Intrathecal administration of methotrexate(IT-MTX) has constituted the standard approach to prophylaxis and treatment of central nevous system(CNS) leukemia. We experienced a quadriplegia and motor aphasia in a 14-year-old boy following repeated IT-MTX for the prophylaxis of meningeal leukemia. He was diagnosed as ALL without CNS involvement and treated by CCG- 1882 protocol. IT-MTX was administered for CNS prophylaxis. The patient began complaining of urinary incontinence, motor aphasia and weakness in his right leg from 12 days after the 5th dose of the IT-MTX therapy. Even though the IT-MTX was discontinued, loss of muscle power progressed upward resulting in quadriplegia. The patient showed slow and partial recovery on right extremities over 3 months. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Adolescent ; Aphasia, Broca* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Leg ; Leukemia ; Male ; Methotrexate* ; Quadriplegia* ; Urinary Incontinence

Morphological effects of degranulation upon me-senteric mast cells of albino rats (SPrague-Dawley strain) by means of lipid administration were studied. An evident degranulation of metachromatic granules from mesenteric tissue mast cells was observed in more than half of experimental rats which were intraperitoneally given 10cc of stearic monoglyceride suspension in warm Tyrode solution (5Omg. of stearic monoglyceride in 10cc of Tyrode solution). A fairly light degranulation of metachro-matic granules from mesenteric mast cells was also displayed by the rats fed ad libitum with butter for 6 hours after being deprived of food for 24 hours.
Animals ; Cytoplasmic Granules/*drug effects ; Lipids/*pharmacology ; Mast Cells/*drug effects ; Mesentery/cytology ; Rats

PURPOSE: During the past two decades in Korea, the prevalence rate of childhood asthma has been increased, and also there has been a significant evolution in the management of asthma. In 1994, a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma was established. This study was designed to investigate a real picture of clinical practice in the management of childhood asthma. METHODS: This survey was conducted with data on 24 items of questionnaires from pediatricians working in private clinics, general hospitals, and university hospitals. We investigated the age distributions, severity of asthma, educational levels, management of asthma, and current trends of medication. RESULTS: 1) In age distribution, childhood asthma was most prevalent in 3-5 years old age group (30-40%), followed by 2 years old age group, and was least prevalent in 10-15 years old age group. 2) The number of patients with cough variant asthma was about 10% of all childhood asthma. 3) A period of 5-10 minutes was the most common period consumed for the explanation of child asthma during each medical practice. Cases recording symptom diary and cases monitoring PEFR (using peak flow meter) were less than 10% each. 4) With regard to the use of beta2 agonist in the treatment of acute asthmatic attack, rate of using oral drugs and nebulizer or inhalers of beta2 agonist are similar in the university hospitals, but the rate of using oral drugs was over 80% in private clinics. 5) With regard to the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the management of chronic asthma, nebulizer or inhaler therapy was the first-line choice in the university hospitals (rate over 60-90%), oral drugs were main therapy in private clinics. The administration of anti-allergic medication as a preventive measures was recommended in about 40-50%, and ketotifen was used most frequently. 6) Immunotherapy was being performed in about 10% of childhood asthma patients. CONCLUSION: Childhood asthma was most prevalent in the age group under 5 years and severity was mostly mild. For the management of childhood asthma, the education and control for asthma are still insufficient and previously published guidelines have been inappropriately used in practical field.
Age Distribution ; Asthma* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Ketotifen ; Korea ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between change in obesity indices and change in serum lipids in adult male workers. Two-hundred-eight adult male workers of an industry in Taegu city were followed-up from 1991 to 1995. Height, weight, circumferences of hip and waist, blood pressure were measured and serum lipids were analysed. Data on life style were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Mean differences of anthropometric measurements between 1991 and 1995 were as follows; 1.63kg in weight, 3.61cm in waist circumferences, 4.23cm in hip circumferences, 0.52kg/m2 in BMI and -0.021 in WHR. Those of lipids were as follows; 15.09mg/dl in total cholesterol, 20.43mg/dl in triglyceride, 9.40mg/dl in HDL-cholesterol, 2.87 in MI-index(p<0.01) and 350mg/dl in LDL-cholesterol. The changed value of BMI and Katsura index were strongly correlated with that of total cholesterol(r=0.174, p<0.05), the changed value of BMI correlated with that of triglyceride(r=0.374, p<0.01) and the changed value of weight correlated with that of MI index(r=-0.173, p<0.05). The changed value of WHR was significantly correlated with that of total cholesterol(r=0.162, p<0.05), however, was not significantly correlated with HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and MI index. The changed value of weight, BMI and Katsura index were correlated with that of triglyceride(r=0.262, p<0.01; r=0.267, p<0.01; r=0.258, p<0.01) and the changed value of MI index(r=-0.143, p<0.05; r=-0.158; r=-0.144, p<0.01), adjusting the pattern of change in life style. The changed values of HDL-cholesterol and MI index between 1991 and 1995 in low WHR group were significantly higher than those in high WHR group(p<0.05, p<0.01), adjusting the baseline value of them. Similar pattern was observed when considering Katsura index. When stratifying by BMI value of 1991, in low BMI group, the changed value of HDL-cholesterol and MI index showed the same pattern as above, however the of triglyceride was statistically higher in obese group than in non obese group(p<0.05). In conclusion BMI might be a better indicator to predict serum lipids change than other obesity indices.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Daegu ; Hip ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male* ; Obesity* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA) has played pivotal role in establishing academic authority and identity as the official organization of psychiatrists in Korea since 1945. Although current development of KNPA has been distinguished, it is time to answer all the demands of members who are arguing that the activities of KNPA have to more focus on the rights of members and interests related to social and economical status as well as academic interests. Thus, the authors tried to suggest a plan to make stable production of mental health related policy by constitutional improvement with focusing on continuity and specialty by benchmarking domestic and foreign professional organization, brainstorming in members of special task force team and qualitative research for specialists in the KNPA. These results showed that it would be needed to change the system of the KNPA, but the improving process should be gradually followed based on extensive agreement to the initiatives and priorities of changes. Therefore, we suggest the step-by-step realistic plan composed of strengthening the role of the secretariat and board members of KNPA (improving continuity) and establishing vigorous planning group (improving specialty) as preplatform status of the establishment of Research Institute for Mental Health, which would be essential for the future but highly cost burden.
Academies and Institutes* ; Advisory Committees ; Benchmarking ; Human Rights ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Psychiatry ; Qualitative Research ; Societies ; Specialization

No abstract available.
Allografts* ; Animals ; Mice*

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the risk factors (Part of job, Obesity, Alcohol, Smoking, Milk, Salt, and Family history) for hypertension. We selected 330 hypertension cases (male; 247, female; 83) and 1,336 controls (male; 887, female; 449) from employees in Taegu city from 1 May to 30 November, 1988. Data was analysed using a logistic regression model. Statistically Significant elevated odds ratio were noted for alcohol (odds ratio=3.23), obesity (odds ration=2.31), salt (odds ratio=1.75) in male (P<0.05) and those in female were noted for alcohol (odds ratio=16.49), family history (odds ratio=3.70), obesity (odds ratio=1.74) and salt (odds ratio=1.73) (P<0.05). Statistically significant reduced odds ratio was noted for milk in both sexes (odds ratio=0.69 for male and 0.65 for female) (P<0.05) and the dose-response relationship between milk intake and hypertension was confirmed (P<0.05). Therefore, milk seems to be preventive factor for hypertension. Smoking was not significantly associated with hypertension in both sexes. The part of job was significantly associated with hypertension in female by simple analysis (P<0.05) but the relationship was disappeared when multivariate analysis (logistic regression analysis) was done.
Case-Control Studies* ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Milk ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of body fatness indicators and serum lipids (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, myocardial infarction(MI) index) to find anthropometric indicators of body fat distribution that are strongly associated with serum lipids. 347 adult male workers of an industry in Kyungpook province were selected and data on the general characteristics were obtained using questionnaire from June 26 to June 29, 1991. Serum lipids were tested with 5 ml fasting blood and height, weight, circumferences of waist, hip and mid-thigh, five subcutaneous fat thickeness(biceps, triceps, supscapular, suprailiac, thigh) were mea sured using Ultrasound type A TATT. Waist circumference, waist/hip circumference ratio and subcutaneous fat thickness of suprailiac area are significantly increased with increasing age, but thigh circumference is significantly decreased (P< 0.05). These results suggest that central obesity is closely related to age and waist circumference may be the best indicator of body fatness or body fat distribution in men. In younger age group(below 40 year old), the result of canonical correlations analysis suggests that circumferences(0.501) was slightly closely related to serum lipids than subcutaneous fat thickness(0.493), however, in older age group (above 40 year old), subcutaneous fat thickness(0.528) were more strongly associated with serum lipids than circumferences(0.419). Weighted canonical analyses suggest that biceps and suprailiac areas in younger age group and sub scapular area in older age group are stronger indicators of serum lipids among .subcutaneous fatness measurements. Of the circumferences, waist is the most strongest indicator of serum lipids in both age groups. Therefore, it is recommended that circumference of waist and subcutaneous fat thickness of subscapular area should be measured to estimate the degree of central obesity for preventing cardiovascular disease in men.
Adipose Tissue* ; Adult ; Body Fat Distribution* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hip ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This paper describes a case of intrapericardial teratoma in a 20-day-old female meonate, who suffered from cyanosis and respiratory difficulty. She was evaluated by echocardiography, chest CT and MRI, the suspected cyanosis and respiratory difficulty. She was evaluated by echocardiography, chest CT and MRI, the suspected intrapericardial mass was identified and surgically removed. The postopervative diagnosis was intrapericardial teratoma, grade II. This case is reported with brief review of some related literature.
Cyanosis ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Teratoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Alcohol use disorders (alcohol abuse and dependence) are characterized by maladaptive patterns of alcohol consumption manifested by symptoms leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Further, alcohol use disorders are associated with many physical, mental and behavioral disorders and consequences. The prevalence of alcohol use disorders in Korea is higher than in other countries in Asia and comparable to western countries. Here we present the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use disorders and high-risk drinking determined by analyzing the results of the Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area (KEKA) survey and The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We found that the prevalence rates of alcohol use disorders and high-risk drinking are substantially high. The risks of alcohol use disorders and high-risk drinking are higher in middle-aged men and young women. We also found that the treatment prevalence of alcohol use disorders and high-risk drinking is relatively low. In conclusion, in a clinical setting, assessment of alcohol use disorders is highly recommended. Further, we suggest that a public awareness campaign is needed to encourage the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcohol-Related Disorders ; Asia ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence