Standard plaque assay using agarose-overlay has long been used for titration of many infectious virus particle. Plaque assay for the titration of varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine requires three intermittent agarose overlay to visualize plaques. Overall procedure of the assay takes at least nine days from virus inoculation and microbe contamination including fungi is frequently accompanied during incubation period. We studied whether an immunofocus assay in conjunction with peroxidase-mediated immunohistochemical reaction may replace the standard plaque assay for the virus titration by comparing the two methods. A linear relationship was observed between number of foci and virus dilution. The number of foci in a given dilution of virus appeared a little higher than counted plaques formed in standard plaque assay. Independent titration results obtained from two assay methods for a given dilution of virus demonstrated a strong correlation (r2=0.99). Foci of virus infected cells as revealed by the enzyme reaction could be counted either 4 days post-infection (p.i.) under low magnification (40X) microscopy, or 6 days p.i. by naked eye observation. Larger size of cell cuture plate, virus adsorption at 35 degrees C, and 10% FBS in diluent appeared to be better conditions for the assay. Immunofocus assay will be an effective and dependable titration method for varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine in place of the standard plaque assay in respect to accuracy, costs, and experimental convenience.
Adsorption ; Fungi ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Microscopy ; Sepharose ; Virion

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare patient-centeredness changes between medical school graduates and medical students after a psychiatric clinical clerkship. METHODS: We focused on 40 medical school graduates. We received permission to use data from a 2006 study on patient-centeredness of 94 medical students. The following was repeated before and after clerkship: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Meyers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI), Patient-practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) and Authoritarian Personality (AP) scale. RESULTS: In the 2006 study on patient-centeredness of medical students, the AP scores were significantly lower than before clerkship and the PPOS scores were significantly higher than before clerkship. AP score changes were related to MBTI, correlated with MMPI subscales, but inversely correlated with PPOS changes. In this study, the change in PPOS scores was not significant after clerkship in case of medical school graduates. AP score changes inversely correlated with PPOS changes, but neither correlated with MMPI subscales or MBTI. CONCLUSION: Considering previous findings, medical school graduates tend to be more patient-centered than medical students, but medical students can adopt a more patient-centered attitude than graduates through a psychiatric clinical clerkship.
Authoritarianism ; Clinical Clerkship ; Humans ; MMPI ; Orientation ; Patient-Centered Care ; Personality Inventory ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: Uroflowmetry (UFM) requires at least 125ml to 150ml of urine volume for an adequate interpretation. It is common to repeat UFM in clinical settings because of an insufficient voided volume, which may be induced by increased anxiety. To reduce performing repeated UFMs, we evaluate the usefulness of performing a prevoiding sonographic bladder scan and we determined the anxiety level before performing UFM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled one hundred two patients (mean age: 62.6+/-15.0 years) who visited our clinic due to voiding dysfunction. The bladder volume prior to UFM was measured by an automated bladder scan (Biocon-500(TM), Mcube Technology) when the patients felt a strong fullness sensation. All the patients kept a voiding diary for 3 days, and they underwent the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire, the fullness scale and UFM. RESULTS: The mean prevoiding volume was 307+/-124ml and the mean voided volume was 271+/-129ml. There was a correlation between the prevoiding scan volume and the voided volume: voided volume=17.502+(0.724xprevoiding volume) (r=0.851, p<0.001). Among the 333 patients without a bladder scan and who had UFM performed, 25.8% showed insufficient voided volumes of less than 125ml, and 32.4% showed voided volumes of less than 150ml. However, among the 102 patients who underwent a bladder scan, 9.8% showed insufficient voided volumes of less than 125ml and 12.7% showed voided volumes of less than 150ml (p<0.001). The patients who had a higher state of anxiety than trait anxiety before their UFM revealed a relatively decreased functional bladder capacity (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Although UFM is simple, the patient may feel embarrassed before test. Anxiety can cause a decreased functional bladder capacity. A prevoiding sonographic bladder scan can reduce the incidence of insufficiently voided UFM.
Anxiety* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Questionnaires ; Sensation ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder*

The infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae was investigated in a total of 2,293 freshwater fish collected from 11 rivers or streams in 9 administrative regions of Gangwon-do, Korea for 5 years (2009-2013). All fish were collected by netting methods and examined using the artificial digestion methods. Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 4 fish species, i.e., Pungtungia herzi, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, and Ladislabia taczanowskii, from only Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 1,154 (50.3%) fish and their average number per infected fish was 55.8. Among the positive fish species, especially Tribolodon hakonensis from Namdaecheon in Yangyang-gun and Plecoglossus altivelis from Osipcheon in Samcheok-si were most heavily infected. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were detected in 611 (26.7%) fish and the average metacercarial burden per infected fish was 1,032. Two chub species, Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were highly and heavily infected with C. armatus metacercariae in almost all regions surveyed. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were also found in 24 fish from a few localities, but their numbers per fish infected were very low. From the above results, it is confirmed that the metacercariae of intestinal flukes, especially Metagonimus spp. and C. armatus, were heavily infected, while C. sinensis metacercariae were rarely found in fish from Gangwon-do, Korea.
Animals ; Biodiversity ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Fishes ; Fresh Water ; Korea ; Parasite Load ; Prevalence ; Trematoda/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary

Emphysematous prostatitis is characterized by pockets of gas within the prostate due to gas-forming organisms. Although only one case of emphysematous prostatitis had been reported in the literature, it was incidental finding associated with emphysematous cystitis. We consider that it is the result of aerobic urinary tract infections or may be caused by gastrointestinal fistula or iatrogenic surgical and diagnostic instrumentation. We report a case of emphysematous prostatitis in a 66 years old male with diabetes mellitus.
Aged ; Cystitis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatitis* ; Urinary Tract Infections

Emphysematous prostatitis is characterized by pockets of gas within the prostate due to gas-forming organisms. Although only one case of emphysematous prostatitis had been reported in the literature, it was incidental finding associated with emphysematous cystitis. We consider that it is the result of aerobic urinary tract infections or may be caused by gastrointestinal fistula or iatrogenic surgical and diagnostic instrumentation. We report a case of emphysematous prostatitis in a 66 years old male with diabetes mellitus.
Aged ; Cystitis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatitis* ; Urinary Tract Infections