• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.209-213
• /
• 1995

Primary malignant melanoma of vagina is a rare tumor which is easily misinterpretated in routine cytologic examination. We lately experienced a case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina with direct cervical extension diagnosed by Pap smear. The cervicovaginal smear showed variable sized clusters of epithelial cells or singly scattered abnormal epithelial cells. Most of the tumor cells had round hyperchromatic nuclei with prominent nucleoli and brownish pigments in cytoplasm. The cytologic findings are compared with histologic features of resected specimen.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 1997

To select potential inhibitors of platelet aggregation from large numbers of crude plant extracts, the modified thin smear method for the anti-platelet aggregating activity using platelet rich plasma was further modified by direct observation under a light microscope without staining the smear. The activities determined by the method were coincided with those by the electrical impedence method using whole blood, when ADP or collagen was employed as the aggregating agent. Among 130 varieties of edible and herbal plants which collected from markets or experimental farms of agricultural research institutes, those showed the anti-platelet aggregating activities were selected by testing the crude methanol extracts: Aster scaber, Aster tataricus, Ligularia stenocephala, Platycodon glaucum Allium victorialis, Allium oderum, Moros bombycis, Portulaco oleracea, Aamthopanax sessiliflorus and Rosa davurica. However, some of them activated the platelet aggregation under the same assay conditions: Pimpinella brachycarpa, Hosta plantaginea, Capsella bursapastoris, Fagopyrm esculentum, Prunus mume, Rubus coreanus and Limaria japonica. In addition, those revealed the antioxidant activities were selected by measuring the abilities to scavenge superoxide anion radicals: Pteridium aquilinum, Aster scaber, Ligularia fischeri, Chrysanthemum zawadskii, Artemisia capipparis, Cirsium setidens, Commelina communis and Capsella bursapastoris among edible plants.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.191-195
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate different methods for Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis during pregnancy in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. A total of 386 vaginal exudates from pregnant women were analyzed. T. vaginalis was investigated by 3 types of microscopic examinations direct wet mount with physiologic saline solution, prolonged May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining, and wet mount with sodium-acetate-formalin (SAF)/methylene blue method. PCR for 18S rRNA gene as well as culture in liquid medium were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of the microscopic examinations were evaluated considering the culture media positivity or the PCR techniques as gold standard. The frequency of T. vaginalis infection was 6.2% by culture and/or PCR, 5.2% by PCR, 4.7% by culture, 3.1% by SAF/methylene blue method and 2.8% by direct wet smear and prolonged MGG staining. The sensitivities were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, and 45.8% for PCR, culture, SAF/methylene blue method, and direct wet smear-prolonged MGG staining, respectively. The specificity was 100% for all the assessed methods. Microscopic examinations showed low sensitivity, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients. It is necessary to improve the detection of T. vaginalis using combined methods providing higher sensitivity, such as culture and PCR, mainly in asymptomatic pregnant patients, in order to prevent maternal and perinatal complications.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.525-537
• /
• 2014

The typical design of ground improvement with prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) and surcharge preloading involves a series of deterministic analyses using averaged or mean soil properties for the various combination of the PVD spacing and surcharge preloading height that would meet the criteria for minimum consolidation time and required degree of consolidation. The optimum design combination is then selected in which the total cost of ground improvement is a minimum. Considering the variability and uncertainties of the soil consolidation parameters, as well as considering the effects of soil disturbance (smear zone) and drain resistance in the analysis, this study presents a stochastic cost optimization of ground improvement with PVD and surcharge preloading. Direct Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and importance sampling (IS) technique is used in the stochastic analysis by limiting the sampled random soil parameters within the range from a minimum to maximum value while considering their statistical distribution. The method has been verified in a case study of PVD improved ground with preloading, in which average results of the stochastic analysis showed a good agreement with field monitoring data.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2018

A total of 41 Salmonella (S.) strains were isolated from pigs suffered with severe watery diarrhea and were tried to identify by both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Fibrinous exudate and ulceration in the large intestine were prevalent in gross observation, and variable degrees of enteritis were observed in the histology of large intestines. Subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses demonstrated that 41 strains were identified as S. Typhimurium (39 strains), though 2 stains were failed to identify. Further identification was performed using both direct smear and protein extraction method by MALDI-TOF MS analyses. In terms of extraction methods, 100% (41/41) of isolates were identified to species level of S. spp. Whereas only 43.9% (18/41) were identified to species level using the direct method. These results thus suggest that rapid and accurate diagnosis of porcine salmonellosis can be guaranteed by MALDI-TOF MS combined with protein extraction method.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.9
• /
• pp.4521-4524
• /
• 2012

Object: In the present study, we compared the positive cytodiagnostic test rates with discrepancies using self-collection devices for cervical cancer screening. We made this survey to examine whether or not our self-smear preparation method using the Kato self-collection device contributed to an improved rate of detecting atypical cells compared with existing recommended preparation methods. Methods: Specimens were collected at 14 facilities handling self-collection methods, and samples were collected by a physician in 2 facilities. The chisquared test was performed using the SPSS ver. 20 statistical software to determine the relationships between the positive cytodiagnostic rate, specimen preparation methods, and self-collection devices. Results: Collecting cells using the Kato self-collection device and preparing liquid-based specimens, we obtained a significantly higher rate of positive cytodiagnosis and our results were equal to those obtained with the direct method. Conclusions: Taking into consideration increased needs for screening using the self-collection method in future, with even more improved test accuracy, a screening test that is acceptable to society needs to be established.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.3009-3013
• /
• 2012

Background: The clinical course of individual chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is highly variable and clinical staging systems do not help us to predict if and at what rate there will be disease progression in an individual patient diagnosed with early stage disease. Recently, several important observations related to other prognostic factors including lymphocyte doubling time (LDT), ${\beta}_2$-microglobulin (${\beta}_2$-MG), and percent of smudge cell in peripheral blood smears, cytogenetic and molecular analysis have been made. The aim of this study was to evaluate a range of prognostic factors in our CLL patients. Design and methods: Seventy patients with CLL were enrolled. Prognostic factors of disease including Binet staging, LDT, ${\beta}_2$-MG, ESR, LDH, percent of smudge cell in peripheral blood smear, absolute lymphocyte count, and conventional cytogenetic (CC) analysis were evaluated at diagnosis, and the patients were followed up to determine their outcome. We compared factors with each other and with Binet staging and prognosis. Results: Enrolled patients aged 37-85 years at diagnosis or during follow up. There was no relationship between serum LDH level (P=0.3), ESR (P=0.11), percent of smudge cells in peripheral blood smear (P=0.94), and absolute lymphocyte count (P=0.18) with the stage of disease and prognosis, but the ${\beta}_2$ macroglobulin level (p<0.0001), LDT (p<0.001) had direct and significant relation with staging and outcome. In 19% of patients cytogenetic alteration were seen. Conclusion: The detection of cytogenetic alteration only using the CC method is not sufficient and we need to use FISH, but because FISH study is an expensive method not available in all areas, instead we believe that ${\beta}_2$ MG can be applied in its place as a good prognostic factor for CLL at diagnosis and during follow up. We suggest to add it to Binet staging for prognostic subgrouping of CLL.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2007

This study purposed to evaluate a $CellPrep^{(R)}$ (CP) of liquid-based cytology (LBC) to search for a less expensive and automated alternative cytologic preparation technique applicable to usually encountered cytologic specimens. Cervicovaginal direct-to-vial split samples from 457 gynecologic patients, 40 body fluid samples, and 34 urine samples were processed with the CP technique and the results were compared with those of currently used $ThinPrep^{(R)}$ (TP) method. Both CP and TP methods provide evenly distributed thin layers of cells with little cellular overlaps or significant obscuring elements in most of cases. Staining quality of both preparations showed a little difference due to the difference of fixative solutions without significant distractions in cytologic interpretation. On the supposition that TP was a gold standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CP cytology were 89%, 98%, 86%, and 99% in the cervicovaginal smear, 89%, 82%, 80%, and 90% in body fluid, and all of these values were 100% in urine samples. To testify the availability of immunohistochemistry on CP preparations, cytokeratin, vimentin, and Ki-67 were applied on body fluid specimens, and all of these antibodies were specifically stained on targeted cells. Conclusively, the CP method gave comparable results to those of TP in terms of smear quality and cytologic diagnostic evaluation, and was available on immunohistochemistry. The CP method could offer a cost-effective and automated alternative to the current expensive techniques of liquid-based cytology on popular cytologic materials including cervicovaginal, body fluid, and urine specimens.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.14.1-14.16
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to critically analyze previously published studies of the effects of dentin surface pretreatment with deproteinizing agents on the bonding of self-etch (SE) adhesives to dentin. Additionally, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the effects of the above-mentioned surface pretreatment methods on the bonding of SE adhesives to dentin. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was performed using the following databases: Scopus, PubMed and ScienceDirect. The online search was performed using the following keywords: 'dentin' or 'hypochlorous acid' or 'sodium hypochlorite' and 'self-etch adhesive.' The following categories were excluded during the assessment process: non-English articles, randomized clinical trials, case reports, animal studies, and review articles. The reviewed studies were subjected to meta-analysis to quantify the effect of the application time and concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) deproteinizing agents on bonding to dentin. Results: Only 9 laboratory studies fit the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the pooled average microtensile bond strength values to dentin pre-treated with deproteinizing agents (15.71 MPa) was significantly lower than those of the non-treated control group (20.94 MPa). Conclusions: In light of the currently available scientific evidence, dentin surface pretreatment with deproteinizing agents does not enhance the bonding of SE adhesives to dentin. The HOCl deproteinizing agent exhibited minimal adverse effects on bonding to dentin in comparison with NaOCl solutions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.496-500
• /
• 2003

A one-year-old male Japanese Chin with anorexia, retching, dyspnea and continuous coughing was brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Chungbuk National University. Chest radiographs showed moderate regional alveolar pattern with mild interstitial patterns in the caudo-dorsal lung fields and the ill-defined mass in the perihilar area which is consistent with perihilar lymphadenopathy. Although the dog showed severe eosinophilia in the complete blood count, the serum profile values were within normal ranges. There was no indication of any parasite infestation in the direct and floatation examination of feces, skin scraping test and heartworm examination. There was no growth of bacteria and fungi in the selected media such as Mueller Hinton broth, Sabouraud Dextrose agar and Potato Dextorse agar, which were inoculated with tracheal fluid collected using endotracheal tube and cultured for 3 days. In the tracheal fluid smear, most prominent cells were eosinophils, which are a almost 80% of total cells and other cells such as leukocytes, neutrophils and ciliated colummar cells were also observed. Any parasite was also not detected in its smear. Prednisolone (PDS; 1 mg/kg, BID SC), aminophylline (10 mg/kg, TID IV) and nebulization with gentamicin (50 mg) plus saline (3 ml) were given for 1 week. At 3rd day of treatment, blood eosinophil value was return to normal range and pulmonary condition was also improved. The allergen test with serum performed during therapy was positive in the 19 index including milk, barley, tomato pomace, catfish, bonito, house dust and wool, and borderline in 10 index including wheat, house dust mites and house fly. The patient is responding well to PDS therapy. Based on these findings, a possible diagnosis of pulmonary infiltration with eosinophils was made in this dog.