The author investigated serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and complements (C3) of cord blood in 74 cases of normal fullterm infants and 50 cases of premature infants. Serum immunogloblin and complement levels were measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. The following results were obtained; 1) The mean seru IgG levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 1407.3+/-230.5mg/dl. 2) The mean serum IgG levels of cord blood in 50 cases of the premature infants was 675.2+/-329.4mg/dl. In comparison of serum IgG levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, serum IgG levels in the premature infants was significantly lower than that level of the normal infants (P< 0.05). 3) The serum IgA levels were measured in 28 (37.8%) of 74 cases of the normal full term infants and in 6 912%) of 50 cases of the premature infants. The serum IgA levels measured ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 3.7mg/dl in the normal full term infants and ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 2.4mg/dl in the prematre infants. 4) The mean serum IgM levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 4.05+/-3.53mg/dl and that in 50 cases of the premature infants was 2.20+/-2.15mg/dl. 5) The mean serum C3 levels of cord blood in 74 cases of normal full term infants was 49.7+/-18.1mg/dl and those of the premature infants was 30.9+/-10.5mg/dl. In comparison of serum C3 levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, the mean levels of serum C3 in the premature infants was significantly lower A statistically significant increase of IgG and C3 levels of cord blood in newborn infants were observed in accordance with the increase of the gestational age. It has been suggested that decreased IgG levels among premature infants may provide a rationale for prophylactic gamma globulin administration.
Complement System Proteins* ; Fetal Blood ; gamma-Globulins ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature

No abstract available.
Skin Diseases*

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma is a distinctive mixed mesenchymal lesion of sinonasal region with a complex histologic appearance and benign clinical course and clinicopathologically similar to those of the mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall of infancy. We report a case of nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma occurred in the right nasal cavity in a 3-month-old female. She was admitted with a history of profuse nasal bleeding and obstruction. CT revealed complex solid and cystic mass, measuring 3.5x2.5x2.5 cm in dimensions which filled the right nasal cavity and extended into ethmoid sinus and cribriform plate. The received piecemeal fragments of tissue were brown tan-colored firm semitranslucent tissue with a cartilaginous appearance. Microscopically, the basic morphologic elements were irregular islands of hyaline cartilage and myxoid to spindle cell stroma with various cellularity.
Epistaxis ; Ethmoid Bone ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Infant ; Islands ; Nasal Cavity ; Thoracic Wall

Exercise induced asthma (EIA) is defined as acute, reversible, usually self-limiting airway obstruction which develop after strenous exercise in patients with asthma. EIA is a bigger problem in children than adults due to more active and smaller airways which obstruct more easily when bronchospasm develops. The exercise elicited many change in pulmonary function of asthmatic children. These change could be measured by measurements of PEFR, FEV1, FVC, or SRaw. The propose of this study is to determine the changes and sensitivity of different pulmonary function test in asthmatic children. 37 asthmatic children exercised on free running and pulmonary function tests were performed before and every 5 minutes during 15 minutes after exercise. The results were as follows. 1) In 37 asthmatic children, EIA developed in 23 children (62%) and did not developed in 14 children (38%). The difference in sex, height, weight, total eosinophil count, serum IgF and test between EIA and Non-EIA were not significant (P>0.05). 2) In EIA group, %PEFR was changed from 109.56% to 83.56%, But in Non-EIA group, %PEFR was not changed before and after exercise loading test. 3) In EIA group, %FEV1 was changed from 90.91% to 74.87%. But in Non-EIA group, %FEV1 was not changed before and after exercise loading test. 4) In EIA group, %FVC changed from 91.83% to 75.35%. But in Non-EIA group, %FVC was not change before and after exercise loading test. 5) There was significant difference in pre-exercise specific airway resistance between EIA (6.7+/-1.7) and normal children (5.8+/-2.2)(p<0.05). In EIA group, %SRaw was changed from 115.7% to 161.2%. But in Non-EIA group, %SRaw was not changed before and after exercise loading test. 6) During the post-exercise observation period, increasement of SRaw was greater than changes in any other pulmonary function test. SRaw is the most sensitive test for the ditection of exercise induced airway obstruction is asthmatic children.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Airway Resistance* ; Asthma ; Asthma, Exercise-Induced ; Bronchial Spasm ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Running

The caudal epidural anesthesia has been popular due to the postoperative pain relief and the reduction of the amount of general anesthetics. It is also technically simple and safe both for inpatients and outpatients under the age of 7 Year. The aim of this study was to determine the adequate dosage and degree of postoperative pain relief according to the different local anesthetics. We have performed the caudal anesthesia in 60 patients from the age of 10 month to 7 year. All caudal blocks were performed under light general anesthesia in order to relief the fear and anxiety of operation. The patients were divided by 4 groups of each 15 children. Group 1 (control group) for 1% lidocaine 1 ml/kg, Group 2 for 1% lidocaine 0.8 ml/kg, Group 3 for 0.25% bupivacaine 0.8 ml/kg, Group 4 for 0.25% bupivacaine 0.6 ml/kg. All groups were given 1:200,000 epinephrine. The overall success rate of caudal blocks was 98%. Complication was 3 cases. As the result of this study, Group 1 (control group): There was sensory block over T4 (20%). The degree of motor block was very high(73.3%). Group 2 and 3: There was no sensory block over T4. Duration of postoperative analgesia was long enough compared to the control group (p<0.05). The degree of motor block was less than the control group. Group 4: The height of most sensory block was below T8 (80%). The degree of motor block was very low (p<0.05) and duration of postoperative analgesia was short compared to the control group (p<0.001). Therefore it is considered that caudal blocks in Group 2 & 3 were adequate dosage for the pediatric operation.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal* ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics, General ; Anesthetics, Local ; Anxiety ; Bupivacaine ; Child ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Lidocaine ; Outpatients ; Pain, Postoperative*

PURPOSE: To compare image quality of storage phosphor digital radiography(DR) with film-screen radiography in portable chest imaging, and to assess the minimum X-ray dose that can be applied to DR in adults without image degradation, and also to compare image qualities of low dose and standard dose DR. Materials and Methalos: A geometrical phantom similar to the human thorax was imaged by a portable radiographic unit with fixed kVp and variable m^s in both film-screen and DR systems. Three radiologists scored the images by four grades in four categories of 1) contrast between mediastinum and lung, 2) definition of the nodule in the lung, 3) definition of another nodule through the mediastinal shadow, and 4) grainess(noise : assessed only in DR). Additionally, portable chest images were obtained in 10 patients in a intensive care unit by film-screen, standard dose and half dose DR in consecutive days. The same readers scored the images by four grades in six categories of 1) the lungs and hila, 2) the mediastinum, 3) subphrenic area. 4) musculoskeletal shadow, 5) tubes and lines, and 6) grainess (only in DR). The images with superior quality were assessed by paired t-test. RESULTS: In phantom study, the minimum dose of digital images scored 3 or more by all readers was 39% of the standard dose. In patient study, DR was superior to film-screen radiography in all categories except tube and line. Low dose DR was not inferior to standard dose DR in five categories other than grainess to two readers or more. CONCLUSION: In portable chest imaging, storage phosphor DR image was superior to conventional film-screen radiography and half dose DR was comparable to standard dose DR despite of more noise.
Adult ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Noise ; Radiographic Image Enhancement* ; Radiography ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: To compare image quality of storage phosphor digital radiography(DR) with film-screen radiography in portable chest imaging, and to assess the minimum X-ray dose that can be applied to DR in adults without image degradation, and also to compare image qualities of low dose and standard dose DR. Materials and Methalos: A geometrical phantom similar to the human thorax was imaged by a portable radiographic unit with fixed kVp and variable m^s in both film-screen and DR systems. Three radiologists scored the images by four grades in four categories of 1) contrast between mediastinum and lung, 2) definition of the nodule in the lung, 3) definition of another nodule through the mediastinal shadow, and 4) grainess(noise : assessed only in DR). Additionally, portable chest images were obtained in 10 patients in a intensive care unit by film-screen, standard dose and half dose DR in consecutive days. The same readers scored the images by four grades in six categories of 1) the lungs and hila, 2) the mediastinum, 3) subphrenic area. 4) musculoskeletal shadow, 5) tubes and lines, and 6) grainess (only in DR). The images with superior quality were assessed by paired t-test. RESULTS: In phantom study, the minimum dose of digital images scored 3 or more by all readers was 39% of the standard dose. In patient study, DR was superior to film-screen radiography in all categories except tube and line. Low dose DR was not inferior to standard dose DR in five categories other than grainess to two readers or more. CONCLUSION: In portable chest imaging, storage phosphor DR image was superior to conventional film-screen radiography and half dose DR was comparable to standard dose DR despite of more noise.
Adult ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Noise ; Radiographic Image Enhancement* ; Radiography ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to evaluate the effects of intervention for CVD prevention in construction workers. METHODS: A total of 497 workers participated the health status survey and finally 90 workers were analyzed for evaluation of the intervention with the one-group pretest-posttest design. The data were collected from the questionnaires and health examinations in the healthcare service for road constructor's CVD prevention as secondary analysis. The intervention of the healthcare was composed of CVD prevention education for all workers and face to face counselling for the high risk group of CVD risk during 6 months in workplace. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, χ² test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and paired t-test. RESULTS: The moderate and high risk groups of CVD were 9.7% and 0.8%. After the intervention, the physical activity (MET-min/week) significantly increased (Z=-5.46, p<.001). But, there were no significant differences in blood pressure, fasting glucose, body mass index, and CVD risk appraisals between pre and post intervention. CONCLUSION: The findings imply that it is necessary to develop the health promotion program for construction workers which fully reflects the characteristics of individuals and the organization.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Motor Activity

Bcl-2 is a proto-oncogene initially described in follicular lymphoma, associated with chromosomal translocation(14;18). Recent studies have shown the presence of Bcl-2 in nonhematolymphoid tissue, especially in hormonally responsive tissue. The endometrium is an attractive model for studying the hormone dependent regulation of Bcl-2 expression. We have studied the immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in relation to the immunoreactivity of estrogen receptors(ER) and progesterone receptors(PR) by immunohistochemistry in 52 human endometrial carcinomas, according to nuclear grade. The results obtained are summarized as followings, 1) Immunohistochemical grade of Bcl-2 showed a significant inverse correlation with nuclear grade. 2) Immunohistochemical grades of ER and PR also showed a significant inverse correlation with nuclear grade, and were well correlated with each other. 3) Immunohistochemical grades of Bcl-2 and hormone receptors showed a strongly significant correlation. On the basis of the above results, we suggest that Bcl-2 expression may be under hormone dependent control and that it can be used in prognosis and choice of hormonal therapy in the presence of hormone receptor.
Humans

Herpes zoster is characterized by several groups of vesicles on an erythematous base situated unilaterally within the distribution of a single spinal or cranial sensory ganglion. Recurrent herpes zoster is rare and may be associated with severe immunocompromised state. Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection is associated with an increased incidence of zoster, which tends to be severe, presumably due to HIV-induced depression of cellular immunity. We report a case of a 46-year-old female who was presented with recurrent herpes zoster and concurrent HIV infection.
Depression ; Female ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Immunity, Cellular ; Incidence ; Middle Aged