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Study design:Case series.Objective:To present spinal cord atrophy in pediatric patients who had spinal cord injury developed after trauma or acute transverse myelitis, and had no motor recovery later.Setting:Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tertiary National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.Methods:Case series.Results:Two pediatric patients with paraplegia due to acute transverse myelitis and one pediatric patient with paraplegia due to traumatic myelopathy were included in this case series. Their initial MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) findings were spinal cord swelling and high signal intensity in T2-weighted image. After several months, they had no motor recovery and showed no change of neurological level, though they underwent steroid and physical therapy. A follow-up MRI revealed spinal cord atrophy.Conclusion:If a pediatric patient with traumatic or inflammatory spinal cord injury does not show motor recovery after several months, spinal cord atrophy must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand patients' perceptions of clinical trials (CTs) is the principal step in the enrollment of patients to CTs. However, these perceptions in eastern countries are very rare. From 12 February 2007 to 13 April 2007, we consecutively distributed the questionnaire to 842 cancer patients who initiated a first cycle of chemotherapy regardless of each treatment step in the Seoul National University Hospital. Younger age, higher educational degree, higher economic status, and possession of private cancer insurance were related with significantly higher awareness of CTs (P=0.001, P=0.006, P=0.002, and P=0.009, respectively). However, unlike awareness, perceptions on benefits of CTs were not changed according to age, educational degree, and economic status (P=0.709, P=0.920, and P=0.847, respectively). Willingness was also not changed according to age, educational degree, economic status, and private cancer insurance (P=0.381, P=0.775, P=0.887, and P=0.392, respectively). Instead, males and heavily treated patients had more positive perceptions on benefits (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively) and more willingness to participate in CTs (OR=1.17, 1.14-2.75: OR=1.59, 1.01-2.51, respectively). In summary, cancer patients' awareness of CTs, perceptions on the benefit in CTs, and willingness to participate are differently influenced by diverse medical and social conditions. This information would be very helpful for investigators to properly conduct CTs in eastern cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims: To investigate changes in the bacterial population and the safety of the biofilm at the end of the drinking water distribution system in Seoul (Korea), selective media and bacterial community analyses were applied to a semi-pilot galvanized iron pipe (GIP) model. Methods and Results: No total coliforms or faecal streptococci were detected on m-Endo or m-Enterococcus agar. No Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. were detected on bismuth sulphite agar or Hektoen enteric agar, respectively. The latter two media detected coliforms, where m-Endo was negative. Biofilm formation started within 1 week (ca 104 CFU cm-2 ) and exceeded 105 CFU cm-2 within 6 weeks. Although the fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed dynamic changes in bacterial composition, Micrococcus , Bacillus , and Pseudomonas spp. were persistent members of the biofilm community. Micrococcus spp. was detected most frequently and in high numbers. Conclusions: Coliforms and Enterococcus species can be recovered from biofilms in water distribution systems. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study illustrates the role of biofilms in the chronic deterioration of the water-distribution system in Seoul (Korea). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]