No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Scrub Typhus*

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mean Platelet Volume* ; Platelet Count* ; Reference Values*

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mean Platelet Volume* ; Platelet Count* ; Reference Values*

PURPOSE: To determine (1) the relationship between the cortical defects seen on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans and age, and (2) the presence and degree of vesicoureteral reflux, and then to depict the risk factors for cortical defects in children with acute urinary tract infection (UTI). Furthermore, to assess the diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting a defect on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 134 kidneys in 67 children aged 15 days-10 years (M:F=39:28) in whom symptomatic UTI was present. In all these children, both DMSA renal scans and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were performed. Scanning took place within 7 days of diagnosis and VCUG was performed after one month of diagnosis. Scintigraphic findings were graded according to the extent and number of cortical defects. We evaluated the relationships between the cortical defects seen on DMSA scans and age, and the grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting cortical defects was analysed. Results: The prevalence of cortical defects was greater in patients older than two years (38/54, 70%) than in those aged less than two (38/80, 48%). The frequency of cortical defects was related to vesicoureteral reflux (p<0.05) and grade of reflux (p<0.05). As this latter increased, the extent of cortical defects also increased (p<0.05), and DMSA scans revealed the presence of these in 76 of the 134 kidneys (57%) with acute UTI. In 30 of these 76 (39.5%), VCUG demonstrated the presence of vesicoureteral reflex. On the other hand, vesi-coureteral reflex was found in 36 of the 134 kidneys (27%), and in 30 of these 36 (83%), cortical defects were noted. The sensitivity of VCUG in predicting cortical defect was 39.5%, while specificity was 89.7%. The positive predictive value for defects was 83.3%, and the negative predictive value was 53.1%. The relative risk of cortical defect in the presence of vesicoureteral reflux was 1.78. CONCLUSION: Renal cortical defects are significantly related to age and grade of vesicoureteral reflux. Risk factors for developing cortical defects were older age (> or =2yrs) at the time of acute UTI, and high grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The specificity of VCUG in predicting cortical defects is relatively high but the sensitivitiy is low, and a significant proportion of cortical defects therefore occurred in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Prevalence ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Reflex ; Risk Factors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect on MK 801 on the development on brain damage, spontaneous recurrent seizures and mossy fiber sprouting in the pilocarpine induced status epilepticus animal model. Methods: Fifty two adult Sprague Dawley male rats(180-240gm) were studied under ketamine/xylazine(87mg/13mg/kg, IP) anesthesia and were implanted at the F3, P3, F4, P4 areas for recording EEG. With a single intraperitoneal(IP) administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride(360mg/kg), 70% developed status epilepticus(SE). When SE was not induced within 1 hour after injection of pilocarpine, the second dose of pilocarpine(175mg/kg, IP) was injected, with 86.6% of success. Results: All studied animals were divided into two large groups, one group was treated with NMDA receptor antagonist, the other was control group. The mean duration of SE was 62.00+/-6.80 minutes in the MK 801(1mg/kg, IP, 30 minutes after SE) treated group, and 61.10+/-7.37 minutes in the control group without any signigicant differences(P>0.05). Neuronal loss(necrosis dominantly) was observed at CA1 and CA3 areas in the control group, with more loss after 6 weeks than 24 or 72 hrs specimens. However, there was no neuronal loss in MK 801 treated group. The protective effect of MK 801 for neuronal injury suggested the glutamate receptor activation was involved in the neuronal injury induced by repeated seizure attack. Spontaneous recurrent seizures(SRS) were observed 70% of animals in the control group, but there were no SRS observed in the MK 801 treated group. The mean scores of mossy fiber sprouting were significantly higher in the control group(2.05+/-0.47) than MK 801 treated group(0.4+/-0.32)(P<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggested that SRS and mossy fiber sprouting were associated with NMDA receptor activation, and NMDA receptor activation had a key role in the epilepsy development.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Animals* ; Brain* ; Dizocilpine Maleate* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Pilocarpine* ; Receptors, Glutamate ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus*

clinical and radiologic findings that mainly involve the white/gray matter of the parieto-occipital lobes. The purpose of this study was to determine its clinical and radiological characteristics. METHODS: A total of 15 pateints were involved in the study. Their medical records and radiological features of brain MRI were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen pateints were involved. (9 males and 5 females). The patients' ages ranged from 2-20 years (mean age:10 years). The brain MRI revealed fairly symmetric areas of increased T2 signal involving both white and gray matter of parieto-occipital regions. The condition seemed to be associated with cyclosporin A and steroid therapy or a variety of other conditions in which blood pressure rises acutely. CONCLUSION: Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a complicated neurological condition, but a better understanding of this complex syndrome may obviate unnecessary investigations and lead to prompt and appropriate management of the associated problems.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Child* ; Cyclosporine ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis requires fusion of the involved segments and decompression laminectomy because it is mechanically unstahle and usually associated with stenosis of the spinal canal. Transabdominal retroperitoneal approach through small longitudinal pararectal skin incision provides easy and safe access to L3-4 and L4-5 disc spaces with less bleeding. We thought that anterior interbody fusion enable us to restore the disc space and to reduce partially the listhesis with less hleeding and less harvest of graft hone compared to posterolateral fusion, and also without the risk of neural or dural damage which could he occurred in posterior lumbar interbody fusion 4.15.16.17). Thus, authors performed the same-day anterior and posterior spinal surgery (APSS) in 28 patients (30 disc spaces) from 1992 to 1996 and analyzed the clinical and radiological results. The most common site of involvement was L4-5 level (82.1%). The mean follow-up period was 2 years and 2 months (from l2 months to 4 years). Fusion was ohtained at 29 disc spaces (96.7%) within 24 weeks (average, I 6 weeks). The anterior displacement was corrected up to the average of 65.4% (5.8mm) postoperatively and the average of 60.7% (5.2mm) correction remained at last follow-up. The intervertebral disc space was restored up to the average of 96.9% (7.5mm) postoperatively and the average of 86.0% (6.2mm) restoration remained at last follow-up. Twenty-five out of 28 patients (89.2%) showed excellent or good clinical results hy the criteria of Kim, et al6). In conclusion, the same-day procedure of successive anterior interbody fusion, decompression laminectomy and posterior pedicular instrumentation for the degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis associated with spinal stenosis was thought to be a good method of treatment.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Laminectomy ; Skin ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Transplants

Eisenmenger syndrome is a pulmonary vascular disease in which pulmonary-systemic circulation is connected due to bidirectional shunt caused by congenital heart disease, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular failure. Intraoperative management is a challenging task for anesthesiologists when patients with Eisenmenger syndrome undergo non-cardiac surgery, and maintaining both systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance during surgery is critical. In this case, we report that a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome with a humerus fracture successfully underwent open reduction with internal fixation by performing ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block and was discharged without complications. When upper limb surgery is performed in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block has fewer hemodynamic changes such as decreased systemic venous resistance and increased pulmonary vascular resistance compared to general anesthesia, and could be a safe anesthetic method in terms of postoperative pain control.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the group differences in contents of subjective memory problem and objective cognitive functions in late life depression and mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: 40 participants were classified into three groups [normal, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and depression]. Differences in subjective memory complaints were examined using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire. And the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease-Korean version neuropsychological assessment battery results were used for evaluating objective cognitive functions. Group differences were analyzed ANCOVA analysis. RESULTS: In post-hoc analysis, the questions "Do you fail to recognize a character in a radio or television show from scene to scene?" and "Do you forget something that you told a few minute before?" were significantly able to discriminate between the MCI and normal groups. In post-hoc analysis, late life depression group showed significantly higher score on the question "Do you intend to take something with you, before leaving a room or going out, but minutes later leave it behind, even though it's there in front of you?". CONCLUSION: The result demonstrates the presence of differences in the contents of subjective memory complaints according to groups. Subjectively reported memory complaints in MCI group are related to deficits in learning new information. In late life depression, memory complaints are more related to difficulty in executive functions.
Depression* ; Executive Function ; Learning ; Memory* ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Report ; Television

BACKGROUND: Pleural eosinophilia is rare and commonly considered to be an indicator of good prognosis. The diagnostic significance of eosinophilic pleural effusions remains controversial despite a century of observation and discussion. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of eosinophilia in 446 consecutive samples of pleural fluid, to review the cause of eosinophilic pleural effusion and to determine whether the presence of eosinophils increases the likehood of benign conditions. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed upon patients that underwent first thoracentesis due to pleural effusion between January 1999 and December 1999. RESULTS: Eosinophilic pleural effusions were identified in 24 of the 446 patients (5.4%). Malignancy, parapneumonic effusion and tuberculosis were determined the major causes of pleural effusion (80.6%). Malignancy was diagnosed as frequently in eosinophilic effusions as in non-eosinophilic effusions (54.2% vs 50.5%, p=0.725). No difference was found in the prevalence of eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic effusion according to the etiology. The mean blood eosinophil ratio in patients with eosinophilic pleural effusion was 5.4% and no significant correlation existed between the blood and pleural eosinophilic count. CONCLUSION: Pleural eosinophilia is not helpful for differentiating benign and malignant etiology and is not related with blood eosinophilia or repeated tapping.
Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion* ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis