PURPOSE: The aim of this study is that the prevalence of rotavirus infection was evaluated by each group and clinical features of group A, B and C rotaviruses infections were described respectively to compare one with another. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2010, we enrolled a group of children below 10 years of age admitted for management of acute diarrhea at the Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital. A total of 310 stool samples documented to be free of common bacterial pathogens were collected from children with diarrhea. The presence of group A, B or C rotavirus is indicated by amplification of DNA segments of the expected lengths after the first and second PCRs. RESULTS: In a total of 310 stool specimens, 40 (12.9%) specimens were positive for rotaviruses. These included 23 (7.4%) positive for group A, 5 (1.6%) for group B and 12 (3.9%) for group C rotaviruses. Group B rotavirus infected patients had significantly less diarrheas per day (group A: P=0.01, group C: P=0.01) and shorter duration of vomiting days (group A: P=0.03, group C: P=0.03) than those with group A and C rotaviruses infection respectively. All the group B rotaviruses had been isolated in March and October. Group C rotavirus infections were prevalent during late summer and early winter and peaked in October. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that group B and C rotaviruses are notable causes or the contributing causes of diarrhea among infants and children in Korea.
Child* ; Diarrhea ; DNA ; Gastroenteritis* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Rotavirus ; Rotavirus Infections ; Vomiting

Noninvasive techniques of antenatal detection of the fetal development and well-being such as biophysical profile, non-stress and stress remain major challenges in modern obstetric practice. To obtain and analyze umbilical artery velocity waveform by pulsed-wave doppler ultrasound, a total of 160 determinations were carried out on 157 normal pregnant women between 16th to 41st week gestation. The ratio of peak systolic to end-diastolic flow velocity (S/D ratio), pulsatility index and resistance index were measured as indices of the resistance in feto-placental circulation. The results were as follows: As gestation advances, the mean values for peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities raised progressively. As gestation advances, the mean values for the S/D ratio declined progressively, exhibiting high diastolic flow velocity caused by low resistance. Pulsatility index, and resistance index were also declined progressively, as gestation advances. The analysis of umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveforms provides a new noninvasive technique to evaluate fetal development and well-being, and may be expected a reliable method for assessment of fetal life.
Blood Flow Velocity* ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Methods ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilical Arteries*

Iliac vein stenosis is a rare vascular complication of renal transplantation that may compromise allograft function if not recognized and corrected in a timely fashion. Because chronic venous stenosis may remain undiagnosed for several years, a high index of suspicion should be maintained until diagnosing this rare disease. A 56-year-old renal transplant recipient presented with unilateral leg swelling and renal dysfunction 16 years after transplantation. Computed tomography excluded deep vein thrombosis and revealed tight iliac vein stenosis on the side of the renal transplant. Following angiographic confirmation of the stenosis, endovascular treatment was successfully performed with a purposefully designed, self-expanding, venous stent. Ipsilateral leg swelling is an alarming sign for the diagnosis of iliac vein stenosis after renal transplantation. Percutaneous intervention with venous stent placement seems to be a safe and effective treatment of this rare condition.
Allografts ; Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Iliac Vein* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Leg* ; May-Thurner Syndrome ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Stents ; Transplantation ; Venous Insufficiency ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is common in chronic renal failure patients and may contribute increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the left ventricular morphology and function in renal transplant recipients to find the relationship between hemodynamic changes and morphologic and functional improvement after transplantation. METHODS: Serial echocardiographic evaluations were performed in 27 adults(20 men and 7 women) at the time of transplantaion and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months. The average duration of hemodialysis was 16+/-24 months(mean+/-S.D.). RESULTS: At the time of transplantation, the hematocrit level was 21+/-6% and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months, that was increased to 39+/-5% and 42+/-7%, respectively(p<0.001). Left ventricular mass index by echocardiography was decreased significantly from 246+/-87g/m2(pre-KT) to 169+/-38g/m2(post-KT 1 month) and 153+/-40g/m2(post-KT 4 months), respectively (p<0.001). Interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were decreased significantly after 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions were also decreased significantly after 1 month and 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular volumes and cardiac output were also decreased significantly. But A/E ratio, ejection fraction and fractional shortening did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that pretransplant high output state was resolved radipidly(within 1 month) but the diastolic function did not improved after transplantation 1 month and 4 months.
Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography* ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Mortality ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation*

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether left ventricular diastolic function is altered in rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Thirty-six patients of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed by 1988 revised criteria for rheumatoid arthritis and 20 cases of normal control group were matched with respect to left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic parameters. RESULTS: Parameters of diastolic function such as peak filling rate, time to peak fillling rate and 1/3 filling rate were not significantly different between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and control groups. although time to peak filling rate was significantly prolonged in seropositive group(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular diastolic function is notes not to be impaired in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Stroke Volume

CD44 is a glycoprotein expressed in a wide variety of cell types. Recently expression of some alternatively-spliced variants of CD44 transcripts (CD44v) has been suggested to play a potential role in tumor metastasis and the detection of CD44v containing exon 6 to 11 may be helpful for the diagnosis of cancers. Expressions of CD44v containing exon 6 to 11 were investigated in 20 human colorectal cancer samples, peripheral blood leukocytes isolated from colorectal cancer patients, and 4 colorectal cancer cell lines using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. The standard form of CD44 transcripts was expressed in all samples tested. CD44v containing exon 6 to 11 was expressed in 18 cases of colorectal cancers (sensitivity = 90%), 3 out of 4 cell lines, and one normal tissue (specificity = 95%). These results suggest that the expression of CD44v containing exon 6 to 11 can be regarded as tumor specific and that this marker may be helpful for the early diagnosis of colon cancers, if specimens from the early stage are available.
Adenocarcinoma/*genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD44/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Southern ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics ; DNA Primers ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Feces/chemistry/cytology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Splicing/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured/*physiology ; Tumor Markers, Biological

Background: The treatment of pediatric patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a crucial TB control strategy. LTBI is not a reportable communicable disease, and data regarding LTBI treatment in pediatric patients in Korea are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prescription patterns and treatment completion rates among pediatric patients with LTBI in Korea by analyzing National Health reimbursement claims data. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed outpatient prescription records for pediatric patients aged 18 or younger with LTBI-related diagnostic codes from 2016 to 2020. We compared the frequency of prescriptions for the standard treatment regimen (9 months of isoniazid [9H]) and an alternative treatment regimen (3 months of isoniazid plus rifampicin [3HR]). We also assessed the treatment incompletion rates by age group, treatment regimen, treatment duration, the level of medical facility, physician’s specialty, and hospital location. We performed multivariable analysis to identify factors influencing treatment incompletion. Results: Among the 11,362 patients who received LTBI treatment, 6,463 (56.9%) were prescribed the 9H regimen, while 4,899 (43.1%) received the 3HR regimen. Patients in the 3HR group were generally older than those in the 9H group. The proportion of 3HR regimen prescriptions significantly greater in the later period (2018–2020), in primary hospitals, under the management of non-pediatric specialists, and in metropolitan regions. The overall treatment incompletion rate was 39.7% (9H group: 46.9%, 3HR group: 30.3%). In the multivariable analysis, 9H regimen prescription was the strongest factor associated with treatment incompletion (adjusted odds ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 2.20–2.66; P < 0.001). Additionally, management in a primary hospital, a hospital’s location in a nonmetropolitan region, and management by a non-pediatric specialist were also significant risk factors for treatment incompletion. Conclusion Our study results suggest that promoting the use of 3HR regimen prescriptions could be an effective strategy to enhance treatment completion. Physicians in primary hospitals, hospitals located in non-metropolitan regions, and physicians without a pediatric specialty require increased attention when administering LTBI treatment to pediatric patients to ensure treatment completion.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an important global public health concern in adults and children. Laryngotracheobronchitis (croup) is a common acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children, most often caused by a virus, and should not be treated with antibiotics. Reducing the usage of unnecessary antibiotics in ARI using an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is an effective measure against AMR in children.This study investigates the antibiotic prescription pattern in pediatric patients with laryngotracheobronchitis in Korea. Our results will be useful to improve the ASP. Methods: The data were obtained from the government agency Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We analyzed outpatient prescriptions issued to children ≤ 5 years of age with a first-listed diagnosis code for laryngotracheobronchitis, i.e., International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, code J050 (croup), J040 (laryngitis), or J041 (tracheitis), during 2017–2020. For each prescription, demographic information and information about medical facilities visited (type of hospital, specialty of physician, location of hospital) were extracted. The overall antibiotic prescription rate was subsequently estimated, and multivariable analysis was conducted to determine the associated factors of antibiotic prescription. Prescribed antibiotics were described and classified into extendedspectrum penicillins, cephalosporin, and macrolides. Results: Of 2,358,194 prescriptions reviewed, 829,172 (35.2%) contained antibiotics. In the multivariable analysis, management in a hospital was the strongest factor associated with antibiotic prescription (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 22.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.87–23.89; P < 0.001), followed by management in a clinic (aOR, 12.66; 95% CI, 11.83–13.54; P < 0.001) and management in a general hospital (aOR, 8.96; 95% CI, 8.37–9.59; P < 0.001). Antibiotic prescription was also significantly associated with patients who were ≤ 2 years of age, managed by a pediatric specialist, and treated at a hospital located in a non-metropolitan region. Overall, extended-spectrum penicillins were the most frequently prescribed (18.6%) antibiotics, followed by cephalosporins (9.4%) and macrolides (8.5%). Conclusion The results of our study suggest that ASPs need to focus on physicians in hospitals, clinics, general hospitals, and pediatric specialties. Providing education programs to these groups to increase awareness of AMR and appropriate antibiotics use could be effective ASP policy and may help to reduce unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics for laryngotracheobronchitis among pediatric patients and therefore potentially AMR in children in Korea.

In order to assess inhibitory potentials of white rose petal extracts (WRPE) on the activities of enzymes related to dermal aging according to the extraction conditions, three extraction methods were adopted. WRPE was prepared by extracting dried white rose (Rosa hybrida) petals with 50% ethanol (WRPE-EtOH), Pectinex(R) SMASH XXL enzyme (WRPE-enzyme) or high temperature-high pressure (WRPE-HTHP). In the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-1, although the enzyme activity was fully inhibited by all 3 extracts at 100 microg/mL in 60 min, partial inhibition (50-70%) was achieved only by WRPE-EtOH and WRPE-enzyme at 50 microg/mL. High concentrations (> or =250 microg/mL) of all 3 extracts markedly inhibited the elastase activity. However, at low concentrations (15.6-125 microg/mL), only WRPE-EtOH inhibited the enzyme activity. Notably, WRPE-EtOH was superior to WRPE-enzyme and WRPE-HTHP in the inhibition of tyrosinase. WRPE-EtOH significantly inhibited the enzyme activity from 31.2 microM, reaching 80% inhibition at 125 microM. In addition to its strong antioxidative activity, the ethanol extract of white rose petals was confirmed to be effective in inhibiting skin aging-related enzymes. Therefore, it is suggested that WRPE-EtOH could be a good candidate for the improvement of skin aging such as wrinkle formation and pigmentation.
Aging ; Ethanol ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Pigmentation ; Skin Aging* ; Skin*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to review the clinical results, fusion rate, quality of reduction and stabilization and effects of cages in the intervertebral space in spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Authors reviewed retrospectively 30 patients who were treated with instrumentation and posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) between April 1996 to December 1997. RESULTS: Among 30 patients, 13 patients were degenerative type and 17 were isthmic types. The most commonly involved level was L4-5(16cases, 53.3%). Fusion was obtained in 29 patients(96.7%). Clinically, 14 of 17 patients(82.3%) showed excellent or good results in isthmic group, and 11 of 13 patients(84.6%) showed excellent or good results in degenerative group. Postoperative complications developed in three cases(10%), wound infection two cases(6.6%), cage retrodisplacement one case(3.3%). CONCLUSION: PLIF combined with transpedicular instrumentation in lumbar spondylolisthesis showed in all clinical results and fusion rate.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Wound Infection