No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Asthma*

A case of myofibroblastoma of the breast in a 55-year-old man is described. Myofibroblastoma is a relatively recently recognized benign stromal tumor, and predominantly occurs in middle aged men. The pateint presented with a nontender firm mass in his right breast. Fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed bland looking stromal cell clusters without epithelial cells. Simple excision was done and the patient discharged uneventfully. The mass was well demarcated, lobulated and sligtly myxoid. Microscopically bipolar elongated spindle cell fascicles with interspersing broad collagen bands are so characteristic. Ultrastructurally the tumor cell show features of fibroblast as well as smooth muscle cell.
Male ; Humans ; Biopsy

PURPOSE: In children on anticancer chemotherapy, bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated febrile episodes and bloodstream infections in pediatric cancer patients to guide proper selection of empiric antibiotics for febrile pediatric hemato-oncologic patients. METHODS: All febrile episodes treated in the division of hematology-oncology, the department of pediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital, between July 2005 and June 2008 were reviewed. Episodes with and without bloodstream infections were compared. RESULTS: Forty cases (18.9%, 25 patients) of BSI occurred in 212 febrile episodes (63 patients). Thirty-seven cases (23.6%, 22 patients) of BSI occurred in 157 febrile episodes with neutropenia (54 patients). Microorganisms identified in BSI corresponded to 23 gram-positive bacteria (51.2%), 20 gram-negative bacteria (44.5%), and 2 fungi (4.4%). Rates of BSI between those who had received umbilical cord blood transplantation and those who had received transplantation from other source were significantly different (55.0% vs. 7.7%, P=0.001). No differences in mortality rate were observed among organisms in BSI patients. For febrile episodes the rate of BSI was higher among those with Chemoport than those with Hickman catheter (P=0.029) and gram-positive pathogens were more likely to be associated with Chemoport (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed the rate of BSI, distribution of pathogens with regard to neutropenia, transplantation, central venous catheters, and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens in order to help guide in the choice of optimal empiric antibiotics in pediatric febrile neutropenic hemato-oncologic patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Child ; Fetal Blood ; Fever ; Fungi ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Neutropenia ; Pediatrics ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Streptococcal Infections*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of neonatal urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and non- Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI. METHODS: We compared clinical characteristics of 84 neonatal patients with UTI caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae who were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatricsat Han Dong University, Sunlin Hospital during the period between May, 1994 and August, 1998. The cases were divided into two groups depending upon causative organisms' Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI vs non-Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI, and the clinical characteristics of these groups were compared. RESULTS: Escherichia coli was the most common bacterial pathogen causing neonatal UTI, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. There was no significant difference in the sex distribution of Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI, but non-Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI showed male predominence. There were no significant differences in the incidences of hematologic, urologic, radiologic findings and perinatal complications in between these 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the second most common pathogen causing neonatal UTI. There were no specific differences in the laboratory, symptomatologic, and radiologic findings in these two groups.
Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Sex Distribution ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe the current status of the payment rate of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) membership fee and to suggest a way to overcome the decreased payment rate of membership fees by analyzing the causal factors of the decrease. Methods: Quantitative analysis of the KMA membership data, qualitative research of in-depth interviews with 2 staff members of the regional subsidiaries, and literature research were conducted. Results: From the results, 6 major factors for reducing the membership fee payment rate were derived, and plans to improve the payment rate of membership fees were suggested to improve the factors. First, the role of the KMA and the promotion of its members should be strengthened. Second, there should be a flexible adjustment of the membership fee. Third, there should be an enhancement of the transparency of budget execution and increased awareness through the promotion of the members. Fourth, differentiated incentives should be offered to the members who pay dues. Fifth, an improvement of a more efficient and easier payment method should be installed. Finally, legal enforcement measures to pay the membership fee should be considered. Conclusion In order to improve the payment rate of the KMA membership fee, the KMA should try to make the members understand the performance of the business affairs and health policies. Furthermore, incentives that members can feel should be given.

To overcome the difficulty of controlling stem cell fate and function in applications to regenerative medicine, a number of alternative approaches have been made. Recent reports demonstrate that a non-cellular niche modulating the biophysical microenvironment with chemical factors can support stem cell self-renewal. In our previous studies, early establishment was executed to optimize biophysical factors and it was subsequently found that the microgeometry of the extracellular matrix made huge differences in stem cell behavior and phenotype. We review here a three-dimensional, non-cellular niche designed to support stem cell self-renewal. The characteristics of stem cells under the designed system are further discussed.
Extracellular Matrix ; Phenotype ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Being obese during adolescence leads to undue physical or psychological problems and may increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease or endocrinological disorders. Recently authors have experienced a case of hyperinsulinemic obese girl with virilization. We report it with a review of the literature. CASE: A 17-year old female came into 'obesity clinic' of Asan Medical Center due to weight gain. She had virilizing feature, hirsutism, underdeveloped female sexual characteristics, and acanthosis nigricans. Work-up by laboratory tests and imaging studies showed very severe obesity with metabolic disturbances, and hyperandrogenism with hyperinsulinemia. Treatment for obesity was multidisciplinary method including behavior modification, calorie restriction, exercise, and medication with fluoxetine 40mg po qd, and for hyperandrogenism, provera 10mg po qd was described. CONCLUSIONS: Severe hyperinsulinemia in obese female leads to male-type hirsutism, disturbance of menstrual cycle, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular disorders. One of the physical findings of hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance is acanthosis nigricans. So, if an female obese patient have acanthosis nigricans with hyperinsulinemia, should be assessed and treated for risk factors of cardiovascular disorders and hormonal disturbances.
Acanthosis Nigricans ; Adolescent* ; Behavior Therapy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female* ; Fluoxetine ; Hirsutism ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Hyperinsulinism ; Incidence ; Insulin Resistance ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Menstrual Cycle ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Obesity, Morbid ; Risk Factors ; Virilism* ; Weight Gain

During childhood, meningioma is an uncommon tumor, and in infants, extracranial meningioma is very rare. We report a case of primary cutaneous menigioma occurring on the scalp of a ten-month-old girl.
Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Meningioma* ; Scalp*