OBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors tried to classify 75 male patients with alcohol dependence by using cluster analysis of their MMFI data, to Identify the characteristics of each subtype classified through that process and to evaluate the discriminant validity of the classification. RESULTS: The subjects were divided into 3 subtypes by K-means cluster analysis of MMPI scores: a psychotic subtype of 6(Fa)-7(Ft)-8(Sc) profile(21.4%), a neurotic subtype of 2(D)-3(Hy)-1(Hs) profile(49.3%), a normal subtype(29.3%). But, there were no statistically significant differences of age, educational level, marital status, admission history due to alcoholic problems, number of drinking day per week, average amount of ethanol consumed per drinking occasion, age at onset of drinking and family history of alcoholism among these three subtypes. CONCLUSION: It seems that the subjects with alcohol dependence could be classified into three subtypes with statistical significance, but this statistical classification does not constitute any evidence of discriminant validity.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Classification* ; Cluster Analysis ; Drinking ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; MMPI*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relationship between laboratory/clinical factors and vitamin D levels in recurrent wheezers less than 3 years old. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and laboratory factors (25-hydroxyvitamin D, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamyl purovic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], eosinophil counts, and serum IgE IgG, IgA, IgM) of 84 children less than 3 years who had experienced wheezing episodes at least 3 times. RESULTS: Children in the normal group (1.4+/-0.9 years) were younger than those in the deficient (2.2+/-1.2 years) and insuffient (2.3+/-1.0 years) groups (P=0.010). Glutamyl purovic transaminase were higher in the normal group (24.5+/-19.4 IU/L) than in the deficient (16.0+/-4.7 IU/L) and insufficient (15.3+/-4.5 IU/L) groups (P=0.009). ALP were higher in the deficient (791.4+/-180.8 IU/L) and insufficient (770.4+/-251.2 IU/L) groups than in the normal group (631.9+/-127.0 IU/L, P=0.034). Total IgE levels were higher in the deficient group (171.9+/-212.1 kU/L) than in the normal group (43.7+/-58.3 kU/L, P<0.05), and the rate of sensitization to aeroallergens was higher in the insufficient group (36.1%) than in the normal group (10%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among children with recurrent wheezing less than 3 years old, low vitamin D levels may be associated with older age, total IgE, ALP level, glutamic pyruvate transaminase level, and rate of sensitization to aeroallergens.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Asthma ; Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Pyruvic Acid ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D*

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is characterized by fever, splenomegaly, jaundice, and pathologic findings of hemophagocytosis in bone marrow or other tissues such as the lymph nodes and liver. Pleocytosis, or the presence of elevated protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid, could be helpful in diagnosing HLH. However, the pathologic diagnosis of the brain is not included in the diagnostic criteria for this condition. In the present report, we describe the case of a patient diagnosed with HLH, in whom the brain pathology, but not the bone marrow pathology, showed hemophagocytosis. As the diagnosis of HLH is difficult in many cases, a high level of suspicion is required. Moreover, the pathologic diagnosis of organs other than the bone marrow, liver, and lymph nodes may be a useful alternative.
Biopsy* ; Bone Marrow ; Brain Diseases ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Leukocytosis ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Pathology ; Splenomegaly