The eosinophil is the major cell responsible for the inflammatory reaction in bronchial asthma. Secretion of granular components is probably of considerable importance for the inflammatory effects of the eosinophils. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is the one of the secretory components of the eosinophil granule and-is considered as an activation marker of eosinophil count, serum concentration of ECP and serum IgE were studied in normal, symptomatic and asymptomatic asthmatic children. In symptomatic asthma, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was studied and methacholine challenge test was done in asymptomatic asthma in addition. Blood eosinophil count and serum ECP in asthma were significantly raised compared with those of the normal children. And the level of serum ECP in symptomatic asthma was higher than that in asymptomatic asthma. The mean % fall of PEFR was significantly correlated with serum ECP and blood eosinophil count in symptomatic asthma. In asymptomatic asthma, there was no correlations between methachloine PC20 and blood eosinophil count or methachloine PC20 and serum ECP level. Our findings show that blood eosinophil count and serum ECP levels differ not only between normal children and asthmatic children, but also between symptomatic asthma and asymptomatic asthma.
Asthma ; Child* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Diverticulum* ; Humans ; Infant*

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) represents a heterogenous group of disorder characterized by prolonged eosinophilia of undetectable cause and multiorgan system dysfunction. Bone marrow is the most frequentry involved organ, but the most severe clinicopathologic involvement is heart. The major cause of death in patients with the HES is cardiac dysfunction especially congestive heart failure resulted from endocardial fibrosis and restrictive cardiomyopathy. We have experienced a case of DES with both cardiac and pulmonary involvements. The patient was an 18-month-old infant with poorly controlled lung abscess who complained of fever and productive cough. On the microscopic examination of pleural effusion, eosinophilic infiltration was noted. M-mode echocardiogram showed diffuse thickening of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall. On the peripheral blood smear, prolonged eosinophilia was observed. We confirmed this case with bone marrow aspiration which showed eosinophilic hyperplasia.
Bone Marrow ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Cause of Death ; Cough ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Lung Abscess ; Pleural Effusion

No abstract available.
Scoliosis*

So-called, the double channel pylorus has been, relatively rarely, reported through out the world. All reported cases were almostly those of gastroduodenal fistula as a complication of peptic ulcer disease. The congenital forms of double pylorus were reported even more rarely. We found three cases of double channel pylorus in 25,000 cases endoscopy done at our unit. All those three cases were thought to be acqired form endoscopically, radiographically and histologically. One of those was undergone to operative resection because of uncontrollable bleeding and the others were on medical theraphy with satisfaction.
Endoscopy ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Peptic Ulcer ; Pylorus*

No abstract available.
Mastoid* ; Mastoiditis* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial*

Purpose: There are many studies on the indications and efficacy of splint therapy commonly used in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, there have been no studies on the splint weaning in terms of the splint use tapering period in relation to symptom improvement of TMD. This retrospective study aims to analyze a proper splint weaning method in patients with TMD based on symptom improvement. Materials and Methods: The authors examined 130 TMD patients with TMJ disorders, masticatory muscle disorders, and clenching/bruxism who had received splint therapy (occlusion stabilization splint, anterior positioning splint) of patients who visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at Yonsei University Dental Hospital from 2015 to 2020. They were evaluated according to the method to wean splints. Results: The mean splint therapy period was 29.0 months, during which patients wore splints 7 days a week for 8.4 months, 3 - 4 days a week for 9.5 months, and finally 1 - 2 days a week for 11.1 months (a total of 29.0 months, about 2.5 years). Conclusion It seems that TMD symptoms can be alleviated and side effects such as occlusal change can be minimized if patients wear a splint 7 days a week for the first 6 months, followed by 3 - 4 days a week for the next 6 to 18 months, and finally 1 - 2 days a week after 18 months.

Marden-Walder syndrome is characterized by a mask-like face, blepharophimosis, joint contractures, and psychometer retardation. We report a newborn infant with the clinical features of the syndrome. He was diagnosed with clinical findings of mask-like face, blepharophimosis, micrognathia, camptodactyly, arachnodactyly, multiple contractures, and hypotonia. The infant died of aspiration pneumonia at 5 months. A brief review of related literature is also presented.
Arachnodactyly ; Blepharophimosis ; Contracture ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Joints ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration

Chylothorax is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid or chyle in the pleurual cavity resulting from a leak of the thoracic duct or one of its major divisions. If the loss of chyle persist, life threatening nutritional and immunologic deficiencies ensue. Initial conservative managements consist of tube thoracostomy drainage and dietary modification(low fat diet and total parenteral nutrition). In some refarctory cases, surgical intervention is required. Pleuroperitoneal shunt is an alternative surgical method recommended prior to thoracic duct ligation. The shunted fluid in the peritoneal cavity is reabsorbed by peritoenal lymphatic vessels running to join the right lymphatic duct. We experienced a case of chylothorax in a two-month-old female infant. Because there was no underlying disease to cause chylothorax, the diagnosis of idiopathic chylothorax was made. She failed to respond to conservative management and showed severe hypoalbuminemia and lymphopenia. On day 22, a pleuroperitoneal shunt was inserted between the right pleural cavity and the peritoneal cavity. Three weeks after insertion of the shunt, there was no fluid in the right pleural space. After one more week of observation, the shunt was removed.
Chyle ; Chylothorax* ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Infant ; Ligation ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Lymphopenia ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Pleural Cavity ; Running ; Thoracic Duct ; Thoracostomy

No abstract available.
Placenta Previa* ; Placenta*