BACKGROUND: The selective media for culture of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) are Egg yolk emulsion medium, modified Thayer-Martin medium and Skirrow's medium. The non-selective media for culture of H. pylori are brucella agar, trypticase soy agar, and brain heart infusion agar. The selective media are more expensive and difficult to prepare than non-selective media, whereas non-selective media are difficult to isolate H. pylori due to contamination of upper respiratory tract bacteria. The objects of this study are to reduce upper respiratory contaminants by use of HCl-KCl buffer (H-K buffer) for primary isolation, and to compare with culture, CLO test, histologic examination and H. pylori IgG antibodies. METHODS: Seventy one patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy. For 32 patients, two biopsies were taken from antrum: One for direct inoculation into blood agar plate, the other for pretreatment of H-K buffer. For fifty six patients, we performed culture, CLO test, histology, and H. pylori IgG. RESULTS: 1) Among the 32 patients, H. pylori were isolated in 25 patients (23 patients for direct inoculation and 25 patients for H-K pretreatment). Twelve cases among H-K buffer treatment group did not show contamination, whereas only two among direct inoculation group showed no contamination. The average number of contaminating colony forming unit (CFU) of direct inoculation and H-K buffer treatment were 77 and 9, respectively. 2) The positive rates of culture and CLO test, histology, and H. pylori IgG for H. pylori infection were 71.4%, 67.9%, 75.0%, and 57.1%, respective
Agar ; Antibodies ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brucella ; Egg Yolk ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Heart ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Respiratory System ; Stem Cells

Purpose: Suicide ranks among the top causes of death among youth in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of suicidal individuals treated at emergency departments between 2011 and 2020. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from January 2011 to December 2020 in the Injury Surveillance Cohort, a prospective registry. Patients’ sex, age, mortality, methods of self-harm, and previous suicide attempts were analyzed. The methods of self-harm were categorized into falls, asphyxiation, blunt injuries, penetrating injuries, poisoning, and others. Sub-groups with and without poisoning were compared. Results: The proportion of self-harm/suicide attempts increased from 2.3% (2011) to 5.0% (2020). The mortality rate decreased from 10.8% (2011) to 6.3% (2020). Poisoning was the most common method (61.7%). Mortality rates ranged from 42.0% for asphyxiation to 0.2% for blunt injuries. Individuals in their 20s showed a marked increase in suicide/self-harm attempts, especially in the last three years. A large proportion of decedents in their 70s or older (52.6%) used poisoning as a method of suicide. The percentage of individuals with two or more previous attempts rose from 7.1% (2011) to 19.7% (2020). The death rates by poisoning decreased from 7.7% (2011) to 2.5% (2020). Conclusion Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and suicide prevention policies. Managing and reducing suicide and self-harm in emergency settings will require a focus on poisoning, the 10–29 age group, and the elderly. This paper will be valuable for future policies aiming to reduce the societal burden of suicide and self-harm.

BACKGROUND: The rapid urease test has been widely used for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection because it is easy, simple and rapid result. The CLO test and PyloriTek test observe color changes after the gastric biopsy specimens are inerted into the test kits. Because H. pylori is not evenly distributed in the gastric mucosa, grinding or mincing of gastric specimens prior to culture enhances isolation rate of H. pylori. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of rubbing the gastric biopsy specimens onto the urea soaked filter paper in this home-made rapid urease test. METHODS: Forty-three patients referred for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were evaluated for H. pylori infection. The home-made rapid urease test was prepared by soaking a piece of Whatman No. 2 filter paper in 2% urea agar. We compared the results of the home -made rapid urease test with histologic examination, gram stain, CLO test and culture. RESULTS: Of forty-three patients, 28 were found to be H. pylori-positive either by gram stain or by culture. The sensitivity and specificity of CLO test, based on the results of gram stain and culture were 85.7% and 92.9%. The sensitivity and specificity of home -made rapid urease test, based on the results of gram stain and culture were 92.9% and 92.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The home-made rapid urease test is faster and shows a high sensitivity and specificity.
Agar ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Gastric Mucosa ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ; Urea ; Urease*