• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.178-185
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• 2014

Purpose: Blood culture is the most important tool for detecting bacteremia in children with fever. However, blood culture contamination rates range from 0.6% to 6.0% in adults; rates for young children have been considered higher than these, although data are limited, especially in Korea. This study determined the contamination rate and risk factors in pediatric patients visiting the emergency room (ER) or being admitted to the ward. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of blood cultures obtained from children who visited Yonsei Severance Hospital, Korea between 2006 and 2010. Positive blood cultures were labeled as true bacteremia or contamination according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network definitions for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, after exclusion of cultures drawn from preexisting central lines only. Results: Among 40,542 blood cultures, 610 were positive, of which 479 were contaminations and 131 were true bacteremia (overall contamination rate, 1.18%). The contamination rate in the ER was significantly higher than in the ward (1.32% vs. 0.66%, P<0.001). The rate was higher in younger children (2.07%, 0.94%, and 0.61% in children aged <1 year, 1-6 years, and >6 years, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, contamination rates were higher in younger children than in older children, given the difficulty of performing blood sampling in younger children. The contamination rates from the ER were higher than those from the ward, not accounted for only by overcrowding and lack of experience among personnel collecting samples. Further study to investigate other factors affecting contamination should be required.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the contamination rates of blood culture in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to examine the clinical characteristics related to the contamination. Methods: Eight hundred thirty cases of blood culture performed from March 2013 to February 2014 were analyzed. We evaluated the contamination rates of blood culture by blood sampling sites and compared the clinical characteristics such as real name system and body weights of the contaminated cases and those of non-contaminated ones. The clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed by medical records. Results: The overall contamination rate was 3.6% (30/830). The contamination rates by blood sampling sites were as follows: peripheral vein 15.6% (10/64), peripheral artery 2.6% (20/759), and umbilical arterial catheter 0% (0/7). There was no difference in the contamination rates between cases with and without real name system (P=0.484). However, there were significant differences in the contamination rates by the physicians who performed the culture (P=0.038) and body weight (<1,000 g vs. ${\geq}1,000g$) at the time of blood culture (P<0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that neonates with a body weight less than 1,000 g have more risks of the contamination of blood culture. Furthermore, there is a necessity to provide blood culture performers with active feedbacks and individualized education plans that can help diminish blood culture contamination rates. Prospective studies in a systematic manner that can be applied in actual clinical settings are needed in order to figure out factors that can diminish the contamination rates of blood culture in NICU.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of blood contamination on the compressive strength (CS) of Root MTA (RMTA) modified with Calcium chloride ($CaCl_2$) and Disodium hydrogen phosphate ($Na_2HPO_4$) as setting accelerators over time. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 cylindrical specimens of RMTA were divided into 6 experimental groups as follows: Group1, RMTA; Group 2, RMTA modified with $CaCl_2$ (RMTA-C); Group 3, RMTA modified with $Na_2HPO_4$ (RMTA-N); Group 4, RMTA contaminated with blood; Group 5, RMTA-C contaminated with blood; Group 6, RMTA-N contaminated with blood. The CS of specimens in all groups was evaluated after 3 hr, 24 hr, and 1 wk. In the modified groups (groups 2, 3, 5, and 6) the CS of five specimens per group was also evaluated after 1 hr. Results: Blood contamination significantly reduced the CS of all materials at all time intervals (p < 0.05). After 3 hr, the CS of specimens in the RMTA groups (with and without blood contamination) was significantly lower than those in the RMTA-C and RMTA-N groups (p < 0.05). The CS values were not significantly different at the other time intervals. In all groups, the CS of specimens significantly increased over time (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Blood contamination decreased the CS of both original and accelerated RMTA.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.585-601
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of blood-and saliva-contamination during dentin pretreatment procedure on tensile bond strength, and to investigate the effect of contaminant-removing treatments on the recovery of bond strength of dentin bonding agents. Dentin specimens prepared from freshly extracted bovine mandibular anterior teeth were divided into non-contaminated control and contaminated experimental groups. The specimens of the contaminated group were contaminated with saliva or blood after etching or priming procedure, followed by contaminant-removing treatments. All the specimens were bonded with All Bond$^{(R)}$ 2 dentin bonding agent and Bisfil$^{TM}$ composite resin or Scotchbond$^{TM}$ Multipurpose and Z100. After all the bonded specimens were stored in $37^{\circ}C$ distilled water for 24 hours, tensile bond strengths were measured. The contaminated dentin and fractured dentin surfaces were examined under the scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows : Contaminated specimens showed lower bond strength than non-contaminated ones regardless of the kind of contaminant, contamination time and contaminant-removing treatments, except specimens which were acid-etched following saliva contamination after etching in All Bond$^{(R)}$ 2 groups (p<0.05). Blood contaminant resulted in much bond strength decrease than saliva ones (p<0.01), and contamination after priming resulted in much decrease in bond strength than after etching (p<0.01). Re-etching resulted in increase of bond strength in the specimens contaminated with saliva after etching but not in blood contaminated ones. Re-priming resulted in increase of bond strength in the specimens contaminated after priming regardless of the kind of contaminant.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 1999

Purpose: To present our experiences in pseudomosaicism or maternal cell contamination in genetic mid-trimester amniocentesis confirmed through percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Methods: From 1992 to 1997, repeated cytogenetic evaluation with fetal cord blood was carried out in 14 cases showing mosaic patterns. Results: We confirmed pseudomosaicism in 12 cases (85.7%) by repeated cytogenetic evaluation, and also maternal cell contamination in 2 cases. Conclusion: Repeated cytogenetic evaluation via percutaneous umbilical blood sampling was a rapid and useful method for the confirmation of mosaicism resulted from genetic mid-trimester amniocentesis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2022

Background: Abandoned metal mines are classified as vulnerable areas with the highest level of soil contamination among risk regions. People living near abandoned metal mines are at increased risk of exposure to toxic metals. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between soil contamination levels in areas around abandoned metal mine and the blood lead levels of local residents. Moreover, we assess the possibility of using soil contamination levels as a predictive indicator for human exposure level. Methods: Data from the Survey of Residents around Abandoned Metal Mines (2013~2017, n=4,421) and Investigation of Soil Pollution in Abandoned Metal Mines (2000~2011) were used. A random coefficient model was conducted for estimation of the lower level (micro data) of the local resident unit and the upper level (macro data) of the abandoned metal mine unit. Through a fitted model, the variation of blood lead levels among abandoned metal mines was confirmed and the effect of the operationally defined soil contamination level was estimated. Results: Among the total variation in blood lead levels, the variation between abandoned mines was 18.6%, and the variation determined by the upper-level factors such as soil contamination and water contamination was 8.1%, which was statistically significant respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference in the least square mean of blood lead concentration according to the level of soil contamination (p=0.047, low: 2.32 ㎍/dL, middle: 2.38 ㎍/dL, high: 2.59 ㎍/dL). Conclusions: The blood lead concentration of residents living near abandoned metal mines was significantly correlated with the level of soil contamination. Therefore, in biomonitoring for vulnerable areas, operationally defined soil contamination can be used as a predictor for human exposure level to hazardous substances and discrimination of high-risk abandoned metal mines.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.112-120
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• 2024

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of blood contamination on the compressive strength and surface morphology of both conventional and newly developed calcium silicate cements (CSCs). Materials and Methods: Compressive strengths of Endocem MTA Premixed Regular (EMPR) and ProRoot MTA (PMTA) were assessed after immersion in fetal bovine serum (FBS), saline, and deionized water (DW). Surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The compressive strength of EMPR samples immersed in FBS for both 1 and 7 days was significantly lower compared to those in saline and DW, with no significant differences between the saline and DW groups. The PMTA group exhibited the lowest compressive strength after 1 day in FBS, although it did not significantly differ from that of saline and DW groups. SEM images revealed significant differences in crystalline formation between FBS and the other experimental groups. Conclusion: Minimizing blood contamination during vital pulp therapy (VPT) is crucial to ensure optimal CSC setting. PMTA may be preferred over EMPR for resisting high occlusal forces in the presence of blood contamination.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the effects of contamination by either blood or a hemostatic agent on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic buttons. Methods: We used 45 freshly extracted, non-carious, impacted third molars that were divided into 3 groups of 15. Each tooth was etched with 37% phosphoric acid gel for 30 s. Human blood or the blood stopper agent was applied to the tooth surface in groups I and II, respectively. Group III teeth were untreated (controls). Orthodontic buttons were bonded to the teeth using light-curing composite resin. After bonding, the SBS of the button was determined using a Universal testing machine. Any adhesive remaining after debonding was assessed and scored according to the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI). ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's test was used to determine significant differences in SBS and Fisher's exact test, to determine significant differences in ARI scores among groups. Results: ANOVA indicated a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). The highest SBS values were measured in group III ($10.73{\pm}0.96$ MPa). The SBS values for teeth in groups I and II were significantly lower than that of group III (p < 0.001). The lowest SBS values were observed in group I teeth ($4.17{\pm}1.11$ MPa) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Contamination of tooth surfaces with either blood or hemostatic agent significantly decreased the SBS of orthodontic buttons. When the contamination risk is high, it is recommended to use the blood stopper agent when bonding orthodontic buttons on impacted teeth.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2021

Purpose. Implant mechanical complications, including screw loosening, can influence dental implant success. It has been shown that torque values are affected by contamination occurred in implant-abutment (I/A) interface. This study aimed to examine the effects of blood, saliva, fluoride and chlorhexidine contamination on reverse torque values (RTVs) of abutment screws in oral conditions. Materials and Methods. 50 fixtures were mounted into the stainless-steel holders and divided into five groups (n = 10). Except control group (NC), fixture screw holes in other groups were contaminated with chlorhexidine (CG), saliva (SG), blood (BG), or fluoride (FG). Abutment screws were tightened with a digital torque meter. I/A assemblies were subjected to thermocycling and cyclic loading. The mean RTVs were recorded and data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. Results. Except for specimens in SG (20.56 ± 1.33), other specimens in BG (21.11 ± 1.54), CG (22.89 ± 1.1) and FG (24.00 ± 1.12) displayed significantly higher RTVs compared to NC (19.00 ± 1.87). The highest RTVs were detected in CG and FG. Conclusion. The obtained data robustly suggest that RTVs were significantly affected by fluid contaminations. Specimens in FG and CG displayed the highest RTVs. Therefore, clinicians should have enough knowledge about probable contaminations in I/A interface in order to manage them during clinical procedure and to inform patients about using oral care products.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.400-420
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• 1998

We already know that it is very difficult to obtain an "isolated field" for direct bonding during the surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. The aim of this in-vitro study is to simulate the clinical situation of forced eruption and to evaluate the tensile strengths of preligatured button with several types of contamination which can happen during the surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. Four orthodontic direct bonding systems were used. ($Ortho-One^{TM}$, $Rely-a-Bond^{(R)}$, $Ortho-Two^{TM}$, Phase $II^{(R)}$) Each material was divided into four groups(n=20) : Group 1. (Control, no contamination), Group 2. (Rinse etching agent with saline instead of water), Group 3. (Blood contamination of etched surface for 30 seconds), Group 4. (Blood contamination of primed surface for 30 seconds) 320 bovine anterior permanent teeth were divided into the above mentioned 16 groups. Enamel surface was flattened and ground under water coolant. Pre-ligatured buttons were prepared to the same form. (Cut 0.25 ligature wire 10 cm in length. Twist the ligature wire 30 times clockwise. Mark the wire 15mm and 35mm points from button. Make a loop sticking two points together and twist the loop 6 times counterclockwise.) The bonded specimens were stored at $37^{\circ}C$ saline solution for 3 days. Then the tensile strength of each sample was measured with Instron universal testing machine, crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. The following results were obtained: 1. As compared to control groups (Group 1) of each material, Rely-a-Bond had a significantly lower mean tensile strengths than other material. (p<0.01) 2. In Group 2. of Ortho-One and Rely-a-Bond, the mean tensile strengths decreased about 7.7% and 11.1%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.05) 3. In Group 2. of Ortho-Two and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths did not decrease. 4. In Group 3. of Ortho-One, Rely-a-Bond, Ortho-Two, and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths decreased about 60.8%, 56.1%, 60.2%, and 46.0%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.01) 5. In Group 4. of Ortho-One and Rely-a-Bond, the mean tensile strengths did not decrease. 6. In Group 4. of Ortho-Two and Phase II, the mean tensile strengths were decreased about 20.95% and 22.28%, respectively with statistical significances. (p<0.01) There were formations of a hump shaped mass from bonding resin under blood contamination which disturbed direct bonding procedure. According to Reynolds, the proper bond strength for clinical manipulation should be at least 45N or about 4.5Kg.F. According to these results, it can be concluded that Ortho-One could be used during surgical exposure of unerupted teeth. In any case, blood contamination of the etched surface should be avoided, but the blood contamination of primed surface of Ortho-One may not decrease bond strength. Just 'blowing-out' is enough to remove blood from primed surface of Ortho-One. You can verify the clean surface of the primer of Ortho-One after blowing out the blood contamination.