PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the long term efficacy and positive predictive factors of interferon-alpha treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: The study population included 113 children who received interferon therapy between May 1982 and July 2002 (20 years) for chronic hepatitis B in Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1 and the mean age at diagnosis was 11.1+/-4.1 years old. Response to treatment was defined as normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), disappearance of HBeAg and HBV-DNA Eighty two children responded while 32 did not. Interferon-alpha was given intramuscularly for 6 months at a dosage of 3x106 unit, 3 times weekly. In relapsed cases, lamivudine or interferon retreatment was done. RESULTS: Seroconversion rate was 77.0% in terms of HBeAg, 74.3% in terms of HBV-DNA, and 80.5% in terms of ALT normalization after treatment. Seroconversion rate of both HBeAg and HBV-DNA was 72.6%. Analyzed by life table method, the effect of the treatment had been maintained over 10 years after cessation of therapy. Pre-treatment ALT level was the only significant positive predictive factor of response. Eleven cases (13.4%) relapsed, and 2 out of 3 showed response when treated with lamivudine and 1 out of 3 with interferon retreatment. CONCLUSION: Interferon-alpha showed significant efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in our study. Further studies about the effect of interferon therapy on complications of hepatitis such as hepatocarcinoma, cirrhosis are warranted.
Alanine Transaminase ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons ; Lamivudine ; Life Tables ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Retreatment

PURPOSE: We investigated the spontaneous seroconversion rate of hepatitis B viral markers and predictive factors affecting seroconversion in children with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: The study population included 214 children diagnosed as chronic hepatitis B, with positive HBsAg, HBeAg and HBVDNA over six months, and all patients had a family history of chronic Hepatitis B. They were followed between May 1982 and Febrary 2003 in the Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Serum HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, HBVDNA, and AST/ALT were measured every six months. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 7.4+/-4.5 years. The loss of HBeAg, HBVDNA and HBsAg were observed in 44(19.2%), 34(15.9%) and 3(1.4%) children respectively. The patients with serum ALT levels over three times normal and with HBVDNA less than 1,000 pg/dL showed significantly higher seroconversion rates of HBeAg and HBVDNA(P<0.001). By analyzing with the life table method, the cumulative seroconversion rate of HBeAg was 11% at 10 and 35% at 19 years of age, while HBVDNA was 9% at 10 and 32% at 19 years of age. In cases of HBsAg, the cumulative seroconversion rate was only 1.5% at 19 years of age. The age of patients, serum ALT and HBVDNA levels were proven as signifincant factors influencing the seroconversion of HBeAg and HBVDNA(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In children with chronic hepatitis B, the seroconversion rate of HBeAg and HBVDNA are expected to be 35% and 32%, respectively, by the age of 19 years. The age of patients, serum ALT and HBVDNA levels seem to have significant influence on HBeAg and HBVDNA seroconversion.
Biomarkers ; Child* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; Hepatitis B Antigens ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Life Tables ; Natural History* ; Pediatrics

Newborn hearing screening test is very important in the early diagnosis of childhood hearing loss because it affects language development. Auditory neuropathy is a spectrum disorder characterized by abnormal auditory brainstem response but preserved otoacoustic emission and cochlear microphonics. In general, auditory neuropathy patients have poor word discrimination and variable patterns of pure tone audiometry. We report on a patient with auditory neuropathy diagnosed at 16 months of age and started wearing hearing aids, but showed normal pure tone and speech audiometric findings 3 years later. Close follow-up for patients with auditory neuropathy is recommended.
Audiometry ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Early Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Language Development ; Mass Screening

PURPOSE: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) epidemics have recently been associated with HFMD-based neurologic complications in the Asia-Pacific region. This study described HFMD clinical features, and investigated clinical parameters in patients presenting with acute neurologic complications associated with HFMD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records from 235 hospitalized patients who developed HFMD with or without neurologic complications (22 and 213 cases, respectively) in Uijengbu, Korea between 2010 and 2013. Clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses, virological analyses, and treatment regimens were summarized. Additionally, routinely collected baseline data from 235 patients were retrospectively analyzed to identify clinical parameters associated with neurologic complications. RESULTS: Brainstem encephalitis was the most frequent neurologic complication (11 cases), followed by aseptic meningitis (seven cases). We also found acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and meningitis retention syndrome. Both have rarely been reported in EV71-associated HFMD. Virological analyses were performed for 15 cases, and 14 demonstrated EV71 infection, while one patient demonstrated Coxsackievirus B3 infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated patients were more likely to develop neurologic complications if they experienced nausea/vomiting (OR= 13.65, P<0.001) and lethargy (OR=10.68, P=0.003). Males were more likely to develop neurologic complications compared to females (OR=2.12, P=0.005). In addition, neurologic complications were associated with a higher peak heart rate (OR=1.13, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed usual and unusual findings of HFMD-associated neurologic complications. Male gender, nausea/vomiting, lethargy, and peak heart rate parameters predicted HFMD-associated neurologic complications. However, laboratory findings did not reliably predict HFMD-associated neurologic complications.
Brain Stem ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Encephalitis ; Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated ; Enterovirus ; Female ; Foot* ; Hand* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Korea ; Lethargy ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mouth Diseases* ; Retrospective Studies

In the present study, toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated in the nematode, Caenohabditis elegans focusing on the upstream signaling pathway responsible for regulating oxidative stress, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in AgNPs exposed C. elegans, suggesting oxidative stress as an important mechanism in the toxicity of AgNPs towards C. elegans. Expression of genes in MAPK signaling pathways increased by AgNPs exposure in less than 2-fold compared to the control in wildtype C. elegans, however, those were increased dramatically in sod-3 (gk235) mutant after 48 h exposure of AgNPs (i.e. 4-fold for jnk-1 and mpk-2; 6-fold for nsy-1, sek-1, and pmk-1, and 10-fold for jkk-1). These results on the expression of oxidative stress response genes suggest that sod-3 gene expression appears to be dependent on p38 MAPK activation. The high expressions of the pmk-1 gene 48 h exposure to AgNPs in the sod-3 (gk235) mutant can also be interpreted as compensatory mechanisms in the absence of important stress response genes. Overall results suggest that MAPK-based integrated stress signaling network seems to be involved in defense to AgNPs exposure in C.elegans.
Caenorhabditis elegans ; Gene Expression ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidative Stress ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Protein Kinases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Silver

Primary tracheal amyloidosis (PTA) can lead to airway obstructions, and patients with severe PTA should undergo bronchoscopic interventions in order to maintain airway patency. Focal airway involvements with amyloidosis can only be treated with mechanical dilatation. However, the PTA with diffused airway involvements and concomitant cartilage destructions requires stent placement. Limited information regarding the usefulness of silicone stents in patients with PTA has been released. Therefore, we report a case of diffused PTA with tracheomalacia causing severe cartilage destruction, which is being successfully managed with bronchoscopic interventions and silicone stent placements.
Airway Obstruction ; Amyloidosis* ; Bronchoscopy ; Cartilage* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Silicones* ; Stents* ; Tracheomalacia

Gastritis cystica profunda (GCP) is a lesion characterized by elongation of the gastric foveolae with hyperplasia and cystic dilatation of the gastric glands that extends into the submucosal layer. In most cases, gastritis cystica profunda develops in patients who have undergone a gastroenterostomy, with or without gastric resection. GCP may present not only as a submucosal tumor or as solitary or diffuse polyps, but GCP is also rarely seen as a giant gastric mucosal fold. A patient arrived at our hospital with dyspepsia. Gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed the presence of a submucosal tumor measuring 3 cm in the widest diameter in the body of the stomach. A CT scan demonstrated the cystic nature of the lesion and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) depicted a homogeneous hypoechoic, unilocular cystic mass without any internal solid component. EGD, CT and EUS findings suggested that the lesion was more likely to be benign than malignant. The lesion was treated with an endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and the lesion was finally diagnosed as gastritis cystica profunda. A follow-up EGD demonstrated that all mucosal surfaces were well healed four weeks after the EMR.
Dilatation ; Dyspepsia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Polyps ; Stomach

PURPOSE: Ethosuximide (ESX) is currently not available due to various reasons in Korea. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of valproate (VPA) and lamotrigine (LTG) when ESX monotherapy was replaced by VPA or LTG. METHODS: A retrospective study was done for a total of 34 patients treated with ESX in 5 different hospitals affiliated with Catholic University of Korea from January, 2010 to December, 2012. They all were initially treated with ESX, but later switched to VPA or LTG. The subjects were selected based on clinical symptoms and electroencephalography findings. RESULTS: Among 34 patients, VPA was prescribed to 17 patients (50.0%) and LTG to 17 patients (50.0%). Twenty patients (58.8%) achieved the seizure freedom after 3 months of the treatments, 13 patients (76.5%) by VPA and 7 (41.2%) by LTG respectively. Four patients (23.5%) with VPA and 10 (58.8%) with LTG were replaced by other anticonvulsants due to ineffectiveness and/or side effects of medication. When we compare the efficacy of seizure reduction between VPA and LTG after 3 month period of the treatment, the efficacy of VPA was better than that of LTG (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the VPA is a better alternative anticonvulsant than LTG for the patients with absence epilepsy who are unable to continue ESX.
Anticonvulsants ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Absence* ; Ethosuximide ; Freedom ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Valproic Acid*