BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the decreased neutrophil count after the administration of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or anti-D immunoglobulin (anti-D Ig) to children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In addition, post-treatment changes in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) were also analyzed according to patient age.METHODS: We retrospectively performed a chart review of 83 patients who had received IVIG or anti-D Ig to manage the decreased platelet count due to acute ITP. Pre- and post-treatment ANC were analyzed in the IVIG treatment group and anti-D Ig treatment group, and ANC were compared between each group. In addition, all the subjects were divided into two groups according to age: infantile group and other group, and ANC of these two groups were compared.RESULTS: A decrease in ANC in just a day and recovering to its pre-treatment value on the 7th post-treatment day was observed for the IVIG treatment group. Especially, the decrease in ANC observed in the infantile group was found to recover in 14 days, where-as ANC recovery in the other group was seen within 2 days after the treatment. There was no statistically significant decrease in ANC in the anti-D Ig treatment group.CONCLUSION: IVIG used for childhood acute ITP caused a decrease in ANC more severely than with the administration of anti-D Ig. Subjects aged less than 12 months who were treated with IVIG for acute ITP showed more ANC decrease and needed longer time to recover normal ANC compared to those over 12 months of age.
Aged ; Child ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Isoantibodies ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Retrospective Studies

Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in paleopathological studies. The initial phase of paleopathology was descriptive, focusing on the identification and presence of disease in the past. However, currently paleopathological studies are moving toward probing questions about the larger picture of origin and transmission of disease agents. In this study, paleopathological studies of major infectious disease (i.e., tubuerculosis, treponemal disease and leprosy) were reviewed through osteoarcheological work published in American Journal of Physical Anthropology, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science and International Journal of Paleopathology from 1981 to 2017. A basic objective of this research was to examine many types of research in paleopathology and to characterize research trend in this field. As paleopathological studies becomes more abundant, the approaches to infectious disease have been increasingly specialized and interdisciplinary from 1980. Also, methodology used in paleopathology continues to evolve through the holistic approaches of molecular analysis, radiology and histopathology. Ultimately, this study reinforces the importance for retention of large-scale skeletal collections for paleopathological study in population perspective. In the near future, Korean paleopathology can contribute in the reconstructions of the history of disease and its effect on past human populations.
Anthropology, Physical ; Communicable Diseases* ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Paleopathology ; Syphilis ; Tuberculosis

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors and effects of fluctuations in oxygen saturation on the occurrence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: From January 1, 2013 to January 31, 2020, 260 patients hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Ajou University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Sixty-six patients (25%) were diagnosed with ROP; of them 39 required treatment. In the multivariate regression analysis of ROP severity, the odds ratio (OR) of gestational age was 0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 0.47; P<0.0001). The OR of saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) fluctuations at the 4th week after birth was 1.02 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.12; P=0.041). Conclusion SpO2 fluctuations in premature infants younger than 30 weeks’ gestational age affects ROP severity, especially at the 4th week of life.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors and effects of fluctuations in oxygen saturation on the occurrence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: From January 1, 2013 to January 31, 2020, 260 patients hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Ajou University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Sixty-six patients (25%) were diagnosed with ROP; of them 39 required treatment. In the multivariate regression analysis of ROP severity, the odds ratio (OR) of gestational age was 0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 0.47; P<0.0001). The OR of saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) fluctuations at the 4th week after birth was 1.02 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.12; P=0.041). Conclusion SpO2 fluctuations in premature infants younger than 30 weeks’ gestational age affects ROP severity, especially at the 4th week of life.

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the usefulness of serum pepsinogen (PG) levels as a screening method for gastric cancer, and to assess the relationships between serum PG and clinicopathologic factors of gastric adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum PG concentrations were measured in 94 subjects who were classified into (a) a control group (50 subjects) without abnormal endoscopic finding on a health checkup, or (b) a gastric cancer group (44 subjects) who had surgery at Daegu Catholic University Hospital between Nov. 2008 and May 2009. Receiver operator characteristic curves were utilized to select the most suitable test. Using different cutoff points, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. We compared preoperative serum PG levels with several clinicopathologic findings for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: The Serum PG I:II ratio was the most useful as a screening test. The sensitivity and specificity of PG screening for gastric cancer were, respectively, 81.8% and 82%. The cut off point correlated with the type of intestinal cancer (Lauren classification; P=0.003), tumor stage (P=0.001), and gastric adenocarcinoma with peritumoral chronic atrophic gastritis (P=0.036). CONCLUSION: Serum PG levels were found to be a potentially useful screening test and to correlate with clinicopathologic factors in gastric cancer patients. But, in order to use serum PG found in a health checkup for gastric cancer as a clinical application a large scale study is recommended.
Adenocarcinoma ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; Mass Screening ; Pepsinogen A ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms

Hand-foot syndrome is also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and it is a side effect that mostly occurs with chemotherapy or biologic therapy. It is characterized by a painful erythema and edema, which may be followed by dry or moist desquamation of the palms and soles. Mizoribine (MZR) is an imidazole nucleoside that blocks purine biosynthesis. It was found to inhibit both humoral and cellular immunity by selectively inhibiting proliferation of lymphocytes. MZR has been used for preventing renal transplant rejection and treating rheumatoid arthritis, nephritic syndrome and lupus nephritis. The principal adverse reactions are leukopenia, abnormal hepatic function and hyperuricemia. The cutaneous side effects are skin rash, prurigo and epilation, with an incidence of about 1.32%, 0.77% and 0.55%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, no case of hand-foot syndrome associated with MZR has ever been published. Herein, we report that MZR, which has been widely used, may induce drug-induced hand-foot syndrome.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biological Therapy ; Edema ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Graft Rejection ; Hair Removal ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; Hyperuricemia ; Imidazoles ; Immunity, Cellular ; Incidence ; Leukopenia ; Lupus Nephritis ; Lymphocytes ; Prurigo ; Purines ; Ribonucleosides

BACKGROUND: A tuberculous destroyed lung is sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis and causes various respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction. The patients with a tuberculous destroyed lung account for a significant portion of those with chronic lung disease in Korea. However, few reports can be found in the literature. We investigated the computed tomography (CT) findings in a tuberculous destroyed lung and the correlation with lung function. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 44 patients who were diagnosed with a tuberculous destroyed lung at the Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital between January 2004 and December 2009. RESULTS: A chest CT scan showed various thoracic sequelae of tuberculosis. In lung parenchymal lesions, there were cicatrization atelectasis in 37 cases (84.1%) and emphysema in 13 cases. Bronchiectasis (n=39, 88.6%) was most commonly found in airway lesions. The mean number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments was 7.7 (range, 4~14). The most common injured segment was the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe (n=36, 81.8%). In the pulmonary function test, obstructive ventilatory defects were observed in 31 cases (70.5%), followed by a mixed (n=7) and restrictive ventilatory defect (n=5). The number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments showed a significant negative correlation with forced vital capacity (FVC), % predicted (r=-0.379, p=0.001) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), % predicted (r=-0.349, p=0.020). After adjustment for age and smoking status (pack-years), the number of destroyed segments also showed a significant negative correlation with FVC, % predicted (B=-0.070, p=0.014) and FEV1, % predicted (B=-0.050, p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Tuberculous destroyed lungs commonly showed obstructive ventilatory defects, possibly due to bronchiectasis and emphysema. There was negative correlation between the extent of destruction and lung function.
Bronchiectasis ; Cicatrix ; Emphysema ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Vital Capacity

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC), first described by Darier in 1916, is characterized by annular, circinate, gyrate or serpiginous lesions. Although the pathogenesis of EAC is not fully understood, it is considered to be a hypersensitivity reaction to a wide variety of etiological factors, including autoimmune diseases, internal malignancies, drugs, infections, and pregnancy. To the best our knowledge, no case of EAC associated with Candida guilliermondii infection has ever been published in the Korean medical literature, and there have been a few reported cases associated with Candida albicans in other countries. Herein, we report on a rare and interesting case of EAC in a 62-year-old female patient with Candida guilliermondii infection.
Aminocaproic Acids ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Ventricular function is one of the important prognostic factors in patients with coronary artery disease. Among noninvasive approaches for the evaluation of ventricular performance, radionuclide ventriculo-graphy has shown to be of particular values in the patients with myocardial infarction. We have evaluated ven-tricular function with ECG-gated blood pool scan (GBPS) in patients with myocardial infarction of different locations and compared right and left ventricular functions. METHOD: Left and right ventricular function was assessed with multigated blood pool scan in 49 patients at 2-3 weeks after acute myocardial infarction (anterior infarction=23, inferior infarction=19, and lateral infarction=7). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), maximal emptying rate, maximal filling rate, phase angle and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of phase angles were measured during rest. RESULTS: 1) LVEF was signifi-cantly lower in the patients with anterior myocardial infarction (32.2%) than that of inferior (46.5%, p<0.001) or lateral infarction (45.5%, p<0.05), but not different between inferior and lateral infarction. 2) RVEF was significantly lower in the patients with inferior myocardial infarction (24.6%) than that of anterior (30.5%, p<0.05) or lateral infarction (36.1%, p<0.001), and RVEF of anterior infarction was significantly lower than that of lateral infarction (p<0.05). 3) Phase angle and FWHM of left ventricle and right ventricle phase histogram were not significantly different among the patients groups with different infarct sites. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular function was differently affected by different infarct sites. Inferior infarction resulted in a greater reduction in right ventricular ejection fraction. In contrast, LVEF was greatly depressed in anterior infarction than in inferior infarction.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infarction ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Ventricular Function, Right*

PURPOSE: It is difficult to obtain biopsies from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) prior to surgery because GISTs are submucoal tumors, despite being the most common nonepithelial neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike anatomic imaging techniques, PET-CT, which is a molecular imaging tool, can be a useful technique for assessing tumor activity and predicting the malignant potential of certain tumors. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of PET-CT as a pre-operative prognostic factor for GISTs by analyzing the correlation between the existing post-operative prognostic factors and the maximum SUV uptake (SUVmax) of pre-operative 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 26 patients who were diagnosed with gastric GISTs and underwent surgery after being examined with pre-operative FDG PET-CT. An analysis of the correlation bewteen (i) NIH risk classfication and the Ki-67 proliferation index, which are post-operative prognostic factors, and (ii) the SUVmax of PET-CT, which is a pre-operative prognostic factor, was performed. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between (i) SUVmax and (ii) Ki-67 index, tumor size, mitotic count, and NIH risk group (r=0.854, 0.888, 0.791, and 0.756, respectively). The optimal cut-off value for SUVmax was 3.94 between "low-risk malignancy" and "high-risk malignancy" groups. The sensitivity and specificity of SUVmax for predicting the risk of malignancy were 85.7% and 94.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SUVmax of PET-CT is associated with Ki-67 index, tumor size, mitotic count, and NIH classification. Therefore, it is believed that PET-CT is a relatively safe, non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing malignant potential pre-operatively.
Biopsy ; Electrons ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Molecular Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Sensitivity and Specificity