• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-71
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the results of culture test at the time of removal of metal devices used for management of ankle fractures and for analysis of contributing factors. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records of 132 patients with lower tibia and ankle fracture who had their metal devices removed during the period from January 2010 to February 2014. Patients with clinical signs of infection were excluded. Culture test was performed by taking the granulation tissue around the metal device at the time of removal. We divided the subjects into two groups, culture positive and negative. We then performed a retrospective review of each medical record of multiple factors that might contribute to the culture results, including laboratory results, medical history, material and size of metal device, indwelling period, and whether or not it was open injury. Results: Among 132 cases, six were culture positive. Enterococcus was detected in two cases and the others were Staphylococcus. No significant difference in medical history of patients and laboratory results, including C-reactive protein level, was observed between the culture positive and negative group. Culture positive rate was 5.4% in titanium and 3.9% in stainless steel. In terms of metal size, culture positive rate was 5.1% in small plates, 6.7% in large plates, and culture negative in intramedullary nails. The average indwelling period of metal device was 61.5 weeks in the culture positive group, and 68.6 weeks in the negative group. Nine cases were open fractures and all were in the culture negative group. Conclusion: Whether or not the culture result was positive, there were no meaningful contributing factors. Presence of bacterium on the metal device could not be screened by any laboratory results or other factors.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.15-25
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• 2016

Objectives: In this study, we examined the validity of Clostridium difficile culture results as a proxy measure of Clostridium difficile infection, and inferred the epidemiologic characteristics of Clostridium difficile infection by tracking the trends of Clostridium difficile culture results. Methods: We reviewed the medical records to figure out the actual possibilities of Clostridium difficile infection of those with positive or negative results of Clostridium difficile culture during the time span from January 2012 to March 2012. We calculated the positive and negative predictive value of Clostridium difficile culture results for Clostridium difficile infection. Furthermore, epidemiologic characteristics of Clostridium difficile infection in a tertiary general hospital in 2012 were analyzed. Result: The estimated positive predictive value of Clostridium difficile culture tests for Clostridium difficile infection was 100%, and the estimated negative predictive value was around 94.4~99.3% depending on the cutoff value of possibility of Clostridium difficile infection. A total of 622 cases were identified as Clostridium difficile infection in a tertiary general hospital in 2012 and there were 4.9 patients with Clostridium difficile infection per 1,000 inpatients. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified that Clostridium difficile culture results can be used as a proxy measure of Clostridium difficile infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.16
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• 2023

Background: In vitro culture of preantral follicles is a promising technology for fertility preservation. Objectives: This study aims to investigate an optimized three-dimensional (3D) fetal bovine serum (FBS)-free preantral follicle culture system having a simple and easy operation. Methods: The isolated follicles from mouse ovaries were randomly divided in an ultra-low attachment 96-well plates supplement with FBS or bovine serum albumin (BSA) culture or encapsulated with an alginate supplement with FBS or BSA culture. Meanwhile, estradiol (E₂) concentration was assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatants. The diameter of follicular growth was measured, and the lumen of the follicle was photographed. Spindle microtubules of oocytes were detected via immunofluorescence. The ability of oocytes to fertilize was assessed using in vitro fertilization. Results: The diameters were larger for the growing secondary follicles cultured in ultra-low attachment 96-well plates than in the alginate gel on days 6, 8, and 10 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the E2 concentration in the BSA-supplemented medium was significantly higher in the alginate gel than in the other three groups on days 6 and 8 (p < 0.05), and the oocytes in the FBS-free system could complete meiosis and fertilization in vitro. Conclusions: The present study furnishes insights into the mature oocytes obtained from the 3D culture of the preantral follicle by using ultra-low attachment 96-well plate with an FBS-free system in vitro and supports the clinical practices to achieve competent, mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2020

The gold standard method for diagnosis of tuberculosis is the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through culture, but there is a probability of cross-contamination in simultaneous cultures of samples causing false-positives. This can result in delayed treatment of the underlying disease and drug side effects. In this paper, we reviewed studies on false-positive cultures of M. tuberculosis. Rate of occurrence, effective factors, and extent of false-positives were analyzed. Ways to identify and reduce the false-positives and management of them are critical for all laboratories. In most cases, false-positive is occurring in cases with only one positive culture but negative direct smear. The three most crucial factors in this regard are inappropriate technician function, contamination of reagents, and aerosol production. Thus, to reduce false-positives, good laboratory practice, as well as use of whole-genome sequencing or genotyping of all positive culture samples with a robust, extra pure method and rapid response, are essential for minimizing the rate of false-positives. Indeed, molecular approaches and epidemiological surveillance can provide a valuable tool besides culture to identify possible false positives.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.283-289
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• 2023

AI is bringing about drastic changes not only in the aspect of technologies but also in society and culture. Medical AI based on deep learning have developed rapidly. Especially, the field of medical image analysis has been proven that AI can identify the characteristics of medical images more accurately and quickly than clinicians. Evaluating the latest results of the AI-based medical image processing is important for the implication for the development direction of medical AI. In this paper, we analyze and evaluate the latest trends in AI-based medical image analysis, which is showing great achievements in the field of medical AI in the healthcare industry. We analyze deep learning models for medical image analysis and AI-based medical image segmentation for quantitative analysis. Also, we evaluate the future development direction in terms of marketability as well as the size and characteristics of the medical AI market and the restrictions to market growth. For evaluating the latest trend in the deep learning-based medical image processing, we analyze the latest research results on the deep learning-based medical image processing and data of medical AI market. The analyzed trends provide the overall views and implication for the developing deep learning in the medical fields.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine undergraduate medical students' perceptions and intentions regarding patient safety during clinical clerkships. Methods: Cross-sectional and self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 34 students from one medical school using a modified version of the Medical Student Safety Attitudes and Professionalism Survey (MSSAPS). We assessed $4^{rd}-year$ medical students' perceptions of the cultures ('safety', 'teamwork', and 'error disclosure'), 'behavioural intentions' concerning patient safety issues and 'overall patient safety'. The overall response rate was 66.4%. Results: Among safety domains, "teamwork culture" was rated highest. "Error disclosure culture" received the lowest ratings. Regarding the error disclosure domain, only 10% of respondents reported that they have received education or training on how to disclose medical error to patients. Independent of survey domains, when students were asked "Overall, do you think your hospital is safe based on your clinical rotation?", 61.8% reported that the hospital was safe. Conclusions: Assessing students' perceptions of safety culture can provide clerkship directors and educators with information that enhances the educational environment and promotes patient safety. Discussions of medical errors, patient safety, and how best to incorporate an analysis of these issues into the existing curriculum are needed.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the medical contents of Korean medical textbooks and intervention usage in clinical practice. Method : We conducted an email survey of Doctors of Korean Medicine(DKMs) registered with the Association of Korean Medicine and analyzed the 259 responses that we received. Results : 1, The study showed that most DKMs used western medical knowledge concerning "history taking and diagnosis"(96.5%), "management and prevention"(95.8%), "causes and overview"(91.9%), and "prognosis"(90.3%). DKMs did not usually use western medical knowledge with regard to "diagnosis and treatment evaluation tools"(40.9%) or "western medical treatments"(25.1%) in their clinical practice. 2. Of the DKMs surveyed, 39.0% usually used traditional and western medical terms at similar levels of frequency in explaining their patients' conditions, while 35.9% used western medical terms more often and 20.8% used Korean traditional medical terms more often. 3. Most DKMs usually used acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy, Moxibustion in their practice and used herbal prescriptions presented in Dongeuibogam(57.1%), Bangyakhappyeon(52.9%), and Sa-Sang Constitutional Medicine(36.7%), although 27.8% used their own herbal prescriptions in creating for patients. In practice, DKMs usually used meridian acupuncture(64.1%), needling myofascial trigger points(54.8%), sa-am acupuncture(42.1%), dong-shi acupuncture therapy(24.7%), and constitutional acupuncture therapy(8.5%). Conclusions : We found that most DKMs use western medical contents as well as Korean medical contents in clinical practice. New Korean medical contents should be establish based on these results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4255-4259
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• 2014

Lactobacilli are probiotics shown to have antitumor activities. In addition, they can regulate gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to assess anti tumor activities of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus crispatus on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. The effects of culture supernatants were determined by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Changes in expression of 5 cancer-testis antigens (CTAs), namely AKAP4, ODF4, PIWIL2, RHOXF2 and TSGA10, were analyzed by quantitative real time RT-PCR. The culture supernatants of the 2 lactobacilli inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. In addition, transcriptional activity of all mentioned CTAs except AKAP4 was significantly decreased after 24 hour treatment with culture supernatants. This study shows that Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus crispatus have antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, these lactobacilli could decrease transcriptional activity of 4 CTAs. Previous studies have shown that expression of CTAs is epigenetically regulated, so it is possible that lactobacilli cause this expression downregulation through epigenetic mechanisms. As expression of CTAs in cancers is usually associated with higher grades and poor prognosis, downregulation of their expression by lactobacilli may have clinical implications.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.110-135
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• 2005

The objectives of this study were (1) to describe doctors' perception and attitudes toward patient safety culture and medical error reporting in their working unit and hospitals, (2) to examine whether these perception and attitudes differ by doctors' characteristics, such as sex, position, and specialties, and (3) to understand the relationship between overall perception of patient safety in their working unit and each sub domain of patient safety culture. A survey was conducted with 135 doctors working in a university hospital in Korea. After descriptive analyses and chi-square tests of subgroup differences, a multivariate-regression of overall perception of patient safety in their unit with sub-domains of patient safety culture was conducted. Overall, a significant proportion of doctors expressed negative perception of their working units' patient safety culture, many reporting potentials for patient safety problems to occur in their unit. They also negatively viewed their hospital leadership's commitment on patient safety. Regarding the patient safety in their working unit, doctors were most worried about staffing level and observance of safety procedures. Most doctors did not know how and which medical error to report. They also perceived that medical errors would work against them personally and penalize them. About 22 percent of respondents believed that even seriously harmful medical errors were not reported.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2022

Protein S-glutathionylation is a reversible post-translational modification on cysteine residues forming a mixed disulfide with glutathione. S-glutathionylation, not only protects proteins from oxidation but also regulates the functions of proteins involved in various cellular signaling pathways. In this study, we developed a method for the detection of S-glutathionylated proteins (ProSSG) using eosin-glutathione (E-GSH) and mouse glutaredoxin 1 (mGrx1). ProSSG was efficiently and specifically labeled with E-GSH to form ProSSG-E via thiol-disulfide exchange. ProSSG-E was readily luminescent allowing the detection of ProSSG with semi-quantitative determination. In addition, a deglutathionylation enzyme mGrx1 specifically released E-GSH from ProSSG-E, which increased fluorescence allowing a sensitive determination of ProSSG levels. Application of the method to the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells showed specific detection of ProSSG and its increase upon differentiation induction, which was consistent with the result obtained by conventional immunoblot analysis, but with greater specificity and sensitivity.