PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of pneumonia in children and adolescents. Though cold agglutinin test and specific antibody test are used in the diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia, there are some limitations in early diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the availability and usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia and compared it with serologic test. METHODS: One hundred twenty four children who were clinically diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to Kyunghee Hospital from January 1998 to March 2001 were enrolled. Mycoplasma specific antibody test using commercial kit (Serodia-MYCO II, Fusirebio Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and PCR using mycoplasma DNA obtained from throat swabs were done. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR were evaluated. RESULTS: M. pneumoniae pneumonia was diagnosed when the mycoplasma specific antibody titer was over 1: 160 or when the titer increased more than fourfold during follow-up period. The specificity, sensitivity, false-positive rate and false-negative rates of PCR were 93.0%, 58.3%, 33.3%. and 9.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PCR has shown high specificity. But, the positive result in PCR don't correlate with the disease activity and PCR does not have high sensitivity. So PCR must be used alongside with serologic test in the diagnosis of pneumonia. But, it seems possible to improve sensitivity by delicate handling of samples and by improving PCR technology, and PCR will possibly be used in the diagnosis of early infections of M. pneumoniae pneumonia and in the evaluation of treatments in the future.
Adolescent ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pharynx ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of clinical experiences. OBJECTIVES: The correct discrimination of a compressed root is very important for proper decompression. With a foraminal disc herniation, the cephalad root is compressed. The diagnostic importance of the clinical and radiological findings was investigated. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: A compressed root, due to a herniated disc, is known as a caudal root (i. e. L5 root compressed by L4-5 disc herniation). In some cases, a prolapsed disc may compress the cephalad root, resulting in a difficult diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records, plain X-ray and MRI of 17 patients were reviewed, and the physical examination and MRI findings were carefully evaluated to retrospectively document the efficacy of the diagnoses. Every MRI image of each patient was graded according to the 4 point ranking system of diagnostic efficacy devised by the authors. The clinical outcomes and postoperative complications were also investigated. RESULTS: Ten, 5 and 2 of the 17 patients had L4-5, L5-S1 and L3-4 foraminal disc herniations, respectively. Eight of 10 L4-5 cases showed a positive femoral nerve stretching test. The knee jerk reflex was diminished in 7 patients, with bilateral hyporeflexia in the other 3. The body-cut axial MRI image was the most effective, and the coronal images were also very helpful, whereas the routine axial images were of least value. Most cases achieved a satisfactory clinical result. CONCLUSIONS: Foraminal disc herniations seem to be reasonably common. For the accurate discrimination of a compressed root, a thorough physical examination seems to be very important. When MRI is performed for these cases, in addition to routine studies, the body-cut axial and coronal MRI images are effective and useful, and their use is strongly recommended.
Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Physical Examination ; Postoperative Complications ; Reflex ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Retrospective Studies

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare, benign, soft tissue neoplasm affecting the synovium of joints, classified as localized and diffused type. Localized type is more common, arising from synovium of joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths. Diffused type is relatively rare, frequently arising from an extra-articular lesion, and sometimes from an intramuscular or subcutaneous lesion. Although the cause of occurrence is not yet clear, recently it has been known as a benign neoplasm rather than an inflammatory or reactive process. We performed a total excision of the PVNS in a pretibial lesion and achieved a good result. We report on the case with a review of the literature.
Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Joints ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular ; Tendons ; Tenosynovitis* ; Tibia

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the change of heart rate variability (HRV) at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in depressive disorder patients. METHODS: HRV was measured at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in 62 depressive disorder patients. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess tension and stress severity. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state trait anxiety inventories I and II (STAI-I and II) were used to assess depression and anxiety severity, respectively. Differences between HRV indices and VAS score were evaluated using paired t-tests. Gender difference analysis was conducted with ANCOVA. RESULTS: SDNN (standard deviation of normal to normal intervals), LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency), and VLF (very low frequency) were significantly increased, while NN50 and pNN50 were significantly decreased in the upright position compared to resting state. SDNN, RMSSD (root mean square of the differences of successive normal to normal intervals), and VLF were significantly increased, while pNN50 was significantly decreased in the psychological stress state compared to resting state. SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 were significantly lower in an upright position compared to a state of psychological stress, and LF, HF, and LF/HF showed no significant differences CONCLUSION: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after physical stress in depressive disorder. However, the LF/HF ratio was not significantly increased after psychological stress, and the change in LF/HF ratio after physical stress and psychological stress did not significantly differ from each other. Significant increase in SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 in an upright posture compared to psychological stress suggests that depressive patients react more sensitively to physical stress than psychological stress.
Anxiety ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Equipment and Supplies ; Heart Rate ; Heart ; Humans ; Posture ; Stress, Psychological

Thirteen patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) visited a university hospital in Seoul before recognizing their disease infections, causing contact with 184 hospital workers. We classified the patients into four risk levels and provided corresponding management measures. At 31 days after the last event, all screening laboratory results were negative, and no symptoms/signs were reported.

Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly that arises from the failure of the dorsal pancreatic bud of endodermal cells to form the body and tail of the pancreas and can manifest as diabetes. A 24-year-old man, who had been treated with insulin for 7 years, presented with epigastric pain, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. Abdominal computed tomography showed only the head of the pancreas without visualization of the pancreatic body and tail. Left renal agenesis and absence of the left vertebral pedicle in T12 were also observed. The duct of Santorini and the duct in the body and tail were not visible in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The associated anomalies reported here are very rare globally. We report a case of complete agenesis of the dorsal pancreas with multiple congenital abnormalities and diabetes mellitus.
Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diarrhea ; Endoderm ; Head ; Humans ; Insulin ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: In contrast to fillers made from artificial substances, platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) filler does not cause hypersensitivity reactions or foreign body reactions. PRFM is also highly accessible in terms of cost. Hence, in this study, the efficacy of PRFM for soft tissue augmentation and volume maintenance was evaluated in an animal experiment. METHODS: Twenty nude mice were injected with hyaluronic acid filler, fibrin glue, PRFM filler, and normal saline (control). The remaining volume was measured 4 times over the course of 8 weeks using the volumetric taping bowl method and magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: All nude mice survived and showed no signs of infection, such as erythema or edematous changes, during the study period. Migration of the injected substance was not detected at 2, 4, or 8 weeks after the procedure. The remaining volumes of normal saline at 2, 4, and 8 weeks were 10.50%, 2.00%, and 0.00%; fibrin glue, 20.50%, 9.00%, and 2.50%; hyaluronic acid filler, 82.00%, 35.00%, and 17.33%; and PRFM filler, 70.31%, 26.75%, and 14.37%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PRFM filler had a high soft-tissue filling capacity compared with the control. It also showed a similar effect to hyaluronic acid filler. Thus, PRFM filler could be a good alternative for correcting soft-tissue deficits.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Cosmetic Techniques ; Erythema ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Fibrin* ; Foreign Bodies ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Hypersensitivity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Mice ; Mice, Nude* ; Platelet-Rich Plasma

The etiology of allergic diseases has been considered multi-factorial, comprising genetic, epigenetic, developmental, and environmental factors, as well as their complex interactions. The rising prevalence of allergic disease in recent decades could be explained by changes in environmental factors rather than genetic factors. Climate change has many significant impacts on aeroallergens such as pollen and mold. Therefore, climate changes are considered to be a key environmental factor affecting not only the prevalence but also the severity of allergic disease. In addition, these environmental factors might be more important for young children than for adults. While the concept that environmental factors including climate change would affect the characteristics of allergic disease is generally accepted, it is not enough to explain the mechanisms of the increase in the prevalence and severity of allergic diseases. Nevertheless, evidence exists that climate change has spurred changes in aeroallergens such as pollen and outdoor fungi, and that these changes are associated with the increased incidence of pediatric allergic disease.
Adult ; Child ; Climate ; Climate Change ; Epigenomics ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pollen ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To analyze both differentially expressed genes and the Bcl-xL protein expression after acute and chronic treatment with fluoxetine in rat C6 glioma cells. METHODS: C6 glioma cells were cultured for 24 h or 72 h after treatment with 10 microM fluoxetine, and gene expression patterns were observed using microarray and qRT-PCR. Then, cells were cultured for 6 h, 24 h, 72 h or 96 h after treatment with 10 microM fluoxetine, and the expression of Bcl-xL protein was measured using western blot. RESULTS: As determined by microarray, treatment with fluoxetine for 24 h up-regulated 33 genes (including Bcl-xL and NCAM140) and down-regulated 7 genes (including cyclin G-associated kinase). Treatment with fluoxetine for 72 h up-regulated 53 genes (including Gsalpha and Bcl-xL) and down-regulated 77 genes (including Galphai2 and annexin V). Based on the qRT-PCR results, there was an increase in Gsalpha mRNA and a decrease in Galphai2 mRNA at 72 h in fluoxetine-treated cells as compared to control, a result that was consistent with microarray. We also observed an increase in Bcl-xL mRNA (both at 24 h and at 72 h) in fluoxetine-treated cells as compared to control, demonstrating a tendency to increase gradually. Bcl-xL protein expression increased as the duration of fluoxetine treatment increased. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chronic treatment with fluoxetine not only initiates the cAMP pathway through inducing Gsalpha expression but also induces Bcl-xL expression, thus inhibiting apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; bcl-X Protein ; Cyclins ; Fluoxetine ; Gene Expression ; Glioma ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger

Anisakiasis of the gastrointestinal tract is caused by the ingestion of raw fish or uncooked foods infested with Anisakis larvae belonging to the subfamily Anisakidae. With the increasing popularity of Japanese cuisine such as sashimi in Korea, the incidence of anisakiasis is expected to increase. The entire gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum can be involved. Colonic anisakiasis is rare in comparison with gastric involvement. We report the anisakiasis concurrently invading the stomach, ileocecal valve and transverse colon treated by endoscopy with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Anisakiasis* ; Anisakis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse* ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve* ; Incidence ; Korea ; Larva ; Rectum ; Stomach*