No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism may be involved in a significant portion of the causes of hypercholesterolemia in Korea. In this study, we determined the frequency of suspected hypothyroidism in hypercholesterolemic patients and compared the frequency of elevated thyrotropin levels among the groups with various total cholesterol levels. METHODS: The study subjects were healthy, asymptomatic people who visited Health Promotion Center of Seoul National University Hospital. We excluded subjects with history of hypertension, DM and hypothyroidism. The study subjects underwent physical examination and filled out a questionnaire on health risk factors. Also blood chemistry and thyroid function test were done. RESULTS: Among 6479 subjects, 194(2.99%) had elevated(>4.1 microIU/ml) thyrotropin levels. Among the hypercholesterolemic(> or=240mg/dl) patients(n=868), 40(4.60%) had elevated thyrotropin levels. And there was statistically significant difference between normal cholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects(P<0.05). Among the patients with total cholesterol above 280mg/dl (n=180), 15(8.33%) had elevated thyrotropin levels. As amount of the total cholesterol increased, the frequency of elevated thyrotropin levels Increased(P=0.001). And this result was consistent following adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking and drinking status(P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physicians should be aware of the possibility of secondary hypercholesterolemia due to hypothyroidism and keep in mind the importance of evaluating TSH level.
Chemistry ; Cholesterol* ; Drinking ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Hypothyroidism ; Korea ; Physical Examination ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotropin* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The recent advent of "-omics" technologies have heralded a new era of personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is referred to as the ability to segment heterogeneous subsets of patients whose response to a therapeutic intervention within each subset is homogeneous. This new paradigm in healthcare is beginning to affect both research and clinical practice. The key to success in personalized medicine is to uncover molecular biomarkers that drive individual variability in clinical outcomes or drug responses. In this review, we begin with an overview of personalized medicine in breast cancer and illustrate the most encountered statistical approaches in the recent literature tailored for uncovering gene signatures.
Biomarkers ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Precision Medicine

Injuries to extensor tendons can be as serious as those of digital flexors. These injuries require accurate approximation, appropirate splinting and careful mobilization. Scarring which always occurs following injury can provoke greater problems in digital extensor injuries than in flexor tendons. The loss of 2mm of excursion of extensor tendon at level of the proximal interphalangeal joint may results in a 50 percent loss of motion of the finger. A special problem associated with extensor tendon healing is loss of gliding. This study was carried was carried out to evaluate the results of the extensor injuries according to their etiology, location and type of treatment. Seventy six lesions in fifty patients treated for extensor tendon injuries were analysed for the comparison of the results of specific treatment. The follow up was from 1 to 3 years with average of 19 months. Following results were obtained. l. Among 50 patients, 16 cases (32%) were acute and 34 cases (68%) were chronic. 2. The etiology were crushing in 19 cases (30%), knife or glass in 20 cases (40%), and avulsion in 8 cases (16%) etc. 3. Mallet finger were observed in 14 tendons, buttonhole in 10 tendons. Nine tendons were injured at the metacarpophalangeal level and 16 tendons were injured at wrist level. 4. Percentage of satisfactory result which means less than 15 degrees of extension loss were 68.1 % in primary repair and plication, and 30.7% in tendon transfer or graft. 5. Prognosis was better when the lesion was proximal to MP joint, and results were more favorable in primary repair and plication than tendon transfer graft.
Cicatrix ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Joints ; Prognosis ; Splints ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Transplants ; Wrist

A total of 110 computed tomographic scans of the brain in pediatric population were reviewed. They wereretrospectively analyzed focusing on the ventricular dilatation, widening of subdural space in frontal region andprominence of cerebral sulci in hemisphere. The results were compared with clinical recored. In the measurementbicaudate ventricular index waas above 0.18, which ws considered ventricular dilatation. The subdural space in thefrontal region and teh prominent cerbral sulci in the hemisphere were visualized among the cases aged over twoyears with clinical evidence of cerbral problem is pediatric population. The diagnostic application of CT to thecases of cerebral disorder in pediatric population is highly recommended.
Brain ; Dilatation ; Subdural Space

Computed Tomograms of 45 patients with or without lung mass were reviewed to determine the characteristics of the major and minor fissures. Also pulmonary vascular distibutions were analyzed to localize each pulmonary lobe. The results were as follows; 1. Each major fissure area was imaged frequently as lucent band, less frequently dense band. 2. The minor fissure areas were imaged as oval or triangular lucent zones. The oval or triangularlucent zones were as same frequency. 3. Avascular planes without above mentioned lucent zones were also correspond to minor fissure areas. 4. Slices of avascular zones were observated between pulmonary arteries to posterior segment or apicoposterior segment of upper lobe and to superior segement of lower lobe on both lungs.
Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of breast milk containing fortifier with preterm formula on bone mineral metabolism in premature infants, we evaluated the state of bone mineralization, biochemical alteration and the frequency of rickets during the first five months of life. METHODS: Fourteen fortified breast milk-fed infants and eleven preterm formula-fed infants who were born at Il-Sin Christian Hospital from August, 1996 through July, 1997, were studied. The breast milk-fed group received human milk fortifier. The intake of Ca, P, Mg, protein, and fat was calculated at one month of age. Birth weight and weight at one, two and five months of age were measured. Serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase and 25-hydroxyvitamine D were measured at one month of age, and the wrist received X-ray examinations monthly. Total body bone mineral content was measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar WI) at two and five months of age. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, and weight at one, two and five months of age. Enteral Ca, P, protein, Mg, and fat intake, and urinary excretion of Ca, P were similar among the two groups. Serum Ca, P, ALP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were not different. Occurrence of rickets and bone mineral content were similar among the two groups. CONCLUSION: Fortified breast milk-fed infants and preterm formula-fed infants showed no difference in total body bone mineral content and occurrence of rickets. Ultimately, we could enhance the advantage of breast milk fed to premature infants by adding fortifier.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Birth Weight ; Bone Density ; Breast ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Metabolism* ; Milk, Human* ; Rickets* ; Wrist

Citrullinemia is an inborn error of urea cycle metabolism caused by deficiency of arginosuccinate synthetase. It is characterized by hyperammonemia and high citrulline level in serum, CSF and urine. The clinical symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, seizure, coma and ultimately death if hyperammonemia is not controlled. We report a case of 9- day old male with citrullinemia who was initially treated with sodium benzoate during acute stage followed by gradual weaning to discontinuation. Hyperammonemia was well controlled by low protein milk diet and arginine.
Arginine* ; Citrulline ; Citrullinemia* ; Coma ; Diet* ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Lethargy ; Ligases ; Male ; Metabolism ; Milk ; Seizures ; Sodium Benzoate ; Urea ; Vomiting ; Weaning

Serum specimens from leprosy patients, their contacts and controls were examined for the presence of phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), a Mycobacterium leprae specific antigen, and antibodies to the antigen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Of 12 lepromatous patients with less than 2 years of therapy, 11(91.7%) were seropositive to PGL-l, thus indicating that new lepromatous cases can be identified by detecting anti-PGL-l antibodies. In contrast 88(56.4%) of 156 lepromatous patiens treated more than 2 years were positve. Moreover, only 69(40.8%) were seropositve among 169 lepromatous patients in the leprosy resettlement villages. The mean antibody level also declined significantly in proportion to the duration of chemotherapy. This may suggest the possibility of monitoring chemotherapy by detecting anti-PGL-l antibodies. The prevalence of anti-PGL-l antibodies among 200 controls from a high endemic area for leprosy was 5.5% and was significantly higher than that(1.5%) among 200 controls from a low endemic area. Of 103 household contacts in the resettlement villages, 10(9.7%) were seropositive, reflecting the frequent chance of exposure to M. leprae. However, PGL-l was not detected many in any of the sera from controls, contacts, and inactive lepromatous patients having the anti-PGL-l antibodies; on the other hand, 6(50%) of 12 lepromatous patients treated less than 2 years had detectable PGL-l in their sera. The results thus indicate that PGL-l detection may be more suitable for monitoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy and that it may be necessary to examine for the presence of PGL-l in sera from contacts and normal populations for confirming M. leprae infection.
Antibodies, Bacterial/*analysis ; Glycolipids/*blood ; Human ; Leprosy/*blood/diagnosis ; Serologic Tests ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking*