Characterization of Enteroviruses Isolated from Patients with Aseptic Meningitis

Enteroviruses (EVs) are human pathogens that cause a wide variety of clinical illnesses. The spectrum of the diseases ranges from a mild febrile illness to severe diseases such as meningitis or myocarditis. In the present study, we have used a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method to detect EVs from patients with aseptic meningitis followed by typing of the EVs after HeLa cell culture isolation. In addition, twelve reference strains and the six clinical isolates of EVs were infected to neonatal rat cardiocytes and the viability of infected cells was measured by MTT assay. Marked inhibition of cell proliferation was observed in the cardiocytes cultures infected with coxsackievirus (CV) B1, CVB4, and CVB5, and two wild strains, whereas mild inhibition was observed from those infected with CVB2, CVB3, echoviruses 6, 7, 11, 22, 25, and 30. Recombinant plasmid containing full-length cDNA genome of the cardiovirulent wild strain was successfully constructed and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The genome showed characteristics of enteroviruses. The RNA genome was 7,391 nucleotides in length, with a 5'-nontranslating region (742 nucleotides) followed by an open reading frame (encoding a 2,182 amino acid polyprotein) and a 3'-nontranslating region (100 nucleotides) and polyadenylated tail. The predicted amino acid sequences of the polyprotein showed 89~95% homology with those of reference coxsackievirus strains (CVB1-5).

Sequence Varation of 5(1) Nontranslating Region of Enterovirus Isolated from Patients with Aseptic Meningitis

No abstract available.

A Prospective Multicenter Study on the Etiological Analysis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adult Patients in Korea: Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae Infections / 감염

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to develop rapid and sensitive method to detect M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. In addition, we prospectively investigate the prevalence of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections in community-acquried pneumonia. METHODS: The nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from July 1997 to April 2000. PCR or nested PCR techniques were used to detect causative agents. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed to study molecular epidemiology. Furthermore, feasibility of one-step technique to detect two microorganisms was tested by use of multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Of 250 clinical specimens, 23 (9.2%) specimens were positive for M. pneumoniae and 33 (13.2%) for C. pneumoniae, including one dual-infected specimen. Most M. pneumoniae infection occurred during the colder months of the year. C. pneumoniae infection was predominently found between December to February. CONCLUSION: The result indicate that M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae infections are frequently found from patients with community-acquired pneumoniae.

Effects of the Provision of Nursing Information on Patient's Satisfaction after Abdominal Surgery / 성인간호학회지

This study was intended to examine the effects of providing nursing information about surgery in a surgical ward over a 50 day period from September, 1st to October 20th, 1998 in K University Hospital in Seoul. This quasiexperimental study used only a nonequivalent control group and an adopted post-test. A total of 54 patients were assigned to the control and experimental groups according to their admission dates to the hospital. Those who entered from September, 1st to 20th were selected as the control group, while those patients admitted from September 21th to October 20th were chosen as the experimental group. The experimental group consisted of 27 patients and received planned nursing information using a booklet. The twenty seven patients in the control group received the usual pre-operative (pre-op) care. The patient's satisfaction was measured on the 4th day after surgery with a post-operative (post-op) Satisfaction Scale. The scale was developed by Lee, Yoon Hee(1995) and modified by the present researchers. No significant general characteristic differences were found between the control and the experimental groups. The booklet included information on tests and treatment about the operation and preventive methods for post-op complications, such as deep breathing and coughing, position change, lower extremity exercise, early ambulation, aseptic technique, observation of bleeding, use of equipment, and proper food management. Data was analyzed using the x2-test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient through an SPSS computer program. The results were as follows: 1. The hypothesis that the patients who were provided with planned nursing information would have a higher satisfaction level than those who received usual nursing care was supported(t=8.48, P=0.0004). 2. The mean score of the Satisfaction Scale was higher in experimental group than that of the control group. In particular, the experimental group was highly satisfied with the items such as 'nurse has patience' and 'skillful injection giving'. The control group showed the highest score with the item of 'nurse co-works treatment with medical team'. Both groups revealed the lowest score with the item of 'explanation about test results'. 3. No significant correlation was observed between the patients' satisfaction and their general characteristics. Those satisfaction scores measured before and after the operation did not correlate significantly (r=0.097, P=0.790). The above findings indicate that the provision of planned nursing information before surgery improved patient's satisfaction after abdominal surgery. Accordingly, nurses should provide information about the operation before surgery to increase patient's satisfaction, which in turn promotes the quality of their nursing care.