Rett syndrome is a newly characterized developmental disorder that affect girls exclusively. These girls are born clinically normal, but their psychomotor development stagnates and deteriorates between the age of 6 months and 2 1/2 years. The full syndrome comprises; aquired microcephaly, severe dementia, autism, loss of purposeful use of the hands, characteristic hand-wringing stereotypies, jerky ataxia of the trunk, epilepsy with various types of fits, and in later years spastic and trophic changes of the lower limbs. There is no known cytogenetic, biochemical or molecular marker for the disorder; the diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. We report a case of Rett syndrome with a brief review of related literatues.
Ataxia ; Autistic Disorder ; Cytogenetics ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Microcephaly ; Muscle Spasticity ; Rett Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Mass Screening*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Parturition*

PURPOSE:The natural course of Hashimoto' thyroiditis (HT) is so dynamic that the disease progresses to overt hypothyroid or spontaneous recovery. The authors reviewed the clinical course of this disease and analysed the possible predicting factors regarding remission. METHODS:Thirty nine patients with HT (38 girls and 1 boy) were studied retrospectively. Of these patients, 30 were followed for more than 2 years. The possible remission factors were analyzed at initial diagnosis and during follow-up period. RESULTS:The mean age at the diagnosis was 11.8+/-.1 years. Initial thyroid function was euthyroid in 38.5%, compensated hypothyroid in 35.9%, overt hypothyroid in 23.1%, and hyperthyroid in 2.6% of patients. Antithyroglobulin antibody (ATA) was positive in 94.7%, and antimicrosomal antibody (AMA) was positive in 74.4%. The overall remission rate was 53.3% during the follow-up period (51+/-7 months). Initial goiter size, thyroid function status, and autoantibody titer had no relation to the remission rate statistically. Follow-up autoantibody titers in remission group were marginally lower than those in nonremission group (P<0.1), and follow-up AMA titer was significantly higher than initial titers in nonremission group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We could not find any predictable remission factors from the initial clinical and autoantibody status. But, during follow-up period, patients with lower autoantibody titers showed slight higher remission, and those with increasing AMA titer showed less remission. Above results suggest that we should monitor antithyroid antibody titer as well as thyroid function regularly.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus*

No abstract available.
Lung* ; Oxygen* ; Rabbits* ; Ventilation*

Twenty-five neonates were observed for the relationship between phenobrbital loading dose, plasma concentrations and control of seizures. Nineteen neonates (76%) had seizures controlled by phenobarbital alone. Effective plasma concentration were 10.0~31.1microgram/ml. Although 14 neonates had seizures controlled by phenobarbital concentration below 20microgram/ml, neonate required level above 30microgram/ml. We found that continued benefit was obtained until phenobarbital plasma concentrations reached 40microgram/ml and there was no adverse effects on cardiorespiratory function. We recommend that plasma phenobarbital concentrations should equal or surpass 40microgram/ml before additional anticonvulsants are used for neonates with seizure.
Anticonvulsants ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Phenobarbital* ; Plasma ; Seizures*

PURPOSE: To evaluate differential points of patterns of clustered microcalcification between malignant(n=17) and benign(n=46) lesions on mammogram MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively and prospectively evaluated mammograms of surgically confirmed 63 patients showing clustered microcalcifications. Area, density, number, size, shape of calcification were evaluated along with associated mass and parenchymal distortion. RESULTS: Malignant calcifications were more variable in size(14/17, 77% vs 25/46, 53%) and shape(l 1/17, 64. 8% vs 13/46, 28.2%) than benign counterparts. Pepper, fine granular, branching, comma, tadpole and wormiform calcification were observed in malignant lesion with statistical significance. The malignant calcifications showed more faint(12/17, 70.5% vs 23/46, 50%), irregular margin(17/17, 100% vs 19/46, 42%) and they were usually associated with parenchymal distortion(16/17, 94% vs 9/46, 20%) and ill-defined masses(10/17, 58.9% vs 12/46, 26.1%). CONCLUSION: Clustered microcalcifications with variable size and shape, faint or irregular margin, parenchymal distortion, ill-defined masses seen on mammography, suggest malignancy.
Humans ; Larva ; Mammography ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate mammographic and sonographic breast parenchymal changes and the risk of breast cancer in women on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 50 patients examined with serial mammograms and/or ultrasonograms during HRT. The control group consisted of 50 patients examined with serial mammogram for a routine health check. Mammographic parenchymal changes in both the study and control groups and so- nographic findings of 27/50 patients in study group were evaluated. RESULTS: Follow-up mammogram of the control group showed no interval change or slight evolution of parenchyma with increasing age, but the study group showed increasing parenchymal densities. Most frequently encountered finding on SOhogram in 11 women treated by estrogen alone, was ductal dilatation (7cases ;64%), whereas in 16 women treated by estrogen and progesteron it was ductal epithelial hyperplasia (8 cases; 50%). Overall, four breast cancers developed;one infiltrating ductal carcinoma and three ductal carcinoma in situ. CONCLUSION: HRT causes the changes of breast parenchyma on mammogram and sonogram of postmenopausal women, and increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, careful and regular examination should be followed in those on postmenopausal HRT.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Dilatation ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Ultrasonography

Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that are derived from vascular endothelial cells. They may occur in various sites, including the skin, breast, visceral organs and deep soft tissues. The pleura usually a metastatic site from angiosarcomas. However, thirty one cases of primary pleural angiosarcomas have been reported worldwide. Here, we report a 61-year-old man with a primary angiosarcoma of the pleura with a brief review of the literature.
Breast ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleura* ; Skin