PURPOSE: The recurrence of Kawasaki disease has not been considered significant and has not been reported on literatures in Korea. Authors reviewed cases with recurrent Kawasaki disease to get informations about recurrent Kawasaki disease and to know whether there is any factor, if present, that can predict recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the hospital records of patients with recurrent Kawasaki disease who had been admitted to Inha University Hospital from January 1986 through December 1994. RESULTS: The total number of cases with Kawasaki disease was 266 during that period in Inha University Hospital. Seven patients were diagnosed as having recurrent Kawasaki disease, but four of them fulfilled five or more items of the diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease. So the proportion of recurrent cases was 1.5%(4/259)(or 2.7% (7/259) ?). Sex ratio was M:F=3:1. The ages at the first episodes of illness were from 7 months to 3 years 2 months (median=24 months), and those of the second episodes were from 11 months to 6 years 3 months (median=4 years 3 months). The intervals between two episodes were from 4 months to 4 years 2 months (median=1 year 9 months). No special aspect could be found in the clinical and laboratory findings of primary cases, compared with other cases with kawasaki disease. The clinical manifestations and courses of recurred cases were not significantly different from those of primary cases, except one recurred case who developed coronary aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease seems to be higher than 1.5%(or 2.7%) at least. The risk factors for recurrence could not be found, and there was no specific aspect in the clinical manifestations and courses of recurrent Kawasaki disease.
Coronary Aneurysm ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Ratio

Pulmonary function test is one of the most important tools in the management of patients with respiratory tract diseases and allergic diseases. As with the difficulties in performing the test, it has been seldom used in pediatric field. But with the advent of simple, computerized tools, pediatric pulmonologist and allergist try to manage the patients using PFT. Still the normal predicted values are variable among the reports. So it is important to have normal predicted value in Korean children. From April to July 1992, pulmonary function test was performed in 965(male: 490, female: 475) primary school-aged children except <3 or >97 percentile of Korean-children Physical developemental standards with history of allergic diseases and respiratory tract diseases ay SungNam, KyongKiDo. We evaluated the predicted normal values of the FEV1.0, FVC and PEFR and logarithmic regression equation setting the predicted values by using the microspirometer of Micromedical Ltd. England that could that could be easily applied to children. 1) Predicted values of pulmonary function test items were generally higher in boys than those of girls. 2) Correlation coefficient to the parameters examined was the highest in height 0.78, then age 0.75, weight 0.70 and chest circumference 0.61.
Child* ; England ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Thorax

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF), which is characterized by marrow fibrosis, leukoerythroblastic anemia, teardrop poikilocytosis and splenomegaly due to extrumedullary hematopoiesis, has known to have no form of therapy. On the ground of the possibility of reversing collagen deposion in IMF using 1, 25dihydroxycholecalciferol [1, 25(OH)2D3], we report here our observations of 5 patients (M:F=1:4) with IMF before and after treatment with 0.5 microgram/day of alfacalcidol, precursor of 1, 25(OH)2D3. In 3 fo 5 patients the hemoglobin rose and in 4 of 5 the platelet count increased. Follow-up marrow examination revealed that marrow trephine reticulin fibrosis decreased according as the amelioration of clinical and laboratory findings. But these did not persist except one patient in spite of the sustained use of alfacalcidol. Our results suggest that alfacalcidol may have a therapeutic role in some patients with IMF. More extensive studies will be clarify the action of alfacalcidol in IMF.
Anemia, Myelophthisic ; Bone Marrow ; Child* ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Reticulin ; Splenomegaly

PURPOSE: A prospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacies of two different dosages of aspirin(ASA) in treating Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODS: Thirty-nine children with KD were admitted to this hospital from July, 1992 to May, 1993, and were assigned randomly into 2 groups. Group A(medium-dose group, 20 patients) was given 50mg/kg/d(# 4), and group B(high-dose gorup, 19 patients) was given 100mg/kg/d(# 4) of ASA. Intravenous gammaglobulin(2g/kg) was given to all patients. RESULTS: 1) There were no significant differences in ages, sex ratios, durations of fever before treatment, and laboratory findings on admission between two groups. 2) The durations of ASA administration were similar in 2 groups(group A, 10.1+/-2.77 ; group B, 10.6+/-3.37 days ;?p>0.1). 3) The durations of fever after onset of treatment were not different significantly (group A, 2.65+/-3.28 ; group B, 1.74+/-1.52 days ; p>0.1). 4) There were no significant differences in laboratory findings after treatment between two groups, except hemoglobin(Hgb) and ESR examined in the 3 rd week of illness (Hgb: group A (N=15), 10.1+/-1.24 ; group B(n=14), 11.1+/-0.92g/dl ; p<0.05) (ESR: group A(n=14), 47.7+/-13.0 ; group B(n=14), 37.1+/-13.6mm/hr ; p<0.05). 5) Serum concentrations of ASA were examined 3 to 5 days after onset of treatment in 31 patients(group A, 17 ; group B, 14). Mean concentrations before the lst dose of the day were 3.28+/-3.01mg/dl in group A and 12.6+/-6.22mg/dl in group B(p<0.001). Mean concentrations before the 3 rd dose of the day were 3.58+/-2.36mg/dl in group A and 13.7+/-6.32mg/dl in group B(p<0.001). 6) EKG was examined 2 and 4 weeks after onset of illness. There were no abnormalities in EKG except sinus tachycardia in both groups. 7) Echocardiography was done 2 and 4 weeks after onset of illness. Coronary artery dilatation was observed in 40% of group A (8/20) and 31.6% of group B(6/19) at the lst examination (p>0.1), and in 25% of group A(5/20) and 10.5% of group B(2/19) at the 2 nd examination (p>0.1). In long-term follow-up, only 1 patient in each group showed coronary aneurysm respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although serum concentrations of ASA were different significantly, there were no significant differences in recovery from KD and incidences of coronary artery lesions between two grous. So we think medium-dose aspirin therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of Kawasaki disease.
Aspirin* ; Child ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Tachycardia, Sinus

Burkitt's lymphoma is a distinct pathologic entity characterized as a diffuse undifferentiated malignant lymphoma of B-lymphocyte origin. We experienced a case of Burkitt's lymphoma with bilateral renal enlargement in which a 3year-old male patient was admitted with complaints of abdominal distention and facial edema. Laboratory examination revealed positivity for CD 19, CD 10, CD 20 and c-myc on flow cytometry, bilateral renal enlargement(10x12cm in longitudinal length) on abdominal ultrasonogram and CT, malignant lymphoma of Buritt's type with prominent nucleoli and cytospin of cerebrospinal fluid. Initially he showed tumor lysis syndrome and clinical stage D by Zigler(stage IV by Murphy) with CNS involvement. After initial management with hydration, urine alkalinization and allopurinol, combination chemotherapy had been applied with the craniospinal radiotherapy according to the CCG 503 II regimane, with achievement of complete remission. Thus we report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma with bilateral renal enlargement with a biref review of literatures.
Allopurinol ; B-Lymphocytes ; Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Edema ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Radiotherapy ; Tumor Lysis Syndrome ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: M. pneumoniae is knwon as a common causative agents of respiratory infection in school children. But, it tends to occur in infants and younger children recently. This study was performed to evaluate the incidence and clinical manifestations of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in infants. METHOD: A total of 142 children(33 infants{Group I : Infants group; 0-2 years} and 109 children{Group II : Children group; 3-6 years}) was admitted with M. pneumoniae pneumonia from January through December 1998. We reviewed medical records and evaluated the incidence, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. RESULT: Number of patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia in 0 to 2 years of age(infants group) comprised 23.2% of the total in contrast to 57.1% in 3 to 6 years of age group and 19.7% in 7 to 12 years of age group. Seasonal distribution showed the highest frequency in autumn in infant and children groups(45.5% and 39.4% respectively). The most frequent symptom was cough(90.9% and 96.3%, respectively), followed by sputum(81.8% and 90.8%, respectively), fever(72.7% and 66.0%, respectively) and rhinorrhea(72.7% and 64.0%, respectively). The common physical findings on admission were crackle(84.8% and 80.7%, respectively), wheezing(30.3% and 18.3%, respectively) and throat injection(39.4% and 35.8%, respectively). WBC count was within normal range in both groups(90.9% and 89%, respectively) and CRP was lower than 0.8 mg/dL in 63.6% of infant group and 54.1% of children group. The most common radiologic finding was bronchopneumonia in both groups (47% and 38%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Number of the patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in infants age from 0 to 2 years comprised 23.2% of the total. Clinical manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumonia in infants were similar to those of older children. We recommened Mycoplasma pneumoniae should be considerd as a causative agent even in infant with respiratory infection.
Bronchopneumonia ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Medical Records ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pharynx ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Reference Values ; Seasons

In order to demonstrate autoradiographically the sites of serotonin metabolism in the brain, DL 5-HTP and DL 5-HTP-C14 were intraperitoneally administered to healthy adult mice. In order to distinguish histochemically serotonin-like substances which have staining characteristics similar to the enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract, serotonin-releaser reserpine was administered intravenously to healthy adult rabbits. A stripping film technique for autoradiography, a ferric ferricyanide reduction test by Schmorl, and a Gomori-Burtner methenamine silver staining method for argentaffin cells were used in this study. In the brain tissues of mice treated with 5-HTP, it was observed that the cytoplasm of the nerve cells, of the cerebral cortex had blue positive staining substances by the ferric ferricyanide technique. In similar tissue sites in mice treated with 5-HTP-C14, a number of blackened-par-ticles reduced by beta rays were easily found. especially in the cytoplasm of nerve cells and neuroglia cells. It is suggested that the serotonin precursor, DL 5-hydrox-ytryptophan is metabolized the cerebral tissue, and serotonin is synthesized also in the nerve cells and the neuroglia cells.
5-Hydroxytryptophan/diagnostic use ; Animals ; Brain/*metabolism ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Injections, Intravenous ; Mice ; Reserpine/diagnostic use ; Serotonin/*metabolism ; Staining and Labeling

PURPOSE: There are some disagreements about the optimal dosages of intravenous gammaglobulin(IVGG) and oral aspirin(ASA) in the treatment of Kawasaki disease. So authors performed a prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of IVGG 1g/kg plus ASA 50mg/kg/day. METHODS: We treated 29 patients who were admitted to Inha University Hospital from June 1993 through May 1994 with IVGG 1g/kg plus ASA 50mg/kg/d. We compared the outcomes of above patients with those of two other groups of patients, group A and B in authors' previous study. Group A(20 patients) had been treated with IVGG 2g/kg plus ASA 50mg/kg/d and group B(19 patients) with IVGG 2g/kg plus ASA 100mg/kg/d. The outcomes had been similar in group A and B, which was published on this journal in 1995 (vol. 38:378-385). RESULTS: 1) Twenty five patients(86.2%; group C) were given only one dose of IVGG 1g/kg, and remaining 4 patients(13.8%; group D) were given two doses of IVGG 1g/kg because of persistent high fever. 2) The age and sex distributions, durations of fever before treatment, and durations of ASA therapy in group C were not significantly different from those in group A and B (p>0.05). 3) Laboratory findings on admission in group C were not significantly different from those in group A and B, except that the mean ESR was lower in group C than in group A and B (35.1+/-19.8 vs 55.5+/-5.95 & 50.2+/-11.4mm/hr; p<0.01, respectively). 4) The durations of fever after treatment in group C were not significantly different from those in group A and B (1.32+/-1.07 vs 2.65+/-3.28 & 1.74+/-1.52 days; p>0.05, respectively). 5) In group C, the mean hemoglobin concentration at the 3rd week of illness was higher than in group A (11.1+/-0.98 vs 10.1+/-1.24g/dl; p<0.05), the mean platelet count at the 2nd week of illness was lower than in group A (59.4+/-18.0x10(4) vs 73.6+/-19.0x10(4)/ l; p<0.05), and the mean ESRs at the 2nd and 3rd week of illness were lower than in group A (43.3+/-14.7 vs 54.0+/-9.16, 31.9+/-19.0 vs 47.7+/-13.0mm/hr; p<0.05, respectively). Other follow-up laboratory findings in group C were not significantly different from those in group A and B. 6) Echocardiography was done 2 and 4 weeks after onset of illness. Coronary arterial dilation was observed in four(4/25; 16%) and two(2/23; 8.7%) patients respectively in group C, and the proportions were not significantly different from those in group A(40% & 25%) and B(31.6% & 10.5%) (p>0.05, respectively). In follow-up examinations, coronary aneurysm was observed in only one(1/23; 4.3%) in group C, which was similar to group A(1/18; 5.5%) and B(1/19; 5.2%) (p>0.05, respectively). Giant aneurysm was not observed in any patients. 7) Four patients(group D) were given one more dose of IVGG 1g/kg because high fever persisted 48 hours after injection of the first dose of IVGG. Afterthen fever subsided within 1 to 7 days. Echocardiography revealed mild coronary arterial dilation in two patients initially, but follow-up examinations revealed no coronary aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The medium-dose combined regimen with IVGG 1g/kg plus ASA 50mg/kg/d seems to be more cost-effective than the high-dose regimen with IVGG 2g/kg plus ASA 50-100mg/kg/d. If high fever persists 48 hours or more after the first dose of IVGG 1g/kg, it is desirable to give one more dose of IVGG 1g/kg.
Aneurysm ; Aspirin* ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Platelet Count ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUND: Negative U wave is frequent maker of systemic hypertension, aortic or mitral regurgitation and myocardial ischemia. This study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic significance of exercise-induced negative U wave in coronary artery stenosis. METHOD: 72 patients(46 men and 26 women ; 24~66 years of age) with chest pain were analysed with exercised-induced negative U wave and coronary angiographic finding. RESULT: Exercise-induced negative U wave was seen in 14 patients(19%). Among 14 patients with exercise-induced negative U wave, the predictive value of significant coronary artery stenosis(> or =75% stenosis of major coronary artery) was 71%, Exercise-induced negative U wave is more prevalent in patients with significant coronary artery stenosis(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exercise-induced negative U wave is a good marker of significant coronary artery stenosis.
Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Myocardial Ischemia

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency (ID) in Korean adolescents still remains a problem. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of iron status and investigate the relationship between the iron status and obesity. METHODS: Hematological examinations were performed on apparently healthy 12~14 year old students (M:F=451:442) living in Incheon during September, 2004. ID was defined as a serum ferritin concentration <10ng/mL. The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was established when anemia (male <12.5g/dL, female <12g/dL) was associated with a ferritin level <10ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <16%. Using age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles, overweight was defined as a BMI=85th percentile. RESULTS: The prevalence of ID and IDA were 8.4 and 15.6% and 0.9 and 4.5% in males and females, respectively. Using an analysis based on the BMI, the prevalence of obesity were 21.8 and 16.2% in males and females, respectively. The prevalence of ID in male students was decreased in the obesity (0.0%) compared with the non-obesity group (11.4%). In female students, ID showed a higher frequency in the non-obesity (20.4%) compared with the obesity group (12.0%). CONCLUSIOM: Iron deficiency still remains a major nutritional problem in adolescent females, with the prevalence of obesity significantly increasing. Although no association between the prevalence of iron deficiency and obesity was shownin this study, it is important to screen for iron deficiency and obesity, and provide effective nutritional education. Furthermore, the association of obesity with iron deficiency in relation to eating behavior should be investigated.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Incheon ; Iron* ; Male ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Transferrin