Background: The Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification system has been developed as a comprehensive system that describes 9 coronal plane phenotypes based on constitutional limb alignment and joint line obliquity (JLO). Due to the characteristics of Asian populations, which show more varus and wider distribution in lower limb alignment than other populations, modification of the boundaries of the arithmetic hip-knee-ankle angle (aHKA) and JLO should be considered. The purpose of this study was to determine the knee phenotype in a Korean population based on the original CPAK and modified CPAK classification systems. Methods: We reviewed prospectively collected data of 500 healthy and 500 osteoarthritic knees between 2021 and 2023 using radiographic analysis and divided them based on the modified CPAK classification system by widening the neutral boundaries of the aHKA to 0° ± 3° and using the actual JLO as a new variable. Using long-leg standing weight-bearing radiographs, 6 radiographic parameters were measured to evaluate the CPAK type: the mechanical HKA angle, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA), aHKA, JLO, and actual JLO. Results: From 2 cohorts of 1,000 knees, the frequency distribution representing all CPAK types was different between the healthy and arthritic groups. The most common categories were type II (38.2%) in the healthy group and type I (53.8%) in the arthritic group based on the original CPAK classification. The left and upward shift in the distribution of knee phenotypes in the original classification was corrected evenly after re-establishing the boundaries of a neutral aHKA and the actual JLO. According to the modified CPAK classification system, the most common categories were type II (35.2%) in the healthy group and type I (38.0%) in the arthritic group. Conclusions Although the modified CPAK classification corrected the uneven distribution seen when applying the original classification system in a Korean population, the most common category was type I in Korean patients with osteoarthritic knees in both classification systems. Furthermore, there were different frequencies of knee phenotypes among healthy and arthritic knees.

BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) involves dysregulation of the complement system, but whether this also occurs in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) remains unclear. Although these conditions are difficult to differentiate clinically, TTP can be distinguished by low (<10%) ADAMTS13 activity. The aim was to identify the differences in complement activation products between TTP and aHUS and investigate ADAMTS13 activity as a prognostic factor in aHUS. METHODS: We analyzed patients with thrombotic microangiopathy diagnosed as TTP (N=48) or aHUS (N=50), selected from a Korean registry (N=551). Complement activation products in the plasma samples collected from the patients prior to treatment and in 40 healthy controls were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of generalized (C3a), alternate (factor Bb), and terminal (C5a and C5b-9) markers were significantly higher (all P<0.01) in the patients than in the healthy controls. Only the factor Bb levels significantly differed (P=0.008) between the two disease groups. In aHUS patients, high normal ADAMTS13 activity (≥77%) was associated with improved treatment response (OR, 6.769; 95% CI, 1.605–28.542; P=0.005), remission (OR, 6.000; 95% CI, 1.693–21.262; P=0.004), exacerbation (OR, 0.242; 95% CI, 0.064–0.916; P=0.031), and disease-associated mortality rates (OR, 0.155; 95% CI, 0.029–0.813; P=0.017). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that complement biomarkers, except factor Bb, are similarly activated in TTP and aHUS patients, and ADAMTS13 activity can predict the treatment response and outcome in aHUS patients.
Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ; Biomarkers ; Complement Activation ; Complement System Proteins ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Mortality ; Plasma ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies

Eikenella corrodens rarely causes invasive head and neck infections in immunocompetent children. We report a case of epidural abscess caused by E. corrodens in a previously healthy 13-year-old boy who presented with fever, headache, and vomiting. On physical examination upon admission, there was no neck stiffness, but discharge from the right ear was observed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed approximately 4.5-cm-sized epidural empyema on the right temporal lobe as well as bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis, right mastoiditis, and right otitis media. During treatment with vancomycin and cefotaxime, purulent ear discharge aggravated, and on follow-up brain MRI, the empyema size increased to 5.6×3.4 cm with interval development of an abscess at the right sphenoid sinus. Burr hole trephination was performed, and foul-smelling pus was aspirated from the epidural abscess near the right temporal lobe. Pus culture yielded E. corrodens. Endoscopic sphenoidotomy was also performed with massive pus drainage, and the same organism was grown. The patient was treated with intravenous cefotaxime for 3 weeks and recovered well with no other complications. Therefore, E. corrodens can cause serious complications in children with untreated sinusitis.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Brain ; Cefotaxime ; Child ; Drainage ; Ear ; Eikenella corrodens ; Eikenella ; Empyema ; Epidural Abscess ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mastoid ; Mastoiditis ; Neck ; Otitis Media ; Physical Examination ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sphenoid Sinusitis ; Suppuration ; Temporal Lobe ; Trephining ; Vancomycin ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Early detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is important for appropriate antimicrobial therapy in children with pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of a rapid antigen test kit in detecting M. pneumoniae from respiratory specimens in children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). METHODS: A total of 215 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were selected from a pool of NPAs that had been obtained from children admitted for LRTI from August 2010 to August 2018. The specimens had been tested for M. pneumoniae by culture and stored at −70°C until use. Tests with Ribotest Mycoplasma® were performed and interpreted independently by two investigators who were blinded to the culture results. RESULTS: Among the 215 NPAs, 119 were culture positive for M. pneumoniae and 96 were culture negative. Of the culture-positive specimens, 74 (62.2%) were positive for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest Mycoplasma®, and 92 of the 96 (95.8%) culture-negative specimens were negative for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest Mycoplasma®. When culture was used as the standard test, the sensitivity and specificity of Ribotest Mycoplasma® were 62.2% and 95.8%, respectively. Additionally, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall agreement rates with Ribotest Mycoplasma® were 94.9%, 67.2%, and 77.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A positive test result of Ribotest Mycoplasma® suggests a high likelihood of culture-positive M. pneumoniae infection. However, a negative test result should be interpreted with caution because nearly one-third of negative test results reveal culture-positive M. pneumoniae infections.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Mycoplasma ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Research Personnel ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A 78-year-old man was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, and left nephrectomy was performed. He started pazopanib. One month later, he visited our hospital because of general weakness and dyspnea. His oxygen saturation was low. A chest X-ray showed pulmonary edema and bilateral pleural effusion. An echocardiogram showed a larger left ventricle and lower ejection fraction than observed at the previous examination. The patient discontinued pazopanib and started diuretics and digoxin. His symptoms improved and a follow-up X-ray showed improvement in the pulmonary edema with bilateral pleural effusion.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Digoxin ; Diuretics ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Humans ; Nephrectomy ; Oxygen ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Edema ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level has been recommended as the first diagnostic test for differentiating between ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome (CS) and ACTH-dependent CS. When plasma ACTH values are inconclusive, a differential diagnosis of CS can be made based upon measurement of the serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) level and results of the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDST). The aim of this study was to assess the utility of plasma ACTH to differentiate adrenal CS from Cushing' disease (CD) and compare it with that of the HDST results and serum DHEA-S level. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study from January 2000 to May 2012 involving 92 patients with endogenous CS. The levels of plasma ACTH, serum cortisol, 24-hour urine free cortisol (UFC) after the HDST, and serum DHEA-S were measured. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients had adrenal CS and 35 patients had CD. The area under the curve of plasma ACTH, serum DHEA-S, percentage suppression of serum cortisol, and UFC after HDST were 0.954, 0.841, 0.950, and 0.997, respectively (all P<0.001). The cut-off values for plasma ACTH, percentage suppression of serum cortisol, and UFC after HDST were 5.3 pmol/L, 33.3%, and 61.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of plasma ACTH measurement were 84.2% and 94.3%, those of serum cortisol were 95.8% and 90.6%, and those of UFC after the HDST were 97.9% and 96.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant overlap in plasma ACTH levels was seen between patients with adrenal CS and those with CD. The HDST may be useful in differentiating between these forms of the disease, especially when the plasma ACTH level alone is not conclusive.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion* ; Plasma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Even though the five year survival rate and prognosis of childhood solid tumors have been improved through the introduction of dose-escalation using tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/auto-SCT), changes in cardiac function have not yet been studied. We therefore evaluated cardiac function after tandem HDCT/auto-SCT.METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 56 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with solid tumors and who underwent tandem HDCT/auto-SCT at Samsung Medical Center. We investigated the cardiac function of these patients using echocardiography to evaluate the parameters of the left ventricular ejection fraction, e/e', and left ventricular Tei index.RESULTS: The mean left ventricular ejection fraction, e/e', and left ventricular Tei index at one year after the second HDCT/auto-SCT were 65.7%, 0.32, and 8.6, respectively. When compared those with before the first tandem HDCT/auto-SCT, there were no significant negative changes. We evaluated the changes in cardiac function in different subgroups, based on doxorubicin, radiotherapy involving heart, and the age of the patient at diagnosis. There were no significant changes of cardiac function after the treatment in any of the subgroups. Clinical heart failure did not develop in any of the patients.CONCLUSION: This study showed no significant negative changes in cardiac function at one year after tandem HDCT/auto-SCT. However, long-term follow-up studies of cardiac function in survivors and further studies of cardiac function are needed.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

Congenital cystic disease of the lung represents pulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar emphysema, bronchogenic cyst and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation. It has a variety of clinical manifestations from immediate postnatal respiratory distress to heart failure. Pulmonary sequestration sometimes causes heart failure in neonates through a shunt between an anomalous systemic feeding artery and the pulmonary venous system. We hereby report a case with both pulmonary sequestration and congenital lobar emphysema presenting with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, which improved after lobectomy.
Arteries ; Bronchogenic Cyst ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital ; Emphysema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Pulmonary Emphysema

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome involving the breakdown of skeletal muscle, and this causes myoglobin and other intracellular proteins and electrolytes to leak into the circulatory system. We report here on a case of rhabdomyolysis associated with statin, exercise and sauna exposure. A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital, and she had been taking simvastatin for over 6 years due to dyslipidemia. She complained of developing myalgia and weakness of the lower extremities over the previous 5 days. She had used a sauna more than 4 hours daily for 20 years, and she had started unaccustomed exercise in the sauna 1 week prior to admission. Her serum creatine kinase concentration was 45,990 IU/L. Conservative treatment was started with the discontinuation of her statin medication, exercise and use of the sauna. Her symptoms and serum creatine kinase level decreased 1 week after admission and she was discharged with minimal residual muscle weakness.
Creatine Kinase ; Dyslipidemias ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myoglobin ; Proteins ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Simvastatin ; Steam Bath