OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to demonstrate the activities and phosphorylation changes induced by acute ethanol treatment and withdrawal conditions in the intracellular signal transduction molecules [such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta), and Akt] of the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. METHODS: The acute treatment exposed SH-SY5Y cells to 100 mM ethanol, and we took samples 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 24 hours after initiating this treatment. After 24 hours' continuous ethanol treatment, we initiated ethanol withdrawal, taking samples at 30 minutes and 60 minutes. We assayed the kinase phosphorylations via an immunoblot analysis using phosphorspecific antibodies, quantified by optical densitometry. RESULTS: Ethanol treatment induced a transient increase in phosphorylation of GSK3beta and Akt at 30 minutes but failed to change the phosphorylation level of ERK. Ethanol withdrawal induced a transient ERK phosphorylation increase at 30 minutes, but it had no effect on the phosphorylation of GSK3beta or Akt. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the ethanol-induced cellular response includes the ERK, GSK3beta, and Akt systems. In particular, the ERK pathway may play a role in the acute withdrawal response. This also suggests that a relatively short exposure to ethanol, such as the 24-hour exposure in this study, can induce functional adaptation within a cell.
Antibodies ; Cell Line ; Densitometry ; Ethanol ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; Glycogen Synthase Kinases ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Neuroblastoma ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Signal Transduction

Among 666 premature infants or low birthweight infants who were admitted in NICU of St. Francisco General Hospital from January 1990 to Jun 1992, 96 infants were diagnosed as retinopathy of prematurity by indirect ophthalmoscope. The result were follows: 1) Among 666 patients, retinopathy of prematurity developed in 96 patients(14.1%) 2) The high incidence was observed in low birthweight and small gestational age. 3) Mean age of first diagnosing time was 42.0( 12 day of life and mean gestational age was 31.8 2.5 weeks and mean birthweight was 1646.5 (350.7gm. 4) In gestational age, birthweight and duration of oxygen therapy, there was statistically difference between cryotherapy group and spontaneous regression group. Other possible risk factors-hyaline membrane disease, apnea, anemia-were showed higher incidence in cryotherapy group. 5) Among the 20 infants who were treated with cryotherapy, 16 infants (80%) showed regression of neovascularization.
Apnea ; Cryotherapy ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Membranes ; Ophthalmoscopes ; Oxygen ; Retinopathy of Prematurity*

Perinephric abscess is an accumulation of pus in the perinephric space, the area anatomically defined between the kidney and Gerota's fascia. Gram negative organisms are the most prevalent bacterial species found in perinephric abscess. Fever, flank pain, vomiting and abdominal mass are the usual presenting complaints. But with its insidious onset, variable symptoms and rare frequency in children, perinephric abscess has been a major diagnostic problem, leading to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment, which increase the rate of complication and mortality. Clinical diagnosis of perinephric abscess is difficult but must always be considered in children with a febrile septicemic illness. For appropriate treatment, early detection is very important, and either ultrasonography or computed tomography(CT) facilitates the diagnosis and establishment of treatment method. We experienced a case of left perinephric abscess treated by percutaneous drainage in a 1-year 7-month old boy. Review of literature was made briefly.
Abscess* ; Child ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Drainage* ; Fascia ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; Male ; Mortality ; Suppuration ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

Trisomy 12p is an extremely rare disorder, in fact approximately 30 cases have been reported around the world. This disorder results from a malsegregation or non-disjunction of a balanced translocation of t(12;18), thus the offspring inherit such a gene. In this report, the father's chromosomal arrangement was 46, XY, t(12;18)(p12.1;p11.31) and the mother had a normal chromosomal arrangement. We identified a neonate with a short- neck, round face, prominent forehead, long philtrum, low-set ears, imperforated anus and congenital megacolon. We then carried out a chromosomal study and diagnosed the trisomy 12p. If one or both parents are known carriers, it is strongly suggested to perform amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling for every pregnancy and it is also recommended that potential parents receive genetic counseling before any pregnancy.
Amniocentesis ; Anal Canal ; Chorionic Villi Sampling ; Ear ; Female ; Forehead ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Counseling ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lip ; Mothers ; Neck ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Trisomy*

PURPOSE: This study investigated how gross motor and fine motor development are influenced by sleep position. METHODS: From December, 2003 to September, 2005, for a year and 9 months, 800 children aged from 3 months to 16 months, who visited the Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju, Korea were surveyed for motor development scale, sleep position and body weight. RESULTS: The sleep position came in order:79.3 percent of supine position, 10.0 percent prone position and 10.7 percent side position. Gross motor scale and fine motor scale were not connected with sex. The prone position indicated remarkable increase on gross motor scale from 5-6 months, but stayed the same after 7 months. Fine motor scale was not related to age and sleep position. Gross motor scale and fine motor scale were higher on group weighing more than under average weight group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that prone position did not influence gross motor scale after 7 months, affecting children of 5-6 months only. Hence, It is not recommended to use the prone position for a baby's fast gross motor development.
Body Weight* ; Child ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Prone Position ; Protestantism ; Supine Position

PURPOSE: This study investigated the breast-feeding period, the milk bottle-using period, the age of cow's milk, introduced and the amount of cow's milk consumed in relation to anemia. METHODS: Over the course of three years, 930 children(12 months to 36 months) who went to the Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju, Korea were tested for anemia and their parents were surveyed for a history of their children's milk consumption. RESULTS: Anemia appeared more likely between 30 months and 36 months, however, iron-deficiency anemia appeared more likely between 18 months and 23 months. Anemia, low serum ferritin levels and iron-deficiency anemia appeared more likely in children breast fed less than 6 months and greater than 12 months. Although there were survey reports of side effects with cow's milk, including constipation, diarrhea and skin rash, the milk bottle-using period, age of cow's milk introduced and amount of cow's milk consumed had no connection with anemia, serum ferritin levels and iron-deficiency anemia. CONCLUSION: The data showed no correlation between the cow's milk, milk bottle-using period and iron deficiency. But the data revealed that iron deficiency anemia is more likely in children who are breast fed for less than 6 months and over 12 months, so we suggest careful attention during this period to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Breast ; Child ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Exanthema ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron* ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Milk* ; Nursing* ; Parents ; Protestantism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sphenoid sinus faces the cavernous sinuses in which neurovascular structures such as the cavernous segment of the internal carotid arteries (ICA), optic nerve, and trigerminal nerve are located. In addition, it separates the pituitary gland from the nasal cavity. Therefore, surgeons are required to understand its detailed anatomy for transsphenoidal approach (TSA) or optic nerve decompression. This study is aimed to investigate the surgical anatomy of the sphenoid sinus and its clinical application using Korean adult cadaveric heads. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred sagittally-divided adult cadaveric heads were used. After removing the sinus mucosa meticulously, careful examination and photodocumentation were done serially. The analysed items were the pneumatization type of the sphenoid sinus, the relationship between the pneumatization type of the sphenoid sinus and the incidence of bulging of the optic canal, segment 1 and 3 of ICA, maxillary nerve, and pterygoid nerve, and the incidence of bony dehiscence and thickness of bone at the bulging site of various neurovascular structures. RESULT: The sellar type was found in 90% of the subjects. The incidence of bulging of neurovascular structures were from 34% to 65%, and the incidence of bony dehiscence at the bulging site were from 0% to 9.6%. The more pnermatized the sphenoid bone was, the higher the prevalence of bulging became. The average thickness of bone was less than 0.5 mm. In the complete sellar type, the distances from the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus to the bulging site at the optic canal, and to segment 1 and 3 of ICA were about 1.9 mm, 19.3 mm, and 9.5 mm, respectively. The distances from the superior wall of the sphenoid sinus to the bulging site at the optic canal and to the maxillary nerve were about 3.7 mm and 17.3 mm, respectively. Bulging of the optic canal attached to the anterior and the superior walls of the sphenoid sinus was 45% and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSION: By elucidating the relationship between the sphenoid sinus and surrounding vital neurovascular structures, this study might be able to provide essential anatomical knowledge for surgeons to reduce surgical complication in applying to the sphenoid sinus.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus ; Decompression ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxillary Nerve ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Cavity ; Optic Nerve ; Pituitary Gland ; Prevalence ; Sphenoid Bone ; Sphenoid Sinus*

Duodenal varices can develop in patients with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis. Although upper gastrointestinal bleeding is often severe and fatal, the definite treatment or guideline has not been established. Although endoscopy is the primary therapeutic modality, the use of radiologic interventions, such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, balloon or vascular plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration, and percutaneous transhepatic variceal obliteration, can be considered alternative treatment methods for duodenal varices. Herein, we report a case of duodenal varix in a patient with poor hepatic functional reserve and vascular anatomy, which are contraindications for an occlusion balloon or a vascular plug, successfully treated with coil-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal-dominant disorder. Vasculopathies associated with NF1 are rare and can cause aneurysms, stenoses, and arteriovenous malformations. Aneurysms may rupture spontaneously, which could be fatal. Spontaneous mesenteric hemorrhage due to rupture of an inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm associated with NF1 has rarely been reported. Herein, we report a case of spontaneous rupture of a fusiform aneurysm in the superior rectal artery in a 56-year-old woman with NF1 who was successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization.