No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed and the results were shown to correlate well with those obtained by radioimmunoassay (RIA). However, consensus on the optirnal condition and data expression method for the measurement of allergen-specific IgE using ELISA is still not present. Object: To define the optimal condition for the measurement of allergen-specific IgE using ELISA and to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the results, METHOD: We measured the concentrations of house dust mite-specific IgE antibodies in serum samples by ELISA and RIA method (AlaSTAT, DPC, USA) using standardized Dermatop~hagoides farinae antigen (kindly donated by Allergopharma Joachim Ganzer KG, Reinbek, Germany). RESULTS: Optirnal antigen coating amount was 2 ug/well and optimal serum dilution was 1: 10 for ELISA. The expression of the absolute concentration of house dust mite-specific IgE antibodies within the unknown sample using serial dilutions of samples and standard serum seemed to be more reasonable than the expression of absorbance value at a single serum dilution, because the former method provided better inter-assay variation and correlation with RIA results. The results of specific IgE rneasurement using ELISA significantly correlated with RIA results (r=0.96, p<0.001, n=26). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies using the ELISA method can be accurate and reliable if optimal assay conditions and standardized data expression are applied.
Antibodies* ; Consensus ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Radioimmunoassay

We report a case of penile lymphangioma circumscriptum developed in a 22- year-old male soldier. Rice-sized papule on glans penis was noted at birth and progressed to yellow straw-colored, peanut-sized, asymptomatic grouped papulovesicles resembling frog spawn. The predilection sites of lymphangioma circumscriptum are the abdomen, axilla and tongue. Glans penis is a very rare site. Histopathologic findings showed papillornatosis, hyperkeratosis and cystically dilated lymph vessels lined by a single layer of endothelial cells.
Abdomen ; Axilla ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Parturition ; Penis ; Tongue

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenstrom is a distinct syndrome consisting of recurrent episodes of purpura, elevated serum r-globulins, elevated erythrocyteed rnentation rate, and mild anemia. This disease has been divided into the prirnary type without an uncerlying disease, and the secondary type with a known underlying disease. We diagnosed a hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenstram in a 53-year-old woman who presented sudden onset of showers of purpuric macules and petechiae of 24 hours duration involving her lower extremities with a 10-rnonth history. She showed characteristic laboratory findings consistent with those of hypergammiglobulnemic purpura of Waldenstrorri and also showed positive results of antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor. We tried to find out if there we any associated underlying disases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjogren synirorne through various tests but faile it find any. We concluded she showed a primary type of hypergarnmhglobulinemic purpura of Waldcnstrorn.
Anemia ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Purpura ; Purpura, Hyperglobulinemic* ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Family Practice* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance* ; Korea*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Metadate CD (MCD) when given to Korean children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We also explored the effects of the drug on diverse neurocognitive functions. METHODS: Ninety-one subjects with ADHD (mean age 8.6+/-2.2 years) were recruited at 6 outpatient clinics in Seoul, Korea. We used the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and comprehensive attention test (CAT) to measure the drug's effects. RESULTS: After 0.92+/-0.32mg/kg/day of MCD were administered for 57.4+/-7.6 days, there was a 48.5% reduction in the mean total ARS scores (p<.001). Fifty-seven subjects (64.8%) showed either much improved or very much improved outcomes on the CGI-Improvement scale. The CGI-Severity scale also decreased from an average of 4.7 to an average of 2.9 (p<.001). Errors and response time standard deviations of the CAT, sustained attention test-to-response tasks, the flanker test, and divided attention test scores decreased after treatment (p<.05). The forward memory span of the spatial working memory test scores increased (p<.05). Thirty-five patients (39.8%) experienced side effects, of which the most common were headache (14.8%), nausea (12.5%), and anorexia (9.1%). CONCLUSION: This open-label study suggests that MCD is effective and safe in improving the symptoms and neurocognitive functions of Korean children and adolescents with ADHD.
Adolescent ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Animals ; Anorexia ; Cats ; Child ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Methylphenidate ; Nausea ; Reaction Time

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Metadate CD (MCD) when given to Korean children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We also explored the effects of the drug on diverse neurocognitive functions. METHODS: Ninety-one subjects with ADHD (mean age 8.6+/-2.2 years) were recruited at 6 outpatient clinics in Seoul, Korea. We used the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and comprehensive attention test (CAT) to measure the drug's effects. RESULTS: After 0.92+/-0.32mg/kg/day of MCD were administered for 57.4+/-7.6 days, there was a 48.5% reduction in the mean total ARS scores (p<.001). Fifty-seven subjects (64.8%) showed either much improved or very much improved outcomes on the CGI-Improvement scale. The CGI-Severity scale also decreased from an average of 4.7 to an average of 2.9 (p<.001). Errors and response time standard deviations of the CAT, sustained attention test-to-response tasks, the flanker test, and divided attention test scores decreased after treatment (p<.05). The forward memory span of the spatial working memory test scores increased (p<.05). Thirty-five patients (39.8%) experienced side effects, of which the most common were headache (14.8%), nausea (12.5%), and anorexia (9.1%). CONCLUSION: This open-label study suggests that MCD is effective and safe in improving the symptoms and neurocognitive functions of Korean children and adolescents with ADHD.
Adolescent ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Animals ; Anorexia ; Cats ; Child ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Methylphenidate ; Nausea ; Reaction Time

No abstract available.
Gene Expression* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning* ; Virulence*

The menarcheal age of Korean women has been rapidly decreasing for the last 50 years, and the average menarcheal age of women born in the 1990s is approaching 12.6 years. In addition, interest in early puberty has been increasing recently owing to the rapid increase in precocious puberty. Generally, out of concern for short stature and early menarche, idiopathic central precocious puberty in female adolescents is treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs. Studies to date have described the association between early menarche and psychosocial problems such as delinquency and risky sexual behavior, as well as physical health problems such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and breast cancer throughout the lifespan of women. However, the pathophysiological mechanism underlying this association has not been clarified thus far. In this article, we review and discuss the existing literature to describe the current understanding of the effects of early menarche on the physical and psychosocial health of adolescent girls and adult women.
Adolescent* ; Adult* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Female* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Menarche* ; Obesity ; Puberty ; Puberty, Precocious ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior