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The article discusses a study which aims to identify the risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) in T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated by endoscopic or surgical resection between January 2001 and April 2010 at the National Cancer Center in Korea. The study showed that three out of 50 patients in the endoscopically resected group were diagnosed as being LNM-positive during the follow-up period. Reported risk factors for LNM include deep submucosal invasion and budding.

The prevalence of two serotypes of Streptococcus parauberis isolated from the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, was evaluated in a total of 29 isolates between 2003 and 2010 in Korea. Streptococcus parauberis isolates were divided into two serologically distinct types (serotype 1 and serotype 2), except for one strain (S1091), using an agglutination assay with rabbit antiserum, and serotype 1 was identified as the dominant type (24 of 29 isolates) in this study. To identify the characteristics of the two serotypes of S. parauberis, we conducted a biochemical test using the API 20 Strep kit, a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assay, sequence analysis of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) and a pathogenicity test. In TEM, both serotypes possessed polysaccharide capsule layers around the cell surface when bacterial cells were treated with a homologous serotype of rabbit antiserum. However, we were unable to discriminate serotype-specific biochemical characteristics and genetic characteristics of 16S-23S rRNA ISR between the two serotypes. In the pathogenicity test, the serotype 1 strains induced significantly higher mortality than the serotype 2 strains in olive flounder when experimentally inoculated via the intraperitoneal route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the topics discussed during a symposium held in Korea on November 4, 2005, which was related to cancer and ageing. The inhibition of DNA repair capacity by heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein B1 has a role in lymphomagenesis and lung carcinoma. Some researchers reported on enhancement of cancer prevention by multiple treatments with green tea catechins. Others demonstrated frequent epigenetic silencing of bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene through promoter hypermethylation in gastric carcinomas.

Highlights the 5th Joint Meeting of the Korean-Japanese Seoul Symposium of the "Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology" in Seoul, Korea. Focus of the symposium on cancer and aging; Aim of the symposium to expand the journal's goal from basic science to the translation of science for society; Lecturers during the symposium.

Environmental monitoring data for planning, implementing and evaluating the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) management system have been measured at about 8-day intervals in a number of rivers in Korea since 2004. In the present study, water quality parameters such as Suspended Solids (SS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) and the corresponding runoff were collected from six stations in the Yeongsan River basin for six years and transformed into monthly mean values. With the primary objective to understand spatiotemporal characteristics of the data, a methodologically systematic application of a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was made. The SOM application classified the environmental monitoring data into nine clusters showing exclusively distinguishable patterns. Data frequency at each station on a monthly basis identified the spatiotemporal distribution for the first time in the study area. Consequently, the SOM application provided useful information that the sub-basin containing a metropolitan city is associated with deteriorating water quality and should be monitored and managed carefully during spring and summer for water quality improvement in the river basin.

Surveillance is an important component of influenza control. This report describes the establishment and first results of the Korean Influenza Surveillance Scheme (KISS), an integrated clinical and laboratory surveillance network involving 622 public health centres (PHCs) and private clinics. Sentinel physicians reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) weekly and forwarded specimens for virus isolation and characterization. Influenza activity during the opening 2000-2001 season was milder and delayed compared with previous years. The ILI consultation rate corresponded well with the number of influenza virus isolates, both peaking in week 10 of 2001. Influenza A(H3N2) was the dominant isolate. The peak ILI consultation rate was higher in private clinics than in PHCs (5.04 vs 1.79 cases/1000 visits). An evaluation questionnaire generated potential enhancements to the scheme. KISS appears to represent the pattern of influenza activity accurately and will have a valuable role in monitoring and preventing epidemics in Korea.

Quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (QREC) strains are being isolated with increasing frequency. From 1993 to 1998, 40 cases of QREC bacteremia were observed in a teaching hospital; 25 episodes (63.5%) were community-acquired. The incidence of QREC bacteremia increased steadily, from 6.7% to 24.6% during 5 years, and correlated with the significantly increased use of fluoroquinolones (P = .003, r = 0.98). When the 40 QREC bacteremic patients were compared with 80 patients with bacteremia due to quinolone-susceptible E. coli, prior fluoroquinolone use was the only independent risk factor for QREC bacteremia (P = .001). A high APACHE II score was the only independent risk factor for death. The rate of multidrug resistance of QREC was much higher (60%) than that of quinolone-susceptible isolates (13.8%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of these isolates were diverse. Therefore, the isolates revealed little evidence of clonal spread and may have emerged in direct response to the selective pressure exerted by prior fluoroquinolone use.

The rapid immunocapture assays, OptiMal and ICT, were evaluated from 87 individuals for the diagnosis of malaria infections directly from whole blood. A total of 87 individuals was examined for malaria parasites by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, and 65 cases were positive for Plasmodium vivax by microscopy. Correspondingly, the OptiMal test identified malaria infection in 45 cases (69.2%) of microscopy positive cases. Of these, two cases were misinterpreted as Plasmodium falciparum, whereas ICT detected P. vivax infection in 29 (44.6%) patients. We would like to propose that rapid immuno capture assays are an easy method that can serve as a useful tool in addition to microscopy for the diagnosis of malaria, but sensitivity is not yet satisfactory for diagnosis of P. vivax in Korea.

Background: The goals of a surveillance for nosocomial infections (NIs) are to observe the magnitude and characteristics of NIs and to plan and evaluate policies and guidelines of infection control. This study was designed to determine the rate and distribution of NIs and their causative pathogens in Korean hospitals., Methods: Prospective surveillance was performed at 15 acute care hospitals with more than 500 beds during a 3-month period from June to August 1996. The case-finding methods were laboratory-based surveillance for patients in the general wards and a direct review of medical charts done regularly for all the patients in the intensive care units., Results: A total of 3162 NIs were found among 85,547 discharged patients, with an overall nosocomial infection rate of 3.70 per 100 patients discharged. Urinary tract infections constituted 30.3% of all NIs. Other infections were pneumonias, 17.2%, surgical site infections, 15.5%, and primary bloodstream infections, 14.5%. The infection rate was the highest in neurosurgery (14.21), followed by neurology (8. 62) and ontology services (6.70). The infection rate in intensive care units was higher than it was in the general wards (10.74 vs 2. 57, P =.001). The commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (17.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.8%), and Escherichia coli (12.3%)., Conclusions: This first multicenter surveillance study provided extensive information on the current status and trends of NIs in major hospitals in Korea. The results may contribute to the evaluation of infection control programs and the development of effective strategies in these hospitals.

This paper documents the physical measurements of the Korean population in order to construct a data base for ergonomic design. The dimension, volume, density, mass, and center of mass of Koreans whose ages range from 7 to 49 were investigated. Sixty-five male subjects and sixty-nine female subjects participated. Eight body segments (head with neck, trunk, thigh, shank, foot, upper arm, forearm and hand) were directly measured with a Martin-type anthropometer, and the immersion method was adopted to measure the volume of body segments. After this, densities were computed by the density equations in Drillis and Contini (1966). The reaction board method was employed for the measurement of the center of mass. Obtained data were compared with the results in the literature. The results in this paper showed different features on body segment parameters comparing with the results in the literature. The constructed data base can be applied to statistical guideline for product design, workspace design, design of clothing and tools, furniture design and construction of biomechanical models for Korean. Also, they can be extended to the application areas for Mongolian.

To examine whether moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is associated with coronary artery disease and the number of diseased coronary vessels in Koreans, we investigated 201 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and 187 healthy subjects without evidence of stroke and coronary artery disease. The mean plasma total homocysteine in patients was higher than in controls (10.3 micromol/L; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-13.6 vs. 8.9 micromol/L; 6.0-11.8) (p=0.005). The prevalence of moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia, defined as the top 90th percentile in controls (13.2 micromol/L), was higher in patients than in controls (23.9% vs. 10.2%, p=0.001). Plasma homocyst(e)ine levels were not correlated to age, body mass index, levels of serum cholesterol, creatinine, and uric acid. Based on multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustment for total cholesterol, hypertension, smoking status, diabetes, age, and body mass index, the adjusted odds ratio of moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia for coronary artery disease was 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.39-1.65, p=0.0001). Moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia, diabetes mellitus, and old age were more prevalent in patients with triple-vessel disease than in single- or double-vessel disease (p=0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia was a significant predictor of triple-vessel disease with odds ratio of 2.78 (95% confidence interval: 1.08-7.10, p=0.02). We conclude that moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, and also related significantly to the presence of triple-vessel disease.

Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria has become a worldwide problem. Available data suggest that the resistance problem is comparatively more serious in Korea. In large hospitals, the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been reported at over 70%, and of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae at around 70%. Infection or colonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci has started to increase. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae has become widespread and even carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been increasing. Community-acquired pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are often resistant to various antimicrobial agents. The prevalence of resistant bacteria can lead to erroneous empirical selection of either noneffective or expensive drugs, prolonging hospitalization and higher mortality. The emergence and spread of resistant bacteria are unavoidable unless antimicrobial agents are not used at all. The high prevalence of resistant bacteria in Korea seems to be related to antibiotic usage: 1) easy availability without prescription at drug stores, 2) injudicious use in hospitals, and 3) uncontrolled use in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Nosocomial infection is an important factor in the spread of resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance problems should be regarded as the major public health concern in Korea. It is urgently required to ban the sale of antibiotics without prescription, to use antibiotics more judiciously in hospitals by intensive teaching of the principles of the use of antibiotics, and to establish better control measures of nosocomial infections. Regulation of antimicrobials for other than human use should also be required. These issues are not easy to address and require the collective action of governments, the pharmaceutical industry, health care providers, and consumers.

Recent changes in the socioeconomic status of Korea have caused big differences in alcohol-related social and health problems. The traditional trait of drinking mild fermented beverages with nutritional side dishes and meals has shifted to drinking strongly distilled liquors without any side dishes. Moreover, the alcohol consumption per adult capita of Korea is now 8.1 liters, which parallels the level of other developed countries; it used to be 1.0 liter in 1960 and 7.0 liters in 1980, respectively. But the alcohol consumption per capita of adult males is now 18.4 liters. Consequently, the national incidence of alcohol-related diseases and accidents has rapidly increased. Korean adult males have the highest risk of the incidence of hepatoma. The rate of car accidents caused by drunken driving is about 10-fold higher than in any other developed country.

The clinical findings of 29 patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Seoul virus were evaluated and compared with the previously reported clinical findings of classic Korean hemorrhagic fever (KHF). The diagnoses of these patients were made by hemagglutination inhibition test. The results were as follows: 1) The disease occurred predominantly in males with a high incidence in the third and fourth decades of life. 2) The highest incidence of the disease occurred in October-December. 3) Major symptoms were fever, abdominal or flank pain, vomiting and myalgia. 4) Major signs were petechia, CVA tenderness, pharyngeal injection, and conjunctival infection, but these signs were much less common than in patients with classic KHF. 5) The treatments were mainly conservative and there was no fatal case in the study subjects. These findings suggest that the clinical course of Seoul virus infection may be much milder than that of classic KHF and the outcome may be more favorable.