PURPOSE: To describe the ocular surface and tear function findings in premature and term babies. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 30 premature babies and 60 eyes of 30 healthy term babies were studied. The subjects underwent routine ophthalmic examinations: corneal sensitivity test, corneal fluorescein test, Schirmer test with anesthesia, tear breakup time test, lipid layer pattern test and conjuctival impression cytology. RESULTS: The mean corneal sensitivity scores were 35.2+/-5.0 mm and 54.2+/-3.7 mm in the premature and term babies, respectively (P<0.001). The mean Schirmer test score with anesthesia was 6.1+/-1.1 mm in the premature babies compared with 8.9+/-1.1 mm in the term babies (P<0.001). Premature babies had a mean lipid layer pattern score of 7.6+/-0.6 points, compared with 7.7+/-0.7 points in the term babies (P>0.001). Mean squamous metaplasia scores were 1.05+/-0.59 in the premature and 0.18+/-0.39 in the term babies (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants had decreased tactile corneal sensitivity and reduced basal tear secretion as compared with full term infants. The premature infants did not have severe ocular surface disease from dry eyes because the lipid layers provide a protective effect for the ocular surface.
Anesthesia ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Metaplasia ; Tears*

PURPOSE: To describe the ocular surface and tear function findings in premature and term babies. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 30 premature babies and 60 eyes of 30 healthy term babies were studied. The subjects underwent routine ophthalmic examinations: corneal sensitivity test, corneal fluorescein test, Schirmer test with anesthesia, tear breakup time test, lipid layer pattern test and conjuctival impression cytology. RESULTS: The mean corneal sensitivity scores were 35.2+/-5.0 mm and 54.2+/-3.7 mm in the premature and term babies, respectively (P<0.001). The mean Schirmer test score with anesthesia was 6.1+/-1.1 mm in the premature babies compared with 8.9+/-1.1 mm in the term babies (P<0.001). Premature babies had a mean lipid layer pattern score of 7.6+/-0.6 points, compared with 7.7+/-0.7 points in the term babies (P>0.001). Mean squamous metaplasia scores were 1.05+/-0.59 in the premature and 0.18+/-0.39 in the term babies (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants had decreased tactile corneal sensitivity and reduced basal tear secretion as compared with full term infants. The premature infants did not have severe ocular surface disease from dry eyes because the lipid layers provide a protective effect for the ocular surface.
Anesthesia ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Metaplasia ; Tears*

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to compare the degree of anger expression, assertive behavior, and self-esteem between a nursing student group and an educational student group, and to identify factors affecting their self-esteem. METHODS: This study adopted the descriptive comparative design. Data were collected by interviewing 97 nursing students and 89 educational students from three nursing schools and one educational school in Daegu, Korea from November to December, 2008. RESULTS: Major findings of this study were as follows. 1) The educational student group had a higher self-esteem score than the nursing student group. 2) There were significant correlations among anger expression, assertive behavior, and self-esteem. 3) Self-esteem was significantly associated with Grade Point Average (GPA) and assertive behavior in the nursing student group with 17.2% variance, and with assertive behavior and anger-out in the educational student group with 24.1% variance. CONCLUSION: These results may contribute to better understanding of hurt, anger expression, assertive behavior, and self-esteem in nursing students and educational students. Based on the results, there, it is required to develop programs that prompt students' self-esteem.
Anger* ; Daegu ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Schools, Nursing ; Students, Nursing*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Edema ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Mice* ; Uterus

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

The bullectomy through the limited transaxillary thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) had been used in operative management of spontaneous pneumothorax from Jan. 1994 to July 1997. The study comprised a retrospective review of 42 cases which were treated by limited thoracotomy, and 61 cases treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic sugery. We retrospectively reviewed annual incidnce of bullectomy. Analysis of video-assised thoracoscopic surgery and open bullectomy including age, sex, operative sites, surgical indications, associated diseases, operative time, posoperatve complications and hospital courses. There was no significant difference for operation time in two groups, 98.3+/-38.4 minutes in thoracotomy and 95.7+/-31.5 minutes in VATS. Prolonged air leakage over 7 days was observed in 8 cases from thoracotomy group, 4 cases from VATS group. 3 cases of recurrent pneumothorax were found from VATS group, but no recurrence was occurred from open bullectomy group. There were significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (8.0+/-3.9 day in thoracotomy vs 5.9+/-2.4day in VATS (P=0.001)), and indwelling period of chest tube after operation ( 5.8+/-3.0day in thoracotomy vs 4.0+/-2.0day in VATS (P=0.0006)).
Chest Tubes ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Pneumothorax* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted* ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy*

Cystic masses of the adrenal gland are unusual in the fetus and most are secondary to hemorrhage. Cysticneuroblastoma is extremely rare, and in contrast to solid neuroblastoma, follows a benign course, is diagnosedearlier, and rarely presents with metastatic lesions(1-4). We report one case of cystic neuroblastoma diagnosedprenatally by ultrasound(US) and magnetic resonance(MR) imaging, and include a review of the literature.
Adrenal Glands ; Fetus ; Hemorrhage ; Neuroblastoma*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Murine system for studying allergic diseases has been popular in the fields of food allergy and development of their therapeutic strategies. However, there has been no information about the age-dependent changes of natural immune responses of naive C3H/HeJ mice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age-dependent changes of B and T-cell mediated immunologic parameters in naive C3H/HeJ mice, which can provide information for experimental planning and analysis of research results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eight naive, female, 5-week-old C3H/HeJ mice were grown under the regular mouse chow feeding conditions for 6 weeks. Sera were obtained at week (w) 5, w6, w8 and w10 for measuring total and chow-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. Splenocyte proliferation (at w8 and w10) and cytokine production (at w6, w8 and w10) were evaluated with or without Con A stimulation with pooled splenocytes from two mice of each age group. Serum antibodies and cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-12, INF-gamma, TGF-beta1) were measured by ELISA. Using RT-PCR, IL-4 and INF-gamma mRNA expressions were measured in Peyer's patch and spleen tissue at w10. RESULTS: The levels of total IgE and IgG1 were increased by age while the level of IgG2a was decreased. Chow-specific IgE and IgG2a responses were neglectable through out the whole experimental period (20-30 ng/ml or less). Chow-specific IgG1 levels were measured in the significant concentrations (200-300 ng/ml) but there was no age-dependent change through out the experiment. Con A stimulated-splenocyte proliferation indexes were variable according to the culture-durations and ages of mice. The higher proliferation indexes were observed in the wells receiving thymidine pulse at 48-hour culture, especially in the mice at w10. Con A stimulated IL-4 production in the 72-hour splenocyte culture supernatant was significantly increased at w8, and w10 while INF-gamma production increased only at w10. The changes in the production of IL-5, IL-12 and TGF-beta did not provide significant information in the present study. The ratio of IL-4/IFN-gamma mRNA expression was higher in Peyer's patch than in the spleen. CONCLUSION: The changes of B-cell and T-cell mediated immunologic parameters were complex and variable according to the age in naive C3H/HeJ mice under regular chow feeding conditions. For that reason, the information from the present study needs to be considered in the course of planning or analysing research/data using murine systems.
Animals ; Antibodies ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymidine ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Primary fetal hydrothorax presents a wide spectrum of severity ranging from small harmless effusions to life-threatening thoracic compression. Management of this condition is controversial. We experienced a case of non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax not associated with hydrops or other malformations. A predominantly unilateral hydrothorax in a fetus was diagnosed by sonography at 31 weeks gestation. Repeated ultrasonographic examinations to detect development of hydrops or progression of intrapleural effusion were used to evaluate the need for intrauterine thoracentesis and to decide the optimal time for delivery. Two thoracenteses were performed. The baby was delivered at 34 weeks. Postnatal intubation was carried out in the baby, and then chest tube placement was performed and resulted in the collection of 805ml of serous fluid. Sustained intubation was necessary for 16 days because of developing respiratory distress as a result of prematurity and recurrent pleural fluid accumulation. The baby did well after postnatal evacuation of the intrapleural fluid. Pre and postnatal investigation to find the pathophysiological mechanism leading to hydrothorax were negative. We conclude that non-chylous primary fetal hydrothorax is generally associated with a favorable outcome.
Chest Tubes ; Edema ; Fetus ; Hydrothorax ; Intubation ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin*