma at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from September 1993 to March 1997. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The mean ages of normal control patients, CIN and cervical carcinomas were 42.9 (+/-5.1) years, 39.5(+/-7.7) years, and 49.3(+/-11.7) years respectively. All cases of cervical carcinoma were squamous cell carcinomas. And the number of each stages Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, III and IV were 13 cases, 8 cases, 6 cases, 9 cases, 2 cases, and 2 cases respectively. 2. In cervical carcinoma, nm23-H1 protein expression was significantly increased as compared with CIN and normal cervical tissue(t=5.017>1.96). 3. In cervical carcinoma, the nm23-H1 protein expression was more increased in higher stages(p=0.021). But it had no significant correlations with primary tumor size, lymphovascular space invasion, parametrial invasion or lymph node metastasis. Our results on nm23-H1 protein expression in cervical carcinoma suggest that cervical carcinoma seems to belong to the group of tumors, like colon carcinoma and neuroblastoma, pancreatic carcinoma in which nm23-H1 overexpression is associated with a more malignant phenotype. In this study, nm23-H1 protein was more expressed in higher clinical stages of cervical carcinoma. Therefore the expression of nm23-H1 protein probably may have a prognostic significance in cervical carcinoma. But a further prospective study on a larger population is needed to establish the role of nm23 gene in this kind of tumor.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line ; Cervix Uteri* ; Clone Cells ; Colon ; Female ; Gene Library ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases ; Prognosis ; RNA