BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is difficult, because NTM are prevalent in the environment such as soil and water, and because they have fastidious properties. In this study we investigated clinical isolates of NTM for their distribution pattern and accurate species identification. METHODS: We selected presumptive NTM isolates negative for probe hybridization for M. tuberculosis complex, cultured in a third referral hospital from 21 January 2003 to 20 January 2004. Ninety seven-isolates were identified to the species level by direct sequencing of fragments of 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes. A total of 120 isolates were studied for the distribution analysis. RESULTS: Frequently identified NTM species were M. avium (30.8%), M. intracellulare (23.3%) and M. abscessus (18.3%). Others were M. gordonae, M. senegalense, M. fortuitum, M. peregrinum, M. kansasii, M. terrae complex, M. lentiflavum, M. chelonae, and M. szulgai. Three M. tuberculosis complex (2.5%) were also identified among the presumptive NTM isolates. The identification rate by sequencing of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp65 were 65%, 82% and 87%, respectively. The hsp65 or rpoB gene was more efficient than 16S rRNA for the identification of NTM by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Some NTM are increasingly considered to be the causative organisms in clinical diseases. Thus, direct sequencing could be adapted to routine work of clinical laboratories for accurate identification of NTM to the species level.
Diagnosis ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases* ; Gordonia Bacterium ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* ; Referral and Consultation ; RNA* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* ; Sequence Analysis* ; Soil ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of education and practice of the maternal role and becoming a mother using the concepts of self-confidence in caring, maternal attachment, and maternal identity. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. Data was collected with the use of self-administered questionnaires from November 2007 to April, 2008. A total of 54 women at a Sanhujoriwon (postpartum care center) participated in the study. The experimental group consisted of 26 women (Nov-Dec), whereas the control group had 28 women (Feb-Apr). Education and practice on the maternal role was given individually and consisted of explanations, demonstrations and practice on breast feeding (day1 to 3), maternal attachment (day 8 to 9), bathing (day 10 to 11) and infant healthcare (day 13 to 14). The experimental group received education and practice on the maternal role while the control group received routine education only. RESULTS: Data collection was done using pre and post questionnaires at admission and fourteen days later. The experimental group showed significant increases in self-confidence in caring (t=-3.31, p=.002) and maternal identity (t=-2.16, p=.036) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Education and practice on the maternal role and being a mother was an effective intervention in increasing self-confidence in caring and maternal identity.
Baths ; Breast Feeding ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mothers ; Postpartum Period ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Radiotherapy* ; Ulcer*

Members of the genus Hantavirus are the etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), the diagnosis of which is somewhat difficult because several diseases share similar early clinical presentations such as fever and petechia. In Korea, Hantaan virus and Seoul virus are the causative organisms of HFRS, and the infection caused by Seoul virus is milder than that caused by Hantaan virus. We report a 44-year-old woman, who visited our hospital due to general weakness, fever, myalgia, facial edema and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with HFRS caused by Seoul virus. The antibody against Hantaan virus was positive by an indirect immunofluorescent test and the discrimination between Hantaan and Seoul viruses was done by RT-PCR-RFLP (reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) against viral S segment.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myalgia ; Seoul virus*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing maternal identity of Korean primiparas. METHODS: The data were collected by a self-report questionnaire in 2006. The participants were 210 healthy primiparous women who delivered at one of three medical centers and revisited the outpatient department for follow up between 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 17.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Maternal identity was significantly correlated with Taekyo accomplishment, the culturally based prenatal preparation (p<.001). Transitional gratification to motherhood (p<.001), postpartum depression (p<.001), childcare stress (p<.001), infant temperament (p<.001), and social support (p<.001) were also significantly correlated with maternal identity. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that maternal identity was significantly predicted by transitional gratification to motherhood, infant temperament, childcare stress, and Taekyo accomplishment. These variables explained 31.0% of the variance of maternal identity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that postpartum nursing interventions to promote maternal identity should focus on reinforcing education and support for reducing childcare stress and infant difficulty, and increasing transitional gratification to motherhood. Also, prenatal encouragement and education for improving Taekyo accomplishment may be helpful to promote maternal identity after birth.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Depression, Postpartum ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; *Maternal Behavior ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Parturition ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Self Concept ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; Temperament

The study performed a systematic review of screening for preeclampsia with the combination of vascular parameters and maternal serum markers in the first and early second trimester. We identified eligible studies through a search of Medline, and, for each included study, we focused on the relationship between the maternal serum markers and preeclampsia. In the selected literature, a combination of maternal serum markers was analyzed, also. Several tests suggested moderate or convincing prediction of early preeclampsia, but screening for late preeclampsia was poor. Literatures for serum markers were selected. Each serum marker was identified independently, and where relevant, a combination of these markers was analyzed. Encouraging results for the first trimester screening were observed when it was combined with other markers. Even in the first trimester of pregnancy, we can present the reliable results for the prediction of early preeclampsia. Detection rate for combination markers may yield higher detection rate and be promising to identify patients at high risk of developing preeclampsia.
Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

No abstract available.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Bone Density*

Mycobacterium lentiflavum has recently been described as an emerging human pathogen without regard to the immune status of the host. We herein report on M. lentiflavum isolated from a respiratory specimen of a patient. Although the organism described in this case seems to be a colonizer of a lung destroyed by tuberculosis, the current methods for species identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria have to be re-evaluated so as not to underestimate these organisms.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*microbiology/radiography

BACKGROUND: Reticulocytes are circulating immature erythrocytes at the stage just before maturity of the erythrocyte. The maturation time for reticulocyte is 3.5 to 4 days including one day of circulation; therefore, circulating reticulocytes represent marrow erythropoietic activity that is faster than any other hematologic item. To take advantage of reticulocyte parameters, we should first identify the reference ranges and understand the basic information of the parameters. METHODS: We selected healthy subjects with normal Hb, WBC and platelet count in an annual health surveillance of employees of Boramae Hospital. In total, 285 subjects (74 males and 211 females) were analyzed using ADVIA 120. The analyzed parameters were reticulocyte count, reticulocyte indices and reticulocyte maturity indices. The reference intervals were obtained with the central 95% of the distribution. RESULTS: The reference intervals: reticulocyte count 41.8-121.3 (106/ L), 0.9-2.5 (%); MFR (middle fluorescence reticulocyte) 1.3-9.8 (%); HFR (high fluorescence reticulocyte) 0-1.5%; MCVr (MCV for reticulocyte) 100.6-112.7 (fL); CHCMr (cellular hemoglobin concentration mean for reticulocyte) 29.5-33 (g/dL); RDWr 8-10.5 (%); CHr (cellular hemoglobin content for reticulocyte) 30.8-35.5 (pg). According to the maturation of reticulocytes, the volume decreased 20%, CHCM increased 11%, and CH decreased 6%. CONCLUSIONS: The reticulocyte parameters are available for realtime assessment of marrow erythropoietic activity and clinically they will help in the diagnosis and treatment of various anemias.
Anemia ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Reference Values ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes*

PURPOSE: Most of childhood MCNS has a long disease course with frequent relapses. This study was designed to analyze the long-term clinical course of childhood MCNS, focusing at relapsing pattern, treatment response and complications. Mothods : The medical records of 137 children with biopsy-proven MCNS observed during 1976 ti 1996 were analyzed retrospectively. They were classified as initial responders (111 patients, 81%) and nonresponders (26 patients, 19%) according to the response to initial oral prednisolone (60mg/m2/d) for 4 weeks. The detailed clinical courses were obtained in 126 patients. RESULTS: The incidences of hematuria, hypertension and azotemia were more frequent in initial responders than nonresponders. During follow-up, the proportion of patients with sustained remission increased gradually with decreasing rate of relapse. At the last follow-up, 77 patients (61%) revealed sustained remission, 36 (29%) repeated relapses, 9 (7%) persistent proteinuria, 3 (2%) renal failure, and 1 (1%) death. The responses to secondary drugs such as first and second course of cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin, levamisole and methylprednisolone pulse were 80%, 85.7%, 70%, 75%, and 40%, respectively. Major complications were infections including peritonitis (29 patients) and acute renal failure (10) patients.CONCLUSION: Long-term prognosis of childhood MCNS is determined by clinical courses rather than renal pathology. Although majority of childhood MCNS reveal good long-term prognosis, patients did well, few patients do not so. Early detection and more aggressive therapy of such patients are very helpful.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Azotemia ; Child* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cyclosporine ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Levamisole ; Medical Records ; Methylprednisolone ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Pathology ; Peritonitis ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies