No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Coronary Aneurysm* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

PURPOSE: To assess the role of blood vessels in the formation of peritumoral abnormal signal intensity which exaggerates the size of malignant tumor on MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed MR-microangiographic-pathologic correlation using implanted VX-2 carcinoma in 16 rabbit thighs 1-28 days after tumor implantation. The shape and distribution of abnormal vessels were analyzed on microangiography and on histologic examination in correlation with peritumoral abnormal signal intensity on MR images. RESULTS: Dilated peritumoral blood vessels gave rise to irregular, tortuous tumor vessels penetrated into the tumor. With the tumor growth, hypervascular tumor vessels in peritumoral area and central avascular areas were increased. These hypervascular areas on microangiography were corresponded with abnormal signal intensity on MR images. CONCLUSION: Hypervascularity could be a cause of peritumoral abnormal signal intensity which exaggerates the size of experimentally induced malignant musculoskeletal tumors on MR images.
Blood Vessels* ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Meningitis*

No abstract available.
Heterotaxy Syndrome*

To evaluate the usefulness of MR in the osteomyelitis, we reviewed MR examinations of 14 patients with pyogenic osteomyelitis of the long bone. All 14 patients were confirmed to have osteomyelitis either surgically (13/14) or by aspiration (1/14). MRI was performed with 0.5R (n=8) or 2.0T (n=6) SE technique, and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI was obtained in 10 examinations. Anatomic location of lesions were femur (8/14), tibia (5/14),m and fibula (1/14). The marrow cavity and soft tissue were involved in 13/14, 12/14 respectively. The signals of both intraosseous and extraosseous infected area were iso to low signal intensity to muscles on T1WI and high signal intensity on PDWI & T2WI. Rim or diffuse enhancement of the marrow cavity and soft tissue were seen in all (10/10) cases. Sequestra, periosteal reaction. And cortical defect were found in 12/14, 10/14, 9/14. MR provided more accurate and detailed anatomic information including extent of disease and possible activity than bone scintigraphy, CT, or conventional radiography. We conclude that MR might be the choice of modality in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the long bone.
Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Femur ; Fibula ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Osteomyelitis* ; Radiography ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tibia

PURPOSE: In the present study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of tuberculosis in school-age children and adolescents, which is important as a reservoir for future disease burden. METHODS: Ninety patients, aged from 6 to 18 years, who were diagnosed and treated with tuberculosis during the period from January 2005 to July 2011, were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records and investigated clinical characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: Eight patients were 6 to 12 (9%) and 82 were over 13 years of age (91%). There was a significantly higher percentage of males than females in the latter age group (P<0.01). Route of infection was not confirmed in 74 patients, and 16 patients were diagnosed through the school or military medical examinations with no clinical symptoms. Seventy patients (78%) were presented with pulmonary tuberculosis. Chronic persistent coughing was the most common presenting symptom, and both upper lobes were most frequently involved. Nineteen patients over 13 years of age had adult-type cavitary tuberculosis. The positive results for acid-fast smears or cultures were not high, and the rate of positive tuberculin skin test was 88%. The most frequent adverse effects of anti-tuberculosis treatment were hepatotoxicity, hyperuricemia, and gastrointestinal disorders. The duration of the treatment was much prolonged in 8 patients who had drug-resistant tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that pulmonary tuberculosis should be suspected in the adolescents who have prolonged respiratory symptoms. It also indicates that pulmonary tuberculosis in adolescents has similar characteristics to tuberculosis in adults, which suggests the potential important role of adolescent tuberculosis in community disease transmission.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Male ; Medical Records ; Military Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Tests ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine in patients with HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA-positive chronic liver disease. METHODS: Twenty-four chronic liver disease patients were enrolled whose serology had common characteristics of HBeAg (-), and anti-HBe (+) but HBV DNA (+). All had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. 150mg of lamivudine was given orally once daily for more than 6 months. The goal of this treatment was the elimination of HBV DNA in serum and normalization of ALT level. Once HBV DNA disappearance and ALT normalization were observed, lamivudine was continued for two additional months. HBeAg, anti-HBe, HBV DNA and ALT were followed up every 1-2 month during, and after, treatment. RESULTS: Median duration of treatment was seven months. HBV DNA became undetectable after a median one month of treatment and ALT activity was normalized in all 24 patients within six months. Among the sixteen patients who were followed for more than 12 months after cessation of treatment, six relapsed. The cumulative relapse rate at 12 months was 37.5%. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine suppresses HBV replication effectively and normalizes serum ALT in patients with HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA-positive chronic liver disease. The relapse rate after cessation of treatment seems to be relatively low.
Alanine Transaminase ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Lamivudine* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Recurrence ; Withholding Treatment

PURPOSE: Soluble ST2 (sST2) has been reported to regulate Th2 response. In this study, serum levels of sST2 and other cytokines were measured in recurrent early wheezers and asthmatic children. We aimed to investigate if there are any differences or similarities in Th1 or Th2 response between those two patient groups. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients admitted with exacerbation of wheezing or asthma were enrolled. Two patient groups were defined: children with atopic asthma (> or =6 years, n=21) and recurrent early wheezers (< or =2 years, n=38). Recurrent early wheezers were divided based on their atopic status: 19 were atopic and 19 were nonatopic. sST2, interleukin (IL) 33, IL-5, and interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured in serum samples collected on admission. Cytokine levels in both patient groups were compared with their age-matched controls and evaluated the relationship with blood eosinophils, serum IgE levels, and also with the severity of symptom. RESULTS: sST2 and IL-5 were significantly increased both in asthmatic children (P=0.02, P=0.004) and recurrent early wheezers (P=0.01, P=0.001) compared to their age-matched controls. IL-5 was significantly higher in atopic wheezers compared with non-atopic wheezers (P=0.04). Severity score showed a positive correlation with sST2 and IFN-gamma in asthmatic children, but only with IFN-gamma in early wheezers. There was an inverse correlation between sST2 and blood eosinophil counts both in asthmatic children and atopic recurrent wheezers. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that sST2 might regulate allergic inflammation by suppressing eosinophilia and play an important role in pathophysiology of acute exacerbation of wheezing or asthma both in asthmatic children and early wheezers.
Asthma ; Child* ; Cytokines ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interferons ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Respiratory Sounds

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-33, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, is considered to be important for innate-type mucosal immunity of the lung and also has been suggested to induce Th2-type immune responses. We aimed to investigate if IL-33 is involved in airway inflammation due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children. METHODS: Thirty-eight infants (< or =24 months of age) admitted with their first episode of RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled in the study. Atopy was defined by having at least 1 allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), positive result to skin prick test, or high serum IgE levels. The patients were assessed to have severe symptoms when they had > or =2 of the following clinical findings: hypoxemia (<92% oxygen saturation), rapid breathing (and/or lower chest wall indrawing), and >7 days of hospital stay. The levels of IL-33 and the IL-33 receptor (sST2) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in nasal secretion samples collected from the patients on admission and compared with 20 age-matched controls. We also investigated the levels of IL-33 and sST2 in relation to the atopic status and symptom severity of the patients. RESULTS: Nasal IL-33 levels in the patients with acute RSV bronchiolitis were significantly increased (P<0.05), but sST2 showed no difference compared to the controls. Neither IL-33 nor sST2 showed significant difference in relation to the atopic status or severity of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study showed significantly increased IL-33 in the nasal secretions of the young infants admitted with acute RSV bronchiolitis and suggests that IL-33 is involved in the pathogenesis of RSV-induced airway inflammation.
Anoxia ; Bronchiolitis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukins ; Length of Stay ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Respiration ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall