Pleural involvement in paragonimiasis is relatively common, either unilateral or bilateral, and may occur without pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates. Common radiologic findings of pleural paragonimiasis are pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema and pleural thickening. However, pleural calcification as a manifestation of paragonimiasis is a rare condition. We report two cases of paragonimiasis manifested only as pleural calcifications which were confirmed pathologically.
Empyema ; Hydropneumothorax ; Paragonimiasis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: Many different scoring systems have been proposed for assessing the severity of atopic dermatitis. The SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) is one of the best validated systems, but is too complicated and time-consuming for routine clinical use. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Three Item Severity (TIS) score in routine clinical practice and to investigate the correlation with SCORAD and quality of life. METHODS: The study was done on 69 cases of atopic dermatitis randomly selected by SCORAD severity in Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital pediatric allergy clinic from March 2003 to August 2003. Patients were from three months old to 15 years old. A trained pediatrician assessed the TIS score and simultaneous 10 item questionnaire about quality of life (QOL) was checked. RESULTS: According to the SCORAD, there were 21 (30.4%) mild cases, 26 (37.7%) moderate cases and 22 (31.9%) severe cases out of total 69 patients. According to the TIS score, 21 (30.4%) cases were 0-2 point, 16 (23.2%) were 3 point, 11 (16.0%) were 4-5 point and include 21 (30.3%) were 6-9 point. In QOL score, 21-30 points were most common (36.2%). There was significant positive correlation between TIS score and SCORAD (Spearman's rs= 0.86, P< 0.01). There was significant positive correlation between TIS score and QOL (Spearman's rs=0.89, P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: The TIS score is a reliable and simple scoring system for atopic dermatitis. It is particularly suitable in general practice, for routine clinical use.
Adolescent ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; General Practice ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Actinomycosis*

PURPOSE: In spite of the development of asthma management guidelines, there are discrepancies between the guidelines and real management. We surveyed the insights and the real management of asthma to assess the current status of its management in Korea. METHODS: The objects of the survey were 266 parents with asthmatic children, who attended an educational lecture by the Korean World Asthma Day Project Office (KWADPO). Face to face interviews with questionnaires of 11 questions about understanding of asthma maintenance therapy, actual conditions of taking medicine and the impact of asthma on the family life were undertaken. RESULTS: The Median age of the patients was 5.2 years old and their parents' age ranged from those in their twenties to those in their forties. The number of the patients actually taking asthma maintenance medicine (40.6 percent) was a little bit lower than the level of awareness (53.0 percent). As a controller, patients are using short-acting beta2 inhalers (35.3 percent), steroid inhalers (including combination inhaler) (31.6 percent), leukotriene receptor antagonists (24.8 percent), antihistamines (25.6 percent), theophylline (2.3 percent), etc. Regular visits to hospital or clinic were done in 53.0 percent of the patients. As a controllers, oral medications (69.2 percent) was preferred to inhalers (18.0 percent) due to better compliance and easier dosage adjustment. CONCLUSION: According to the survey, asthma had negative effects on the life quality of patients and their families. Remarkable discrepancies were noticed between the guidelines and the real-world status of taking medicine in asthmatic children. It is necessary to have patients participate actively in making asthma management plans to raise their efficacy.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Compliance ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Parents ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Theophylline

PURPOSE: Being small for gestational age (SGA) is a risk factor of short stature in children. Genetic background such as mid-parental height (MPH) is known to influence growth of children born SGA. We studied the relationship between growth of children born SGA and MPH and studied the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) on postnatal growth in children born SGA according to MPH. METHODS: Forty-nine neonates born SGA were included in this study. We defined corrected height standard deviation score (cHtSDS) by modified height SDS (HtSDS) based on their MPH. We categorized subjects into group 1 consisting of children with cHtSDS > or =0 (n=35) and group 2 consisting of children with cHtSDS <0 (n=14), and compared IGF-I and IGFBP-3 between the two groups. RESULTS: The HtSDSs and cHtSDSs in groups 1 and 2 were 0.06+/-1.05 vs. -0.95+/-0.85 (P=0.000) and 0.78+/-0.93 vs. -0.46+/-0.67 (P=0.000), respectively. IGF-I SDS was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (2.82+/-3.69 vs. 0.23+/-2.42, P=0.012). Total cHtSDS (0.42+/-1.03) was significantly higher than HtSDS (-0.22+/-1.10) (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Our results show that cHtSDS differs significantly from HtSDS. Growth assessment by standardized growth curve does not uniformly show effects of genetic factors. A more accurate assessment of growth uses a personalized corrected growth curve that considers the genetic factor measured by MPH.
Child ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Phenazines ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Being small for gestational age (SGA) is a risk factor of short stature in children. Genetic background such as mid-parental height (MPH) is known to influence growth of children born SGA. We studied the relationship between growth of children born SGA and MPH and studied the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) on postnatal growth in children born SGA according to MPH. METHODS: Forty-nine neonates born SGA were included in this study. We defined corrected height standard deviation score (cHtSDS) by modified height SDS (HtSDS) based on their MPH. We categorized subjects into group 1 consisting of children with cHtSDS > or =0 (n=35) and group 2 consisting of children with cHtSDS <0 (n=14), and compared IGF-I and IGFBP-3 between the two groups. RESULTS: The HtSDSs and cHtSDSs in groups 1 and 2 were 0.06+/-1.05 vs. -0.95+/-0.85 (P=0.000) and 0.78+/-0.93 vs. -0.46+/-0.67 (P=0.000), respectively. IGF-I SDS was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (2.82+/-3.69 vs. 0.23+/-2.42, P=0.012). Total cHtSDS (0.42+/-1.03) was significantly higher than HtSDS (-0.22+/-1.10) (P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Our results show that cHtSDS differs significantly from HtSDS. Growth assessment by standardized growth curve does not uniformly show effects of genetic factors. A more accurate assessment of growth uses a personalized corrected growth curve that considers the genetic factor measured by MPH.
Child ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Phenazines ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether insulin resistance may be present and to analyze factors affecting the development of insulin resistance in children and adolescents born small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: This study includes 24 children and 18 SGA adolescents and 13 children and 14 control adolescents. All patients underwent a standard, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Serum levels of fasting blood sugar, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA- IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), insulin sensitivity index (ISI), mean serum insulin (MSI) and mean serum glucose (MSG) were evaluated. RESULTS: The insulin responses at 30 min and 120 min after glucose load were significantly higher in pubertal SGA than control groups (P<0.05). Impaired glucose tolerance was found from 2 subjects (8.7 %) in prepubertal SGA group and from 3 subjects (15.0%) in pubertal SGA group. None of the patients had developed type 2 diabetes. MSI levels during OGTT were higher in pubertal SGA than in control. Pubertal SGA group had a significantly lower mean serum adiponectin level than control group (9.04+/-4.51 vs. 18.83+/-11.65 microgram/mL, P<0.05). Adiponectin level was correlated with HOMA-IR, QUICKI and ISI (r=-0.37, r=0.32, r=0.51, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Adiponectin level was correlated with HOMA-IR, QUICKI and ISI. Pubertal SGA group had a significantly lower mean serum adiponectin level than control group. We suggest the check of insulin resistance using HOMA-IR, QUICKI, ISI and adiponectin is important for the prevention of metabolic syndrome (MS) in adolescents born SGA.
Adiponectin ; Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Child ; Fasting ; Gestational Age ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; Succinimides

PURPOSE: Measurement of testicular volume is useful for the evaluation of puberty and testicular development in boys. Four mililiter of testicular volume means Tanner stage 2, the beginning of puberty, and its ethnic differences were reported. However, there is no reference value for Korean children. We tried to establish the standard testicular volume for Korean boys. METHODS: The subjects were selected among the children who visited the out-patient clinic of Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital and Korea Cancer Center Hospital for the evaluation of growth from 2003 to 2008. Three hundred seventy two healthy Korean boys, 3 to 17 years of age, were included. We excluded the patients who were diagnosed as precocious puberty, delayed puberty, hypopituitarism, adrenal disorder and other endocrinologic disorder. The testicular volume was determined with Prader orchidometer. Clinical data were collected from patient's chart retrospectively. RESULTS: Right and left testicular volumes were 3.65 +/- 1.82 mL and 3.55 +/- 1.80 mL at 10 (10.0 - 10.9) year of age (n = 53), 6.17 +/- 3.60 mL and 6.13 +/- 3.69 mL at 11 (11.0 - 11.9) year of age (n = 52), respectively. There was no significant difference between right and left testicular volumes. CONCLUSION: The time when testicular volume reached 4 mL seemed to be not changed than previous Korean data. However, further study will be required to determine the secular trend of pubertal timing in Korean boys.
Child ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Puberty ; Puberty, Delayed ; Puberty, Precocious ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies

In the clinical situations which the use of SCC for endotracheal incubation is contraindi-cated, we have currently tried to find semi ideal substitutes for SCC. One of these, neuromuscular blockade will occur sooner if the intubating dose of a non-depolarizing drug is proceded by a small, subparalyzing initial dose. Our previous studs for the divided doses of pancuronium was concluded to be a substi- tute for SCC. However, the slow onset and long duration of pancuronium were net suita-ble in some clinical applications. This study was undertaken to eatimate a newer shorter acting relaxant, vecuronium, in divided doses to apply for rapid sequence endotracheal intubation. The subparalyzing dose, 0.01 mg/kg, of vencuronium 4 min. prior to its intubating dose, 0.1 mg/kg, for all patients was administered under the monitoring of TOF response with Relaxograph. The intubating dose of vecuronium followed immediately the induction agent, thiopental sodium (5 mg/kg) . Orotracheal intubation was done 90 sec after the intubating dose. Intubation conditions and TOF responses were evaluated. The results are as follows : 1 ) After the priming dose, twenty-six patients complained of minor aide effects. 2) There was no difficultly in intubation. Forty-mix patients(94%) were distributed in 1 and 2 grade of intubation condition. 3) In the grade 1, female patients were more distrihuted than male patients(p<0.05). 4) The responses of TOF at the intubation were 44.54+/-38,92%. There were wide indivi-dual variances. 5) The internal between the intubating dose and the disappeared twitch response was 3.72+/-2.73 min. The first twitch reappeared 26.04+/-10.86 min. after the intubating dose. In conclusion, we recommend that the divited doses of vecuronium(the priming and int-ubating doses, 0.01 mg/kg and 7.1 mg/kg, respectively) for the rapid sequence endotracheal intubation may be applied adequately in some clinical situations.
Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Male ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Pancuronium ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide*

PURPOSE: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity may be due to an energy imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. Recently, consumption of beverages in children has increased. The aim of this study is to provide useful information for the prevention and the control of childhood obesity by assessment of variable beverage consumption. METHODS: Fight hundred seventy seven children(M : F=1 : 1.02, mean age; 9.7 years) from two primary schools in Seoul in May 2003 were enrolled. Body mass index(BMI) was calculated and the degree of obesity was classified into normal, overweight and obese groups by BMI percentile. Parental BMI, socio-economic factor, 3-day dietary intake, calory intake and beverage intake were examined by questionnaires. We researched beverages and classified them into six categories, milk, other milk products, soda, sports beverage, other beverage. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 7.2%. The parental BMI of the obese group were higher than those of the other groups. There was no significant difference in birth weight, or parents' intellectual and economic levels between the obese group and the other groups. There was no significant difference in daily total calory intake between the obese group and the other groups. The obese group of 7-9 year-old-males was higher than the other groups in sodas, and sports beverages intake. The obese group of 10-12 year-old-males was higher than the other groups in total beverage intake and other beverage intakes. The obese group of 10-12 year-old-females was higher than the other groups in other milk products. CONCLUSION: Excessive intake of beverages is associated with childhood obesity. Efforts to decrease intake of beverages may be important approaches to counter the rise in the prevalence of obesity.
Beverages* ; Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Fast Foods ; Humans ; Milk ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Sports