Among the fifty-three clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae, nineteen isolates including eight isolates of each biotype I-VIII, six of serotype b (Hib) strains and five of nontypeable strains were characterized by SDS-PAGE about outer membrane protein (OMP), restriction enzyme analysis (REA) and rRNA gene restriction pattems. OMP patterns showed to common band patterns in each H. influenzae isolate. Based on the two major proteins, 31KDa-38KDa, isolated strains were classified into 7 subtypes. In the OMP patterns about biotype and serotype, the specific pattern of each biotype was not distinguishable, but all of the serotype b strains were shown identical unique pattern, therefore it made distinctive difference with nontypeable strains. The digested genomic DNAs with EcoRI were identical result with rRNA gene restriction. It was more subdivided into 10 ribotypes. The most common ribotype I and serotype 1 accounted for 6 strains (31.6%) and 7 strains (36.8%) of the 19 clinical isolates, respectively. Hib isolates that were both OMP subtype 1 and ribotype I accounted for 2 strains (10.5%). In the epidemiologically unrelated strains, the putative association between the subtypes could not be confirmed. According to these results, the three methods were discriminatory and appropriate techniques for epidemiological studies of H. influenzae.
DNA ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel* ; Genes, rRNA* ; Haemophilus influenzae type b ; Haemophilus influenzae* ; Haemophilus* ; Influenza, Human ; Membrane Proteins ; Restriction Mapping* ; Ribotyping

PURPOSE: To present the enhancement pattern of acute cerebral or cerebellar cortical infarctions aged 1-3 days on MR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced MR images of 26 patients with acute cerebral or cerebellar ischemic events were retrospectively reviewed. MR was performed within 3 days after ictus. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement in the area of infarction was observed in 61.5% (16/26) on MR. Of these 50% (13/26) showed non-parenchymal enhancement (NPE) representing either vascular or leptomeningeal enhancement, 7.7% (2/26) showed parenchymal enhancement (PE), and 2.8% (1/26) showed both NPE and PE. The earliest enhancement was seen in images obtained 12 hours after the onset of symptoms and appeared as NPE. One patient showed NPE without apparent high signal intensity at the corresponding area on T2-weighted images. In 38. 5% (10/26), there was no enhancement. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be needed in acute ischemic infarction, because NPE may be seen as the earliest MR finding of acute cortical infarction aged 1-3 days.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the practice level of 14 health behaviors between male (N=139) and female (N=175) elderly and to identify the barriers to each health behavior of elderly people in Korea. METHODS: Data were collected from 314 elderly people (65 yr and older) living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas. Descriptive statistics, chi-square-test and ordinal logistic regression were used in data analysis using the SPSS Win 15 version. RESULTS: 1) The performances were different in some health behaviors between male and female elderly people. Male elderly showed better performances in balanced diet, regular exercise, and more than 30 min of exercise, while female elderly showed better performances in restriction of fat and cholesterol, restriction on alcohol, and smoking. There were no differences in stress management and health prevention behaviors between the two groups. 2) The common significant barriers in health behaviors of the elderly in Korea were the lack of habit and physical discomfort. However, the lack of perceived benefit was a significant barrier in male elderly. Lack of time and lack of family support were significant barriers in female elderly people in Korea. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tailored strategies should be developed considering the gender difference to reduce the main barriers of each health behavior in order to improve the health status of elderly people.
Activities of Daily Living ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Frail Elderly/*psychology ; *Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Midkine (MK) is a member of the heparin-binding growth factor family. Overexpression of MK is observed not only in cancerous tissue but also in precancerous lesions of the colon and the prostate. Using immunohistochemical methods, we investigated MK expression in preinvasive and invasive neoplasia of the uterine cervix. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical analysis of archived cone biopsy and hysterectomy specimens from 161 squamous cell lesions of the uterine cervix (29 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1), 35 CIN2, 49 CIN3, 30 microinvasive squamous cell carcinomas (MIC), and 18 invasive squamous cell carcinoma). In addition, we examined if there is a correlation between MK expression and status of human papilloma virus infection determined by a commercially available DNA chip. RESULTS: None of the normal cervical mucosa showed MK immunostaining. The level of MK expression gradually increased according to the histologic grade. Moderate and strong expressions were most frequently observed in cervical tissue with CIN3 and MIC. MK immunostaining was more accentuated in the invasive border of MIC. CONCLUSION: MK may play a functional role in the disease progression of cervical squamous cell neoplasia.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri* ; Colon ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Papilloma ; Prostate

Tracheal stenosis is well known complication of endotracheal intubation. However, severe post intubation tracheal stenosis that requires interventional bronchoscopy or tracheal surgery is un-common. Necrosis induced by cuff pressure-related loss of regional blood flow is the central injury leading to postinubation tracheal stenosis. The large volume, low pressure cuff of endo-tracheal tubes have markedly reduced the occurrence cuff-induced injury. However, in any patient who develops symptoms of airway obstruction, who has been intubated and ventilated in the recent past, possibility of tracheal stenosis should be considered. We report a case of severe tracheal stenosis by tracheal web formation a 52-year-old following ventilator therapy for ARDS.
Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Regional Blood Flow ; Tracheal Stenosis ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumor of the female genital tract. Traditional therapy for symptomatic fibroids has been either myomectomy or hysterectony, depending on whether futhur fertility is desire. A promised new altermative therapy-embolization of the uterine arteries- is now available. A 29 year-old woman was diagnosed of uterine fibroid by ultrasonogram and other techniques. We have experienced one case of uterine fibroid necrosis after transarterial embolization. Now we report a case of uterine artery embolization for treattement of uterine fibriods with a brief review.
Adult ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Necrosis* ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Artery Embolization

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of thyroglossal duct cysts MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with pathologically proved thyroglossal duct cysts were included in the study. CT scans were assessed'retrospectively for shape, size, location, density of the central portions, septations, rim enhancement, changes in the adjacent fascial planes and investment within the strap muscles in the infrahyoid cysts. RESULT: Thirteen cases of thyroglossal duct cysts were seen as round or oval cystic masses, two cases of them were seen as irregular-shaped Iobulated cystic masses, and one case was seen as ovoid soft tissue mass. The cysts were from 1.4 to 5.7cm in diameter(mean, 2.6cm). The cyst was infrahyoid in 15 cases and suprahyoid in one case. The cyst was located in midline in eight cases, off midline in four cases, and both midline and off midline in four cases. The density of the central portions ranged from 15 to 82HU(mean, 32HU). Septations were noted in four cases. Rim enhancement was seen in 14 cases(93%), and heterogenously enhancing soft tissue mass was seen in one case. In four cases, abnormal fascial planes were observed. All but one of the infrahyoid cysts(14/15) were embedded within the strap muscles, and one case of them was located anteriorly to strap muscles. CONCLUSION: CT permits one to make the diagnosis a thyroglossal duct cyst with a high degree of accuracy, as it can differentiate thyroglossal duct cysts from the other anterior neck masses by their typical location, characteristic morphology, and investment within the strap muscles.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Investments ; Muscles ; Neck ; Thyroglossal Cyst* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze college sudents' attitudes toward people with disabilities, and factors affecting the attitudes, and further to examine possible ways to improve the attitudes. and to furnish guideline of curriculum and practice in rehabilitation nursing on the basis of this analysis. METHOD: A descriptive. relational study design was used. The subjects of this study were 448 college students. A convenient sampling is used. Data were collected through 4 types of previous questionnaires used to examine attitude from May 1 to May 30, 2003. RESULT: 1. The attitude toward people with disabilities whose mean is 3.762 was responded somewhat negatively. Especially, a contact tension whose mean was 4.00 is high. 2. As a result of analyzing the attitudes of college students toward people with disabilities. some factors were statistically significant. They were experience of contact with the disabled. concern toward the disabled, voluntary work related to the disabled, and disability experience education. 3. The more negative experience of people with disabilities and the lower stereotype of disability and the higher effects of parents, teachers, and mass media, then the more positive response of peoples attitude with disabilities. 4. The main factors of determining the attitude of people with disabilities were the stereotype of disability. contact experience concern about disability, voluntary work experience. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that an appropriate educational intervention and strategy is needed in order to change the attitudes of college students toward people with disabilities. Also experimental researches are needed to do it.
Curriculum ; Disabled Persons ; Education ; Humans ; Mass Media ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation Nursing

Ninety two strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were isolated from patients with pharyngitis, scarlet fever, skin infection, and invasive streptococcal infections in Seoul, Korea from January to December, 1998. All isolates were epidemiologically characterized by T protein serotype, and serum opacity factor (OF) detection to phenotypes. To analyze the genetic relationship, fifty two isolates including 32 erythromycin-clindamycin (Em-Cm) resistant strains, 20 antimicrobial susceptible strains were attempted to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). T protein serotype showed 16 kinds in distribution including T12 and T4. Among the total isolates, 40 strains (43.5%) belonged to the T12 serotype and twenty strains (21.7%) to T4 serotype. On the other hand, when infection aspect of S. pyogenes isolates were analysed by T serotype distribution, T12 type was predominant for pharyngitidis which contributed to 21 strains (53%) and for skin infection isolates which contributed to 11 strains (28%), respectively. In case of T4 type, it was the most predominant pharyngitidis isolates which contributed to 8 strains (40%). In T serotype distribution of Em-Cm resistant strains, 27 strains (84%) of the thirty two showed T12 serotype. In minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Em-Cm resistance isolates, thirty two isolates showed resistant to erythromycin 27 strains (84%), had high MIC of >128 mug/ml. And also to clindamycin, twenty two strains (69%) had high MIC of >128 mug/ml. When OF detection of Em-Cm resistance of S. pyogenes isolates were analyzed by T serotype distribution, T12 serotype isolates revealed that all of the isolates except one strain were OF negative. In PFGE profile analysis to Em-Cm resistance isolates, of the twenty seven, Em-Cm resistance of T12 serotype isolates, 26 strains showed identical PFGE profile and all of these isolates revealed that OF negative. Eighty four percent of Em-Cm resistance S. pyogenes isolates had identical phenotype and PFGE profile. These results strongly suggested that the Em-Cm resistant S. pyogenes isolates from Seoul area showed close genetic correlation and PFGE could be available tool for molecular epidemiology.
Clindamycin ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field* ; Erythromycin ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Pharyngitis ; Phenotype ; Scarlet Fever ; Seoul ; Skin ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects systemic blood pressure and cardiac function. The development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, suggests that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep may increase a sympathetic nervous system activity. Continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) therapy has been found to be an effective treatment of OSAS. However, only a few studies have investigated the cardiovascular and sympathetic effects of CPAP therapy. We evaluated influences of nasal CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular system and the sympathetic activity in patients with OSAS. METHODS: Thirteen patients with OSAS underwent CPAP therapy and were monitored using polysomnography, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of arrhythmia and the concentration of plasma catecholamines, before and with CPAP therapy. RESULTS: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly decreased (p<0.01) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation level was elevated significantly after applying CPAP (p<0.01). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease after CPAP but without statistical significance. Heart rates during sleep were not significantly different after CPAP. However, the frequency and number of types of arrhythmia decreased and sinus bradytachyarrhythmia disappeared after CPAP. Although there was no significantly decreased after CPAP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CPAP therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index, hypoxic episodes and plasma norepinephrine concentration. In addition, it decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and tended to decrease the systemic blood pressure. These results indicate that CPAP may play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with OSAS.
Anoxia ; Arousal ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular System ; Catecholamines* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Norepinephrine ; Oxygen ; Plasma ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sympathetic Nervous System