Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2018
Oral Allergy Syndrome in Birch Pollen-Sensitized Patients from a Korean University Hospital.
Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a type of allergic reaction that mainly occurs on oral contact with raw fruit, vegetables, or nuts. The most common type of OAS is birch pollen-related food allergy. Although OAS is a common food allergy in adults, only few epidemiologic studies have been reported in Korea. Here we investigate the prevalence and triggers of birch pollen-related food allergy. ⋯ OAS was the most common food allergy in birch pollen-sensitized patients. This study revealed the unique triggers of OAS in Korea in addition to well-known triggers.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2018
Marker Pen Device with Concentration Gradient Nib for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing.
Pen-based devices have emerged as useful tools for measuring pH and glucose, and for fabricating microchannels and microarrays. Pen-based devices take advantage of flexible patterning, inexpensive costs, and small volumes, thereby saving time and increasing efficiency. We have developed a gradient nib marker pen device that generated simultaneously different antibiotic concentrations in bacteria antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). ⋯ The gradient nib marker pen device can be used to determine the quantitative antibiotic concentration based on the relationship between gray values and bacterial density conveniently without requiring a series of dilution tubes, including nutrient medium, and diversely diluted antibiotics.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2018
Comparison of ELISA and Urine Microscopy for Diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium Infection.
Schistosoma haematobium which causes urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) is highly prevalent in African countries. Urine microscopy (UM) is the first-line diagnostic method of UGS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a common method for screening many parasite infections primarily or alternatively. The present study established an in-house diagnostic system by ELISA and evaluated its diagnostic efficacy in comparison with UM for screening UGS in White Nile State, Republic of Sudan, 2011-2013. ⋯ We have established in-house ELISA for screening serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies by employing soluble egg antigen of S. haematobium for diagnosis of UGS with 94.8% sensitivity and 29.7% specificity. The ELISA system can supplement the conventional diagnosis by UM.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2018
Income Difference in Attitudes towards Cancer in General Population: Findings from a National Survey.
To better understand cancer-related health behaviors, it is critical to know how general populations with different socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds perceive cancer. The current paper explored differences in general attitudes and beliefs towards cancer among Koreans. ⋯ The present results imply a complicated context of cancer beliefs in Korea, unlike those shown in the studies of western populations. While the contradictory attitudes toward cancer can be attributable to the dual nature of information processing, social environment might have played a role. The association between socioeconomic status and negative attitudes toward cancer may vary depending on the diversity of the contexts.