PURPOSE: Growth hormone(GH) has been recognized as an effective treatment for short children born small for their gestational ages(SGA), and nowadays it has been widely used for the treatment of short children born SGA. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of GH treatment for the children born SGA. METHODS: The study population was made of 40 short children born SGA with GH-treated(n=26) and untreated control group(n=14). In order to evaluate the effect of GH treatment, the changes in standard deviation scores(SDS) of the GH-treated group were compared to the changes in SDS before and after treatment from the control group in the same period. RESULTS: There were no differences between the GH-treated group and the control group in gestational age, birth weight, chronological age, target height and the period of follow-up observation; however, the GH-treated group had lower height SDS(-3.3+/-0.9) than the control group(-2.4+/-0.4) before treatment(P<0.05). The GH-treated group had gained 1.2+/-1.0 height SDS during GH treatment while the control group had gained 0.5+/-0.6 height SDS. In the GH treatment group, HDL-cholesterol increased from 48.5+/-9.9 mg/dL to 56.1+/-8.7 mg/dL(P<0.05) and LDL-cholesterol decreased from 88.1+/-23.3 mg/dL to 76.4+/-19.4 mg/dL(P<0.05) after treatment. There were no changes in total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid and fasting blood sugar. IGF-I increased from 224.9+/-191.3 microgram/L to 443.2+/-152.5 microgram/L(P<0.05) and IGFBP-3 also increased from 3.7+/-1.3 mg/L to 5.6+/-1.2 mg/L(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that growth hormone treatment is effective in the treatment of short children born SGA.
Birth Weight ; Blood Glucose ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Triglycerides

Malignant acanthosis nigricans is very rare disease. The disease is related with internal malignancy, especially gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Reported occurrence rate of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated internal malignancies are 64% of stomach adenocarcinoma, 27% of other organs of abdomen (liver, gall bladder, small intestine, rectum, uterus, ovary), 9% of non-abdominal organs(breast, lung). We report a case of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated with stomach adenocarcinoma from 20-year-old female and discuss review of literature on a acanthosis nigricans briefly.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of two chemiluminescence immunoassays that detect treponemal antibodies, Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis, in comparison with Mediace Treponema pallidum latex agglutination (TPLA). METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, we tested 1,147 serum samples that were sequentially submitted for routine syphilis serology. In the second phase, we tested a panel of 119 frozen serum samples that had previously tested positive by Mediace RPR. The kappa value, total agreement percentage, and sensitivity and specificity were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,147 random samples, 24 (2.09%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 16 (1.39%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 19 (1.66%) with Mediace TPLA. Of the 119 Mediace RPR-positive samples, 103 (86.6%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 101 (84.9%%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 105 (88.2%) with Mediace TPLA. The percent agreements (kappa values) were 98.8% (0.934) between Centaur Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, 99.0% (0.94) between Immulite Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, and 99.2% (0.955) between Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis. To measure the sensitivity and specificity of each treponemal test, samples showing agreement in three or four of the tests (three treponemal tests and Mediace-RPR) were regarded as true positive (n=117) or true negative (n=1,142). The respective values for sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99.6% for Centaur Syphilis, 98.3% and 100% for Immulite Syphilis, and 99.2% and 99.7% for Mediace TPLA. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the three treponemal assays were in good agreement. Greater sensitivity of Centaur Syphilis and greater specificity of Immulite Syphilis were suggested.
Agglutination ; Antibodies* ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Luminescence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of two chemiluminescence immunoassays that detect treponemal antibodies, Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis, in comparison with Mediace Treponema pallidum latex agglutination (TPLA). METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, we tested 1,147 serum samples that were sequentially submitted for routine syphilis serology. In the second phase, we tested a panel of 119 frozen serum samples that had previously tested positive by Mediace RPR. The kappa value, total agreement percentage, and sensitivity and specificity were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,147 random samples, 24 (2.09%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 16 (1.39%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 19 (1.66%) with Mediace TPLA. Of the 119 Mediace RPR-positive samples, 103 (86.6%) tested positive with Centaur Syphilis, 101 (84.9%%) with Immulite Syphilis, and 105 (88.2%) with Mediace TPLA. The percent agreements (kappa values) were 98.8% (0.934) between Centaur Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, 99.0% (0.94) between Immulite Syphilis and Mediace TPLA, and 99.2% (0.955) between Centaur Syphilis and Immulite Syphilis. To measure the sensitivity and specificity of each treponemal test, samples showing agreement in three or four of the tests (three treponemal tests and Mediace-RPR) were regarded as true positive (n=117) or true negative (n=1,142). The respective values for sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99.6% for Centaur Syphilis, 98.3% and 100% for Immulite Syphilis, and 99.2% and 99.7% for Mediace TPLA. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the three treponemal assays were in good agreement. Greater sensitivity of Centaur Syphilis and greater specificity of Immulite Syphilis were suggested.
Agglutination ; Antibodies* ; Immunoassay ; Latex ; Luminescence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum

We present a family of FSP with review of literatures. Seeligmuller (1876) and Strumpell (1880) were the first to describe familial case of spastic paraplegia characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the lower limbs with little or no involvement of the upper extremities. This syndrome is heterogenous in inheritance, age of onset, severity and associated signs. A pure type without complications has been named "Strumpell's FSP". We have recently experienced a case of 17 years old male who had bilateral weakness and stiffness of lower extremities, and gait disturbance with family history. Differential diagnosis, particularly with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is discussed.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gait ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Paraplegia* ; Upper Extremity ; Wills

PURPOSE: For the early diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) presenting with acute abdominal pain preceding skin rash. METHODS: The clinical, endoscopic and radiological records of 23 cases of HSP, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms preceding skin rash were reviewed. RESULTS: The intervals from the onset of abdominal pain to the development of the skin rash were one day to 30 days(median five days), most of them were within two weeks. The presenting abdominal symptoms were abdominal pain(23 cases), vomiting(16 cases), hematochezia or melena(eight cases) and hematemesis(three cases). The abnormal endoscopic findings include coalescing erythematous lesions, areas of submucosal hemorrhage and superficial erosions and ulcers. The upper gastro intestinal endoscopy showed the abnormalities in 21 of 23 cases, which were observed in the duodenum(21 cases), the stomach(12 cases) and the esophagus(one case). Duodenitis with hemorrhage and/or erosions in the descending duodenum was the sole endoscopic abnormality in two cases and was the most marked finding in three cases. Sigmoidoscopy showed the abnormalities in six of eight cases. The abdominal ultrasonogram showed abnormalities in 12 of 17 cases, which included small bowel wall thickening(eight cases) and intramural hemorrhage(three cases). Recurrences after three months of symptom free intervals developed in four cases; three of them had persistent nephritis beyond one year. CONCLUSION: The erosive hemorrhagic duodenitis in the descending duodenum in the upper endoscopy and the small bowel wall thickening in the abdominal ultrasonogram can be useful findings in the diagnosis of HSP presenting with acute abdomen.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenitis ; Duodenum ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Exanthema* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Nephritis ; Purpura* ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Skin* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

This is a case report of a cystic hygroma with polycystic kidney in a fetus which was suspected by ultrasonography and was confirmed by autopsy. Recently, we have experienced this case in 25-year old woman repeatedly and we report that with a brief review of relevant literature.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography

We compared the left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiography with the ejection fraction determined by computerized radionuclide ventriculography in 59 patients who were admitted to the Soon Chun Hyang University Hospotal under the impression of cardiovascular disease from May 1984 to August 1985. The results were as follow : 1) In all patients the ejection fractions by both methods were significantly correlated with each other(r=0.77, P<0.001). 2) In 10 patients with ischemic heart disease the ejection fractions by both methods were not correlated significantly(r=0.42, P>0.10). 3) Except the 10 patients with ischemic heart disease, the ejection fractions by both methods were correlated significantly(r=0.87, P<0.001). 4) In conclusion, though the ejection fraction by the above 2 methods represent the left ventricular function well, the ejection fraction by echocardiography can not represent the left ventricular function precisely in patients in patients with ischemic heart disease because of abnormal left ventricular wall motion and left ventricular function more precisely than that by echocardiography.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Radionuclide Ventriculography* ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction(MI) in the rat is a model of ventricular dysfunction which is associated with activation of compensatory neurohumoral systems. This stydy was designed to determine the temporal evolution of the regulatory factors-atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP), endothelin(ET), plasma renin activity(PRA) in rats with more than moderate sized MI at 1,4,8 weeks in comparison to normal rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: MI was created in female Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250gms to 300gms by ligating the anterior descending artery. Before sacrifice, hemodynamics were measured and blood was drawn in control rats(n=8) and rats with MI(n=7), 4(n=10), and 8 weeks(n=9) after surgery. Heart weight index increased from 329.0+/-7.3mg/gm at baseline to 380.6+/-18.4mg/gm, 441.1+/-23.2mg/gm at the 1st, 4th, and 8th weeks after MI. Plasma ANP increased in the 1st weeks and remained elevated(16+/-7, 259+/-65, 404+/-72, 494+/-73pg/ml at baseline, 1st, 4th, 8th weeks after MI respectively). Plasma endothelin was suppressed at 4th weeks but elevated at 8th week(7.8+/-0.2, 5.3+/-0.3, 11.9+/-1.3pg/ml at baseline, 4th, 8th weeks respectively). PRA, indirect index of plasma angiotensin also decreased at 4th week but elevated at 8th week(14.9+/-0.3, 9.8+/-1.0, 20.3+/-1.8ng/ml/hr at baseline, 4th, 8th weeks resepctively). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate a biphasic response of endothelin and PRA after MI despite the inhibitory effects of ANP. These data support the important differential regulation of humoral factors in the evolution of acute MI.
Angiotensins ; Animals ; Arteries ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Endothelins ; Female ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Models, Animal* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; Ventricular Dysfunction

Fine needle aspiration has been effectively being applided to pediatric tumors since it renders a rapid diagnosis with minimal intervention. This measure is especially required for the large pediatric mass, which needs preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy to shrink the tumor to an operable size. A case of neuroblastoma of mediastinum, stage IV diagnosed by CT-guided FNA is described.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Mediastinum* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Radiotherapy