No abstract available.
Suicide, Attempted*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients with acute bronchiolitis who visited in 146 Emergency Departments (EDs) in Korea in 2012. METHODS: We used the NEDIS (National Emergency Department Information System) database to obtain all children with acute bronchiolitis who visited ED under the age of 3 between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. RESULTS: Totally 18,313 children with acute bronchiolitis were enrolled at this study. The male to female ratio was 1.55:1 and mean age was 10 months. The peak proportion was 17.3% in November during the whole year. The most common chief complaints were fever (38.5%), cough (37.4%), dyspnea (9.5%), gastrointestinal symptom (6.7%), and wheezing (2.5%). The most common accompanying disease was pneumonia (13.3%). The rate of hospital admission and intensive care unit admission were 34.5% and 0.3%, respectively. A predictor for admission via ED was respiratory difficulty. CONCLUSION: These data expand our understanding of clinical characteristics of patients with acute bronchiolitis who visited all ED in Korea in 2012.
Bronchiolitis* ; Child ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea* ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Sounds

PURPOSE: Influenza infection is a major public health concern, especially in young children and in high risk groups such as asthma patients. Traditionally, influenza vaccines are produced from infertilized eggs. Therefore, patients with severe egg allergy can show adverse reactions after vaccination and be dalayed in active immunization. The aim of this study was to determine the ovalbumin concentration of a commercially available influenza vaccines in Korea. METHODS: The ovalbumin content in each vaccine was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The ovalbumin content was compared among the different manufactures, the different lot numbers and the same lot numbers of vaccines. The microtiter plates coated with goat anti-chicken egg albumin antibody were inoculated with serial diluted vaccines and ovalbumin. After incubation with horse radish peroxidase-conjugate rabbit anti-ovalbumin, absorbance was read at 450 nm and fitted to the standard curve. RESULTS: The highest ovalbumin content was 101.24 ng/mL, and the lowest ovalbumin content was 21.23 ng/mL. The amount of ovalbumin differed not only among the different vaccines, but also different lot numbers of individual vaccines and even the same lot numbers of vaccines. CONCLUSION: In none of the vaccines tested in our study, ovalbumin content reached the maximum values for ovalbumin (1.2 microgram/mL). Therefore, in severe egg allergic patients, our results provide the useful information on influenza vaccination.
Asthma ; Child ; Egg Hypersensitivity ; Eggs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Goats ; Horses ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Public Health ; Raphanus ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

PURPOSE: Influenza infection is a major public health concern, especially in young children and in high risk groups such as asthma patients. Traditionally, influenza vaccines are produced from infertilized eggs. Therefore, patients with severe egg allergy can show adverse reactions after vaccination and be dalayed in active immunization. The aim of this study was to determine the ovalbumin concentration of a commercially available influenza vaccines in Korea. METHODS: The ovalbumin content in each vaccine was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The ovalbumin content was compared among the different manufactures, the different lot numbers and the same lot numbers of vaccines. The microtiter plates coated with goat anti-chicken egg albumin antibody were inoculated with serial diluted vaccines and ovalbumin. After incubation with horse radish peroxidase-conjugate rabbit anti-ovalbumin, absorbance was read at 450 nm and fitted to the standard curve. RESULTS: The highest ovalbumin content was 101.24 ng/mL, and the lowest ovalbumin content was 21.23 ng/mL. The amount of ovalbumin differed not only among the different vaccines, but also different lot numbers of individual vaccines and even the same lot numbers of vaccines. CONCLUSION: In none of the vaccines tested in our study, ovalbumin content reached the maximum values for ovalbumin (1.2 microgram/mL). Therefore, in severe egg allergic patients, our results provide the useful information on influenza vaccination.
Asthma ; Child ; Egg Hypersensitivity ; Eggs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Goats ; Horses ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Public Health ; Raphanus ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

PURPOSE: The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing rapidly. Epidemiologic studies suggest that obesity induced atherosclerosis may start in childhood. We investigated whether obese children show early abnormalities of the arterial wall and endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: Thirty-eight obese children(14-16 years old of age, male, body mass index 29.40+/-3.18 kg/m2) and forty-five age and sex-matched healthy control children(body mass index 18.43+/-1.01 kg/ m2) were enrolled. Their carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation(FMD) response were measured by high-quality ultrasound system, and compliance, distensibility, stiffness index, incremental elastic modulus and wall stress were calculated by equation. In addition, we looked at the relations between these arterial features and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: The obese children had significantly increased IMT(0.52+/-0.09 mm vs 0.40+/-0.07 mm, P< 0.001) and markedly impaired FMD(7.35+/-7.78 percent vs 20.34+/-16.81 percent, P<0.001) than the healthy controls. But the compliance and distensibility were lower, and the stiffness index, incremental elastic modules and wall stress were higher in the obese group than the control group, but not statistically significantly. Body mass index was highly associated with increased IMT(r=0.612, P< 0.001) and reduced FMD(r=-0.414, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: We showed the deleterious effect of child obesity on both early functional and structural atherosclerotic markers. The ultrasonic findings will be used for screening and follow up markers to identify high-risk patients among obese children.
Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Brachial Artery ; Carotid Arteries ; Child* ; Compliance ; Elastic Modulus ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Recently, incidences of chronic cough with allergic disease have been increased. The identification of specific allergens for chronically coughing children is significant for diagnosis, proper treatment and prevention. The aim of this study was to identify significant contributors for sensitization in chronically coughing children. METHODS: A total of 106 children, aged 1-6 years, visiting for chronic cough(>3 weeks), were tested for inhalant multiple allergosorbent assay(MAST), eosinophil count and total IgE. Parents completed a questionnaire on past history of atopy(infantile eczema) and bronchiolitis, family history of allergy, breastfeeding, smoking, pets and floor coverings at home. RESULTS: Significant contributors for sensitization were:age(4-6 years), infantile eczema, positive family history of allergy and smoking by family. CONCLUSION: We were able to identify significant contributors for sensitization in chronically coughing children.
Allergens ; Breast Feeding ; Bronchiolitis ; Child* ; Cough* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

Congenital absence of the gall bladder without extrahepatic biliary atresia is an extremely rare congenital malformation with a reported incidence ranging between 0.01 and 0.02%. It is thought to be occurred from failure of the gallbladder bud to develop in utero and frequent association with other malformations. Agenesis can be randomly discovered at autopsy or operations for symptoms suggestive of biliary tract disease. The authors report a case of agenesis of the gallbladder without extrahepatic biliary atresia in a neonate which was incidentally found at laparotomy for presumed duodenal obstruction, with a review of the literature.
Autopsy ; Biliary Atresia* ; Biliary Tract Diseases ; Duodenal Obstruction ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Laparotomy ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The practice of early discharge of healthy term and near-term newborns is growing worldwide. For this reason, early identification of newborn at risk for developing significant hyperbilirubinemia has become a public health issue. We therefore investigated prospectively 1) the pattern of bilirubin levels of healthy newborn by measuring transcutaneous bilirubin in the first postnatal week, 2) the predictive ability of a predischarge transcutaneous bilirubin measurement to screen for risk of subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia in healthy newborn. METHODS: The study population consisted of 218 healthy term and near-term babies in the newborn unit at the Konyang University hospital during from August 2004 to June 2005. Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements on the midsternum were initially made at the 24 hours of life, repeated daily until discharge, each measurement was performed just at the 24 hours after the previous measurement. And a postdischarge TcB was measured on the 7th day of life. The accuracy of the predischarge TcB as a predictor of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia was determined. RESULTS: The mean bilirubin level is 4.51+/-1.63 mg/dL on the 1st day of life (n=218), 6.71+/-1.92 mg/dL on the 2nd day of life (n=186), 8.04+/-2.05 mg/dL on the 3rd day of life (n=118), 8.60+/-2.33 mg/dL on the 4th day of life (n=88) and 8.60+/-2.79 mg/dL on the 5th day of life (n=41). A total of 16/218 (7.3%) had significant hyperbilirubinemia. Predischarge, 5.5% of the population (12/218) had TcB values in the high risk zone (> or =95 percentile) at the 24 hours of life; of these, 66.7% (8/12) developed significant hyperbilirubinemia. Predischarge, 38% of the population (83/218) was in the low risk zone (<40 percentile) and there was no measurable risk for significant hyperbilirubinemia. CONCLUSION: By measuring noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin at the 24 hours of life, we can predict which newborn is at high risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia.
Bilirubin* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia* ; Infant, Newborn ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health

Childhood obesity seems to contribute to the development of vascular inflammation and the progression of arterial wall changes. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has recently emerged as a useful biomarker for vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association of the serum hs-CRP level with ultrasonic findings of early atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media wall thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in obese children. Thirty eight obese children and 45 sex/age-matched healthy control children were recruited. Serum CRP levels were measured by the high-sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay, and we measured carotid IMT and brachial FMD using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels (1.40+/-0.74 mg/L vs. 0.55+/-0.49 mg/L, p<0.01), as well as increased IMT (0.52+/-0.09 mm vs. 0.41+/-0.07 mm, p<0.01) and impaired FMD (7.35+/-7.78% vs. 20.34+/-16.81%, p<0.01) compared to healthy controls. Serum hs-CRP correlated positively with IMT (r=0.413, p<0.05) and inversely with FMD (r=-0.350, p<0.05) in the obesity group. Measurement of the serum hs-CRP level is a simple, cheap, and highly reproducible assay and correlates with IMT and FMD in obese children. Thus, it would be a useful marker for evaluating and estimating the degree of atherosclerosis in children.
Sensitivity and Specificity ; Risk Factors ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Prognosis ; Obesity/*blood/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Biological Markers/blood ; Atherosclerosis/*blood/complications/*diagnosis ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The basic principle of microdialysis is to mimic the function of a capillary blood vessel by perfusing physiologic liquid implanted into the target tissue. Amino acids are supposed to have functions for controlling the homeostasis of normal nasal mucosa and a role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. However, no studies have been conducted about the existence of amino acids in the nasal cavity. This study measures the concentration of 19 amino acids found in the nasal cavity of normal control and experimentally allergy-induced animal model in order to evaluate the difference in the concentration of amino acids between normal and allergic nasal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An experimentally induced nasal allergy model was developed by intraperitoneal and intranasal sensitization with ovalbumin in Dunkin-Hartely guinea pigs according to a programmed protocol. A microdialysis probe was designed to be suitable to nasal mucosa using a Cuprophan hollow fiber (200 micrometer inner diameter, 300 micrometer outer diameter, 45 kDa molecular weight cut-off, Fitral, AN 69-HF). After verification of the probe, microdialysis was performed in the inferior turbinate submucosa of normal control (N=8) and experimental (N=8) groups. The concentration of 19 amino acids was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed using a student t-test. RESULTS: All 19 amino acids were validated at various concentrations in the nasal cavity. Glutamate (p=0.036) and GABA (p<0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The 19 amino acids measured existed in the nasal cavity at various concentrations, and the concentrations of glutamate and GABA were significantly higher in the allergy group than in the control group. The microdialysis technique is a powerful tool not only to measure endogenous substances for target organ chemistry but also to pharmacokinetically evaluate exogenous drug delivery processes in the nasal cavity.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Guinea Pigs ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Microdialysis* ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Weight ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Rhinitis ; Turbinates