Purpose : The control of tuberculosis is seriously threatened worldwide by the recently emerging multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a result, early detection of drug resistant M.tuberculosis strain has become very important but conventional laboratory methods are time consuming and delayed results often affect patients adversely in controlling tuberculosis. The authors studied the usefulness of the line probe assay to determine... |
Purpose : The aims of this study were to investigate the frequencies and role of hepatitis B virus(HBV) precore and core promotor mutations in children with chronic hepatitis B infection. Methods : Sera from 31 children with chronic HBV infection were analyzed by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction amplification of HBV DNA. Results : Twenty-nine adr type were analyzed. The mutations... |
Propionic acidemia is an autosomal-recessive inborn error of branched-chain amino acid metabolism. It is caused by deficient activity of propionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and is characterized by a spectrum of clinical and biochemical findings. It usually manifests in the neonatal period or early infancy. Since Childs et al first described the propionic acidemia of infants in 1961, it has rarely been... |
Purpose : This study was designed to investigate whether valproic acid(VPA) induces Reye's syndrome by analyzing blood chemistry, carnitine(CARN) concentration, and the morphologic changes of hepatocytes. The changes of GFAP immunoreactivity of astrocytes were examined in rats with Reye's syndrome induced by VPA. And the effects of CARN supplementation on Reye's syndrome were also investigated. Methods : Ten rats were assigned... |
Purpose : Wilson disease is a hereditary metabolic disorder characterized by an accumulation of copper in tissues which sometimes results in renal problems. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalences of the renal problems in Wilson disease and related risk factors. Methods : In 31 patients with Wilson disease, we looked for renal problems by history taking, physical examination... |
Purpose : Parenteral nutrition is given to infants who tempararily cannot take oral feeding adequately. A lipid emulsion is added to the parenteral to supply essential fatty acids. In neonatal sepsis, elastase from azuropilic granules of the neutrophils is released and rapidly bound to α1- Proteinase Inhibitor(α1-PI). The lipid emulsion has been noted to markedly inhibit chemotaxis of neutrophils, so... |
Purpose : Although abnormal developments of cushion and atrioventricular septum have been suggested, the exact mechanism for the development of atrioventricular septal defect is not well known. We aimed to identify the role of cell proliferation and apoptosis on cardiac morphogenesis in trisomy 16 mice(an animal model for Down's syndrome in human). Methods : We examined the difference in cardiac... |
Purpose : It has been shown that a considerable number of acute myeloid leukemia(AML) patients had both myeloid and lymphoid antigens. CD7 is a lymphoid antigen, often expressed in AML cells. We investigated 40 AML patients to clarify the relationship between the cellular characteristics and clinical features. Methods : We reviewed 8 CD7 positive(CD7+) AML patients and 32 CD7 negative(CD7-)... |
Microscopic polyangitis(MPA) is defined as a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that affects small- sized vessels without granulomata. MPA is associated with focal segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Clinical manifestations are similar to those of polyarteritis nodosa, but are characterized by the presence of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary involvement, including pulmonary hemorrhage. We reported a case of microscopic polyangitis presenting pulmonary hemorrhage and... |
A 12-year-old boy developed pure red cell anemia(PRCA) during a combination therapy of antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) for epilepsy. His complex partial seizure was intractable to monotherapy. During 7 months of treatment, he was treated with Vigabatrin, Carbamazepine and Valproate. While switching from Carbamazepine to Valproate, he presented anemia but with no jaundice. His hemoglobin was 4.1g/dl bone-marrow biopsy revealed erythroid hypoplasia... |
Purpose : The mechanism of hypoxic damage is mainly intracellular influx of calcium ions through the glutamate ionotropic receptor(NMDA, AMPA/kainate). This study was performed to determine alterations in distribution and expression of AMPA receptor subunits after 1-hour of moderate hypoxia in the newborn piglet brain, in a state of mild to moderate perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Methods : Ten newborn piglets were... |
Individuals with Down syndrome have a high incidence of hematologic diseases such as transient myeloproliferative disorder(TMD) & acute leukemia. Because it is difficult to distinguish TMD from acute myeloblastic leukemia, the diagnosis in neonate, who have Down syndrome, should be made with extreme caution. TMD usually undergoes spontaneous remission within a few months, but acute leukemia can develope after remission... |
Myositis ossificans progressiva(MOP) is a rare, slow progressive autosomal dominant disorder that principally affects children under the age 10 years. It is characterized by progressive fibroblastic proliferation, and subsequent calcification and ossification of subcutaneous fat, muscles, tendons, aponeuroses and ligaments. The disorder is often associated with symmetrical malformations of the digits, especially microdactyly or adactyly of the thumbs and great... |
Purpose : The aim of this study was to elucidate the pathogenesis of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus(HBV), and to study the protective efficacy of the vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin(HBIG). Methods : Eighty-two infants born from HBV carrier mothers were studied. HBV plasma-derived vaccine and HBIG were administered to their neonates. Then, changes of viral markers, anti-preS2... |
Purpose : Family history of allergy and cord blood immunoglobulin E concentration have been proven to be predictors of the development of allergic diseases in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether maternal, cord and baby's blood total eosinophils or eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) in addition to the above two predictors could be a predictor of subsequent allergic... |
Purpose : Clinical and pathological prognostic factors of idiopathic IgA nephropathy have been reported, but mostly in adults and a few in children. Especially studies about correlation between those factors are very rare. Methods : We studied 58 children patients who were hospitalized to our clinics and diagnosed as IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy from Jan. 1989 to Jun 1996. They... |
Purpose : To determine whether C-reactive protein(CRP) can be used as a parameter to assess the safety of discontinuing antibiotic therapy and allows a shorter course of therapy in neonates treated for suspected bacterial infection. Methods : We have experienced 193 cases of suspected neonatal bacterial infection at Pusan Maryknoll Hospital. CRP levels were measured daily by immunonephelometry. Infants with initial... |
The congenital esophageal atresia with proximal tracheoesophageal fistula is a developmental defect with incomplete septation of the foregut of embryonic period and is often associated with other congenital anomaly. We experienced a case of the esophageal atresia with proximal tracheoesophageal fistula in a 1-day old male patient who was transferred from an obstetric clinic due to respiratory distress soon after birth. The baby was treated... |
Purpose : High dose intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy is effective in reducing the incidence of coronary artery aneurysm in Kawasaki disease(KD) patients, however, the precise mechanisms by which IVIG reverses the immune activation is unknown. Methods : The sera and peripheral mononuclear cells(PBMCs) were obtained from 10 KD patients in the acute stage(24 hrs before) and 24 hrs after one dose of IVIG(2g/kg) treatment. We measured... |
Purpose : Despite the use of improved therapeutic modalities, long-term survival remains poor in patients in stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ of neurobalstoma and for over 1 year olds at diagnosis. We evaluated the long-term survival rate and related prognostic factors in advanced neuroblastoma. Methods : Twenty-nine children diagnosed with stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ neuroblastoma after 1 year of age, between May... |
Purpose : To investigate the cut-off value of creatine kinase(CK) BB according to blood sampling time in predicting neonatal prognosis, we studied the time-related releasing pattern of CK isoenzymes after birth asphyxia. Methods : CK was measured within 1 hour and at 6-10 hours after birth from 45 newborn infants who were suspected to be perinatal asphyxia or fetal distress. The... |
Purpose : In this study, natural pulmonary surfactant was extracted from bovine lung lavage and its surface activity was determined. To investigate the usefulness of synthetic peptides reconstituted with phospholipid as artificial surfactant, truncated peptides from surfactant protein (SP)-B were synthesized and restored the surface tension lowering activities when appropriately recombined with phospholipid. Methods : Crude natural surfactant(CNS) was isolated from lung lavage by centrifugation... |
Neonatal genital prolapse is very rare and is usually associated with meningomyelocele or other anomalies of the central nervous system. Synonyms of genital prolapse are sacropubic hernia, pelvic relaxation, and pelvic organ prolapse. There are two types of genital prolapse including vaginal prolapse and uterovaginal prolapse. We experienced a case of uterovaginal prolapse in a 30 day-old premature infant, which... |
Protein losing entropathy was a secondary disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which is associated with lymphatic obstruction, inflammatory and noninflammatroy disease. It' s clinical manifestations were abdominal pain, edema, diarrhea and growth failure. We described a 12-year-old boy, who had chronic diarrhea for 3 months and edema of lower extremities for 7 days. He also had severe hypoalbuminemia, iron definency anemia, liver diseases and malnurition,... |
Purpose : Germ cell tumors have variable clinical characteristics according to the age, sex, primary site, and pathologic diagnosis. To provide the therapeutic principle, the clinical characteristics, response to the treatment, and prognostic factors were analyzed. Methods : Medical records of 57 children who were diagnosed as malignant germ cell tumor in Seoul National University Children' s Hospital from January 1986 till June 1996 were... |
Purpose : Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death in children, exceeded only by motor vehicle accidents. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognostic factors of near-drowning in children, such as age, sex, season, site of submersion, and initial clinical or laboratory manifestrations, and to formulate preventive strategies for decreasing injuries by drowning. Methods : Sixty-one near-drowning children... |
Amebiasis is an infectious disease caused by Entameba histolytica. Amebiasis remains an extremely important consideration in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, especially when there is associated bleeding. It is imperative that appropriate studies to establish or exclude the diagnosis of amebiasis be carried out in all patients who present with a clinical and sigmoidoscopic picture of colitis, and that patients treated with metronidazole for amebiasis... |
Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of complication in severely obese children and to determine whether the difference of Lp(a) between severely obese children and normal control group exists. Methods : Body weight, height and obesity index were measured in 5885(M:F= 3089:2796) elementary school children. Eight eight(M:F=63:25) were selected as severely obese children. Of the 88 children, 74 agreed to venous... |
Purpose : The urinary mass screening program for the detection of proteinuria had been performed for a school age population in the city of Seoul since 1981. However, systematic evaluation for this program had never been done. We, therefore, designed a systematic evaluation in corporation with the Seoul School Health Center for students with proteinuria identified in the mass screening to determine the prevalence... |