A study was made on 50 cases of epileptic children who had been observed at the pediatric department of Chungnam National University Hospital Taejeon Eul Ji Hospital during the period from July, 1986 to June, 1991. The result are as follows: 1) Epilepsy was most frequent in children from 1 year to 10 year of age (80%). Epilepsy was commoner in female children compare to male representing male to female ratio, 1:1.2. 2) Intractable cases with VPA were 40%, and male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Intractable cases were most common between 1 and 5 years (65%). 3) The most common epileptic type was generalized tonic clonic seizure (38%). 4) The clinical effect of valproic acid was the worst in severely abnormal EEG finding. 5) The mean plasma VPA level was significantly lower for the polytherapy (57.7microgram/ml) than for the monotherapy (69.5microgram/ml). The VPA dose of steady-state was significantly higher for polytherapy (27.9mg/kg/d) than for the monotherapy (20.9mg/kg/d). VPA level: dose ratio was reduced in the polytherapy (2.1) as compared to monotherapy (3.3). 6) The plasma VPA level increased according to dosage. In the same dose, plasma level of monotherapy was significantly higher than polytherapy. 7) The VPA dose of stead-state was highest under 1 year (monotherapy: 24.8mg/kg/day, polytherapy: 33.4mg/kg/day). The VPA dose decreased in accordance with an increase of the age. 8) There was no correlation between EEG change and plasma concentration of VPA. 9) There was linear correlation between clinical affect and plasma VPA level, and plasma concentration of VPA reached 51 to 100microgram/ml at that time. 10) The clinical effect was good in abscence seizure, simple partial seizure, myoclonic seizure, and generalized tonic clonic seizure in decreasing order. 11) The incidence of side effect were gastrointestinal disturbance, behavior disorder, laboratory abnormality, neurologic abnormality in order of frequency. The frequency of overall side effects observed was 40% but toxic effects were generally mild.
Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Daejeon ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plasma ; Seizures ; Valproic Acid*

A case of autonephrectomized tuberculosis of right kidney in 14-year old boy, complaining of abdominal pain, fever, and fist sized mass in right upper abdomen was reported with a brief review of the related literature.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Male ; Tuberculosis*

Annexin-1 (ANX1) is a 37 kDa protein that is induced and secreted by glucocorticosteroid hormone. The secreted ANX1 has been believed to exert its function by binding to its putative rnembrane receptor. In this report we demonstrate that ANXl receptor (ANX1R) signal blocks the interleukin-1B (IL-1B) receptor signal pathway in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). When PBMCs were treated with both IL-1B (100 ng/ml) and PMA (10 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of dexamethasone for 5 days, dexamethasone (100 nM) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation to 24% of the control. However addition of anti-ANX1 polyclonal antibody of 1:200 and 1:1,000 dilution to this system induced recovery of proliferation to 80% and 40%, respectively, when compared to the control. In the mixed lymphocyte reaction, dexamethasone suppressed lymphocyte proliferation to 9% of that of control when stimulated with IL-1B (100 ng/ml) and phorbol myristate acetate (10 ng/ml). Addition of anti-ANX1 polyclonal antibody (1:1,000) to this system also recovered the proliferation to 20% of that of the control system. In the ANX1 receptor induction experiment using flow cytometry, ANX1 receptor expression on lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and monocytes increased depending on the externally added IL-1B ranging from 10 to 1,000 ng/ml. From these results, it is evident that dexamethasone induces ANX1 secretion into the culture medium and anti-ANX1 polyclonal antibody abolishes the effects of dexamethasone. Furthermore these results imply that extracellular ANX1 exerts its effects by binding to the receptor on the cell membrane and the activated signal(s) of ANX1R block IL-1B receptor signal in the lymphocytes.
Cell Membrane ; Dexamethasone ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphocytes* ; Monocytes ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate*

A Clinical observation on 272 cases of epidemic encephalitis admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam University Hospital with 5 year duration from 1971 to 1975 was carried out and the serum protein fractions were studied paperelectrophoretically on 28 cases in 1975 The following results are obtained. : 1) The peak age group was from 6 to 10 years old, and the male to female ratio was 1.7:1 2) The complaints on admission were fever(100%), neck stiffness(78.3%), Kernig's sign(71.7%), vomiting(64.0%), unconsciousness(59.6%), and headache(57.4%), in order of frequency. 3) Laboratory findings were as follows ; In the most cases(79.4%), peripheral leukocytosis with increased polymorphocyte was noted. And the findings of C.S.F. showed; Pleocytosis (98.5%), increased protein content(90.1%), normal or slightly increased sugar content(97.8%) and within normal limits of chloride level. 4) Mortality rate was 20.2% 5) The total protein and beta-globulin level showed no change and decreased albumin and A/G ratio. The gamma-globulin level showed increased initially and thereafter decreased to normlal limits gradually.
Beta-Globulins ; Child ; Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Female ; gamma-Globulins ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Neck ; Pediatrics

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is an uncommon carcinoma that is histologically defined by the presence of squamous cell carcinoma within the mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. Although all three germ layers in benign cystic teratoma are thought to undergo malignant transformation, squamous cell carcinoma derived from ectoderm is by far the most common tumor. Clinical differentiation of malignant from benign mature teratomas, as well as from other ovarian tumors, is rarely possible preoperatively. The prognosis is generally poor but there is no consensus on optimal therapy and prognostic factor. We experienced one case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in benign cystic teratoma of the ovary in a 27 year old woman and report this case with a brief review of the concerned literature.
Adult* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Consensus ; Ectoderm ; Female ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Teratoma*

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH). METHODS: Five hundred seventy-five cases of PIH and 7,702 cases of normotensive pregnancies who were delivered their infants at Wonkwang University Hospital from January, 1994 to December, 1998 were selected for the study. The data were collected by review of the hospital record and the statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests, and statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The incidence of PIH was 7.1% of total deliveries. Among the PIH, the incidence of mild preedampsia was found in 59%, severe preeclampsia in 36%, and edampsia in 5%. The most prevalent gestational period was 38-42wks gestation in mild PIH and 33-37wks gestation in severe PIH & eclampsia. The incidence of cesarean section was significantly higher in severe PIH & eclampsia(72.2%) than in mild PIH(48.7%) and normotensive pregnancies(39.7%). The incidence of hypoalbuminemia, preterm labor, placental abruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and pulmonary edema were significantly higher in severe PIH & edampsia than in mild PIH and normotensive pregnancies. Compared with normotensive pregnancies or mild PIH, severe PIH & eclampsia had significantly elevated risks for low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal distress, low apgar score, meconium stained, and neonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PIH is not decreasing and it still an important role in the cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in Korea. So, further studies are necessary to prepare a guide for the treatment of PIH.
Abruptio Placentae ; Apgar Score ; Cesarean Section ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Meconium ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pulmonary Edema

Spinal hemangioma is the uncommon, slowly growing benign tumor that arses from the blood vessels and was commonly located in the thoracic spine. The authors experienced 4 cases of spinal hemangioma from the thoracic spine that are diagnosed by simple spine X-ray, spine CT with myelography and confirmed by histological examination. We reviewed the literature concemed with spinal hemangioma.
Blood Vessels ; Hemangioma ; Myelography ; Spine

Pregnancy with liver cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension is uncommon. Additionally, pregnancy in young women who previously underwent splenorenal shunt operation for portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis is extremely rare. Esophageal variceal rupture, fatal hemorrhage and epidural hematoma must be considered during the management of such patients. This is a case of epidural analgesia for labor in a patient who previously underwent splenorenal shunt operation for portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical*

PURPOSE: A mucocele of the appendix is an infrequent entity of appendiceal pathology. A preoperative diagnosis is important to determine for appropriate treatment and to avoid unintended rupture of the mucocele during surgery. The purpose of our study was to identify the clinical features of an appendiceal mucocele (AM) and to describe the experience of the use of the laparoscopic approach for an AM. METHODS: Between July 1998 and July 2008, 32 cases of AM were diagnosed. We reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics and surgical experience for an AM. RESULTS: The incidence of an AM was 0.66% for 4825 performed appendectomies. Most cases manifested with symptoms of abdominal pain (84.4%), but two cases were determined based on CT incidental findings. A preoperative diagnosis of a mucocele was determined for 34.4% of the cases. The use of ultrasonography, CT and colonoscopy helped to achieve a correct diagnosis. Open surgery was performed in 15 cases and laparoscopic surgery was performed in 17 cases. For patients that underwent an appendectomy, the mean operation time and diet-start date were significantly shorter for patients that underwent laparoscopic surgery as compared to patients that underwent open surgery (p=0.030, p=0.007, respectively). Pathology identified mucosal hyperplasia (25%), mucinous cystadenoma (59.4%) and a simple mucocele (15.6%). The mean duration of follow-up was 46 months. Recurrence or development of pseudomyxoma peritonei and complications after laparoscopic surgery were not seen. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic resection of an AM was feasible when there was no mucinous spillage. Close follow-up is recommended in all patients due to the risk of recurrence in the form of pseudomyxoma peritonei or a gastrointestinal neoplasm.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendectomy ; Appendix ; Colonoscopy ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Incidental Findings ; Laparoscopy ; Mucins ; Mucocele ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei ; Recurrence ; Rupture

The surgically treated 9 patients with anterior choroidal artery aneurysms were clinically analysed. The mean age of patients was fifty six and the size were between 3 mm and 12 mm. Anterior choroidal artery, although small, is important cerebral vessel because of its extensive strategic area of supply. We preserve anterior choroidal artery 8 out of 9 cases during clipping of aneurysm. Fortunately in the sacrificed case, no specific neurologic deficit was developed. So, we reviewed the anatomy & collateral circulation of this vessel.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries* ; Choroid* ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations