• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.618-623
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• 2011

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been considered as a significant food-borne pathogen since its role in causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans was recognized. In this study, we developed an immunochromatography (ICG) assay for the detection of E. coli O157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 monoclonal antibody (EC MAb) and colloidal gold were conjugated and its specificity was determined by the ICG treated with EC MAb and antimouse IgG at test and control lines, respectively. The detection limit of the ICG was $1{\times}10^5$ CFU/mL, and no crossreactivity was observed to other E. coli strains and major food-borne pathogens. To determine the minimum enrichment time for the ICG, meats and sprouts were inoculated with $1{\times}10$ CFU/100 ${\mu}L$ of E. coli O157:H7. After enrichment time of 10 and 2 h for meats and sprouts, respectively, up to $1{\times}10$ CFU/100 ${\mu}L$ of E. coli O157:H7 could be detected by ICG.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is defined as chronic inflammation of the lower small airways, and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a pathophysiologic feature of asthma. It has been proposed that although there is no direct variable capable of assessing the small airways, a forced expiratory flow of between 25 and 75 percent ($FEF_{25-75}$) might be considered a more sensitive early marker of small airway obstruction than the forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$). Thus, we proposed that the presence and degree of positive responses to bronchial methacholine testing were related to the difference (DFF) and ratio (RFF) between $FEV_1$ and $FEF_{25-75}$ in asthmatic children. Methods : The subjects were 583 symptomatic children, including 324 children with BHR and 259 controls. Pulmonary function tests, methacholine challenge tests, and skin prick tests were performed, and the total eosinophil count, total serum IgE, and serum eosinophil cationic protein level were measured in all subjects. From a concentration-response curve, the methacholine concentration required to produce a decrease of 20% from post-saline $FEV_1$ was calculated ($PC_{20}$). Results : The median DFF and RFF values decreased in controls compared to subjects with bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and this trend was found in groups ranked by its severity. $PC_{20}$ had a negative correlation with DFF and RFF. Cutoff values of 0.5 for DFF and 1.042 for RFF were identified, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Conclusion : This study revealed that DFF and RFF might be predictive of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the context of normal $FEV_1$ in children.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.75-89
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• 1979

One strain of Penicillium sp. (175-66-B), isolated from soil, was able to produce a substance that has a strong inibition activity against the Agkistrodon and Trimeresurus venoms. In this experiment, the chemical and biological properties of the sample were investigated. As an inhibitory substance, it was effective to the proteinase, hemorrhagic and lethal factors of Agkistrodon and Trimeresurus venoms, and also effective to several fractions of the proteinases and hemorrhagic factors of Agkistrodon halys blomhoffi venom. Moreover, in the addition of prednisotone, it was more effective for the cure of the mouse envenomated with the venom amount of two fold of MLD$_{100}$. This substance was very stable to the acid, alkali and heat. Its melting point was high enough to sublime at 222$^{\circ}C$ without any decomposition. This sample was easily dissolved only in hot water, but not in several organic solvents except for a little dissolution in elate. It did not have the chelating activity. It had very strong specificity to the snake venoms. but its activity was depressed by the addition of zinc or cupric salts. This sample had no acute toxicity to the mouse. Its chemical formula was $C_{16}$ $H_{12}$$N_2$ $O_{10}$ with the molecular weight of about 392. It has two epoxy groups and four carboxyl radicals, but amino, nitrite and nitrate radicals, unsaturated bonds and aromatic ring were not detected. Theuchemical configuration of this sample was suggested to be;

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of current study was to evaluate the validity of the existing radiological classifications as a diagnostic modality for predicting characteristics of calcific deposition in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder joint. For that purpose, we determined the inter-observer reliability for evaluating diagnostic precisions of the classification and also evaluated diagnostic accuracy of predicting the toothpaste type calcific deposition. Materials and Methods: We performed retrospective study with total 26 patients surgically treated with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder joint from March 2010 to October 2013. Two independent observers reviewed preoperative radiographs of shoulder joints, and classified the characteristics of calcific depositions according to the criteria of Gartner, DePalma and Patte. Cohen's kappa were calculated for each classifications to evaluate inter-observer reliability. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio were determined for type of calcific depositions with Gartner type III, DePalma type I, and Patte type II for predicting toothpaste type calcific deposition. Results: The values of Cohen's kappa were the highest in the classification of Patte, 0.62, and the values for the classifications of DePalma and Gartner were 0.56 and 0.36, respectively. The sensitivities for predicting toothpaste type calcific deposition in Gartner Type III, DePalma type I and Patte type II were 83.3%, 91.7%, and 58.3%, respectively. Specificities were 85.7% 50.0% and 64%, positive likelihood ratios were 5.833, 1.833 and 1.633, negative likelihood ratios were 0.194, 0.167 and 0.648, and diagnostic odds ratios were 30.00, 11.00 and 2.52, respectively. Conclusion: There were no radiologic classifications of calcific tendinitis which has both high precision and accuracy. Further studies with other diagnostic modalities such as ultrasonography are needed for predicting characteristics of calcific deposition in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder joint.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.414-427
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• 2008

The purpose of the study was to develop an eating habit checklist for screening elementary school children at high risk of energy overintake. Dietary habits, food intake, anthropometric data were collected from 142 children (80 boys and 62 girls) in the 4th to 6th grades of elementary schools. Energy intake, fat intake, and percentage of Estimated Energy Requirement (%EER) were used as indices to detect the risk of energy overintake of the children. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between dietary habit scores and energy overintake indices in order to select questions included in the checklist. TV watching during the meal, meal speed, meal amount, overintake frequency, eatingout frequency, snack frequency, frequency of eating Ramyun or fast foods showed significant correlations with energy overintake indices. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to give each item a different weight by prediction strength. To determine the cut-off point of the test score, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were calculated. The 7-item checklist with test results from 0 to 13 points was developed, and those with equal or higher than 5 points were diagnosed as a risk group of energy overintake. Among our subjects 13.4% was diagnosed as the risk group. Mean energy intake of the subjects in the risk group and the normal group were 2,650 kcal and 1,640 kcal, respectively. However, there were no significant differences of Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) of the other nutrients except eating fiber between the risk group and the normal group. This checklist will provide a useful screening tool to identify children at high risk of energy overintake.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1180-1185
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• 2006

Purpose : The aims of this study were to verify the incidence of hypohidrosis and to determine the predictive value of noninvasive indicator test ($Neurocheck^{TM}$) for sweating after administration of topiramate in newly diagnosed pediatric epileptic patients. Methods : A total of 46 epileptic patients (22 boys; 24 girls) on topiramate treatment were evaluated in this study at the Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Hospital, from October 2004 to July 2005. We measured sweating functions using a noninvasive sweating test ($Neurocheck^{TM}$) before topiramate medication, and after 3 months when topiramate reached its target dosage. We performed a direct questionnaire survey for the hypohidrosis related symptoms during topiramate treatment. Results : The mean age was $7.8{\pm}3.2year$. The mean dosage of topiramate was $4.5{\pm}0.8mg/kg/day$. Among the patients, there were 40 complex partial seizures, one simple partial seizure, two partial seizures with secondarily generalization, two generalized seizures, and one Lennox-Gastaut syndrome case. Of the 46 epileptic patients, 17 patients (37.0 percent) experienced hypohidrosis and hypohidrosis related symptoms, 12 (26.1 percent) had facial flushing, four (8.7 percent) had heat intolerance, one (2.2 percent) had lethargy, but no one had anhidrosis. Among the 17 patients, the mild group numbered 12 and the severe group totalled five. Hypohidrosis by $Neurocheck^{TM}$ was diagnosed in 16 patients. The overall measures of agreement between $Neurocheck^{TM}$ and the survey was 76.5 percent. The specificity of this test was 89.7 percent. Patients who showed a time delay after medication, especially over 3 minutes, were seen only in the severe group. Conclusion : $Neurocheck^{TM}$ could be clinically useful to detect and predict topiramate induced hypohidrosis in pediatric epileptic patients. We recommend that patients who show a delay over 3 minutes in $Neurocheck^{TM}$ test after topiramate initiation should be monitored for hypohydrosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2006

Purpose : It is difficult to make a distinction between lower urinary tract infection(UTI) and acute pyelonephritis(APN) during the acute phase of febrile UTI due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, especially among young children. We measured the serum procalcitonin(PCT) in children with UTI to distinguish between acute pyelonephritis and lower UTI, and to determine the accuracy of PCT measurement compared with other inflammatory markers. Methods : Serum samples were taken from children who admitted with unexplained fever or were suspected of having UTI. 51 children(mean $12.2{\pm}11.4$ months) were enrolled in this study. Leukocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) were also measured. Renal parenchymal involvement was assessed by $^{99m}Tc$ DMSA scintigraphy in the first 7 days after admission. PCT was measured by immunoluminometric assay. Results : PCT values were significantly correlated with the presence of renal defects in children with UTI(n=16)($5.06{\pm}12.97{\mu}g/L$, P<0.05). However, PCT values were not significantly different between children with UTI without renal damage(n=18) and children without UTI(n=17). Using a cutoff of $0.5{\mu}g/L$ for PCT and 20 mm/hr for ESR, 20 mg/L for CRP, sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between UTI with and without renal involvement were 81.3 percent and 88.9 percent for PCT 87.5 percent and 72.2 percent for ESR, and 87.5 percent and 55.6 percent for CRP, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 86.7 percent and 84.2 percent for PCT and 60.9 percent and 81.8 percent for CRP, respectively. Conclusion : In febrile UTI, PCT values were more specific than CRP, ESR and leukocyte count for the identification of patients who might develop renal defects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2002

Purpose : The objectives of this study were to investigate the causes of chronic cough and to establish the appropriate diagnostic approach to chronic cough in children. Methods : One hundred and thirty two cases of chronic cough were prospectively evaluated. They visitors to pediatric chronic cough clinics at Kang-nam saint Mary's Hospital of Catholic University from August 2000 to July 2001 for 12 months. Careful history taking by questionnaire, physical examination, radiologic studies of chest and sinus, hematologic and immunologic studies, allergic skin tests, and methacholine challenge tests were performed. Color doppler(CD) ultrasonography were performed and compared with simultaneous 24 Hr. esophageal pH monitoring to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). Results : Age distributions were demonstrated that nine in infants, 82 in early childhood, 38 in late childhood, and three in adolescence. Common causes of chronic cough were bronchial asthma in 40 cases, chronic sinusitis in 22 cases, GERD in seven cases, bronchial asthma combined with sinusitis in 28 cases, bronchial asthma combined with GERD in 14 cases, psychogenic cough in two. cases, foreign body in one case, chronic bronchitis in one case, and bronchiolitis in one case. Comparing with 24 Hr. pH monitoring, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of CD ultrasonography were 88%, 69%, 85 %, and 73% respectively. Conclusion : The most common causes of chronic cough in children were bronchial asthma, sinusitis and GERD in order. We suggest that CD ultrasonography can be used as a good, convenient screening method for patients with suspected GERD in outpatient settings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2003

Purpose : We studied the relationship between anthracycline cumulative dose and anthracycline cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer and followed up 40 children with anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in 154 children who received anthracycline chemotherapy between January 1995 to December 2000. Cardiotoxicity was defined when the left ventricular fractional shortening(FS) was below 26%; it was divided into two groups, mild and severe cardiotoxicity, according to the FS. We followed up survivors with cardiotoxicity, and checked their present cardiac function by physical activity, echocardiography, electrocardiography(EKG) and chest X-ray. Results : Of the 154 children treated with anthracyclines, forty(26.0%) were diagnosed as cardiotoxicity. The incidence of cardiotoxicity increased in exponential fashion with increases in the cumulative dose of anthracyclines. There was minimal increase of incidence until a dose of $300mg/m^2$ after which the incidence increased rapidly. After mean $3.8{\pm}1.8year$ follow-up of 23 survivors with cardiotoxicity, FS increased significantly. EKG and chest X-rays were not helpful for the diagnosis of cardiotoxicity because of their low sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion : Although convenient, non-invasive and inexpensive, EKG and chest X-rays were not helpful for the follow-up of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Almost all survivors with anthracycline cardiotoxicity have improved in both physical activity and echocardiographic findings after discontinuation of anthracyclines.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2003

Purpose : To characterize the infants under 3 months of age with urinary tract infections(UTIs), and especially patients with bacteremia or meningitis Methods : Hospital records of all the infants under 3 months of age discharged from our hospital for 69 consecutive months with the diagnosis of initial episode of UTI were reviewed. UTI was defined when patients had fever with pyuria, and had urine culture results of ${\geq}10^5$ colony forming units/mL from a bag specimen. Patients with previously known urologic abnormality or immunodeficiency were excluded. Nosocomial infections were also excluded from the study. Results : The male:female ratio was 35 : 6. Of the urine cultures, 40(97.6%) yielded single pathogen, one yielded two pathogens. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate from the urine. Five patients(12%) also had bacteremia. Pathogens isolated from the blood cultures were E. coli(4) and Enterococcus faecalis(1). No patient had culture-positive meningitis or cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Clinical or laboratory findings between patients with and without bacteremia were not different significantly. The rate of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) was 44%. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detection of VUR was 38%; specificity was 50%. Conclusion : Clinical and laboratory data were not helpful for identifying patients with bacteremia at the time of presentation. Consequently, blood cultures need to be obtained from all febrile infants under 3 months of age with UTIs. A large-scale study including the indication of lumbar puncture for infants with a febrile UTI and study of evaluation and treatment of infants under 3 months of age with UTIs are required.