PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of whole body bone mineral densitometry in the diagnosis of frequent osteopenia of preterm infants by comparison with the wrist radiographs and biochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1995 to January 1996, we obtained whole body bone mineral density(BMD) studies using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) and wrist radiographs of 39 preterm infants. They were divided into three groups according to birth weight, under 1500g, 1501g to 2000g and above 2000g, and four grades of skeletal change, as seen on wrist radiography, according to the scoring method of Koo et al. Groups of birth weight and grades of skeletal change were then correlated with whole body BMD and biochemical parameters. For comparison, normal data were obtained from 13 infants born at full term. Data were analyzed by one way analysis of variation(ANOVA) and correlation and regression analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESUTLS: Whole body BMDs were significantly lower in the more premature and smaller birth weight infants(r=0.77, p=0.0000), and in the higher grade of skeletal change (r=-0.5276, p=0.0000). Aggravated skeletal changes were found in infants with lower birth weight(r=-0.3822, p=0.01). Interobserver variation in grading skeletal change was 42.9%, and intraobserver variation was 18.4%. Biochemical parameters such as serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathromone, calcitonin and 25-hydroxy-vitamine D did not vary significantly according to either birth weight or skeletal change (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Premature osteopenia is more effectively diagnosed by measuring whole body BMD using DXA than by grading radiographical skeletal change or by biochemical parameters.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Birth Weight ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic* ; Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Densitometry* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Observer Variation ; Parturition ; Radiography* ; Research Design ; Rickets ; Wrist*

PURPOSE: To evaluate incidentally observed thickened mucosa of paranasal sinuses on brain MRI of patients without evidence of sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed brain MRI of 82 adults aged over 20 ; 45 were males and 37 were females. Brain axial MRI was obtained from the hard palate with 8mm thickness and 2mm gap. The mucosal thickness of incidentally observed paranasal sinuses seen on brain MRI was measured at the mostly thickened portion by T2- and T1-weighted images. RESULTS: The mean mucosal thickness at the most thickened portion of paranasal sinuses, regardless of their location was 3.5mm with S.D. of 1.5mm. The mucosal thickening was observed more commonly in maxillary (79 patients, mean 3.0mm, S.D. 1.4mm) and ethmoid sinuses (80 patients,mean 2.7mm, S.D. 1.1mm) than in sphenoid (39 patients, mean 1.6mm, S.D. 1.4mm) or frontal sinuses (38 patients, mean 1.9mm, S.D. 1.4mm). CONCLUSION: Mucosal thickening of up to 6.5mm was a common finding on brain MRI of patients without evidence of sinusitis ; accuracy was 95%.
Adult ; Brain* ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Palate, Hard ; Paranasal Sinuses* ; Reference Values* ; Sinusitis

In this study, we measured the activity of the erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) from 154 workers exposed to lead and 43 workers not exposed. We analyzed the correlation of the P5N activity and NAG activity with other biological exposure indices of lead such as blood lead (PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP). The measurement was performed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), spectrophotometer and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results are as follows: 1. The mean value of P5N activity for workers exposed to lead was 9.50+/-.13 micromol uridine/hr/g Hb and 11.60+/-.2 micromol uridine/hr/g Hb for workers not exported. The P5N activity showed a normal distribution, but the other indices of lead showed logarithmic normal distributions. 2. The P5N activity and ZPP were decreased as PbB wag increased. But the NAG activity had no correlation with changes of PbB. 3. The correlation coefficients of the P5N activity with other biological exposure indices of lead such as PbB, ZPP, NAG activity were -0.72, -0.55, and 0.05, respectively. We speculated that the P5N activity can be used as a reliable biological exposure index of lead but NAG activity can be used as a biological management index of lead.
5'-Nucleotidase* ; Absorption ; Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Erythrocytes* ; Zinc

Resistance of falciparum malaria to antimalarial agents is prevalent in many areas, whereas chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria has been reported mainly around New Guinea since 1989. Concomitant with the spread of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax and increase in number of international travelers, imported cases of chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria in travelers returning from these areas has been reported. We experienced a case of chloroquine resistance P. vivax infection imported from Mangole Island, Indonesia. Its origin is confirmed not to be indigenous by the gene encoding analysis for the polymorphic region of apical membrane antigen-1 in P. vivax. Gene sequencing of the P. vivax mdr1 gene revealed only one substitution located at the codon 1076 (F1076L). The case was managed with oral quinidine with successful outcomes.
Antimalarials ; Chloroquine ; Codon ; Indonesia ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax ; Membranes ; New Guinea ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium vivax ; Quinidine

Resistance of falciparum malaria to antimalarial agents is prevalent in many areas, whereas chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria has been reported mainly around New Guinea since 1989. Concomitant with the spread of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax and increase in number of international travelers, imported cases of chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria in travelers returning from these areas has been reported. We experienced a case of chloroquine resistance P. vivax infection imported from Mangole Island, Indonesia. Its origin is confirmed not to be indigenous by the gene encoding analysis for the polymorphic region of apical membrane antigen-1 in P. vivax. Gene sequencing of the P. vivax mdr1 gene revealed only one substitution located at the codon 1076 (F1076L). The case was managed with oral quinidine with successful outcomes.
Antimalarials ; Chloroquine ; Codon ; Indonesia ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax ; Membranes ; New Guinea ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium vivax ; Quinidine

PURPOSE: Several radioisotope-labeled thymidine derivatives such as [11C]thymidine was developed to demonstrate cell proliferation in tumor. But it is difficult to track metabolism with [11C]thymidine due to rapid in vivo degradation and its short physical half-life. 3'-[18F]fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine ([18F]FLT) was reported to have the longer half life of fluorine-18 and the lack of metabolic degradation in vivo. Here, we described the synthesis of the 3'-[18F]fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine ([18F]FLT) and compared with [18F]FET and [18F]FDG in cultured 9L cell and obtained the biodistribution and PET image in 9L tumor bearing rats. MATERIAL AND METHOD: For the synthesis of [18F]FLT, 3-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(5'-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2'-deoxy-3'-O-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-beta-D-threopentofuranosyl)thymine was used as a FLT precursor, on which the tert-butyloxycarbonyl group was introduced to protect N3-position and nitrobenzenesulfonyl group. Radiolabeling of nosyl substitued precursor with 18F was performed in acetonitrile at 120 degrees C and deproteced with 0.5 N HCl. The cell uptake was measured in cultured 9L glioma cell. The biodistribution was evaluated in 9L tumor bearing rats after intravenous injection at 10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 120 min and obtained PET image 60 minutes after injection. RESULTS: The radiochemical yield was about 20-30% and radiochemical purity was more than 95% after HPLC purification. Cellular uptake of [18F]FLT was increased as time elapsed. At 120 min post-injection, the ratios of tumor/blood, tumor/muscle and tumor/brain were 1.61+/-0.34, 1.70+/-0.30 and 9.33+/-2.22, respectively. The 9L tumor was well visualized at 60 min post injection in PET image. CONCLUSION: The uptake of [18F]FLT in tumor was higher than in normal brain and PET image of [18F]FLT was acceptable. These results suggest the possibility of [18F]FLT as an imaging agent for brain tumor.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glioma* ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intravenous ; Metabolism ; Rats* ; Thymidine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is a new technique that is expected to improve the detection rate of colorectal polyps, but results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to compare the polyp miss rate and the characteristics of missed colorectal polyps using white light (WL) and NBI. METHODS: 62 patients were randomized into two groups. In the first group (NBI first, NBIF), a colonoscopic examination of each segment (cecum-ascending, transverse, descending, and rectosigmoid colons) was performed first with NBI followed by a re-examination of the same segment using WL. An opposite sequence was applied for the other group (white light first, WLF). RESULTS: 67 polyps were found in the first examination, and 31 polyps were found on the re-examination, resulting in a polyp miss rate of 31.6%. The polyp miss rate was 39% for WLF and 23% for NBIF (p>0.05). Seventy-four small polyps (<5 mm) were found, and miss rates for NBIF and WLF were 20% and 46%, respectively (p=0.01). The polyp miss rate at the rectosigmoid was 11% for NBIF and 54% for WLF (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The polyp miss rate was not significantly different between NBI or WL when a colonoscopy was performed. NBI resulted in a lower polyp miss rate for small (<5 mm) and rectosigmoid polyps than WL.
Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Light ; Narrow Band Imaging ; Polyps