Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Life-threatening RSV infection is often reported in young children and immunocompromised hosts. Since there is no report on ribavirin therapy for RSV pneumonia in pediatric cancer patients in Korea, we report one case of RSV pneumonia that developed in an infant with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite administration of oral ribavirin and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient's respiratory distress worsened and admission to an intensive care unit was necessary. Chest x-ray showed multifocal consolidation, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. Treatment with aerosolized ribavirin led to significant clinical improvement. The role of aerosolized ribavirin is still controversial, but it might have a therapeutic potential for severe RSV pneumonia in children with leukemia.
Child ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Ribavirin ; Thorax

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration(GTR) technique using chitosan nanofiber membrane and to compare it to the clinical efficacy following GTR using PLA/PLGA(copolymer of polylactic acid and polylacticglycolic acid) membrane in mandibular class II furcation defects in human. The chitosan nanofiber membranes were applied to the mandibular class II furcation defects of 13 patients(test group) and PLA/PLGA membranes were applied to those of 11 patients(control group). Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, plaque index and gingival index were measured at baseline and 3 months postoperatively. Vertical and horizontal furcation defect depth were measured at surgery. Both groups were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon signed Ranks Test and Mann-Whitney Test using SPSS program. The results were as follows: 1. Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and gingival index were significantly reduced at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups(p<0.05). 2. Gingival recession and plaque index were not significantly decreased at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups. 3. No significant difference between two groups could be detected with regard to changes of probing pocket depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, plaque index and gingival index at 3 months postoperatively. In conclusion, chitosan nanofiber membrane is effective in the treatment of human mandibular class II furcation defects and a longer period study is needed to fully evaluate the outcomes.
Humans

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration(GTR) technique using chitosan nanofiber membrane and to compare it to the clinical efficacy following GTR using PLA/PLGA(copolymer of polylactic acid and polylacticglycolic acid) membrane in mandibular class II furcation defects in human. The chitosan nanofiber membranes were applied to the mandibular class II furcation defects of 13 patients(test group) and PLA/PLGA membranes were applied to those of 11 patients(control group). Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, plaque index and gingival index were measured at baseline and 3 months postoperatively. Vertical and horizontal furcation defect depth were measured at surgery. Both groups were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon signed Ranks Test and Mann-Whitney Test using SPSS program. The results were as follows: 1. Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and gingival index were significantly reduced at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups(p<0.05). 2. Gingival recession and plaque index were not significantly decreased at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups. 3. No significant difference between two groups could be detected with regard to changes of probing pocket depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, plaque index and gingival index at 3 months postoperatively. In conclusion, chitosan nanofiber membrane is effective in the treatment of human mandibular class II furcation defects and a longer period study is needed to fully evaluate the outcomes.
Humans

To objectively assess the difficulty in the procedures of corrosive esophageal strictures, the success rates, the number of sessions and balloon dilatation and complications were evaluated in 66 patients with esophageal strictures who underwent balloon dilatation. These patients were grouped into three according to the causes as corrosive esophageal strictures (n=24), non-corrosive benign strictures (n=22) and malignant strictures (n=22). Success rates were 29% in corrosive esophageal strictures, 86% in noncorrosive benign strictures, and 85% in malignant strictures. Required average number of sessions and balloon dilations were 3.4 and 7.4 in corrosive strictures and 1.4 and 2 in noncorrosive benign and malignant strictures, respectively. Esophageal rupture occured in 33% of corrosive strictures, 4% of each noncorrosive benign and malignant strictures. Pain in corrosive esophageal strictures was severest. In conclusion, balloon dilatation in corrosive strictures has low success rate and high complication rate and requires more frequent dilation, which implies that it is more difficult than other strictures.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Siblings*

BACKGROUND: Although intravenous acyclovir therapy is recommended for varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in immunocompromised children, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of VZV infection in the acyclovir era have rarely been reported. METHODS: The medical records of children diagnosed with varicella or herpes zoster virus, who had underlying hematologic malignancies, were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of VZV infection were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-six episodes of VZV infection (herpes zoster in 57 and varicella in 19) were identified in 73 children. The median age of children with VZV infection was 11 years (range, 1-17), and 35 (46.1%) episodes occurred in boys. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most common underlying malignancy (57.9%), and 90.8% of the episodes occurred during complete remission of the underlying malignancy. Acyclovir was administered for a median of 10 days (range, 4-97). Severe VZV infection occurred in 16 (21.1%) episodes. Although the finding was not statistically significant, a previous history of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) appeared to be associated with the development of more severe episodes of herpes zoster (P=0.075). CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics of VZV infection in immunocompromised children were not significantly different from those without it, and clinical outcomes improved after the introduction of acyclovir therapy. However, risk factors for severe VZV infection require further investigation in a larger population and a prospective setting.
Acyclovir* ; Cell Transplantation ; Chickenpox* ; Child* ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness and safety of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in progressive keratoconus compared with untreated contralateral eyes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, nine eyes of nine patients with progressive keratoconus who received CXL (treatment group) and nine untreated contralateral eyes with keratoconus (control group) were included. All patients were followed for at least 5 years and assessed with best-corrected visual acuity, maximum keratometry, mean keratometry, corneal astigmatism, and corneal thickness. Clinical data were collected preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months, postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.58 ± 0.37 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution preoperatively to 0.39 ± 0.29 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution at 5 years after corneal CXL (p = 0.012). There was significant flattening of the maximum keratometry and mean keratometry from preoperative values of 63.39 ± 10.89 and 50.87 ± 6.27 diopter (D) to postoperative values of 60.89 ± 11.29 and 49.54 ± 7.23 D, respectively (p = 0.038, 0.021). Corneal astigmatism decreased significantly from 7.20 ± 1.83 D preoperatively to 5.41 ± 1.79 D postoperatively (p = 0.021). The thinnest corneal thickness decreased from 434.00 ± 54.13 to 365.78 ± 71.58 µm during 1 month after treatment, then increased to 402.67 ± 52.55 µm at 5 years, which showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the baseline (p = 0.020). In the untreated contralateral eyes, mean keratometry increased significantly at 2 years compared with the baseline (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: CXL seems to be an effective and safe treatment for halting the progression of keratoconus over a long-term follow-up period of up to 5 years in progressive keratoconus.
Astigmatism ; Collagen* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoconus* ; Retrospective Studies ; Riboflavin ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Currently the most common treatment modality of refractory ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis was large volume paracentesis, but this procedure usually needed albumin infusion and occasionally developed unwanted complications. By reason of albumin shortage in Korea and occasional unfavorable complications, we studied the usefulness of dialytic ultrafiltration as an another treatment modality of refractory ascites. METHODS: Dialytic ultrafiltration was done in 10 patients (total 48 times) with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Two drainage conduit (via 16 gauge angio-catheter) of input and output were made by puncture of patient's right and left lower quadrant abdomen. The initial ultrafiltration rate of dialyser was 250mL/min. Ascitic fluid was removed continuously until the filtration rate down at 50mL/min. After ultrafiltration, ascitic fluid contained concentrated albumin and large molecules was reinfused via input conduit. Pre-treatment and post-treatment level of blood chemistry, plasma renin concentration, aldosterone, and electrolytes in serum; total protein and albumin in ascites were measured. During the ultrafiltration, we closely observed the change of blood pressure, heart rates and mental status. RESULTS: The mean ultrafiltration time was 231+/-28min, ultrafiltrated volume was 5.15+/-1.41 L. During dialytic ultrafiltration, patient's blood pressure and heart rate were stable and there was no change of mental status. After dialytic ultrafiltration, blood urea nitrogen level significantly decreased from 30.5+/-23.7mg/dL to 25.7+/-20.2mg/dL; serum aldosterone level decreased from 807.3+/-301.1pg/ml to 431.1+/-187.2pg/ml in serum (P<0.01). The albumin level in the ascitic fluid significantly increased from 0.67+/-0.28g/dL to 1.90+/-1.16g/dL (P<0.01). Plasma renin concentration level tend to decreased (P=0.06). The patient's serum total protein, albumin, electrolytes, and creatinine were not changed. Complications of dialytic ultrafiltration were peritonitis (one case) and hypotension (one case). But these unwanted complications were readily managed by adequate antibiotics and intravenous fluid therapy. CONCLUSION: The dialytic ultrafiltration can be used effectively without albumin infusion in the treatment of refrartory ascites in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.
Abdomen ; Aldosterone ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemistry ; Creatinine ; Drainage ; Electrolytes ; Filtration ; Fluid Therapy ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Paracentesis ; Patient Rights ; Peritonitis ; Plasma ; Punctures ; Renin ; Ultrafiltration*

During periodontal examination and periodontal recall visit, patients might feel pain. Probing with 0.45mm diameter probe, "overprobing" into connective tissue underlying periodontal pocket could be the primary aspect of pain. The purpose of present study, performed during recall visit, was to compare the levels of pain experienced by patients during periodontal probing using probes with the tip diameter of either 0.45mm or 0.63mm. Twenty patients were enrolled: 3 periodontists each exammined 20 patients at the Dankook university dental hospital. in each patient at six sites per tooth, diagonal maxillary/mandibular quadrants were probed with 0.45mm diameter and 0.63mm diameter probe. Lower pain responses following probing with the 0.63mm diameter probe as compared to the 0.45mm probe were observed for patients of therapist 2 and the upper VAS quartile Groups(P<0.05). For therapist 1 and 3 groups, no differences were found. Patient worry about the pain while dental treatment procedures. If therapist use 0.63mm diameter probe while periodontal examination and recall visit, the patient's pain and discomfort could be reduced. Therefore, patient will cooperate more during the treatment, which leads to a better result. Dental therapists should make an effort to minimize the degree of discomfort during treatment. Dental therapist periodically should evaluate this part of their skill by asking patients and promote this skill.
Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket ; Tooth

The purpose of this study is to report our 5-year experience with fluoroscopic removal of blunt esophageal foreign body or impacted food in 15 consecutive patients who were referred by endoscopists because they couldn's remove it endoscopically. The foreign body or impacted food was a pieced of meat, a bean, a badug stone or a beef bone. Thirteen patients had underlying disease(11 of corrosive stricture, 2 of postoperative stricture) but 2 patients did not. We removed the object using one of the following 4 techniques: Basket extraction technique, Foley catheter technique, single balloon technique (dilatation of stenosis for passing the food into the stomach and for the treatment of the stricture as well), double balloon technique(removal of the foreign body by trapping it with two valvuloplasty balloons). Removal was successful in all patients. Esophageal perforation occurred in one patient using the single balloon technique, who treated nonoperatively by means of fasting, antibiotics and parenteral alimentation. No procedure related death occurred in these series. In conclusion, fluoroscopic removal of blunt esophageal foreign bodies of impacted food with various techniques is promising alternative to esophagoscopic removal.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Perforation ; Fasting ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Meat ; Red Meat ; Stomach