In 41 cases of breast cancers, the aneuploidy measured by Image Analyzer was compared with that of flow cytometric analysis, and estrogen and progesterone receptor(ER/PR) and Her-2/neu oncoprotein were immunohistochemically stained and measured by Image Analyzer. In ER/PR, the positive nuclear area(PNA, %) was measured, and in Her-2/neu, the content of oncoprotein was expressed as pg/cell. To assess the usefulness of these parameters as a prognostic factor, the author evaluated the results in relation with tumor size, nuclear grade and lymph node metastasis. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1) The detection rate (90%) of aneuploidy by image analysis was higher than that (70%) of flow cytometric analysis. The concordance rate of both method was 80%. 2) The positivity of ER was 73% and PR was 34%, and the high PNA of ER and PR was related with high nuclear grade. There was an inverse correlation of the ER PNA with tumor size and PR PNA with negative lymph node. 3) Her-2/neu oncoprotein overexpression was found in only 2 cases and another two showed borderline overexpression. All four cases had DNA tetraploidy. From the above results, it was concluded that the image analyzer could be used in DNA analysis and in quantitation of immunostained ER/PR and Her-2/neu oncoprotein, providing the important information in the management of the breast cancer patients.
Breast Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis continues to be a major threat to health throughout the world, with an estimated 8 to 10 million new cases and 3 million deaths annually. And control of the disease is further threatened by the emergence of drug resistance. Recent major advances have been made in unravelling the molecular basis of M. tuberculosis resistance to isoniazid, streptomycin, quinolones and rifampin. And rifampin resistance is the useful indicator for the occurance of the multi-drug resistance. Hence, the rapid detection of rifampin resistant strain of M. tuberculosis is the key to have successful anti-tuberculosis therapy. Here we present our experience using PCR and line probe assay (INNO-LiPA) for easy and rapid detection of rifampin resistance of M. tuberculosis. METHODS: Thirty rifampin resistant and twenty susceptible strains of M. tuberculosis were collected from the routine culture and analyzed with INNO-LiPA. And results were compared with conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing. After amplification of the region of the RNA polymerase(rpoB), the amplified product is hybridized with a set of 10 oligonucleotides immobilized onto a membrane strip. From the pattern obtained the presence or not of rifampin resistance M. tuberculosis can be assessed. RESULTS: Ninety three percent of patients who had rifampin resistant strain revealed the multidrug resistance while only two showed resistance to rifampin only. The INNO-LiPA test results were generally agreeable with that of the conventional susceptibility testing(90%). The mutations in codon 531 (absence of 55 probe) were most commonly observed. In 55.2% of the 31 rifampin resistance M. tuberculosis confirmed on mutation by R-probes on the INNO-LiPA strips. CONCLUSIONS: The line probe assay after polymerase chain reaction is a fast and convenient method to detect both presence of M. tuberculosis complex strains and its resistance to rifampin in clinical specimens. We have suggested that detection of rifampin resistance may play a key role in monitoring multi-drug resistance. Consequently, the INNO-LiPA test may constitute an important tool for the control of tuberculosis.
Codon ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Membranes ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Oligonucleotides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinolones ; Rifampin* ; RNA ; Streptomycin ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: We studied to evaluate the effect of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in liver abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data (presence of fever, WBC count), radiological findings (computed tomography, ultrasonography and abscessogram) and correlated them with treatment period. Percutaneous drainage of liver abscess were performed in 19 patients under fluoroscopy guide during recent three years. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (95%) were cured, and one patient underwent surgery because of peritonitis caused by PCD procedure. Average treatment period was 17 days. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of liver abscess, PCD is thought to be safe and effective.
Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Fever ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of clinical practice and simulation-based practice for obstetrical nursing in terms of self-efficacy, practice satisfaction, and practice stress. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group post test design was used. The participants were 171 junior nursing students, 103 in the experimental group, and 68 in the control group. Simulation-based practice consisted of nursing assessment during labor, nursing assessment and intervention for normal and high risk mother, nursing education for mother and family during labor, and open lab. The experimental group participated in simulation-based practice for two days and the control group participated in clinical practice at delivery room for two weeks. RESULTS: The experimental group showed higher level of self-efficacy (p=.043), practice satisfaction (p<.001) and practice stress (p=.003) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Simulation-based practice is an effective learning method for obstetrical nursing and can be used as the alternative for clinical practice. However, stress management strategies are needed for simulation-based practice.
Delivery Rooms ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Learning ; Mothers ; Nursing Assessment ; Obstetrical Nursing ; Personal Satisfaction ; Pyridines ; Students, Nursing ; Thiazoles

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare tumor of vascular origin having a intermediate clinical course between benign cavernous hemangioma and malignant anglosarcoma. Patients present nonspecific clinical signs and symptomas. We experienced a case of surgically proven hepatic epithelioid hemangioen-dothelioma. Computed tomography showed multiple nodules with internal calcifications, chiefly in peripheral portion of both lobes of the liver. Ultrasonography showed hypoechoic nodules and tiny calcific foci in peripheral portion. Open biopsy of the liver and the omenrum confirmed epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas.
Biopsy ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid* ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Liver* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop the decision tree models to classify the characteristics of those who had not undergone the health screening tests provided by the National Health Insurance Corporation. METHODS: Total of 5,102,761 subjects of health screening services in the year of 2002 was used. The data was divided into two data-sets (disease VS. non-disease group). The target variable was whether they took the health screening services. The number of input variables was 25 in total. RESULTS: The decision trees were classified into fourteen different types of non-examinees in the non-disease group and nineteen in the disease group. The ROC curve areas in the non-disease and disease groups were .761 and .714, respectively. CONCLUSION: The different types of non-examinees classified by the decision tree models would facilitate the foundation for the further analysis of individual characteristics and the effective health screening service management in future.
Data Mining ; Decision Trees* ; Mass Screening* ; National Health Programs ; ROC Curve

Boric acid(H BO) is a weak topical anti infective agent. It can cause acute borism due to the internal absorption. Although the frequency is very rare, boric acid can also induce contact dermat.itis after topical spplication. We present allergic contact dermatitis to boric acid. The patch test results showed a positive reaction to 2% boric acid solution.
Absorption ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Patch Tests

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze current status of the web sites dealing with asthma in the Internet, and to evaluate their technical aspects and contents. METHODS: The evaluation tool consisted of four areas(construction, operation, accessibility, and content) with twenty-six items. Four sites including the contents related with symptoms of asthma, consultation of health professionals, and treatment and nursing for asthma were selected to be analyzed. RESULTS: The results of the analysis were as follows: 1) there was no web site dealing with asthma managed by public institutions 2) the only 5% of the top 100 sites were found to be related with the asthma by exploring the top five search engines in Korea and 3) the evaluation scores four web sites were 6-11 out of 18 in the category of construction, 10-21 out of 24 in operation, 5-10 out of 15 in accessibility, and 8-18 out of 21 in content. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it will be possible to prevent asthma at first through web sites, which will be one of the most beneficial aspects of web site, so the system to evaluate web sites should be developed to provide high-quality information about asthma.
Asthma ; Health Occupations ; Internet ; Korea ; Nursing ; Search Engine

No abstract available.
Dendritic Cells*

The changes in serum electrolytes that follow the administration of succinylcholine have been reported in numerous publications since the first description of hyperkalemia by Klupp et al in 1954. The changes in serum K+, Ca++ and Na+ after administration of succinylcholine, 2mg/kg, were compared in 3groups of 20 patients each to determine the effect of diasepam and d-Tubocurarine pretreatment on the elctrolyte level. Group l received succinylcholine 2mg/kg only; group ll diazepam 0.2mg/kg 3 minutes before succinylcholine; group lll 3mg d-Tubocurarine 3 minutes before succinylcholine. This investigation was limited to the first 10 minutes after induction on sixty, ASA class 1 patients undergoing elective surgical procedure. The results were as follows: 1) A significant increase of serum potassium concentration was observed at 4 minutes and 6 minutes in group l compared to baseline value(p<0.05). 2) Mean peak change ratio in serum potassium was significantly lower in group lll than group l (p<0.05). 3) There was no significant changes in serum concentration in 3 groups. 4) There was no significant changes in serum sodium concentration except for a decrease at 10 minutes in group l(p<0.05).
Diazepam* ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Succinylcholine ; Surgical Procedures, Elective ; Tubocurarine*