Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease is common, but its pathophysiology is poorly understood. We performed esophageal manometry, radionuclide oropharyngeal and esophageal transit study in order to obtain the objective data of the frequency of dysphagia in the patients with Parkinson's and to evaluate the subjective symptoms and motor dysfunction of oropharynx and esophagus. Seventeen idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients(7 men and 10 women) and twenty age-matched controls were subjects for esophageal manometry , radionuclide oropharyngeal(O'IT) and esophageal transit study(ETT). Among 17 patients group, 10 patients were abnormal in esophageal manometry, and 14 were abnormal in radionuclide transit time(ETT). At the results of OTT & E'IT, there is significant difference between patient group and age-matched control group(contror group OTT ;2.64+1.9, ETT ;14.33+9.4 : patient group OTT ;34.21+ 71.6, ETT ; 115.98+116. Lsec) (P < 0. 05). However, there was no significant difference between those with complain of dysphagqa and those without complain of dysphagia. Moreover, there was no correlation among the results of O'IT & EIT, the findings of esophageal manometry, those with complain. Of dysphagia, and H-Y stage. In conclusion, it showed the oropharyngeal and esophageal dysfunction in most of Parkinson's disease patients, which was not related with the severity of dysphagia. The causable lesion of dysphagia involved diffusely throughout oropharynx, body of esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter. And, esophageal manometry and radionuclide transit study might be objective tools for evaluation of dysphagia. The relationship between motor dysfunction of oropharynx and esophagus and the severity of Parkinson's disease is remained to be clear.
Deglutition Disorders* ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Oropharynx ; Parkinson Disease*

PURPOSE:Acute encephalopathy is defined as diffuse interference of brain functions due to neuronal dysfunction by generalized or multifocal insults. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the prognosis and other factors such as clinical patterns, laboratory findings, electroencephalographic and radiologic findings in children with acute encephalopahty. METHODS:We carried out a retrospective review on the medical records of 43 patients who were initially diagnosed as encephalopathy from January 1995 to June 2004. We excluded the patients diagnosed as mumps meningitis, Reye syndome and neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. RESULTS: 1) The morality rate was 50% in the patients below 1 year old at the admission, but all the patients above 10 years old were survived. 2) The morality rate was 40% in the patients with alert mental status at the admission and one patient with comatous mental status died. 3) The morality rate of the patients without seizures at the admission(35.7%) was higher than that of the patients with seizures(10.3%). But there was no statistical significance. 4) In the patients with abnormal liver function tests, the mortality rate(40%) was singnificantly higher than that of the patients with normal liver functions(7.1%, P value <0.05) 5) Only 5 patients(20%) among 25 patients who took both EEG's and imaging studies were taken showed abnormalities at the same locations in both studies. But there was no significant relationship between the mortality rate and EEG and the radiologic findings. CONCLUSION:In this study, we could not find out the statistically significant relationship between the prognosis and other factors such as age, consciousness levels, the presence of seizures at the admission, and electroencephalographic and radiologic abnormalities. But the patients with abnormal liver functions at the admission showed statistically significant higher mortality rates than patients with normal liver function.
Brain ; Child* ; Consciousness ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Morals ; Mortality ; Mumps ; Neurons ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

OBJECTIVES: We studied the circadian rhythm of nonlinear heart rate dynamics in healthy subjects. BACKGROUND: The frequency of sudden cardiac death increases in the morning. The relationship between decreased complexity of heart rate dynamics and sudden cardiac death has been documented. An understanding of the circadian variation in the complexity of cardiac dynamics may be important and to predict and prevent this sudden cardiac death. METHODS: Dynamic 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from 30 healthy ambulant subjects aged 41 to 50 years and the digitized data was partitioned into sections of 30 minutes' duration. For each section, four indexes obtained from separate algorithms of nonlinear dynamics of RR interval - correlation dimension, Lyapunov exponent, approximate entropy, and fractal dimension - were calculated. Normalized low- (0.04-0.1 hertz) and high-frequency (>0.15 hertz) components were also calculated. RESULTS: All the four indexes of nonlinear dynamics showed a remarkably similar circadian rhythm: a prominent morning dip preceded by a steep decline during the late night, a recovery during the evening and a peak around midnight. In the morning, the low frequency component rose rapidly with concomitant withdrawal of the high frequency component. CONCLUSION: The complexity of cardiac dynamics decreases significantly in the morning, and this may contribute to the ominously increased rate of cardiac death in the morning hours.
Circadian Rhythm* ; Death ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Entropy ; Fractals ; Heart Rate ; Nonlinear Dynamics

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the differences in genotypes of rotavirus and their incidence between patients with acute rotaviral enteritis who suffered neurologic complications and those who did not suffer neurologic complications. METHODS: Among the 82 patients with rotaviral enteritis whose genotype was analyzed, 71 patients were not associated with neurologic complications(neurology(-) group), and eleven patients were associated with neurologic complications(neurology(+) group). Four G genotypes and four P genotypes were determined by reverse trans cription and multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In the neurology(-) group, the number of G4, G3, G2 and G1 was 24(35.3 percent), 23 (33.8 percent), 17(25.0 percent) and 4(5.6 percent), respectively and the number of P6, P4, P8 and P9 was 26(36.1 percent), 23(31.9 percent), 22(30.6 percent) and 1(1.4 percent), respectively. G2P4, and G4P6 were the most frequently found com bination genotypes, respectively. In the neurology(+) group, the number of G2, G3 and G4 was 9(75.0 percent), 2(16.7 percent) and 1(8.3 percent), respectively and the number of P4, P6, P8 and P9 was 8(66.7 percent), 2(16.7 percent), 1(8.3 percent) and 1(8.3 percent), respectively. G2P4 was the most frequently found combination genotype. The incidence of each of the G2, P4 and G2P4 was significantly higher in the neurology(+) group when compared to that of each of the G2, P4, and G2P4 in the neurology(-) group. CONCLUSION: In the patients with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis associated with neurologic complications, the G1 genotype was not found and genotypes of the G2, P4, and G2P4 were more frequently found.
Enteritis* ; Gastroenteritis ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus* ; Seizures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Korea have been organizing hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical infection prevention projects since July 2002. In this single-institute study, the results of surveys conducted in target mothers who delivered babies in a tertiary hospital were investigated and analyzed. METHODS: Of the 9,281 mothers and their 9,824 neonates born between July 2002 and December 2012, 308 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers and their 319 neonates were selected for this study, and their records were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 308 mothers were HBsAg-positive, with an HBV prevalence of 3.32% (308/9,281). There were 319 neonates born to these HBsAg-positive mothers, and 252 were confirmed to as either HBsAg-positive or -negative. Four were confirmed as HBsAg-positive, with a 1.59% (4/252) HBV vertical infection rate. All the mothers of neonates who had an HBV vertical infection were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive. Among the HBsAg-positive neonates, three were HBeAg-positive and had an HBV DNA titer of 1.0 x 10(8) copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The HBV prevalence of mothers was 3.32% (308/9,281), and their vertical infection rate was 1.59% (4/252). Thus, the South Korean HBV vertical infection prevention projects are effective, and, accordingly, HBV prevalence in South Korea is expected to decrease continuously.
Adult ; Biological Markers/blood ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Hepatitis B/blood/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control/*transmission/virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control ; *National Health Programs ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Tertiary Care Centers ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This retrospective study assessed the clinical outcome of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure for managing portal hypertension in Koreans with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Between January 2003 and July 2013, 230 patients received a TIPS in 13 university-based hospitals. RESULTS: Of the 229 (99.6%) patients who successfully underwent TIPS placement, 142 received a TIPS for variceal bleeding, 84 for refractory ascites, and 3 for other indications. The follow-up period was 24.9+/-30.2 months (mean+/-SD), 74.7% of the stents were covered, and the primary patency rate at the 1-year follow-up was 78.7%. Hemorrhage occurred in 30 (21.1%) patients during follow-up; of these, 28 (93.3%) cases of rebleeding were associated with stent dysfunction. Fifty-four (23.6%) patients developed new hepatic encephalopathy, and most of these patients were successfully managed conservatively. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months were 87.5%, 75.0%, 66.8%, and 57.5%, respectively. A high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was significantly associated with the risk of death within the first month after receiving a TIPS (P=0.018). Old age (P<0.001), indication for a TIPS (ascites vs. bleeding, P=0.005), low serum albumin (P<0.001), and high MELD score (P=0.006) were associated with overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A high MELD score was found to be significantly associated with early and overall mortality rate in TIPS patients. Determining the appropriate indication is warranted to improve survival in these patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; End Stage Liver Disease/pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage/etiology ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/*diagnosis/mortality/surgery ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; *Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) is commonly used as an antiviral agent in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Nephrotoxicity has been shown to occur at daily dosages of 60-120 mg. Fanconi's syndrome is a generalized dysfunction of the renal proximal tubular cells, which is usually accompanied by complications. Here we report a case of Fanconi's syndrome in a chronic hepatitis B patient who had been treated with a prolonged regimen of ADV at 10 mg/day. A 47-year-old man complained of severe back and chest-wall pain. He had chronic hepatitis B and had been treated with ADV at a daily dose of 10 mg for 38 months. He was hospitalized because of severe bone pain, and laboratory and radiologic findings suggested a diagnosis of Fanconi's syndrome with osteomalacia. After discontinuation of the ADV, he recovered and was discharged from hospital. His laboratory findings had normalized within 2 weeks. This case indicates that Fanconi's syndrome can be acquired by a chronic hepatitis B patient taking ADV at a conventional dosage of 10 mg/day. Therefore, patients treated with long-term ADV should be checked regularly for the occurrence of ADV-induced Fanconi's syndrome.
Adenine ; Fanconi Syndrome ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; HIV ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; Osteomalacia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver stiffness (LS) measurement by transient elastography can estimate the degrees of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. However, longitudinal data of LS after recovery of acute viral hepatitis are still lacking. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate among LS of patients at various stages of viral hepatitis and normal control. METHODS: Patients who had admitted at Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2006 and January 2007 due to acute viral hepatitis and recovered were recruited (group A, n=22). We compared the liver biochmistry and LS of group A with those of healthy control group (group B, n=23), current acute viral hepatitis group (group C, n=49), and chronic viral hepatitis group (group D, n=66). RESULTS: Mean ALT, total bilirubin, and LS level of group A were not different from group B (p=0.318, p=0.116, p=0.125, respectively). However, group A had lower ALT, total bilirubin, and LS values compared to group C (all p<0.001), and lower ALT and LS values compared to group D (p=0.007, p<0.001). The mean total bilirubin was not significantly different from group D (p=0.117). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that liver fibrosis is a long-term sequela of chronic hepatitis, and not developed in patients who recovered from acute viral hepatitis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Bilirubin/analysis ; Carrier State ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human/*complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver/enzymology/*ultrasonography ; Liver Cirrhosis/*ultrasonography/*virology ; Male ; Middle Aged

The silkworm extract powder contain 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a potent alpha-glycosidase inhibitor, has therapeutic potency against diabetes mellitus. Therefore, natural products containing DNJ from mulberry leaves and silkworm are consumed as health functional food. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of the silkworm extract powder, a health food which containing the DNJ. The repeated toxicity studies and gentic toxicity studies of the silkworm extract powder were performed to obtain the data for new functional food approval in MFDS. The safety was evaluated by a single-dose oral toxicity study and a 90 day repeated-dose oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. The silkworm extract powder was also evaluated for its mutagenic potential in a battery of genetic toxicity test: in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The results of the genetic toxicology assays were negative in all of the assays. The approximate lethal dose in single oral dose toxicity study was considered to be higher than 5000 mg/kg in rats. In the 90 day study, the dose levels were wet at 0, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day, and 10 animals/sex/dose were treated with oral gavage. The parameters that were monitored were clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumptions, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, and histopathological examination. No adverse effects were observed after the 90 day administration of the silkworm extract powder. The No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) of silkworm extract powder in the 90 day study was 2000 mg/kg/day in both sexes, and no target organ was identified.
1-Deoxynojirimycin ; Animals ; Biochemistry ; Biological Agents ; Body Weight ; Bombyx* ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Functional Food ; Food, Organic ; Hematology ; Mice ; Micronucleus Tests ; Morus ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toxicology ; Urinalysis ; Drinking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients undergoing chemotherapy, as well as HBsAg-negative patients with antibodies against HBV core antigen (HBcAg) and/or HBsAg (HBsAb). Chemotherapy-including rituximab-has recently been identified as a predictive factor for HBV reactivation in HBsAg-negative patients with malignant lymphoma. The aim of our study was to identify the factors predictive of HBV reactivation after chemotherapy in patients with malignant lymphoma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records from patients diagnosed with malignant lymphoma at Gachon University Gil Medical Center in City, County from January 2005 to December 2010. We subsequently determined HBsAg, HBsAb and anti-HBc status in the 196 patients treated with chemotherapy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.3 +/- 14.5 years; 56.3% were male. A total of 172 of 196 (88%) patients in the study population were HBsAg (+) prior to chemotherapy. Three patients (3/11, 27.3%) in the HBsAg (+) group had confirmed HBV reactivation after chemotherapy. In addition, 26 of 196 (13%) patients in the study population tested HBcAg (+) positive prior to chemotherapy. One patient (1/15, 6.7%) in the HBsAg (-)/HBcAb (+) group had confirmed HBV reactivation. In the four patients with HBV reactivation, infection was resolved after treatment with 0.5 mg entecavir or 100 mg lamivudine. CONCLUSIONS: Reactivation of HBV after systemic chemotherapy can occur in HBsAg (-) patients. We recommend that malignant lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy be screened for HBV infection status, including HBcAg, and followed closely to prevent HBV reactivation.
Antibodies ; Antigens, Surface ; Drug Therapy* ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies