The prevalences of dermographism in 106 patients with atopic dermatitis and 45 patients with allergic rhinitis were studied using a dermographic tester. The results are as follows : 1. Dermographism was more common in atopic dermatitis(17.0%) than in the general population(6.7%), but no significant difference was observed between allergic rhinitis(6.7%) and general population. 2. The prevalence rates of dermographism were not significantly correlated with the level of serum IgE in both atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Prevalence* ; Rhinitis*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the advantages of a laparoscopic technique for the treatment of intussusception in children with repeated hydrostatic reduction failure. METHODS: Between April 2001 and March 2002, twenty one children with intussusception were treated. Eleven patients, with repeated barium reduction failure, underwent a laparoscopic reduction. The type of intussusception, operative time, postoperative hospital stay, and conversion rate, were prospectively examined. RESULTS: The laparoscopic reduction was successful in 8 patients (72.7%), with a conversion to an open procedure occurring in 3 (27.3%). In the 8 successful laparoscopic reduction cases, the average operative time and postoperative hospital stay were 66 minutes and 3 days, respectively. Seven cases were of the ileo-colic type of intussusception and remaining one was of the ileo-ileo-colic type. There were no mortalities or intraoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Intussusception in number of children with hydrostatic reduction failure could be reduced with the laparoscopic technique. The laparoscopic procedure for intussusception was safe and resulted in the avoidance of open surgery.
Barium ; Child* ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Intussusception* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Operative Time ; Prospective Studies

A clinical study was made on 10 neonates with gastrointestinal perforation admitted to the department of pediatrics and surgery of Severance hospital from January, 1965, through Jane, 1978. The following results were obtained; 1) Males predominate (7M : 3F). 2) 7 cases of perforations occur in the first 2 days of life. 3) The most common site of perforations is stomach (3 cases) and terminal lieum (3 cases). The lesion showes inflammation, submucosal hemorrhage, atresia and muscular defect. 4) The clinical picture is abdominal distension developing repidly, cyanosis, vomiting, poor sucking, etc. 5) Abdominal X-rays are diagnostic, Massive pneumoperitoneum is visible in 5 cases. 6) Seven patients in 9 operated neonates died.
Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET/CT) scans provide additional diagnostic information in addition to the direct laryngoscopic examination (L/E) and contrast-enhanced CT (CT) in patients with glottic cancer during the initial evaluation. METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive patients with glottic cancer of the larynx that had L/E, CT and PET/CT were enrolled. The diagnostic value of each modality was compared for their accuracy in predicting the extent of the primary tumors on sub-site based analysis and the final tumor staging. The reference standards were either the surgical pathology findings or clinical/radiological follow-up outcome. Changes in patient care based on PET/CT results were compared with the treatment decisions based on L/E with CT. RESULTS: For primary tumor sub-site based analysis, the sensitivity was significantly higher for L/E (92.8%) than for PET/CT (79.4%, P=0.028). The comparisons between L/E vs. CT and CT vs. PET/CT did not reach statistical significance. As an initial tumor-staging method the L/E had a diagnostic accuracy of 76.4%, compared to 61.8% for CT and 41.8% for PET/CT. The L/E and CT were better than the PET/CT (P=0.0009 and 0.049) for the initial TNM staging. PET/CT scanning changed the clinical decision-making based on the L/E with CT results in 12.7% of cases, of whom 5.5% had no additional PET/CT related benefit. CONCLUSION: Conclusion. The results of this study showed that PET/CT imaging added no clinical information benefit compared to the L/E and CT for the initial evaluation of patients with glottic cancer.
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glottis ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Laryngoscopy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathology, Surgical ; Patient Care ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Oseltamivir is a potent selective neuraminidase enzyme inhibitor and effective against nearly all strains of influenza A and B. The importance of treating influenza has been recognized, and oseltamivir has been prescribed frequently at the onset of the H1N1 influenza A pandemic this year. However, oseltamivir can cause hemorrhagic colitis as a rare adverse effect. Until now, only two cases of hemorrhagic colitis following the use of oseltamivir have been reported in Japan, and none have been reported in Korea. We report a case of acute hemorrhagic colitis in a 15-year-old boy after the oral administration of oseltamivir for swine originating influenza A.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Colitis ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Japan ; Korea ; Neuraminidase ; Oseltamivir ; Pandemics ; Swine

BACKGROUND: Astrocytes, representing a major non-neuronal cell population in the central nervous system (CNS), contain opioid receptors and are actively involved in several brain functions. This study is designed to evaluate the effects by which morphine contributes to cytotoxicity of nitric oxide (NO) species including NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) in primary astrocytes isolated from the cerebral cortexes of 1 - 2 day Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: The cultured cells were pretreated with morphine and exposed to 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) which simultaneously generates NO and superoxide, thus possibly forming peroxynitrite. The cell damage was assessed by using an MTT (methylthizol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenyl, tetrazolium bromide) assay. Morphological nuclear changes of the cells after exposure to SIN-1 for 24 hours was evaluated by using 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. RESULTS: Morphine significantly protected primary rat astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner from the death mediated by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a donor of nitric oxide, and SIN-1. Moreover, it was found that naloxone antagonized the protective effect of morphine on SIN-1-induced cell death, revealed as apoptosis by the occurrence of morphological nuclear changes characteristic of apoptosis. Morphine also inhibited the nuclear condensation of SIN-1-treated cells, however the action of morphine was antagonized by pretreatment of naloxone. The protective role of morphine on SIN-1-induced cytotoxicity was inhibited by DL-Buthionine-[S, R]-sulfoximine (BSO). Furthermore, the effects of morphine on SIN-1-induced cytotoxicity were blocked by pretreatment of Gi protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY294002. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that morphine may protect primary rat astrocytes from NO species via the signaling cascades involving G-protein and PI3-kinase, and possibly regulates the anti-oxidant, glutathione (GSH).
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astrocytes* ; Brain ; Cell Death* ; Cells, Cultured ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Cortex ; Glutathione ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; Morphine* ; Naloxone ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Pertussis Toxin ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid ; Superoxides ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: Although microalbuminuria is considered as an early marker of nephropathy in diabetic adults, available information in diabetic adolescents is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and frequency of regression of microalbuminuria in type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with childhood onset. METHODS: One hundred and nine adolescents (median, 18.9 years; interquartile range (IQR), 16.5-21.0 years) with T1DM and 18 T2DM adolescents (median, 17.9 years; IQR, 16.8-18.4 years) with repeated measurements of microalbuminuria (first morning urine microalbumin/creatinine ratios) were included. The median duration of diabetes was 10.1 (7.8-14.0) years and 5.0 (3.5-5.6) years, respectively, and follow-up period ranged 0.5-7.0 years. Growth parameters, estimated glomerular filtration rate, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles were obtained after reviewing medical record in each subject. RESULTS: The prevalence of microalbuminuria at baseline and evaluation were 21.1% and 17.4% in T1DM, and 44.4% and 38.9% in T2DM. Regression of microalbuminuria was observed in 13 T1DM patients (56.5%) and 3 T2DM patients (37.5%), and progression rate was 10.5% and 20% in T1DM and T2DM respectively. In regression T1DM group, HbA1c at baseline and follow-up was lower, and C-peptide at baseline was higher compared to persistent or progression groups. In T2DM, higher triglyceride was observed in persistent group. CONCLUSION: Considerable regression of microalbuminuria more than progression in diabetes adolescents indicates elevated urinary microalbumin excretion in a single test does not imply irreversible diabetic nephropathy. Careful monitoring and adequate intervention should be emphasized in adolescents with microalbuminuria to prevent rapid progression toward diabetic nephropathy.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Albuminuria ; C-Peptide ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides

Up to 40% of patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease, which is a rare autoimmune disorder usually manifesting as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), are positive for circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Many previous reports showed poor outcomes in these "double-positive" patients. We report a patient with perinuclear (p)-ANCA positive anti-GBM disease who presented with RPGN and required hemodialysis. Plasmapheresis and steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy were initiated following renal biopsy and resulted in normalization of anti-GBM antibody and p-ANCA titers, recovery of renal function, and discontinuation of hemodialysis. This case suggests that aggressive immunosuppression with plasmapheresis in patients who are p-ANCA positive with anti-GBM disease should be considered, even in those with severe renal dysfunction.
Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Autoantibodies ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Lung Diseases ; Plasmapheresis ; Renal Dialysis

Psoas abscesses are rare clinical entities complicating Crohn's disease (CD). However, psoas abscesses can cause poor outcomes because the diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the non-specific clinical features. Recently, we managed a case of a huge iliopsoas abscess in a 21-year-old man with a 4-year history of CD who presented with a limping gait and flexion contractures of the sacroiliac joint. Notably, the iliopsoas abscess developed during induction treatment with infliximab. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics, surgical drainage, and a right hemicolectomy. Herein we present the case with a brief review of the literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Contracture ; Crohn Disease ; Drainage ; Gait ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Psoas Abscess ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Young Adult

Psoas abscesses are rare clinical entities complicating Crohn's disease (CD). However, psoas abscesses can cause poor outcomes because the diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the non-specific clinical features. Recently, we managed a case of a huge iliopsoas abscess in a 21-year-old man with a 4-year history of CD who presented with a limping gait and flexion contractures of the sacroiliac joint. Notably, the iliopsoas abscess developed during induction treatment with infliximab. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics, surgical drainage, and a right hemicolectomy. Herein we present the case with a brief review of the literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Contracture ; Crohn Disease ; Drainage ; Gait ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Psoas Abscess ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Young Adult