BACKGROUND: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), one of the eosinophil granule proteins released during allergic reactions, may play a major role in the allergic inflammatory process. The measurement of ECP in serum may be a useful indicator of eosinophil activity in ongoing inflammatory processes. We investigated the clinical utility of ECP measurement in serum in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, after standardizing sample processing. METHODS: We measured the serum ECP levels in patients with bronchial asthma (n=38), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) (n=13), respiratory symptoms (n=19), allergic rhinitis (n=26), non-allergic rhinitis (n=24), and atopic dermatitis (n=10) and in normal healthy controls (n=16) by the fluoroenzyme immunoassay using Pharmacia CAP System, and evaluated the correlation between ECP level and blood eosinophil number, or ECP and IgE levels. Blood eosinophil number was counted by the automated cell counter. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma (15.6+/- 12.6 g/L), COPD (13.3+/-7.2 g/L), allergic rhinitis (23.8+/-13.2 g/L), and atopic dermatitis (20.6+/- 18.4 g/L) than in normal controls (7.5+/-4.2 g/L) (P <0.05). ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma and COPD than in patients with simple respiratory symptoms (6.9+/-4.7 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. ECP levels were also significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis than in patients with non-allergic rhinitis (9.5+/-5.1 g/L), whose ECP levels did not statistically differ from those in normal controls. Serum ECP level and eosinophil number in peripheral blood were correlated only in patients with bronchial asthma (r=0.53, P <0.01) and no correlation between ECP and IgE levels was found in all of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ECP is the one of the secretory components released from the eosinophil granule and measurement of ECP in serum might be one of the noninvasive tool to assess the activity in relation to eosinophil involvement in various allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Cell Count ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophil Granule Proteins ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: Adult onset Still s disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder. There are no pathognomonic symptoms or specific laboratory abnormalities. In recent reports, serum ferritin concentration is increased in active disease phase and decreased after defervescence. Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of serum ferritin as an indicator for disease activity. METHODS: Seven patients who were diagnosed as adult onset Still s disease at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and March 1997, were reviewed. In these patients we checked leukocyte count, ESR, CRP and serum ferritin concentrations at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up periods and recorded febrile events during follow-up periods. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis and during febrile periods, the concentrations of ferritin were extremely high(927ng/ml to 96,650ng/ml normal 10-290.8 ng/ml). The values were unrelated to other manifestations of the disease or laboratory findings. The ferritin concentrations decreased rapidly after adequate treatment. Eleven febrile reattacks happened in 7 patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in 8 febrile attacks, while leukocyte count, ESR, and CRP were increased in 5, 5, 6 febrile attacks respectively, There were 10 events of increased serum ferritin concentrations in 7 patients during follow-up periods and 8 events were related with fever. The increases of other laboratory tests were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, serum ferritin concentrations were increased at the time of diagnosis and closely related to fever. During follow-up periods, serum ferritin concentrations are helpful in monitoring disease activity and guiding decisions about treatment.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

Septo-optic dysplasia, as first described by de Morsier, is a rare developmental anomaly of absent or hypoplastic septum pellucidum, a primitive optic vesicle, and dysplasia of the optic nerve, chiasm, and optic tracts. It is a common cause of hypopituitarism in children and has variable hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. We experienced a case of septo-optic dysplasia in 5 month old female baby who presented with developmental delay and seizure. A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed absence of the septum pellucidum and the fundoscopic examination disclosed the absence of left optic disc and atrophy of right optic disc.
Atrophy ; Brain ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Optic Nerve ; Seizures ; Septo-Optic Dysplasia* ; Septum Pellucidum ; Visual Pathways

BACKGROUND: The product of oxygen-free radicals inf1ict oxidative injuries on healthy cells. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione(GSH) are present in almost all cells and play important roles in metabolism, transport, and cellular protection. We measured blood GSH levels in healthy controls and patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) for evaluation of the clinical usefulness of GSH. METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured in fifty healthy controls and thirty NIDDM patients with diabetic retinopathies by Beutler's method. We also tested within-run precision, between-run precision, linearity and recovery rate to evaluate this method measuring erythrocyte GSH levels. RESULTS: The GSH levels (mean +/-SD) of NIDDM patients (5.03+/-0.67mumo1/Hb) were significantly lower than those of healthy control group (6.46+/-0.85mumo1/Hb)(P<0.001). The results of within-run precision and between-run precision when stored at 4degrees Cwere excellent (coefficient of variation were 2.79% and 2.42%, respectively), however, when stored at the room temperature the GSH levels were sharply declined. The linearity and recovery rate were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The prescision, linearity, and recovery rate of GSH measurement were excellent. The GSH levels in NIDDM patient group were reduced, and this probably contributes to the defective defense mechanism against increased oxidative stress. Additional measurement of other antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione Peroxidase may be required to clarify the pathologic significance of glutathione metabolism in various diseases.
Antioxidants ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides

PURPOSE: This study explored the feasibility of a 12 week self-efficacy based exercise intervention for overweight and obese college students. METHOD: A repeated measure, 4-group randomized controlled design was used. Students were recruited from two universities, in Seoul, Korea using: (1) flyers either on the campus bulletin boards or in campus restrooms; (2) advertisement on campus e-board; and (3) self-referral. Inclusion criteria were: (1) Korean college students aged 18 to 29; (2) BMI >23; (3) viscerally obese; and (4) accessible to a phone and a computer. Participants completed three self-reported questionnaires: socio-demographic questionnaire (at the baseline), Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (at the baseline and 12th week), and Physical Fitness sub-subscale (at the baseline and 12th week). Additionally, physiological data (height, weight, blood pressure) were collected at the baseline and 12th week. Descriptive statistics and a two-way mixed ANOVA were performed using SPSS12.0. RESULTS: No significant group difference was observed. However, students with increased exercise self-efficacy during the program showed better physical fitness in the 12th week. When students' physical fitness was enhanced, the physiological factors were improved. CONCLUSIONS: Self-efficacy based exercise intervention may be applicable and acceptable to the college students. It is necessary to conduct a replicated study with a larger sample and an elongated intervention period.
Feasibility Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Physical Fitness ; Self Efficacy ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a rare hip disorder that mainly occurs in pubertal children. Although the exact cause of this disorder is unknown, it is known to be associated with obesity, trauma, delayed sexual development, delayed bone maturation, chronic renal failure, genetic diseases, endocrine disorders (growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism), growth hormone therapy, and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) therapy. We report 2 cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in adolescent females who were receiving growth hormone therapy. The first case is of a 16 year-old-girl with chronic renal failure and renal osteodystrophy. The second case is of an 11 year-old-girl with idiopathic precocious puberty who had received GnRH agonist and growth hormone therapy. Unilateral or bilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis developed at 1 year 3 months after treatment in both the cases. The chief complaints were pain in the hip joint and lower extremities. Growth hormone and/or GnRH agonist therapy was stopped, and in situ screw fixations of the involved hip epiphyses were performed.
Adolescent ; Child ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Epiphyses ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Hormone ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lower Extremity ; Obesity ; Puberty, Precocious ; Renal Osteodystrophy ; Sexual Development ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) mutation is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the occurrence of parathyroid, pancreatic islet, and anterior pituitary tumors. The incidence of insulinoma in MEN is relatively uncommon, and there have been a few cases of MEN manifested with insulinoma as the first symptom in children. We experienced a 9-year-old girl having a familial MEN1 mutation. She complained of dizziness, occasional palpitation, weakness, hunger, sweating, and generalized tonic-clonic seizure that lasted for 5 minutes early in the morning. At first, she was only diagnosed with insulinoma by abdominal magnetic resonance images of a 1.3 × 1.5 cm mass in the pancreas and high insulin levels in blood of the hepatic vein, but after her father was diagnosed with MEN1. We found she had familial MEN1 mutation, and she recovered hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia after enucleation of the mass. Therefore, the early genetic identification of MEN1 mutation is considerable for children with at least one manifestation.
Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia/diagnosis ; Insulin/blood ; Insulinoma/diagnostic imaging/*pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1/*diagnosis/pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging/*pathology ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics ; Seizures/complications

PURPOSE: We studied the changes in subtypes of diabetes mellitus (DM) in children and evaluated the characteristics of each group over the past 20 years. In addition, we also examined the correlation between the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values at the time of diagnosis and lipid profiles. METHODS: The patients were divided into 2 groups: there were a total of 190 patients under 20 years of age firstly diagnosed with DM in Ajou University Hospital. The patients in groups I and II were diagnosed from September 1995 to December 2004 and from January 2005 to April 2014, respectively. RESULTS: The characteristics were compared between the 2 groups of patients. The result showed an increase in percentage of type 2 diabetes and maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) patients between the 2 groups. HbA1c and total cholesterol level had statistical significances to explain increasing the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level among age, HbA1c, total cholesterol level, and z-scores of weight and body mass index (BMI) in type 2 diabetes. R-square was 0.074. However, z-score of BMI and total cholesterol level, not HbA1c, had statistical significances in type 1 diabetic patients. R-square was 0.323. CONCLUSION: The increase in the proportions of both type 2 diabetes and MODY in the last 10 years needed to be reminded when diagnosing the subtypes of DM, and the dyslipidemia should be attended more as a common problem of pediatric diabetic patients.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins

PURPOSE: We studied the changes in subtypes of diabetes mellitus (DM) in children and evaluated the characteristics of each group over the past 20 years. In addition, we also examined the correlation between the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values at the time of diagnosis and lipid profiles. METHODS: The patients were divided into 2 groups: there were a total of 190 patients under 20 years of age firstly diagnosed with DM in Ajou University Hospital. The patients in groups I and II were diagnosed from September 1995 to December 2004 and from January 2005 to April 2014, respectively. RESULTS: The characteristics were compared between the 2 groups of patients. The result showed an increase in percentage of type 2 diabetes and maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) patients between the 2 groups. HbA1c and total cholesterol level had statistical significances to explain increasing the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level among age, HbA1c, total cholesterol level, and z-scores of weight and body mass index (BMI) in type 2 diabetes. R-square was 0.074. However, z-score of BMI and total cholesterol level, not HbA1c, had statistical significances in type 1 diabetic patients. R-square was 0.323. CONCLUSION: The increase in the proportions of both type 2 diabetes and MODY in the last 10 years needed to be reminded when diagnosing the subtypes of DM, and the dyslipidemia should be attended more as a common problem of pediatric diabetic patients.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical and radiological results between the anterior and posterior screw fixation for the treatment of talar neck fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 30 patients who received surgical treatment for talar neck fracture from 2001 to 2008. Twenty-seven patients with a follow-up period of more than 1 year were divided into two groups. Twelve patients were treated with anterior screw fixation and 15 patients with posterior approaches. We analyzed preoperative, postoperative and follow-up radiographs. Clinical results were evaluated by Hawkins criteria. RESULTS: The posteriorly inserted screws were placed across the more central portion of the talar neck and perpendicular to the plane of fracture (p<0.05). There were no difference in clinical results, the duration of union, and complications including avascular necrosis between two groups. However, 2 patients complained of pain around the talonavicular joint in the anterior insertion group. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical results were good irrespective of insertion methods, the posterior approach of screw fixation for talar neck fractures allows for a better mechanical advantage than anterioly placed screws. This may allow early motion with a reduced risk of failure of fixation or of displacement of the fracture.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Joints ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Nitro Compounds ; Talus