No abstract available.
Osteotomy*

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated potential correlations between the allele burden of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation and clinicohematologic characteristics in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). METHODS: Clinical and hematologic features were reviewed for 103 MPN patients, including patients with polycythemia vera (PV, 22 patients), essential thrombocythemia (ET, 64 patients), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF, 17 patients). JAK2 V617F allele status and allele burdens were measured by allele-specific PCR and pyrosequencing, respectively. RESULTS: The JAK2 V617F mutation was detected in 95.5%, 68.8%, and 52.9% of PV, ET, and PMF patients, respectively. JAK2 V617F-positive ET patients were significantly older and exhibited higher neutrophil fractions, a higher frequency of thrombotic events, and a higher myelofibrosis rate than JAK2 V617F-negative patients (P <0.05). PV patients carried the highest mean T allele burden (66.0%+/-24.9%) compared with ET (40.5%+/-25.2%) and PMF patients (31.5%+/-37.0%) (P =0.00). No significant correlations were detected between V617F allele burden and patient age, white blood cell count, Hb, Hct, or the platelet count for PV, ET, or PMF patients. ET patients with organomegaly had a higher JAK2 V617F allele burden (53.4%+/-23.7%) than patients without organomegaly (35.6%+/-24.3%) (P =0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The JAK2 V617F mutational status and its allele burden correlate with the clinicohematologic phenotypes of ET patients, including older age, higher neutrophil count, and greater rates of organomegaly, thrombotic events, and myelofibrosis. For PV and PMF patients, larger-scale studies involving more MPN patients are needed.

BACKGROUND: The two common serological test methods used for initial diagnosis of acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia are particle agglutination assay (PA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). We compared the differences between the two methods and suggest a test method more suitable for clinical laboratories. METHODS: A total of 35 patients (18 adult and 17 pediatric) performed MP specific antibody test using PA (Serodia-Myco II, Fujirebio, Japan) and EIA (Ani Labsystems, Finland) methods. IgM and IgG antibodies were measured separately by EIA method. PA and both IgM and IgG EIA were tested in 26 patients and PA and IgG-EIA were tested in 9 patients. RESULTS: The concordance rates between PA and EIA were 57.7% for IgM and 65.7% for IgG antibodies. Positive PA results showed better agreement with IgG (77.8%) than IgM (38.9%), while negative PA results showed better agreement with IgM (100%) than IgG EIA results (25%). In adult patients, the correlation between PA titers and IgM (r=0.852, P <0.01) and IgG values (r=0.517, P <0.05) were statistically significant. In pediatric patients, the correlation between PA titers and IgG values (r=0.842, P <0.01) was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that PA and EIA may not be used alternatively. Therefore, we suggest that use of both PA and IgM-EIA will be the optimal choice for laboratories. However, when laboratories are required to select one from PA or EIA, PA may be more useful to diagnose MP infection.
Adult ; Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Serologic Tests

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the association between mercury exposure and obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between blood mercury concentrations and indices of obesity in adults. METHODS: A total of 200 healthy subjects, aged 30 to 64 years, who had no history of cardiovascular or malignant disease, were examined. Anthropometric and various biochemical profiles were measured. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). RESULTS: All subjects were divided into three groups according to blood mercury concentrations. Compared with the subjects in the lowest tertile of mercury, those in the highest tertile were more likely to be male; were current alcohol drinkers and smokers; had a higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and VAT; had higher levels of blood pressure, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance; and consumed more fish. The blood mercury concentration was significantly associated with anthropometric parameters, showing relationships with BMI, WC, and VAT. After adjusting for multiple risk factors, the odds ratios (ORs) for high mercury concentration was significantly higher in the highest VAT tertile than in the lowest VAT tertile (OR, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 6.62; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The blood mercury concentration was significantly associated with VAT in healthy adults. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adiposity* ; Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: To analyze angiearchitecture of arteriovenous malformations(AV malformation) in order to clarify the angiegraphic risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage and other nonhemorrhagic symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients with angiegraphically-proved brain arteriovenous malformation were included in this study. Retrospective review of clinical history and angiography was done. Topographic analysis and evaluation of 17 angiearchitectural characteristics were conducted. RESULTS: Deep-seated and cortico-callosal type, small nidus size, intranidal pouch, one draining vein, deep venous drainage only venous stenosis and venous aneurysm were the most discriminating or predictive characteristics of hemorrhage in brain arteriovenous malformation. And those with large nidus size, dural supply and venous hypertension were correlated with nonhemorrhagic symptoms such as seizure, headache and neurologic deficit. CONCLUSION: Detailed analysis of the angiearchitecture of brain arteriovenous malformations is needed to identify the features that are correlated with prognostic implications for the treatment of patients with ^V malformations.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seizures ; Veins

This study was conducted to examine the dietary behaviors with 510 high school students (260 males and 250 females) residing in Seoul. The average age of male and female students were 16.3 and 16.4 years old, respectively. Mean height and weight of male students were 174.1 cm and 65.9 kg and those of female students were 161.6 cm and 52.5 kg. The body mass index (BMI) of male and female students were 21.7 kg/m2 and 20.1 kg/m2, respectively, which were within the normal range. Students skipped breakfast more than once a week were 41.1% of males and 44.4% of females. More than 40% of the male and female students skipped breakfast frequently. The mean mini dietary assessment index score of male and female students were 30.6 and 29.6 out of total 50 index scores, respectively. Female students perceived significantly less healthy and fatter than male students. Furthermore, body image satisfaction of the female students was lower than that of male students. Female students were more significantly concerned with body image and desired a thin body shape. Only 22.7% of male students and 6.4% of female students exercised regularly, and the frequency, time, and intensity of exercise in the male students were significantly higher than those of female students.
Body Image ; Body Mass Index ; Breakfast ; Consciousness ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values

It has been suggested that green juice supplementation may have some health promoting benefits. We evaluated the effects of green juice (Angelica keiskei) consumption on parameters of lipid profiles and plasma antioxidant status in healthy male smokers. Fifty-four smokers were supplemented with 300 ml of green juice for 6 weeks while maintaining their normal diet. Blood samples were collected on week 0 and week 6 in order to evaluate plasma lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol) , plasma antioxidant vitamin levels (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene) , the degree of LDL oxidation and GOT, GPT levels for liver function. Plasma ascorbic acid level remained at the same level. However, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol normalized by total cholesterol (p<0.05) and beta-carotene (p<0.001) level were all significantly increased after green juice supplementation. Plasma cholesterol was reduced for 12%, LDL-cholesterol was reduced for 9.3% after green juice consumption, while plasma triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol was not changed. Oxidized LDL assessed by conjugated diene (CD) , was decreased (p<0.0001) after green juice consumption. These results further support a role for green juice supplementation in the improvement of lipid status, prevention of lipid peroxidation, and thereby reducing risk factors of numerous diseases associated with elevated oxidative stress in smokers.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables* ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pyogenes causes most often pharyngitis or tonsillitis but may also be responsible for severe diseases including bacteremia and pneumonia. Recent publications from several geographic areas showed high rates of resistance to erythromycin and newer macrolides, often used in patients allergic to penicillin, in clinical isolates of S. pyogenes. METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentration of 31 strains of S. pyogenes, isolated at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from October 1991 through April 1998, were determined for penicillin, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, roxythromycin, and clarithromycin by agar dilution method or E-test. In addition, clinical features of the patients from whom the organisms were isolated were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients whose medical records were reviewed, the most common clinical presentations were soft-tissue infection (8 cases) and pharyngitis (5 cases). Other presentations included bacteremia without focus, pneumonia, vaginitis, lymphadenitis, omphalitis (two of each); primary peritonitis, rheumatic fever with carditis, scarlet fever, acute otitis media, and disseminated disease (one of each). All of the isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin. However, 5 isolates (16%) were resistant to erythromycin, and all of the erythromycin-resistant strains were resistant to roxythromycin and clarithromycin as well. Three of these erythromycin-resistant strains were also resistant to clindamycin. CONCLUSION: S. pyogenes may cause serious infections in children. Emergence of resistance in clinical isolates of S. pyogenes to macrolides and clindamycin should be considered in empirical antimicrobial therapy of suspected group A streptococcal infections and in establishment of antibiotic policy in Korea.
Agar ; Bacteremia ; Ceftriaxone ; Child* ; Clarithromycin ; Clindamycin ; Erythromycin ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphadenitis ; Macrolides ; Medical Records ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Myocarditis ; Otitis Media ; Palatine Tonsil ; Penicillins ; Peritonitis ; Pharyngitis ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Fever ; Scarlet Fever ; Seoul ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus* ; Tonsillitis ; Vaginitis ; Vancomycin

The objective of this study is to develop a nutrition policy on food and nutrition labeling and education systems for fast food and carbonated soft drinks in Korea by identifying the fast food and soft drink use and by examining nutrition policies and labeling in Korea and other countries. Fast food is defined as food dispensed quickly at a restaurant generally offering a limited menu of inexpensive items, which may be mostly not nutritious. It is a growing component of the Korean diet, especially on children and adolescent population. Low nutrient dense beverages such as carbonated drinks are also increasing in the children and adolescent's diet in Korea and concern has been raised that these beverages may replace more nutritious beverage and provide empty calories. According to 2001 Korean national health and nutrition survey, fast food and carbonated soft drinks were most popular among 13 - 19 years old adolescents. Thirty six and 72 percent of adolescents consumed hamburger and carbonated beverage equal to or more than once a week, respectively. In United States, all processed food including soft drinks should disclose full nutrition information by nutrition labeling requirement. Restaurant foods are not required to provide nutrition information currently, but legislation on mandatory nutrition labeling of fast foods with other restaurant foods has been proposed currently in US. The sales of foods of minimal nutritional value, such as soft drinks, in the nation's schools is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Nutrition information about fast food in US has been provided by fast food companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals and government through internet, booklet and brochure, etc, but the information is available from only a few resources in Korea. This study suggests a nutrition policy on fast food and soft drink use which includes establishing mandatory nutrition labeling and developing nutrition education materials and programs by web-site, booklet and government and school programs in Korea.
Adolescent ; Beverages ; Carbon* ; Carbonated Beverages* ; Child ; Commerce ; Diet ; Education* ; Fast Foods* ; Food Labeling* ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea* ; Nutrition Policy* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritive Value ; Organizations, Nonprofit ; Pamphlets ; Restaurants ; United States ; United States Department of Agriculture ; Young Adult