No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Mitomycin*

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies in autistic brain samples have shown diminished acetylcholine and nicotinic receptor activity. We hypothesized that acetylcholinergic enhancement may pharmacologically improve some autistic characteristics. Donepezil hydrochloride, a cholinesterase inhibitor, was studied in few studies which showed improvement in the expressive and receptive speech of autistic children. We therefore undertook an open label trial to evaluate this effect on speech function in Korean autistic children. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (18 males, 3 females, average age 77.9+/-23.7 months), with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder enrolled in a 12-week open label trial of donepezil hydrochloride. Changes were evaluated by PLS (Preschool language scale). Testing was administered at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. RESULTS: Test administered at baseline and at 12-week follow-up showed gains in both expressive and receptive speech functions. CONCLUSION: Donepezil hydrochloride, a cholinesterase inhibitor, appears to improve expressive and receptive speech functions of autistic children.
Acetylcholine ; Autistic Disorder* ; Brain ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Child* ; Cholinesterases ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, Nicotinic

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess effects of testicular volume difference and retrograde venous flow of pampiniform plexus measured by Duplex Doppler Ultrasonograpy (DDU) in patients with adolescent varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physical examinations and DDU were performed to assess varicocele in fifty five patients with left sided adolescent varicocele. During both normal respiration and the Valsalva's maneuver, the maximum venous diameter (MVD), maximal velocity of reflux and the peak retrograde flow volume (RFV) was measured by DDU. The percentage testicular volume difference (%) between the right and left testicle was calculated as (right testicular volume-left testicular volume)x100/right testicular volume and divided into 3 group; below 10%, 10~20%, >20%. Grade of varicocele, MVD and peak RFV were analyzed as possible determinants of testicular hypotrophy in adolescent varicocele. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients (mean age 17.8 years, range 12 to 20) were included in this study. Of these, physical examination reviewed that 7 (12.7%), 18 (32.7%), 30 (54.6%) patients had grade I, II or III varicoceles on the left side respectively. The mean MVD was significantly higher according to grade of varicocele. The mean maximal velocity of reflux was significantly higher in the patients grade II and III than grade I, but was not significant between grade II and III. The mean peak RFV was significantly higher according to grade of varicocele. RFV was the only significant parameter of predictive value for percentage testicular volume difference. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with peak RFV >35ml minutes showed significant reduction of testicular volume. Measurement of RFV is recommended as predictive tools for assessing the percentage testicular volume difference in patients with adolescent varicocele.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Physical Examination ; Respiration ; Testis ; Triazoles ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Varicocele

This study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of Korean lactating women, who were attending peripheral community clinics in low-income areas, by anthropometric measurement, estimating dietary intakes and analyzing the contents of breast milk components, serum lipid content and fatty acid composition. Regarding anghropometric measurements, maternal circumferences decreased significantly at the trunk but not at the limbs. The skinfold thickness on all regions had the tendency to decrease during lactation. It was found that intakes of energy, protein, lipid and carbohydrates were desirable while calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin A were low and sodium was excessive. The energy % of fat was 22.41% of the total energy which is higher than the RDA for adults but it is proper for lactating women, but energy % from each fatty acid was usually low and an intake ratio of omega6/omega3 fatty acids was desirable. Accordingly, it is thought that dietary fat intake was balanced in quality. Concentrations of the nutrients in matured human milk showed the same range as that reported form different regions with the exception of calcium and magnesium which were relatively low. Serum lipid contents were decreased with the time postpartum and the average serum lipid content of lactating women were similar to the normal range of adults. Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids. especially omega6 fatty acids have gradually increased with the time postpartum, but the composition were not greatly influenced by dietary intakes.
Adult ; Breast* ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Copper ; Dietary Fats ; Extremities ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Magnesium ; Milk, Human* ; Nutritional Status ; Postpartum Period ; Reference Values ; Skinfold Thickness ; Sodium ; Vitamin A ; Zinc

The serum concentrations of the major minerals(calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium) and trace elements(iron, Zinc, copper manganese)were datermined in 23 breast fed infants living in Eumsung, Choong-buk region. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1)The mean levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium of the serum of total subjects were 8.15+/-0.33mg/dI, 11.06+/-0.16mg/dI, 2.00+/-0.14mg/dI, 3.4476+/-17.99mg/dI and 9.06+/-2.04mg/dI respectively. 2)The serum concentrations of iron, zinc, copper and manganese in total subjects averaged 95.83+/-0.33mg/dI, 93.79+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 98.57+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 4.93+/-0.62 microgram/dI respecitively. 3)Breast fed infants had significantly higher serum calcim, magnesium, sodium and iron concentrations than the formula fed groups. Otherwise, serum potassium, copper and manganese levels in breast milk fed infants were significantly lower than those in formula fed infants. 4) In formula fed infants, serum potassium and copper levels increased increased significantly with months after birth.
Breast ; Calcium ; Copper ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Magnesium ; Manganese ; Milk, Human ; Minerals* ; Parturition ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Trace Elements* ; Zinc

Few studies have conducted the bone health benefits of usual dietary isoflavone intake in Korean college-student women. To elucidate this benefitial effects and correlations between dietary isoflavone and nutrients intake and bone formation marker (ALPase, osteocalcin), questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, serum mineral (Ca, P, Mg) concentrations were analyzed. Fifty three subjects were used in this study. The average age, height, body weight, BMI, body fat content and triceps skinfold thickness were 21.43 year, 161.07 cm, 52.81 kg, 20.48 kg/m2, 20.72% and 17.59 mm respectively. Soy food intake frequencies were soybean > soybean curd > soypaste stew > soybean milk. The average calorie, protein and Ca intake were 1766.21 +/- 62.54 kcal, 66.45 +/- 2.00 g and 549.62 +/- 27.55 mg respectively. Serum ALPase activity and osteocalcin concentration were 115.74 +/- 3.6 u/L and 7.15 ng/ml respectively. Usual dietary isoflavone intake was positively related to calory, protein, Ca, P intake and serum Ca, Mg concentration. Serum osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with isoflavone intake (r2=0.28, p < 0.05). In these results, usual dietary isoflavone can support an additive effect to bone health and Ca nutrition.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Height ; Calcium ; Female ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Milk ; Osteocalcin* ; Osteogenesis ; Skinfold Thickness ; Soy Foods ; Soybeans

PURPOSE: The cause and pathogenesis of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men is unclear. We analyzed the clinical and urodynamic findings of elderly patients with LUTS to search for accurate diagnosis and effective treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 154 male patients older than 65 years old with LUTS who underwent urodynamic studies between January 2002 and December 2008. The patients were divided into irritative and obstructive symptom groups according to their chief complaints. The urodynamic findings between two groups were compared. And the prevalence of detrusor dysfunction (either detrusor underactivity; DU or detrusor overactivity; DO) according to age, history of urinary retention, the presence of an indwelling urethral catheter, neurologic disease, or diabetes was estimated. RESULTS: The mean age of men was 70.8+/-4.5 years. On urodynamics, detrusor dysfunction was detected in 116 (75.4%) of 154 patients. Seventy eight (50.6%) patients showed demonstrable evidence of DU of whom 33 (21.4%) had concomitant DO, while 18 (11.7%) had concomitant bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). BOO and DO was identified in 67 (43.5%) and 71 (46.1%) patients, respectively. The prevalence of was significantly greater in the presence of history of acute urinary retention and an indwelling urethral catheter. CONCLUSION: One hundred forty one (91.6%) elderly patients with LUTS showed urodynamic abnormalities such DO, DU and BOO. Urodynamic study would play a important role in establishing a correct diagnosis in elderly patients with LUTS and deciding on additional treatments.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention ; Urinary Tract ; Urodynamics*

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of individual growth is important in orthodontics. The aim of this study was to develop a convenient software that can evaluate current growth status and predict further growth. METHODS: Stature data of 2 to 20 year-old Koreans (4893 boys and 4987 girls) were extracted from a nationwide data. Age-sex-specific continuous functions describing percentile growth curves were constructed using natural cubic spline function (NCSF). Then, final stature prediction algorithm was developed and its validity was tested using longitudinal series of stature measurements on randomly selected 200 samples. Various accuracy measurements and analyses of errors between observed and predicted stature using NCSF growth curves were performed. RESULTS: NCSF growth curves were shown to be excellent models in describing reference percentile stature growth curve over age. The prediction accuracy compared favorably with previous prediction models, even more accurate. The current prediction models gave more accurate results in girls than boys. Although the prediction accuracy was high, the error pattern of the validation data showed that in most cases, there were a lot of residuals with the same sign, suggestive of autocorrelation among them. CONCLUSION: More sophisticated growth prediction algorithm is warranted to enhance a more appropriate goodness of model fit for individual growth.
Female ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Orthodontics ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Femur Neck* ; Femur* ; Humans

Rapid and correct diagnosis is essential for national tuberculosis (TB) control. A greater national concern for quality control (QC) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) testing is required to improve the proficiency of domestic clinical laboratories using diverse testing protocols in private and public sectors. External quality assessment (EQA) is an important program accompanying internal QC in clinical TB laboratories. In Korea, the EQA program initiated in 2005 by the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service (KEQAS) has made remarkable progress in the harmonization of private and public sectors with governmental support since 2011. An integrative TB EQA program led by the KEQAS with financial support from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides optimized EQA materials for both public and private sectors. In 2017, the KEQAS implemented ‘The Next-Generation Proficiency Testing Program’ equipped with a centralized control system of QC material production and electronic data management, which increased the scale of operating programs from 46 to 54 and recruited 1,700 participants. The TB program was also expanded to provide three times EQA for private laboratories from 2 times a year. For TB EQA programs implemented via the Clinical Microbiology Subcommittee of the KEQAS, survey materials were distributed by sectional orders for tests such as acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears, AFB culturing and identification, antituberculous drug susceptibility screening, AFB molecular diagnosis, and rapid detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance. All survey materials were produced by sophisticated manufacturing processes and thoroughly analyzed by various commercial kits, targeted DNA sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing in pre- and post-manufacturing phases for advancement in the EQA program.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Diagnosis ; Financial Support ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Private Sector ; Public Sector ; Quality Control ; Rifampin ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tuberculosis