Factors Associated with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonization in Patients Transferred to Emergency Departments in Korea

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections have become a major healthcare-associated pathogen problem worldwide. Nosocomial VRE infections could be effectively controlled by screening patients at high risk of harboring VRE and thereby lowering the influx of VRE into healthcare centers. In this study, we evaluated factors associated with VRE colonization in patients transferred to emergency departments, to detect patients at risk for VRE carriage. METHODS: This study was conducted in the emergency department of a medical college-affiliated hospital in Korea. Every patient transferred to the emergency department and admitted to the hospital from January to December 2016 was screened for VRE using rectal cultures. In this cross-sectional study, the dependent variable was VRE colonization and the independent variables were demographic and clinical factors of the patients and factors related to the transferring hospital. Patients were divided into two groups, VRE and non-VRE, and previously collected patient data were analyzed. Then we performed logistic regression analyses of characteristics that differed significantly between groups. RESULTS: Out of 650 patients, 106 (16.3%) had positive VRE culture results. Significant variables in the logistic analysis were transfer from geriatric long-term care hospital (adjusted odds ration [aOR]: 8.017; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.378–46.651), hospital days (4–7 days; aOR: 7.246; 95% CI: 3.229–16.261), duration of antimicrobial exposure (1–3 days; aOR: 1.976; 95% CI: 1.137–3.436), and age (aOR: 1.025; 95% CI: 1.007–1.043). CONCLUSION: VRE colonization in patients transferred to the emergency department is associated primarily with factors related to the transferred hospitals rather than demographic and clinical characteristics.

Expression of the S glycoprotein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) in transgenic potato and its immunogenicity in mice / 대한수의학회지

Transgenic plants have been tested as an alternative host for the production and delivery of experimental oral vaccines. Here, we developed transgenic potatoes that express the major antigenic sites A and D of the glycoprotein S from transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV-S0.7) under three expression vector systems. The DNA integration and mRNA expression level of the TGEV-S0.7 gene were confirmed in transgenic plants by PCR and northern blot analysis. Antigen protein expression in transgenic potato was determined by western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results revealed that based on a dilution series of Escherichia coli-derived antigen, the transgenic line P-2 had TGEV-S0.7 protein at levels that were 0.015% of total soluble proteins. We then examined the immunogenicity of potato-derived TGEV-S0.7 antigen in mice. Compared with the wild-type potato treated group and synthetic antigen treated group, mice treated with the potato-derived antigen showed significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA responses.

Alterations in body composition of obese females following in-community supervised exercise program

BACKGROUND: A variety of techniques for assessing human composition have been developed. However, the validity of these methods has not been compared in the same subjects after training program. In this study, the dependent variable used as a criterion of changes in body composition is body weight (BW), which consists of fat-free weight (FFW) and body fat (BF) in the two compartment model, on the assumption that FFM does not change significantly during the exercise program. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the validity of percentage body fat using indirect methods - bioelectrical impedance (Bl) analyzer and skinfold thickness (SFT) and to discuss the accuracy of each method. METHODS: The subjects were 13 obese women, aged 42 to 63 fears (52.4+/-6.4yr) . The subjects participated in supervised physical conditioning program 3 days per week, 30 to 60 min each session, for a period of 14 weeks. RESULTS: Small decrements were observed in BW (0.5+/-1.9 kg, p>0.05) , body mass index (BMI, 0.6+/-1.8, p>0.05), waist girth (2.1 cm, P<.06), and SFT at the triceps (2.9mm, P<0.05) and subscapular (2.9mm, P<0.05) . There were significant changes in BF (P<0.001) and FFM (P<0.001) calculated by the SFT method, while mean FFM computed by Bl technique remained essentially unchanged. Correlational analysis indicated that the absolute amount of change in BW (i.e., delta BW) was significantly associated with delta abdominal girth and delta BF estimated by the BI technique. The relationship between delta BW and delta BF estimated by the SFT method technique was not statistically significant, thereby questioning the validity of using individual skinfold measurements solely to estimate alterations in body composition. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is concluded that Bl technique may provide more accurate estimates of changes in BF than SFT method.

The influence of gender or culture on determining esthetic facial profile / 대한치과교정학회지

Because many of patients seeking orthodontic treatment worry about the facial appearance and their chief motivation for orthodontic treatment is facial esthetics, it is critical to understand the influence of gender or culture on the evaluation of profile esthetics. The purpose of this study was to find out any influence of gender or culture on judging good facial profile. 4 different groups were asked to evaluate 133 facial profiles to test the influence of gender or culture on judging good facial profiles. Those 4 groups consisted of 10 Korean males, 10 Korean females, 10 Korean American males, and 10 Korean American females. 2 evaluation systems were introduced, absolute and relative. Soft tissues of selected good profile group were analyzed and statistic analysis was performed. Conclusions were as follows : 1. Inter-evaluator difference for judging good facial profile was statistically significant, even if there was general agreement for the best profile among 40 raters. 2. Gender difference under the same cultural environment was not significant statistically. 3. The same ethnic groups with different cultural background showed statistically different preference on judging good profile. 4. Good facial profile group had their own characteristics compared to remaining group in several soft tissue measurements which were vertical facial ratio, soft tissue facial convexity, and antero-posterior relative lip position.

A finite element and strain gauge analysis on the displacement of craniofacial complex with cervical headgear / 대한치과교정학회지

This paper was undertaken to observe the displacement of craniofacial complex with cervical headgear and to compare narrowing or widening effect of palate by use of contraction or expansion face-bow, respectively. The 3-dimensional finite element method(FEM) was used for a mathematical model composed of 597 nodes and 790 elements and an electrical resistance strain gauge investigation was performed to validate the finite element model. The outer bow of cervical headgear was adjusted to be placed below the occlusal plane by 25degrees and met the midsagittal plane by 40degrees, and was loaded 1kg on each right and left hook toward posterior direction. The results were as follows 1. Generally, the maxillary teeth and facial bone were displaced in posterior, medial and downward direction. 2. It was the maxillary 2nd bicuspid that moved bodily. 3. The craniofacial complex rotated in a clockwise direction around the rotating axis which lay from the most posterior and lowest point connecting nasal crest of maxillary bone and vomer, progressively toward a more posterior, lateral and upward direction, anterior and upper area of pterygomaxillary fissure, base of medial pterygoid plate and laterally to the contact area of zygomatic arch with squamous part of temporal bone. 4. No contraction effect was observed by contraction face-bow when compared to the standard face-bow. 5. In case of expansion face-bow, the areas of maxillary 2nd bicuspid, molars and palate were expanded remarkably.

The Result of Radiation Therapy of superior Vena Cava Syndrome / 대한치료방사선과학회지

To access the result of radiation therapy for 8 years experiences, 21 patients who were treated with superior vena cava syndrome had been analysed according to dose fractionation and toal dose. The results are as follows; 1. In high fractionate dose group, six of eleven patients (54.5%) exhibited relief of symptoms in 1-2 days, and additional three patients of nine (81.7%) within 3-4 days, while standard fractionated dose treatment is not effective to achieve initial relief of symptoms. 2. Graded response by total dose was correlated with total dose rather than dose fractionation. 3. Overall one year survival rate with superior vana cava syndrome was 9.1% and mean survival was 4.2 months.

A roentgenocephalometric study on maxillofacial morphology / 대한치과교정학회지

The recognize the problems in malocclusion by roentgenocephalograms, the author designed a new pentagonal frame based on maxillary and mandibular bones. The subjects consisted of 44 normal occlusion (20 male and 24 female), 44 Class II division 1 malocclusions (15 male and 29 female) and 67 Class III malocclusions (31 male and 36 female). The results are as follows; 1. In normal group, the maxillary and mandibular skeletons of femal are placed more closely to FH plane so more anteriorly and upward that those male. 2. In normal group, the posterior vertical hcight is longer in male than in female and the upper anterior teeth of female are in more labioversion than those of male. 3. By the X, Y coordinate values in pentagonal frame, it is helpful to recognize certain problems in malocclusions. 4. The posterior vertical height is a good indicator in detecting Angle's Class III malocclusion. 5. The maxillary and mandibular body length, the anterior point of maxillary and mandibular body length and the axial inclination of upper and lower anterior teeth can useful in discerning Angle's Class II & Class III malocclusion.