The hydrophobicity assay and DNA probe hybridization assay were compared for analysis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC), heat-labile enterotoxin(LT) and heat-stable enterotoxin (ST). The ETEC isolated from diarrheal patients were serotyped and investigated for the presence of colonization factor antigens CFA/1, CFA/II, CFA/III and CFA/IV with the expression of mannose-resistant hemagglutination(MRHA) and the levels of surface hydrophobicity. The following results were obtained. 1. Out of these 48 strains, 34 strains were found to be positive for LT production by DNA probe hybridization assay. Out of 34 strains, 1 strain was ST producer, 25 strains were LT producers, and 8 strains were produced both ST+LT producers by DNA probe hybridization assay. 2. Out of 34 strains of positive DNA probe hybridization test, 31 strains was positive in the hydrophobicity test. Among strains of positive hydrophobicity test, 20, 1, and 7 strains produced only LT, only ST and both ST-LT, respectively. Screening efficiency for identifying ETEC by salting out test was 82.4% in sensitivity and 78.6% in specificity. For ETEC detection, the hydrophobicity assay was the least sensitive but was simple, rapid and a good substitute for the DNA probe hybridization assay. 4. CFAs were identified in 43.8% of ETEC strains; 2.1% of the CFAs strains with CFAs harbored CFA/I, 29.2% carried CFA/II, 16.7% carried CFA/III and CFA/IV. And 35.4% expressed none of these CFAs. CFA/I was found in ETEC of serotype 0128: K67, CFA/II was 0128: K67, 0142: K+ and 0159: K+, CFA/III was 086a: K15 and 0128: K67, CFA/IV was 0 86a: K15, 0128: K67, 0125: K70 and 0148: K+.
Colon ; DNA* ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli* ; Enterotoxins ; Escherichia ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions* ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics of traumatic posterosuperior rotator cuff tears involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. We hypothesized that traumatic rotator cuff tears may have MR characteristics distinguishable from those of non-traumatic tears. METHODS: Preoperative MR arthrography and intraoperative tear size measurements were compared in 302 patients who underwent MR arthrography and subsequent arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs for traumatic (group T, 61 patients) or non-traumatic (group NT, 241 patients) tears. The inclusion criteria for both groups were posterosuperior full-thickness rotator cuff tear and age between 40 and 60 years. For group T, traumas were limited to accidental falls or slips, or sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents; injuries were associated with acute onset of pain followed by functional shoulder impairment; and time between injury and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 6 weeks or less. RESULTS: In group T, 72.1% of shoulders (44 patients) had tendon tears with blunt edges while 27.9% of shoulders (17 patients) had tears with tapering edges. In contrast, 21.2% of patients in group NT (51 patients) had blunt-edge tears, while 78.8% (190 patients) of tears had tapering edges. These results were statistically significant (p<0.001) and estimated odds ratio was 9.6. The size of tear did not vary significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found no exclusive MR characteristic to define traumatic tears. However, oblique coronal MRI of traumatic tears showed a significant tendency for abrupt and rough torn tendon edges and relatively consistent tendon thicknesses (without lateral tapering) compared to non-traumatic cuff tears.
Accidental Falls ; Arthrography* ; Arthroscopy ; Athletic Injuries ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Motor Vehicles ; Odds Ratio ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Tears* ; Tendons

PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings and the role of CT in plexiform neuro-fibromatosis of the mediastinum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retropectively reviewed the CT scans of five patients with plexiform neurofibromatosis of the mediastinum. The CT scans were reviewed with attention to the distribution of the lesions, appearance and attenuation of mediastinal lesions, enhancement pattern after intravenous contrast infusion and associated findingssuch as intercostal neurofibroma. RESULTS: In all five patients CT scans demonstrated fusiform low attenuated masses which were oriented longitudinally and extended over multiple contiguous scans along the distribution of major mediastinal nerves. In four patients, mediastinal lesions appeared infiltrative, obliterating adjacent mediastinal fat plane. One patient had well defined fusiform masses along the major mediastinal nerves. Postcontrast enhanced CT scans revealed slight central enhancement in two patient and no contrast enhancement in three patients. Associated findings such as neurofibromas of intercostal nerves and sympathetic trunk, or subcutaneous neurofibromas were detected on CTscans in all five patients. CONCLUSION: Characteristic CT findings of low attenuation masses along the major mediastinal nerves are helpful to differentiate plexiform neurofibromatosis from mediastinal lymphadenopathy and to prevent from misreading as a malignant disease.
Humans ; Intercostal Nerves ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mediastinum* ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Significant detrusor muscle hypertrophy is a well-recognized clinical finding observed benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This can be recognized as a bladder wall thickness (BWT) on transabdominal ultrasonography. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of a BWT measurement using ultrasound in patients with BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 197 men who underwent ultrasonic measurement of the BWT from August 1999 to August 2001 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 15 men comprised the normal control group, 145 men were in the symptomatic BPH group and 37 men were in the retention group. The BWT according to the clinical parameters (international prostate symptom score, peak flow rate, transverse diameter of prostate, age, duration of symptom, retention) was compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean BWT in the control group, BPH group and the retention group were 2.21+/-0.44mm, 3.39+/-0.87mm, 4.04+/-0.86mm, respectively. The BWT was well correlated with the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), the peak flow rate (PFR), and age. The mean BWTs according to the I-PSS grouped into mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were 2.97 0.51mm, 3.12+/-0.68mm, 3.80+/-0.97mm, and the mean BWT according to PFR grouped into <10ml/sec, 10-15ml/sec, > 15ml/sec were 3.65+/-0.93mm, 3.23+/-0.76mm, 2.91+/-0.58mm, respectively. The mean BWT according to age grouped into 50-59 years, 60-69 years 70-79 years, =80 years were 3.03+/-0.70, 3.47+/-0.68, 3.96+/-0.91, 4.60+/-1.25, respectively. Using the receiver operative characteristic curve (ROC curve), the cut-off BWT that can be used to distinguish the obstructive group was 3.60mm. CONCLUSIONS: The BWT can be measured noninvasively. From this study, the BWT can be a useful parameter for evaluating BPH.
Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine, an oral nucleoside analogue, effectively inhibits hepatitis B virus replication and reduces hepatic necroinflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. This study investigated the effect and safety of 12 week lamivudine therapy in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: In an open clinical trial, 113 patients with CHB were enrolled. They received 100 mg of lamivudine orally once daily for 12 weeks, and they were followed until 2 weeks after cessation of lamivudine. HBV DNA (by bDNA assay), liver enzymes, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine and CBC were checked at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks. Compliance and side effects were evaluated at the same time. RESULTS: After receiving lamivudine 100 mg, serum HBV DNA levels fell rapidly, remaining in 94.3% below baseline values at 2 weeks and 99.8% below baseline values at 12 weeks. Serum HBV DNA was cleared in 75.2% and alanine aminotransferase level (ALT) was normalized in 64.8% at 12 weeks. Cumulative percentage of HBeAg clearance (defined by clearance of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg) was 14.4%. Clearance of HBV DNA was more frequent in patients with lower pretreatment serum HBV DNA and higher ALT. During the treatment periods, adverse effects were negligible and transient. Two weeks after cessation of lamivudine, serum HBV DNA reappeared in 70.6% of responders. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that lamivudine is effective and safe in the treatment of CHB in Korean patients, but further study for adequate duration of treatment is needed because of high recurrence after 12 weeks therapy.
Alanine Transaminase ; Compliance ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Lamivudine* ; Liver ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Lymph Nodes ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic validities between the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) and the Korean MMSE (K-MMSE) for screening of dementia and to investigate the possible changes of optimal cutoff scores of each instrument according to age, gender, and educational level. METHODS: 746 community residents aged 65 or over in two areas of Kwangju, Republic of Korea were assessed with MMSE-K and K-MMSE and were also evaluated for the diagnoses of dementia (DSM-IV). RESULTS: The performances, measured by area under receiver operating characteristics curve, of MMSE-K and K-MMSE against DSM-IV dementia were 0.93 and 0.94 respectively. The optimal cutoff scores for screening of dementia were 21|22 in MMSE-K and 17|18 in K-MMSE. Changes of the optimal cutoff scores according to age, gender, and educational level of the sample were 0-2 in the MMSE-K and 2-5 in the K-MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: MMSE-K and K-MMSE could be used for screening of dementia with excellent validities. For primary health care staff, however, it was suggested that MMSE-K would be more feasible than K-MMSE because the former had less changes in the optimal cutoff scores and was easier to interpret its results than the latter.
Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gwangju ; Mass Screening* ; Primary Health Care ; Republic of Korea ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The distribut ion of HCV genotypes varies with geographical area, and genot ypes can affect t he nat ur al course of HCV infection, but adequate genot yping data were not accumulat ed in Korea. This study was des igned to det ermine the pattern of distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea and it's clinical implications. METHODS: 100 cons ecut ive anti- HCV( +), RT-PCR(+) cases were recruited. Genotype specific oligonucleotide primers were made according to the sequence variation of NS5 region of HCV genome. Heminested PCR with mixed primersets was per formed, and genotype specific PCR products of different size were verified. Sequencing of cloned PCR products was done in cases with representative genotypes. Clinical profiles of genotype 1b and 2a were compared. RESULTS: Genotyping was done in 78 among 100 cases. Genotype 1b (48/ 78, 57.7%) and 2a (25/ 78, 32.1%) were most prevalent , and 1a (1/ 78, 1.3%) and mixed form (7/ 78, 9.0%) were also found. Milder cases with persistent normal ALT levels were more frequently seen in genotype 2a ( 9/ 25, 36.0%) than in genot ype 1b (3/ 45, 6.7%) (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Genotype 1b and 2a were major ones in anti- HCV( +) Korean adults, and the tendency of milder clinical course of genotype 2a was suggested.
Adult ; Clone Cells ; DEET ; DNA Primers ; Genome ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Diverticulum* ; Female* ; Humans ; Metaplasia*