No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI), also known as diabetic myonecrosis, is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus (DM); hence, it is often underdiagnosed. Thus, timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better prognosis. We describe a 24-year-old woman with Prader-Willi syndrome and an 8-year history of uncontrolled type 2 DM, who presented with a sudden onset of fever and subacute painful swelling of her left thigh. She was finally diagnosed with DMI based on magnetic resonance imaging and muscle biopsy after excluding other infectious and inflammatory diseases of proximal muscles. The patient was treated with bed rest, strict glycemic control, and analgesics, and her symptoms gradually resolved. DMI should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with poorly controlled DM, who present with subacute pain and swelling of lower extremity muscles, without a history of trauma.

Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI), also known as diabetic myonecrosis, is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus (DM); hence, it is often underdiagnosed. Thus, timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better prognosis. We describe a 24-year-old woman with Prader-Willi syndrome and an 8-year history of uncontrolled type 2 DM, who presented with a sudden onset of fever and subacute painful swelling of her left thigh. She was finally diagnosed with DMI based on magnetic resonance imaging and muscle biopsy after excluding other infectious and inflammatory diseases of proximal muscles. The patient was treated with bed rest, strict glycemic control, and analgesics, and her symptoms gradually resolved. DMI should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with poorly controlled DM, who present with subacute pain and swelling of lower extremity muscles, without a history of trauma.

Prader-Willi syndrome is characterized by infantile hypotonia, mental retardation, hyperhagia, hypogonadism and obesity. Approximately 60% of all PLW syndrome show an interstitial deletion of chromosome 15, 37% have apparently normal chromosome, and 3.6% have a variety of other abnormalities involving chromosome 15. Diabetes mellitus has been considered a component of PLW syndrome and the incidence is about 7%. We experienced a 17-year-old female who revealed mental retardation, hypogonadism, obesity, and non-insulin dependent type DM, compatible with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Adolescent ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Obesity ; Prader-Willi Syndrome*

The purpose of this review is to discuss the debate concerning the interpretation of epidemiologic studies on particles and health effects. Study of the 1952 air pollution disaster in London established that very high levels of particulate-based smog can cause dramatic increases in daily mortality. However, recent epidemiologic studies have reported statistically significant health effects and mortality due to low levels of air pollution. The statistical significance does not prove causation in observational studies; therefore it is necessary to evaluate these associations. There are arguments for and against each of the numerous studies using Hill's criteria, however the body of accepted evidence supports the causal association. In particular, a high level of consistency in the estimated effect of PM10 has been observed across studies worldwide. The mechanism of the relationship between air pollution and health effects is not obvious. The mechanism of particle-induced injury may involve the production of an inflammatory response by the particulate. The harvesting and the threshold effect are also major concerns regarding the health effects of air pollution. However, current epidemiologic findings indicate that linear models lacking a threshold are appropriate for assessing the effect of particulate air pollution on daily mortality even at current levels.
Air Pollution* ; Disasters ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Linear Models ; Mortality ; Smog

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics or the potassium channels existing in the rat urinary bladders. Smooth muscle strips of rat detrusor urinae were examined by isometric myography. Relaxation responses of detrusor muscle strips to the three potassium channel openers pinacidil, a cyanoguanidine derivative, BRL 38227, a benzopyran derivative and RP 52891, a tertrahydrothiopyran derivative were examined. The potassium channel openers reduced the basal tone, and the rank order of potency was RP 52891>pincidil>BRL 38227. Procaine, an inhibitor of the voltage-sensitive potassium channel tended to increase the basal tone, but it did not affect the relaxant effects of the calcium-activated potassium channel opener did not antagonize the relaxant effects, but it reduced the Emax of RP 52891 and BRL 38227. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, antagonized the relaxant effects of pinacidil, RP 52891 and BRL 38227 reducing the Emax of RP 52891 and BRl 38227. Galanin which inhibits secretion of insulin through opening the ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic β-cells rather increased the basal tone of the isolated detrusor strips. These results suggest that the urinary bladder of the rat has mainly the ATP-sensitive, glibenclamide sensitive potassium channel, which is a different type from that in the pancreatic β-islet cells.
Animals ; Cromakalim ; Galanin ; Glyburide ; Insulin ; KATP Channels ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myography ; Pinacidil ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; Potassium* ; Procaine ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of tear osmolarity and protein after silicone punctal plug insertion in dry eye. METHODS: We collected tear from 21 dry eyes (11 males and 10 females) with porous polyester rod(Transorb(R)) before silicone punctal occlusion and 2 weeks after the procedure. Tear osmolarity was measured by Fiske 2400 Osmometer(R). Total tear protein concentration was analyzed by Bradford's assay. The concentration of human serum albumin (HSA), lactoferrin, lysozyme were measured by Bio-Rad Gel Doc 2000(R). RESULTS: The tear osmolarity was changed from 364.48+/41.39 mOsm/L to 327.48+/-27.24 mOsm/L after the punctal occlusion (P<0.05). There were no changes of total protein concentration, Human serum albumin, lactoferrin, but lysozyme was increased statistically significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Silicone punctal occulusion decreases tear osmolarity in dry eye. This decrease is associated with a decrease in ocular surface disease due to high tear osmolarity. Only lysozyme except HSA and lactoferrin was increased significantly. Silicone punctal plug is an effective procedure for dry eye patients, but further investigation of the effects on tear proteins is needed.
Humans ; Lactoferrin ; Male ; Muramidase ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Polyesters ; Serum Albumin ; Silicones*

The relationship between functional abdominal pain (FAP) and occult constipation (OC) in children who did not meet the Rome III criteria for constipation has rarely been reported. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of OC in patients with FAP and to compare the effectiveness of prokinetic drugs and laxatives for FAP and OC. Pediatric outpatients (n = 212; aged 4–15 years) who satisfied the Rome III criteria for childhood FAP were divided into 2 groups based on Leech scores: group 1 < 8; group 2 ≥ 8. Group 2 received either prokinetic drugs or laxatives and pain severity was assessed after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. A total 52.4% (111/212) of patients had OC in this study. More patients who received laxatives had reduced pain scores compared with those who received prokinetic drugs. Those treated with laxatives in group 2 had a better response than those treated with prokinetic drugs throughout the study period (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002 after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months, respectively). OC was frequently encountered in children with FAP. Laxatives can be more effective than prokinetic drugs for relieving symptoms of FAP in children with a Leech score ≥ 8 and suspected OC.
Abdominal Pain* ; Child* ; Constipation* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Laxatives* ; Outpatients ; Pediatrics ; Prevalence

Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) is currently implicated as the most common and otentially serious viral respiratory pathogen of young infants. Apnea in association with RSV infection occurred in about 18% of the infants. Premature birth and a young postnatal age were risk factors for development of apnea with RSV disease. We experienced a case of RSV infection in a 37 day-old premature girl. The presenting complaint was apnea, with respiratory signs and symptoms developing later. She required mechanical ventilation.
Apnea* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Premature Birth ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Purpura*