A clinical analysis was done on 134 cases with bronchial asthma who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics Yeungnam University from May 1987 to October 1991. The results were as follows: 1) The peak age of bronchial asthma was under 2 years. The sex ratio of male to female was 2.9:1. 2) The outbreak of bronchial asthma was most common in fall, especially in September. 3) The past history of other allergic diseases were present in 22.4% of patients (30/134 cases), and the previous bronchiolitis in infancy were experienced in 12.7% of patients (17/134 cases). 4) According to the skin test for allergens done by RAST, the most common allergens were Mites and House dust. 5) Eosinophilia (T.E.C>250/min) was found in 29.1%t of patients, and elevated lgE level (>200 IU/ml) was found in 63.2% of patients. 6) No significant differences in the serum lgE level were found between male and female patients. No significant differences in the serum lgE level were found between asthma patients with and without other allergic diseases. 7) The serum lgE level of school aged patients was significant higher than that of preschool aged (p<0.01).
Allergens ; Asthma* ; Bronchiolitis ; Dust ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mites ; Pediatrics ; Sex Ratio ; Skin Tests

The common bile duct and the duct of Wirsung cojoin at the level of the duodenum, forming the major. papilla of Vater. Existence of a double major papilla, i.e., two neighboring independent papillary structure:, is infrequent. In our endoscopy unit we have experienced one case of double papilla of Vater wherein canulation of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct could be accom plished through either orifice independently.
Common Bile Duct ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Pancreatic Ducts

BACKGROUND: In peritoneal dialysis patients, measurement of creatinine is an important marker of kidney function and gives an information for assessment of dialytic adequacy. High glucose concentration in peritoneal dialysis fluid is known to interfere with creatinine measurement. Creatininine interference with kinetic Jaffe method for glucose and creatinine concentration must be considerated for giving accurate informations about the assessment of dialytic adequacy. METHODS: 10% dextrose fluid (Daihan Pharm Co., Korea) was diluted to prepare specimens with seven different glucose concentrations. Creatinine solutions with seven different concentrations were made with creatinine powder (Sigma-Aldrich Co., USA) and distilled water. The prepared specimens were mixed with equal volume to make total 49 specimens of different glucose and creatinine concentrations. The glucose concentrations of specimens were ranging from 200 mg/dL to 5,000 mg/dL and the creatinine concentrations of specimens were ranging from 0 mg/dL to 10 mg/dL. The specimens were assayed for creatinine with two automated chemistry analysers, Hitachi 7600-110 (Hitachi, Japan) and Unicel DXC 800 (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA). Creatinine HR reagent (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Japan) and CREA reagent (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) were used in Hitachi 7600-110 analyser, and CREm reagent (Beckman Coulter Inc., Ireland) was used in Unicel DXC 800. RESULTS: Interference of creatinine measurement varied with both glucose and creatinine concentrations to different extent in different analytical systems and reagents. It was observed that creatinine interference increased with increasing glucose concentration in all the systems and reagents. At constant glucose concentration, creatinine interference showd a downward tendency with increasing creatinine concentration among the three reagents. CONCLUSIONS: High glucose concentration and creatinine concentrations provoked the interference of creatinine measurement and the aspect of creatinine interference varied according to the analytic systems and reagents. Each center performing creatinine assay should allow for the creatinine interference and give an accurate results to clinicians.
Chemical Industry ; Creatinine ; Glucose ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Kidney ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Water

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and 5-year natural course of recurrent bronchiolitis or reactive airways disease (RAD) in infants. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of infants with recurrent bronchiolitis from January 2007 to December 2007 at The Catholic University of Korea St. Mary's Hospital in Incheon, South Korea. Additionally, we telephoned their parents to confirm their present medical statuses. RESULTS: Sixty-three subjects with recurrent bronchiolitis were identified. The mean age at admission was 8.1 months and the number of males was 44 (69.8%). Of the 63 infants with recurrent bronchiolitis, inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and antibiotics were given to 62 (98.4%), 53 (84.1%), and 40 (63.5%), respectively. Among the total 63 subjects, we were able to contact the parents of 45 children by telephone. None of these children had been hospitalized during the previous one year period due to respiratory infections or for other medical reasons. Of the 45 subjects we were able to contact, 38 (84.4%) had not experienced any further respiratory difficulties at all. Five (11.1%) had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis while two (4.4%) were being managed for asthma. CONCLUSION: Most children who presented with recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis in infancy did not show any further respiratory difficulties after five years of age.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asthma ; Bronchiolitis* ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incheon ; Infant* ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Parents ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinitis ; Telephone

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the beam quality of intraoral X-ray equipments used at Yonsei University Dental Hospital(YUDH) using the half value layer(HVL) and the characteristic curve of intraoral standard X-ray film. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done using the intraoral X-ray equipments used at each clinical department at YUDH. Aluminum filter was used to determine the HVL. Intraoral standard film was used to get the characteristic curve of each intraoral X-ray equipment. RESULTS: Most of the HVLs of intraoral X-ray equipments were higher than the least recommended thickness, but the REX 601 model used at the operative dentistry department and the X-707 model used at the pediatric dentistry department had HVLs lower than the recommended thickness. The slopes of the characteristic curves of films taken using the PANPAS 601 model and REX 601 model at operative dentistry department, the X-70S model of prosthodontic dentistry department, and the REX 601 model at the student clinic were relatively low. CONCLUSION: HVL and the characteristic curve of X-ray film can be used to evaluate the beam quality of intraoral X-ray equipment. In order to get the best X-ray films with the least radiation exposure to patients and best diagnostic information in clinical dentistry, X-ray equipment should be managed in the planned and organized fashion.
Aluminum ; Dentistry ; Dentistry, Operative ; Humans ; Pediatric Dentistry ; Prosthodontics ; X-Ray Film

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Bone Marrow* ; Genes, Immunoglobulin* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction*

PURPOSE: To report a case series of patients experiencing side effects of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops and to analyze the possible reasons for the side effects. CASE SUMMARY: Medical records of 90 patients who had a history of alcaftadine eye drop use were retrospectively analyzed. Eight out of the 90 patients (8.9%) showed ocular side effects that required discontinuation of the alcaftadine eye drops. All eight cases of alcaftadine side effects showed palpebral and bulbar conjunctival injection, watery discharge, and lid swelling. During additional history collection, all patients with alcaftadine side effects confessed of overuse (more than twice/day) of the eye drops. Anticipation for fast symptom relief was the main reason for the alcaftadine overuse. In all side effect cases, patients were asked to stop alcaftadine eye drops and use preservative-free artificial tears and steroid eye drops. After discontinuation of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops, regression of palpebral and bulbar conjunctival injection and lid swelling was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Overuse of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops can induce ocular surface toxicity possibly due to toxicity of drug itself. The possible side effects of overuse of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops should be fully explained to all patients before use.
Conjunctivitis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lubricant Eye Drops ; Medical Records ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We report a rare case of unilateral acute macular neuroretinoapthy in a young male. CASE SUMMARY: A 35-year-old male presented with a 2-day history of paracentral scotoma. He had suffered for 2 days from a flu-like illness, and his best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 OD and 20/20 OS. Pupillary reflex was normal and no relative afferent pupillary defects were not found. Ocular movement test was normal and pain on ocular movement was not noticed. Ophthalmoscopic examination of the left eye revealed multiple exudates lining the nasal macula toward the fovea. A Humphrey visual field study identified small paracentral scotoma. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) of the lesions showed a hyper-reflective lesion located in the outer plexiform layer and inflammatory cell infiltration. Fluorescent angiography was normal in the macula but showed late leak at the disc. The multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) showed decreased foveal P1 amplitude in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed with acute macular neuroretinopathy and was treated with 60 mg of prednisolone. His subjective symptoms were improved, the paracentral scotoma disappeared, and the lesions appeared different upon SD-OCT; specifically, the hyper-reflective lesion disappeared and the outer plexiform layer showed thinning. CONCLUSIONS: Acute macular neuroretinopathy is a rare disease, and we report a case using SD-OCT and mfERG.
Adult ; Angiography ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Male* ; Prednisolone ; Pupil Disorders ; Rare Diseases ; Reflex, Pupillary ; Scotoma ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields

Surgery for the inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is a technically challenging procedure and it's associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Injuries of the vena cava, the duodenum, the left ureter and the renal vein are common in an operation for IAAA. Herein, we report 2 cases of ligation of the left renal vein during repair of the IAAA. Cases: The 1st case was a 75- year-old male patient, who had an abrupt onset of abdominal pain and a pulsatile abdominal mass. An 8.5 cm sized IAAA and left hydronephrosis were detected via CT angiogram. During the operation, the left renal vein was mobilized and then divided to gain access to the aneuysmal neck. We couldn't reconstruct the divided left renal vein. On the follow-up CT scan, the left renal vein drained into the left paravertebral plexus, and no renal congestion was demonstrated. The 2nd patient was a 72-year-old male who experienced sudden abdominal pain and a growing pulsatile mass on the abdomen. A huge IAAA 10.5 cm in diameter was detected in CT scan. During the repair of IAAA, the left renal vein was divided and ligated to expose the neck of the aneurysm. The divided left renal vein was anastomosed to the splenic vein in an end-to-side fashion instead of performing direct reconstruction. On follow-up CT scan, neither left renal congestion nor significant increment of the portal venous flow was noted. The two patients were doing well at the 15th and 10th postoperative month, respectively.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Ligation* ; Male ; Mortality ; Neck ; Renal Veins* ; Splenic Vein ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter

BACKGROUND: Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) have assumed an essential role in the clinical practice of auditory and several other professions. AEP classification and nomenclature systems are generally based on such aspects as the time domain (short, middle, long), anatomic origin, stimulus-response relationship. The P300 component of the human event related potential is an endogenous positive wave with a latency of 300msec or greater. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose of this study was to estimate normal values of auditory late response (ALR) and P300 in adults and use them in mapping of the brain. MATERIALS AND MEHTODS: An auditory evoked potential was performed on 40 normal adults, and a scalp surface electrode with 30 electrodes was attempted. Forty adults with normal hearing were divided into 2 groups, one consisting of thirty persons under 30 years of age and the other consisting of ten persons over 30 years of age. RESULTS: The latencies of P1, N1, P2, N1-P2 were 53.17 +/- 19.57 msec, 98.25 +/- 32.68 msec, 166.12 +/- 44.0 msec, 65.12 +/- 23.68 msec, respectively, in the whole group and 54.23 +/- 20.86 msec, 98.7 +/- 34.35 msec, 160.93 +/- 44.02 msec 62.23 +/- 25.36 msec, respectively, in the group under 30 years old, and 50.0 +/- 15.57 msec, 96.9 +/- 28.69 msec, 181.7 +/- 42.28 msec 73.8 +/- 15.69 msec, respectively, in the group over 30 years old. The P300 latencies for the whole group and the two groups were 299.37 +/- 34.01 msec, 295.16 +/- 33.36 msec, 312.0 +/- 34.49 msec, respectively. There was no significant difference in the latency and amplitude of the ALR and P300 between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: ALR and P300 were measured in 40 normal adults. Description of the normal topography of P300 may facilitate the examination of the P300 topography in cognitive disorders. Such an examination might help ALR and P300 to serve as better diagnostic tools of cognitive disorder in adults.
Adult* ; Brain ; Brain Mapping ; Classification ; Electrodes ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Hearing ; Humans ; Reference Values ; Scalp