How Cancer Patients Perceive Clinical Trials (CTs) in the Era of CTs: Current Perception and Its Differences Between Common and Rare Cancers.

Perception has recently been highlighted as a critical determinant for participation in clinical trials (CTs) among cancer patients. We evaluated cancer patients' current perceptions of CTs using the PARTAKE questionnaires, focusing on differences between patients with common and rare cancers. From November 2015 to May 2017, we prospectively surveyed patients who had received anti-cancer treatment at Asan Medical Center.

Macrolide Resistance and Its Impacts on M. Pneumoniae Pneumonia in Children: Comparison of Two Recent Epidemics in Korea.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the change in macrolide resistance rate in pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and to evaluate the influence of macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) on the clinical course of disease, by comparing 2 recent, consecutive epidemics in Korea.

Methods: A total of 250 patients with M.

Distribution of Human Norovirus in the Coastal Waters of South Korea.

The presence of human norovirus in the aquatic environment can cause outbreaks related to recreational activities and the consumption of norovirus-contaminated clams. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of norovirus genogroups I (GI) and II (GII) in the coastal aquatic environment in South Korea (March 2014 to February 2015). A total of 504 water samples were collected periodically from four coastal areas (total sites = 63), of which 44 sites were in estuaries (clam fisheries) and 19 were in inflow streams.

Reliability of non-culturable virus monitoring by PCR-based detection methods in environmental waters containing various concentrations of target RNA.

Owing to the lack of practical cell culture system for human noroviruses (HuNoV), various detection methods based on conventional reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and the quantitative real-time PCR have been major tools for monitoring environmental water safety. In this study, we showed that the proportion of water sample concentrates used for one-step RT-PCR significantly influences false-negative findings of the non-culturable viruses. In total, 59 archived samples of previously analyzed water concentrates were reexamined for HuNoV RNA by the one-step RT-PCR and semi-nested PCR.

Occurrence of norovirus and other enteric viruses in untreated groundwaters of Korea.

A total of 39 water samples from 23 different groundwater wells in Korea were collected and analyzed in order to monitor the occurrence of norovirus (NoV) and other indicator microbes as the first part of a national survey of groundwater. More than 500 L of untreated groundwater were filtered through 1MDS filters. Following elution and concentration by organic flocculation, PCR and sequence analysis were employed to detect and identify NoV, enterovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus and adenovirus (Adv).