PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate clinical findings of acute neurologic complications and risk factors for chronic neurologic complications of bacterial meningitis in children. METHODS: Pediatric patients with community acquired bacterial meningitis diagnosed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital were included. We investigated the relative frequency of neurologic complications and distribution of causative organisms. Chronic neurologic complication was defined as persistent neurologic deficit including recurrent seizures 6 months from the diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for epilepsy and motor deficits, which were the most frequently reported chronic neurologic complications. RESULTS: A total of 90 cases were included in the study. Thirteen cases with less than 6 months follow-up duration were excluded from the analysis of risk factors for chronic neurologic complications. The mean age at diagnosis was 15.6 months. Streptococcus agalactiae was the most common pathogen accounting for 27 cases, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (19 cases), Hemophilus influenzae type b (13 cases), and Neisseria meningitidis (12 cases). Acute neurologic complications were found in 28 cases (31%): cerebral infarction in 16 cases, subdural effusion in 15 cases, and hydrocephalus in 9 cases. Chronic neurologic complications were found in 41 (53%) cases: epilepsy in 28 cases, motor deficit in 16 cases, hearing loss in 6 cases, and cognitive impairment in 4 cases. Cerebral infarction and S. pneumoniae infection were identified as risk factors for epilepsy. Cerebral infarction was a unique risk factor for motor deficit. CONCLUSION: Cerebral infarction is the important risk factor for the development of chronic neurologic complications including epilepsy and motor deficit in pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis.
Accounting ; Cerebral Infarction ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Haemophilus influenzae type b ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Logistic Models ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pneumonia ; Risk Factors ; Seizures ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion

An 18-year-old boy was admitted with chest discomfort, nausea, and dyspnea at rest. At the age of 3 years, he underwent muscle biopsy and dystrophin gene analysis owing to an enlarged calf muscle and elevated serum kinase level (6,378 U/L) without overt weakness; based on the results, Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) was diagnosed. The dystrophin gene showed deletion of exons 45 to 49. He remained ambulant and could step upstairs without significant difficulties. A chest roentgenogram showed cardiomegaly (cardiothoracic ratio, 54%), and his electrocardiogram (ECG) showed abnormal ST-T wave, biatrial enlargement, and left ventricular hypertrophy. The 2-dimensional and M-mode ECGs showed a severely dilated left ventricular cavity with diffuse hypokinesis. The systolic indices were reduced, including fractional shortening (9%) and ejection fraction (19%). Despite receiving intensive medical treatment, he died from congestive heart failure 5 months after the initial cardiac symptoms. We report a case of BMD with early-onset dilated cardiomyopathy associated with deletion of exons 45 to 49. Early cardiomyopathy can occur in BMD patients with certain genotypes; therefore, careful follow-up is required even in patients with mild phenotypes of BMD.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Dyspnea ; Dystrophin ; Electrocardiography ; Exons ; Genotype ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Muscles ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Nausea ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases ; Thorax

PURPOSE: To investigate the discriminative ability of pediatric index of mortality 2 (PIM2 ) and pediatric risk of mortality III (PRISM III) in predicting mortality in children admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed variables of PIM2 and PRISM III based on medical records with children cared for in a single hospital ICU from January 2003 to December 2007. Exclusions were children who died within 2 h of admission into ICU or hopeless discharge. We used Students t test and ANOVA for general characteristics and for correlation between survivors and non-survivors for variables of PIM2 and PRISM III. In addition, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis for Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for discrimination, and calculated standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for estimation of prediction. RESULTS: We collected 193 medical records but analyzed 190 events because three children died within 2 h of ICU admission. The variables of PIM2 correlated with survival, except for the presence of post-procedure and low risk. In PRISM III, there was a significant correlation for cardiovascular/neurologic signs, arterial blood gas analysis but not for biochemical and hematologic data. Discriminatory performance by ROC showed an area under the curve 0.858 (95% confidence interval; 0.779-0.938) for PIM2, 0.798 (95% CI; 0.686-0.891) for PRISM III, respectively. Further, SMR was calculated approximately as 1 for the 2 systems, and multiple logistic regression analysis showed chi-square(13)=14.986, P=0.308 for PIM2, chi-square(13)=12.899, P=0.456 for PRISM III in Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit. However, PIM2 was significant for PRISM III in the likelihood ratio test chi-square(4)=55.3, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: We identified two acceptable scoring systems (PRISM III, PIM2 ) for the prediction of mortality in children admitted into the ICU. PIM2 was more accurate and had a better fit than PRISM III on the model tested.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Child ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Survivors

PURPOSE: Recently, we have noticed an increase in the number of patients with mumps in Incheon, Korea. The aim of this study is to estimate the regional trend in mumps incidence and to evaluate the factors related to the recent increase. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 66 patients with mumps who had been admitted to Incheon St. Mary's Hospital from July 1999 to June 2009. We compared the differences in records between "outbreak, 2009" and "nonoutbreak, 2000-2008." RESULTS: Of the 66 patients, 35 (53%) were admitted in 2009, and 31 (47%) were admitted between 2000 and 2008. Most of the patients admitted during the outbreak were over 15 years of age (80.0%), were born before 1993 (77.1%), and had received a single dose of mumps vaccine (62.9%). There were no significant differences in contact history, present address, clinical manifestations, and complications, except for orchitis, between the two groups. CONCLUSION: There was a sharp increase in the number of inpatients with mumps who were born before 1993 and who were over 15 years of age. We recommend that a booster vaccination be considered for adolescents and young adults born before 1993 who are susceptible to mumps infection due to their reduced opportunities for receiving two doses of mumps vaccine.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mumps ; Mumps Vaccine ; Orchitis ; Vaccination ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) during sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF), the effects of gliburide, a specific blocker of KATP channel and PCO400, an KATP opener, were studied in isolated and perfused swine right ventricular free walls (n=). METHODS: Recording of single cell transmembrane potentials was performed and constructed action potential duration restitution (APDR) curve by plotting APD 90%(APD90) versus preceding diastolic interval (DI). RESULTS: All isolated tissues fibrillated spontaneously. In this preparation, stable VF could persist over a 4-hour period if it was allowed to continue undisturbed (n=). Gliburide (1-5 uM) increased DI without significant changes in APD90 during VF, resulting in more regularization of VF. Higher concentration (10-20 uM) increased both APD90 and DI, and converted to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) through the transitional period characterized by APD alternans. PCO400 (1-2.5 uM) caused a significant shortening of APD during MVT and a period of APD alternans became more evident before conversion from MVT to VF. Gliburide eliminated profibrillatory effect of PCO400. This antifibrillatory action of gliburide was accompanied by gradual decrease in the maximum slope of APDR curve during VF. CONCLUSION: KATP channel blockade causes a transition from VF to MVT via lengthening of DI and APD alternans, concomitantly with a reduction of the slope of APD restitution curve.
Action Potentials ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium Channels ; Swine ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation*

PURPOSE: Population-based studies have shown positive associations between migraine and irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and peptic ulcer and migraine prevalence was higher among patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia or nausea/vomiting. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical manifestation between primary headache with epigastric pain or tenderness(EPT) and primary headache without EPT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 58 patients who were diagnosed primary headache[by ICHD-II(2004)] at Incheon St. Mary Hospital from January, 2006 to December, 2007. Their clinical characteristics such as age, sex, frequency & severity of headache and associated symptoms & signs were analysed. RESULTS: The rate of headache associated with EPT were 36% of migraine cases, 50% of tension-type headache cases, and 100% of unclassified headache cases. Headache with EPT were at a high rate in female. Headache with EPT were more severe than one without EPT. Regulation of behavior, diet and sleep pattern had improved severity of headache in 71% of migraine without EPT and 94% of tension-type headache without EPT, but in 12% of migraine with EPT and 18% of tension-type headache with EPT. Headache disappeared in 64% of migraine with EPT and 53% of tension-type headache by additional regular antiacid medication. CONCLUSION: Our study supports any specific correlation between headache and EPT, but further studies are needed.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Colitis ; Diet ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Headache ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Medical Records ; Migraine Disorders ; Nausea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tension-Type Headache ; Vomiting

Vagal nerve activity has been known to play a crucial role in the induction and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear how the distribution and concentration of local acetylcholine (ACh) promotes AF. In this study, we investigated the effect of the spatial distribution and concentration of ACh on fibrillation patterns in an in silico human atrial model. A human atrial action potential model with an ACh-dependent K+ current (I(KAch)) was used to examine the effect of vagal activation. A simulation of cardiac wave dynamics was performed in a realistic 3D model of the atrium. A model of the ganglionated plexus (GP) and nerve was developed based on the "octopus hypothesis". The pattern of cardiac wave dynamics was examined by applying vagal activation to the GP areas or randomly. AF inducibility in the octopus hypothesis-based GP and nerve model was tested. The effect of the ACh concentration level was also examined. In the single cell simulation, an increase in the ACh concentration shortened APD90 and increased the maximal slope of the restitution curve. In the 3D simulation, a random distribution of vagal activation promoted wavebreaks while ACh secretion limited to the GP areas did not induce a noticeable change in wave dynamics. The octopus hypothesis-based model of the GP and nerve exhibited AF inducibility at higher ACh concentrations. In conclusion, a 3D in silico model of the GP and parasympathetic nerve based on the octopus model exhibited higher AF inducibility with higher ACh concentrations.
Acetylcholine* ; Action Potentials ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Computer Simulation* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans* ; Octopodiformes

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa from January 2014 to December 2019. We evaluated age, gender, the chief complaints, posterior subcapsular cataract status, abnormalities on optical coherence tomography, visual field test results, and electrooculograms. Results: A total of 492 eyes of 246 patients were included. The mean patient age was 48.0 ± 16.0 years and the chief complaints were decreased vision and night blindness. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.31 ± 0.50. The BCVA was 0.5 or better in 368 eyes (74.8%). A total of 328 (71.0%) of 462 eyes that underwent visual field testing exhibited visual field defects within 10º. The mean Arden ratio was 1.28 ± 0.28 for the 242 eyes that underwent electro‐oculography. Optical coherence tomography revealed vitreomacular traction/an epiretinal membrane, cystoid macular edema, and retinal thinning in 135 (27.4%), 48 (9.8%), and 112 (22.8%) eyes, respectively. The ellipsoid zone was intact in 222 eyes (45.1%), disrupted in 220 (44.7%), and absent in 50 (10.2%). Conclusions Most patients with retinitis pigmentosa exhibited visual acuity of 0.5 or better, but also had central visual field defects. Various abnormalities were noted on optical coherence tomography of most patients.

In this study we evaluated the influence of both the thickness of residual enamel and the color of the composite resins applied to lingual surface on the labial surface color. Background plates were made by randomly (A1, A2, A6D, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C6D) selected colors of Filtek Supreme (3M ESPE, St. Paul, U.S.A.) composite resin. Crown portion of 9 maxillary central incisors were cut off and embedded with acrylic resin except labial surface. Samples of average thickness of 2.2 mm were obtained after cutting it in a thickness of 2.5 mm from the labial surface and sandpaper polish. The shade of composite resin background was measured using Spectrophotometer (Spectrolino(R) GretagMacbeth, Regensdorf, Switzerland). And CIE L*a*b* value of 2.2 mm thickness tooth samples were measured on the 9 composite resin backgrounds. And then, the cutting side of tooth samples was ground to the extent of 1.9 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.0 mm and placed on composite resin backgrounds and measured L*a*b* values with the same method. In all samples, L* value and b* value seemed to have a tendency of decreasing as thickness of tooth sample becomes thinner regardless of background colors (p < 0.05). But, a* value didn't show the significant differences depending on the thickness.
Composite Resins ; Crowns ; Dental Enamel ; Incisor ; Tooth