The authors determined the value of performing urine microscopy on biochemically negative urine sepcimens in a pediatric population. The 746 urine specimens of patients who were either visited or admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, National Police Hospital, from March 1991 to July 1992 were reviewed on the basis of comparative evaluation of biochemical and microscopic urine analysis. Eight reactions of Clinitek(r) 200 were used as biochemical indicators, namely, pH, nitrite, albumin, glucose, ketone, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and blood. Out of 746 urine specimens studied, 186 were true positive. Thirty-six specimens reacted biochemically in the absence of positive microscopic findings (false postive), 492 specimens were true negatives. Thirty-two specimens had negative biochemical indicators, in spite of positive microscopy. The sensitivity of the biochemical parameters for predicting significant microscopy of urinary sediment is 85% and the specificity is 99%. The positive predictive value is 69.7% and the negative predictive value is 99.3%. The sensitivity of blood for RBC is 94%. and the specificity is 99%. The predictive value of a positive result is 84.6% and that of a negative result is 99.7%. We therefore conclude that urine microscopy is less necessary in biochemically negative urine specimens from asymptomatic pediatric patients, with hopefully resultant time and cost effectiveness.
Bilirubin ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy ; Pediatrics ; Police ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis* ; Urobilinogen

The efficacy of acetaminophen, sponging plus acetaminophen, and sponging alone as method of lowering body temperature was compared in 108 children aged 8 weeks to 5 years who presented with an axillary temperature of 38.5degrees C or greater during the period from January 1993 to April 1993. The following results were obtained. 1) The male to female ratio was 2.5:1 and clinical diagnosis in the order of frequency were upper respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, chickenpox and hand-foot-mouth disease. 2) At thirty minutes after treatment, there was no significant difference on the decrement of temperature among the three groups. 3) At sixty minutes, the temperature decrement was the greatest in the group of sponging plus acetaminophen and that was statistically significant (P<0.01). But there was no significant difference between the group of acetaminophen and that of sponging.
Acetaminophen ; Body Temperature ; Cellulitis ; Chickenpox ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever* ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: To evaluate MRI findings of Guillain-Barre syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In six patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosed by clinical, cerebrospinal fluid and electrophysiologic findings, a retrospective review of MR findings was conducted. Follow-up MRI scans were carried out in two patients showing minimal clinical improvement. RESULTS: Marked or moderate enhancement of thickened nerve roots was seen in all cases on gadopentetate dimeglumine enhanced axial T1-weighted images. Two patterns were seen ; one was even enhancement of both anterior and posterior nerve roots (n=1) and the other was enhancement of anterior nerve roots only (n=5). Enhancement and thickness of nerve roots was seen to have slightly decreased on MRI follow-up at 32 and 50 days ; clinical and electrophysiologic examination showed minimal improvement. CONCLUSION: Although MRI findings of nerve root enhancement are nonspecific and can be seen in neoplastic and other inflammatory diseases, the enhancement of thickened anterior nerve roots within thecal sac suggests Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

In the progression of the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder(TMD), not only deformation and perforation of disc occur. But also fibrotic adhesion and inflammatory changes to the retrodiscal tissue can be seen in addition to the condylar degenerative change (e.g. osteoarthritis). However, the correct diagnosis,?planning for appropriate treatment, and prediction of prognosis are limited, because there are no means to stage the progression of the disorder. In this study relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue in MRI and the synovial fluid concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the 23 temporomandibular joints(TMJ), from 17 patients with TMD were evaluated as a possible diagnostic marker. The relative signal intensity of retrodiscal tissue was referenced to brain gray matter with same region of interest(ROI) size. The concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, and IL-6 were evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The collected data were compared with condylar degenerative change, joint effusion and disc position observed in MRI. The relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue was increased significantly when degenerative changes were present. In addition, there was significantly high signal intensity in the presence of a disc displaced without reduction. The concentration of IL-6 was significantly increased when condylar degenerative change was no observed. And there were no changes in the levels of IL-6 according to disc position and joint effusion measurement. Moreover, there were no significant relevance between the concentration of total MMP-2 and active MMP-9 in synovial fluid, relative to degenerative changes in the mandibular condyle, to joint effusion, and to disc position observed on MRI images. In conclusion, the relative signal intensity of the retrodiscal tissue can be regarded as a mean of diagnosing the procession of TMD in a non-invasive manner. But more additional studies are required for the levels of MMP-2. MMP-9, and IL-6 to determine their potentials as a diagnostic marker for TMD.
Brain ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-6* ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mandibular Condyle ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Prognosis ; Synovial Fluid* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* ; Temporomandibular Joint*

To evaluate the maternal and fetal effects of propanidid, clinical observations were carried out in 160 cases of Cesarean section out of 4, 230 deliveries made during the past three years. Upon having the obstetricians ready for incision, 10ml. of 5 per cent propanidid and 40mg. of succinylcholine chloride were administered intravenously, and surgery was begun almost simultaneously with endotracheal intubabation. Thereafter, anesthesia was maintained with N2O-O2-fluothane, N2O-O2 -ether, or ether-O2 in semiclosed circle absorption system. Umbilical cord was ligated within 3-5 minutes after the commencement of induction. This method of anesthesia did not seriously affect the maternal respiration or circulation, and Apgar scores were good or fair in the majority of cases. No undesirable side effects or complications directly attributable to propanidid were encountered.
Absorption ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Methods ; Pregnancy ; Propanidid* ; Respiration ; Succinylcholine ; Umbilical Cord

Liver cell adenoma is uncommon and most often affects women of reproductive age; it is often associated with use of oral contraceptives. It is a very rare benign tumor of the liver in males and associated with use of anabolic steroids or glycogen storage disease type I. The surgical treatment remains controversial. We experienced 3 cases of male liver cell adenoma without use of anabolic steroids or glycogen storage disease. We performed right lobectomy of liver in 2 cases of mass on right lobe and performed mass enucleation with cholecystectomy in another case of mass on left medial segment.
Adenoma, Liver Cell* ; Cholecystectomy ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Female ; Glycogen Storage Disease ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type I ; Humans ; Liver* ; Male* ; Steroids

Multiple primary cancer for the colon and rectum was reported in numorous literature. Therefore, complete preoperative evaluation of patients presenting with colorectal cancer seems to be essential. In addition, it is fundamental that patients who have been treated for colorectal cancer require careful follow up evaluation. When symptoms and signs of tumor develop in a patient who has been treated for an initial colorectal cancer, the possibility of a localized and curable second, third primary cancer should be considered and evaluated. We report 2 cases of metchronous triple primary cancer with a review of literature.
Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Rectum

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Korea. Although the guidelines of asthma management were reported in Korea, the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pattern of asthma management by primary physicians. METHODS: In November 2002, 710 primary physicians specializing in internal medicine in Seoul, Korea were provided with two scenarios of asthmatic patients, one mild and the other severe. By mail or interview, the physicians were asked several questions about their present pattern of asthma management for the patients in each scenario. RESULTS: Among 710 primary physicians, we obtained the answers from 325 physicians (response rate 46%). The most preferred prescription was oral theophylline. 71% and 81% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe oral theophylline for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. The next prescription preferred were mucolytics and oral beta2-agonist, in that order. However, 36% and 56% of the physicians answered that they would prescribe inhaled steroids for the mild and severe asthmatics, respectively. Among diagnostic tests, physicians preferred pulmonary function test to the rank next tochest radiography. CONCLUSION: The primary physicians in Seoul prefer oral bronchodilators to inhaled steroids in asthma management. More efforts should be made to reduce the difference between the present pattern of asthma management by primary physicians and the asthma guidelines.
Asthma* ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Expectorants ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Postal Service ; Prescriptions ; Radiography ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Seoul* ; Steroids ; Theophylline

No abstract available.
CREST Syndrome*

Peribiliary cysts involve cystic dilatation and necroinflammatory change in the peribiliary glandular tissue of the larger biliary tree in association with portal hypertension or severe hepatobiliary disease. They are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally. However, rare cases causing symptoms or the mass effect of bile duct compression require differential diagnosis. They may be benign or malignant lesions resulting from narrowing of the bile duct and involving dilatation of the proximal intrahepatic bile duct. We recently encountered a case of peribiliary cysts associated with intrahepatic duct dilatation, and confirmed by surgery, and present the imaging and pathologic findings. Sonography and CT revealed the presence of multiple cystic lesions along the hepatic hilum, and the larger left portal tract and left intrahepatic ducts were dilated. Histopathologic examination indicated that the cysts were compressing the central bile duct.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* ; Biliary Tract ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Hypertension, Portal