• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.408-414
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• 2018

PURPOSE. This study aimed to assess the effect of non-thermal plasma on the shear bond strength of resin cements to polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) in comparison to other surface treatment methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Eighty PEKK discs were subjected to different surface treatments: (1) Untreated (UT); (2) Non-thermal plasma (NTP); (3) Sandblasting with $50{\mu}m$ $Al_2O_3$ particles (SB); and (4) Sandblasting + Non-thermal plasma (SB+NTP). After each surface treatment, the contact angle was measured. Surface conditioning with Visio.Link was applied in all groups after pre-treatment. RelyX Unicem resin cement was bonded onto the PEKK specimens. After fabrication of the specimens, half of each group (n=10) was initially tested, while the other half was subjected to thermocycling ($5^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$ at 10,000 cycles). Shear bond strength (SBS) testing was performed using a universal testing machine, and failure modes were assessed using stereomicroscopy. The SBS results were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. Independent t-test was used to examine the effect of thermocycling (P<.05). RESULTS. The highest SBS values with or without thermocycling were observed with PEKK specimens that were treated with SB+NTP followed by the SB group. The lowest SBS results were observed in the UT groups. CONCLUSION. The shear bond strength between PEKK and resin cements was improved using non-thermal plasma treatment in combination with sandblasting.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.111-116
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• 2014

The stability of 21 routine biochemistry analytes was evaluated from the specimens which had been stored under three different temperature conditions for 30 days. Most of the 17 analytes showed significant change, however, the specimens under lower temperature showed more stability than those under higher temperature. Glucose, Albumin, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase, HDL cholesterol analytes were stable over 30 days under $22^{\circ}C$, $4^{\circ}C$, and $-66^{\circ}C$ conditions. This study might be helpful in interpreting the results reflecting the rate of change when inadequate specimens are measured.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1245-1255
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• 1997

Background : Rifampicin(RFP) is a key component of the antituberculous short-course chemotherapy and the RFP resistance is a marker of multi-drug resistant(MDR) tuberculosis. RPoB gene encodes the $\beta$-subunit of RNA polymerase of M. tuberculosis which is the target of RFP. And rpoB gene mutations are the cause of RFP resistance of M. tuberculosis. Although several reports showed that PCR-SSCP would be a rapid diagnostic method for identifying the RFP resistance, there were few reports Performed using direct, clinical specimens. So we Performed PCR-SSCP analysis of rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis in direct, clinical specimens. Methods : 75 clinical specimens were collected from patients at Asan Medical Center from June to August 1996. After PCR of IS 6110 fragments, 43 both AFB smear-positive and IS6110 fragment PCR-positive specimens were evaluated. The RFP susceptibility test was referred to the referral laboratory of the Korean Tuberculosis Institute. DNA was extracted by bead beater method. And heminested PCR was done using 0.1ul(1uCi) [$\alpha-^{32}P$]-dCTP. SSCP analysis was done using non-denaturating MDE gel electrophoresis. Results : The results of PCR of IS6110 fragments of M. tuberculosis were positive in 55(73%) cases of 75 AFB smear-positive clinical specimens. Of the 55 specimens, RFP susceptibility was confirmed in only 43 specimens. Of the 43 AFB smear-positive and IS6110 fragment-positive specimens, 29 were RFP susceptible and 14 were RFP resistant. All the RFP susceptible 29 strains showed the same mobility compared with that of RFP sensitive H37Rv in SSCP analysis of ropB gene. And all the other RFP resistant 13 strains showed the different mobility. In other words they showed 100% identical results between PCR-SSCP analysis and traditional susceptibility test. Conclusion : The PCR-sseP analysis of rpoB gene in direct clinical specimens could be used as a rapid diagnostic method for detecting RFP resistant M. tuberculosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2733-2737
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• 2014

Objective: Molecular pathology tests are often carried for clinicopathological diagnosis and pathologists have established large collections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE) banks. However, extraction of DNA from FFPE is a laborious and challenging for researchers in clinical laboratories. The aim of this study was to compare two widely used DNA extraction methods: using a QIAamp DNA FFPE kit from Qiagen and a Cobas Sample Preparation Kit from Roche, and evaluated the effect of the DNA quality on molecular diagnostics. Methods: DNA from FFPE non-small cell lung carcinoma tissues including biopsy and surgical specimens was extracted with both QIAamp DNA FFPE and Cobas Sample Preparation Kits and EGFR mutations of non-small cell lung carcinomas were detected by real-time quantitative PCR using the extracted DNA. Results and Conclusion: Our results showed that DNA extracted by QIAamp and Cobas methods were both suitable to detect downstream EGFR mutation in surgical specimens. Howover, Cobas method could yield more DNA from biopsy specimens, and gain much better EGFR mutation results.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.574-581
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• 2023

Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection which becomes a significant health problem due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. However, many nocardiosis patients are underdiagnosed by physicians. To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of nocardiosis would help with better diagnosis and prognosis of nocardiosis. This retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of nocardiosis patients between January 2015 and December 2021 in a tertiary hospital in China. Overall, 44 nocardiosis patients with 54 specimens were included. The patients consisted of 26 males and 18 females with a mean age of 50.4 ± 13.2 years. Among 44 patients, 26 (59.1%) were previously given immunosuppressive therapy. Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) were the most common underlying disease (16/44). The most frequent infection sites were the lungs (17/44) and skin or soft tissues (8/44). Common symptoms included cough (23/44), expectoration (18/44), fever (15/44), and subcutaneous abscesses (15/44). Forty-five out of 54 specimens (83.3%) required over 48 hours of culture time for nocardiosis detection. Thirty-six patients were cured or improved, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital due to poor prognosis, and 1 patient died. The average diagnosis time of poor prognosis cases was 19.7 days, which was significantly longer than those of improved or cured patients (7.3 days). Immunosuppressed patients comprise a large part of nocardiosis cases, which is worth attention in clinical practice. Early diagnosis, specifically through prolonged cultivation time of specimen, could help achieve better prognosis of nocardiosis patients.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.183-187
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• 2003

Pseudomonas aerugionsa is a commonly isolated nosocomial pathogen. DNA fingerprinting of P. aerugionsa is examined by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). In this study, P. aeruginosa were isolated from environmental and clinical specimens and the molecular typing of the microorganisms was investigated by RAPD. Thirty strains of P. aeruginosa were selected from the strains isolated formerly and submitted for type identification to the University Hospital. 15 strains of P. aeruginosa were received from Chungnam University Hospital and 14 strains from Gyeongsang University Hospital. DNA of P. aeruginosa was extracted by Qiagen genomic DNA kit. PCR mixtures were set up and incubated, Reactions mixtures were made to be optimal for P. aeruginosa. RAPD typing analysis was carried out by the multivariate statistical program (MVSP) V3.0. RAPD type I was the most common pattern and included 23 strains. Most of strains from Gyeongsang University Hospital belonged to RAPD type lb and 15 strains from Chungnam University Hospital to RAPD type I or II. RAPD typing of P. aeruginosa isolated from the environmental and clinical specimens was very simple and reproducible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) constitutes about 20% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Korea. Diagnosing EPTB remains challenging because clinical samples obtained from relatively inaccessible sites may be paucibacillary, thus decreasing the sensitivity of diagnostic tests. Whenever practical, every effort should be made to obtain appropriate specimens for both mycobacteriologic and histopathologic examinations. The measurement of biochemical markers in TB-affected serosal fluids (adenosine deaminase or gamma interferon) and molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction may be useful adjuncts in the diagnosis of EPTB. Although the disease usually responds to standard anti-TB drug therapy, the ideal regimen and duration of treatment have not yet been established. A paradoxical response frequently occurs during anti-TB therapy. It should be distinguished from other causes of clinical deterioration. Surgery is required mainly to obtain valid diagnostic specimens and to manage complications. Because smear microscopy or culture is not available to monitor patients with EPTB, clinical monitoring is the usual way to assess the response to treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2001

Many Staphylococcus aureus strains produce enterotoxins causing food poisoning. Staphylococcal enterotoxins are classified by serological criteria into five major groups - subtype A to E. It is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to detect staphylococcal enterotoxins in the clinical laboratory. In this study, we fried to detect the enterotoxin genes of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical specimens and Kimbap - rice rolled in a sheet of laver - using multiplex PCR technique. A total of 77 strains of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens and 78 strains from Kimbap were isolated. Among clinical isolates of S. aureus, 60 strains (78.0%) were identified as producing enterotoxins. A total offs strains (91.6%) in the 60 staphylococcal enterotoxin producing strains were enterotoxin subtype C. In case of kimbap: 43 (55.1%) strains were detected to produce enterotoxins and 39 (90.6%) enterotoxin producing strains were subtype A.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2018

Our aim was to determine the detection rate of respiratory viruses (RVs) in feces of patients with acute viral respiratory infection (AVRI) and the detection rate of diarrheal viruses (DVs) in nasopharyngeal samples from patients with acute viral gastroenteritis. The relationships between the presence of fecal RVs or nasopharyngeal DVs and their impacts on the clinical severity were also investigated. A total of 144 fecal specimens were collected from AVRI patients and 95 nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from acute viral gastroenteritis patients. Clinical characteristics and laboratory profiles were compared between subgroups on the basis of the presence or absence of virus in the specimens. The detection rate of RVs in feces was 17.4% (25/144), whereas the detection rate for viruses identical to the respiratory pathogen was 10.4% (identical group, 15/144). Within the identical group, adenovirus (86.7%, 13/15) was most commonly found. Patients in the identical group showed statistically higher values for C-reactive protein, mean age, increased frequency of vomiting, and decreased frequency of chest film involvement and cough (p < 0.05). The detection rate of nasopharyngeal DVs among acute viral gastroenteritis patients was 19.0% (18/95), and in the identical group it was 15.8% (15/95). Norovirus group II and enteric adenovirus were the major pathogens detected in the identical group. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics and laboratory profiles between the subgroups. In conclusion, the major pathogens of fecal RV and nasopharyngeal DV were adenovirus and norovirus group II, respectively. However, their relationship with the clinical symptoms or disease severity is unclear.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1974

Blood is one of the most important clinical specimens for the isolation of bacteria. A rapid isolation and a high isolation rate of bacteria are very important in blood culture because bacteremic patients are mostly in grave condition. Various blood culture media which support growth of most fastidious bacteria are available commercially. However, growth of bacteria are frequently delayed because of antibacterial activity of blood. Sodium polyanethol sulfonate(Liquoid) has been reported to inactivate the antibacterial substance and disrupt phagocytic cells. The beneficial effect of SPS is well recognized in the isolation of gram-positive bacteria. However, the effect does not seem to be prominent for gram-negative bacilli isolation mainly due to the rapidity of their growth. It has been experienced with Sal. typhi that the growth is much slower than that of other gram-negative bacilli. For the rapid growth of the organism, use of bile broth has been recommended. Although Sal. typhi is the most frequently isolated organism at present, about one half of total isolates are other organisms and, in case bile broth is used, other media which support growth of these organisms should be used together. Fluid thioglycollate medium(FTM) which is always used in blood culture to isolate anaerobes is inferior to brain heart infusion(BHI) for the isolation of aerobes. This study was done to determine the effect of SPS on the isolation of Sal. typhi from blood. During the Sep. 1973 to Sep. 1974 study period, 2460 blood cultures were made from the Severance hospital patients: BHI and FTM sets 1431 specimens, BHI with SPS(0.05%) and FTM sets 396 specimens, BHI and FTM with SPS sets 359 specimens, BHI and BHI with SPS sets 274 specimens. Mean incubation time required for the macroscopic detection of growth of Sal. typhi were 3.5 days on BHI and 2.7 days on BHI with SPS. The 0.8 day difference was statistically significant. On FTM the mean incubation time was 3.8 days while it was 2.9 days on FTM with SPS. The 0.9 day difference was statistically significant. The result on BHI with and without SPS sets showed faster growth on BRI with SPS in 7 specimens and slower growth in one specimen and the remaining 12 showed growth at the same time. These specimens had mean incubation time of 3.2 days on BHI and 2.3 days on BHI with SPS. The 0.9 day difference was statistically significant. This study indicates beneficial effect of SPS for the rapid isolation of Sal. typhi from clinical blood specimens.