Intraoral fixed type of orthodontic appliance can cause reversible or irreversible damages such as gingivitis, periodontitis, enamel decalcification, dental caries, root resorption, and pulpal changes. Such an increase causes gingival inflammation and enamel decalcification. The purpose of this study is to get knowledge on initial changes in dental plaque, gingvitis, and enamel decalcification after bonding fixed orthodontic appliances according to time flow, gender, and sides(right/left) of premolar region. For control group, 48 students of dental college, Yonsei university(26 males, 22 females) were chosen: for experimental group, 73 orthodontic patients(36 males, 37 females) who will be treated with fixed appliances were chosen, All the subjects had no systemic disease, juvenile periodontitis and all the females had passed their menarche. Tooth brushing instruction was given to all the subjects prior to the experiment, For control group, plaque index, gingival index, and decalcification index were measured twice at 3 weeks interval : for experimental group, the same was done prior to, 3, 6, 9 weeks after bonding fixed appliances. The following results were obtained : 1. In plaque index 3 weeks after placement of appliances, and it showed gradual increase afterwards. 2. In gingival index 3 weeks after placement of appliances, and afterwards it showed increase at a faster rate than plaque index. 3. Enamel decalcification began to show between 3 and 6 weeks after bonding fixed appliances. Decalcification index began to increase 6 weeks after appliance placement, but there was no statistical significance. 4. When the comparison was made between two sides of premolar region, the right side showed greater index in plaque and gingival index of experimental group.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Bicuspid ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Plaque* ; Female ; Gingivitis* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Menarche ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Root Resorption ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Hemophiliacs are known to have higher risk of exposure of hepatitis virus and immunosuppression. The aim of this study is to investigate the positive rate of viral markers for hepatitis and anti-HIV and the changes of lymphocyte subpopulations in Hemophiliacs in Chonnam GwangJu area. METHODS: One hundred four patients who had visited to the Hemophilic Clinic, Chonnam University Hospital from 1999 to 2001 were enrolled. They were checked for type A, B, C hepatitis viral markers, anti-HIV and lymphocyte subpopulations. The prevalence of hepatitis and lymphocyte subpopulation were compared according to severity and age of hemophiliacs. RESULTS: Anti-HAV IgM, anti-HAV IgG, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV were positive in 40%(22/55), 65.5%(66/101), 42.3%(42/97) of cases tested. Positivity of anti-HCV showed trends of increase according to the severity of hemophiliacs (P<0.01) and age(P<0.001). Previous infection of hepatitis B were increased according to age (P=0.01) but not to the severity (P=0.194). Positive rate of anti-HCV and previous infection of hepatitis B were significantly lower in young age group (10 years old) than in older age group (>11 years old) (P=0.003, P<0.001, respectively). Although all enrolled patients were negative for anti-HIV, absolute T and B cells counts were decreased in 71.6% and 14.9% of patients, respectively and inversion of CD4/CD8 ratio were found in 65.7%. But there were no statistical difference in not only decrease of T and B cells but also inversions of CD4/CD8 ratio according to age and severity. CONCLUSION: The number of hemophiliacs with previous history of hepatitis B virus infection and seropositivity of anti-HCV were increased according to the age and severity of hemophilia. Active vaccinations of hepatitis B may be required in hemophiliacs. The greater part of hemophiliacs showed decrease in T cell count and inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. The hemophiliacs need a cautiion for infection and follow up tests for immunologic function.
B-Lymphocytes ; Biomarkers ; Cell Count ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gwangju* ; Hemophilia A ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis Viruses ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunosuppression ; Jeollanam-do* ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Prevalence ; Vaccination

Satoyoshi syndrome(generalized Komuragaeri disease) is a rare disorder of unknown cause, characterized by progressive, painful, intermittent muscle spasms and alopecia. Endocrinopathy with amenorrhea, secondary skeletal abnormalities, and diarrhea or unusual malabsorption are frequently seen. It seems that autoimmunity may play a role in its pathogenesis. We report a 13-year-old girl with characteristic manifestations of the syndrome. She was treated with intravenous gammaglobulin and Prednisolone. Painful muscle cramps were gradually improved, but the scalp condition did not change. Satoyoshi syndrome should be considered in children with unexplained muscle spasms and alopecia.
Adolescent ; Alopecia* ; Amenorrhea ; Autoimmunity ; Child ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Cramp ; Prednisolone ; Scalp ; Spasm*

Factor XI deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive coagulation factor deficiency, comprising 1/million in ethnic groups other than Ashkenazi Jews. The clinical manifestations are extremely variable, and generally milder than those of hemophilia A and B. We describe herewith 3 children with factor XI deficiency, who were found to have prolonged aPTT in routine laboratory studies, or in evaluation of intermittent epistaxis.
Blood Coagulation Factors ; Child ; Epistaxis ; Ethnic Groups ; Factor XI Deficiency* ; Factor XI* ; Hemophilia A ; Humans ; Jews

PURPOSE: Chronic blood transfusions result in excessive iron deposition leading to eventual tissue damage and impaired function of organs, such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, skin, thyroid, and heart. We evaluated the body iron status and endocrinopathy in repeatedly transfused patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: Fourteen patients with AA who were transfused with more than 10 Units of packed RBC since 1996 were evaluated. We evaluated the correlation of amount of blood transfused with status of iron stores (determined by serum iron, TIBC, ferritin and transferrin saturation) and organ damage. RESULTS: Patients received a median of 61 units (range 11~168 units) of PRC. Twelve patients (85.7%) had elevated serum ferritin levels, and 11 (78.6%) had elevated transferrin saturation. Serum ferritin (P<0.01; r=0.868), and transferrin saturation (P<0.05; r=0.569) were significantly correlated with the amount of PRC transfused, respectively. Five patients had clinically significant iron overload despite the use of deferoxamine. Organ damage caused by transfusion iron overload were skin pigmentation (N=3), hepatic (N=1) and endocrinologic abnormalities. Diabetes (N=3), hypothyroidism (N=3), and hyogonadotropic hypogonadism (N=1) were observed. No patient developed clinically significant arthropathy or cardiac disease. CONCLUSION: AA patients who received chronic blood transfusions develop iron overload which may lead to endocrinopathy. Iron status and organ dysfunction should be monitored and effective measures to prevent iron overload should be applied in patients who need chronic transfusions.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Blood Transfusion ; Deferoxamine ; Ferritins ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Hemochromatosis* ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Hypothyroidism ; Iron ; Iron Overload ; Liver ; Pancreas ; Skin ; Skin Pigmentation ; Spleen ; Thyroid Gland ; Transferrin

The prevalence of right-sided infective endocarditis is increasing with a growing number of intravenous drug abusers. A case of right-sided endocarditis is reported in a 18-year-old female heroin addict. Tricuspid valve vegetation, septic pulmonary emboli and staphyloccus aureus in blood cultures are noted. During antimicrobial therapy, she developed remittent fever and skin rash due to vancomycin. After a change of the antibiotic to teicoplanin, she was freed from fever and discharged in an improved condition.
Adolescent ; Drug Users ; Endocarditis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Heroin ; Humans ; Malaria ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Teicoplanin ; Tricuspid Valve* ; Vancomycin

Labial adhesions are postnatal fusion of the labia minora in the midline of varying degrees. They are postulated to be the result of low estrogen levels in the prepubertal child and possibly of a chronic inflammatory process. Topical treatment with conjugated estrogens has been the mainstay of therapy. We experienced one case of labial adhesion in an infant who was treated with estrogen cream for three weeks without any complication. Here we present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Child ; Estrogens ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Infant

Meconium peritonitis is a rare disease in neonates, characterized by intraperitoneal calcification, numerous fibrosis with or without pseudocyst formation due to antenatal extravasation of meconium. Meconium peritonitis may result in a number of genital manifestations, including inguinal and scrotal or labial hydrocele containing meconium or calcifications. Recently, increased numbers of fetuses with meconium peritonitis have been prenatally diagnosed by ultrasonography. We report a case of meconium peritonitis in a neonate with ascites and hydrocele which was diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonography.
Ascites ; Fetus ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium* ; Peritonitis* ; Rare Diseases ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in endothelium. We studied the influences of ketorolac and diclofenac on ROS effects using the endothelium of rabbit abdominal aorta. METHODS: Isolated rabbit aortic rings were suspended in an organ bath filled with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution bubbled with 5% CO2 and 95% O2 at 37.5degrees C. After being stimulated to contract with phenylephrine (PE, 10(-6) M), changes in arterial tension were recorded following the cumulative administration of acetylcholine (ACh, 3 x 10(-8) to 10(-6) M). The percentages of ACh-induced relaxation of aortic rings before and after exposure to ROS, generated by electrolysis of K-H solution, were used as the control and experimental values, respectively. The aortic rings were pretreated with ketorolac or diclofenac at the same concentrations (10(-5) M to 3 x 10(-4) M), and the effects of these agents were compared with the effects of ROS scavengers: catalase, mannitol, sodium salicylate and deferoxamine and the catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT). RESULTS: Both ketorolac and diclofenac maintained endothlium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh in a dose-related manner inspite of ROS attack (P < 0.05 vs. control value). The 3AT pretreated ketorolac (3 x 10(-3) M) group was decreased more significantly than un-pretreated ketorolac (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ketorlac and diclofenac preserve the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation against the attack of ROS, in a concentration-related manner. One of the endothelial protection mechanisms of ketorolac may be hydrogen peroxide scavenging.
Acetylcholine ; Amitrole ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Arterial Pressure ; Baths ; Catalase ; Contracts ; Deferoxamine ; Diclofenac ; Electrolysis ; Endothelium ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Ketorolac ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Mannitol ; Phenylephrine ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Relaxation ; Sodium Salicylate ; Vasodilation

PURPOSE: We compared the underlying or associated diseases according to the frequency of platelet transfusions in neonates with thrombocytopenia to know the factors predicting which patients will require multiple platelet transfusions. We also compared mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 72 neonates who received the platelet transfusions in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) between August 1996 and July 2001. Group I received one platelet transfusion and group II received two or more. We compared the frequency of underlying or assodiated diseases such as sepsis/disseminated intravascular coagulopathy(DIC), respiratory distress syndrome(RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC), liver or renal disease, and mortality between two groups. RESULTS: Of the 72 patients, 29(40.2%) received one and 43(59.7%) received two or more transfusions; 16(22.2%) received four or more. There were no statistically significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, sex, and maternal history between two groups. C-section rate was higher in group II(20.7% vs. 55.8%, P<0.05) and the incidence of PDA was higher in group I (55.2% vs. 30.2%, P<0.05). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of sepsis/DIC, RDS, IVH, RDS, CLD, NEC, liver or renal disease, pulmonary hemorrhage and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and mortality between group I and group II. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in clinical morbidity and mortality according to the frequency of platelet transfusion in neonates with thrombocytopenia. Further study is needed to know the predicting factor for multiple platelet transfusions in neonates with thrombocytopenia.
Birth Weight ; Blood Platelets* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Liver ; Lung Diseases ; Mortality ; Platelet Transfusion* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia*