Iron deficiency remains the most common cause of anemia in infants and chidren despite increasing availability of iron-fortified foods. We screened out anemia in 9-month old infants in well baby clinic to know the prevalence of anemia and the weaning status. The results were as follows: 1) Among 345 infants screened, 24 infants (7%) were found to have anemia. 2) The kind of anemia was microcytosis and 7 infants (2.2%) revealed hypochromia. 3) Among the remaining 311 non-anemic infants, 6 infants (1.9%) revealed microcytosis and 7 infants (2.2%) revealed hypochromia. 4) In anemic group the mean hemoglobin concentration was 8.75+/-1.03gm/dl, hematocrit was 27. 73+/-3.11%, MCV was 65.84+/-8.21 fL, MCHwas 20.95+/-2.93 pg and MCHC was 31.34+/-1.89 gm/dl. 5) In 9 anemic infants, weaning was delayed until 9 months of age.
Anemia* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Mass Screening* ; Prevalence ; Weaning

Many technics have geen tried to avoid the adverse effects of succinylcholine administered for endotracheal intubation especially with the complications of hyperkalemia, aspiration pneumonis, increased intraocular pressure and postoperative muscle pain. One of these is that the prior administration of a small subparalizing dose of nondepolarizing muscle relaxant would shorten the onset time of an intubating dose of muscle relaxant. However, the priming dose, the intubating dose, and the time interval between these doses requires better definition. This study was undertaken to determine the intubating dose of a nondepolarizing agent, pancuronium bromide under the condition of fixed priming dose and administration interval time. Fifty five patients were divided randomly into three groups, administered intubating dose of 60(group l), 80(group ll) and 100(group lll) ug/kg including 20, 20 and 15 cases, respectively. The results are as follows: 1) Nine patients complained of blurred vision or diplopia after the administration of priming dose. 2) There was no difference of intubation condition between one and another group. 3) In the low grading of intubation condition, female patients were more distrbuted and better facilitated endotrscheal intubation than male patients(p<0.05). 4) There was no difference of interval time between the administration of intubating dose and the maximum depression of TOF in each group. The interval revealed 7.0+/-3.3, 6.2+/-3.3 and 5.4+/-2.4min. in l, ll and lll group, respectively. 5) The interval time between the administration of intubating dose and reappeared first twitch of TOF revealed 36.6+/-18.3, 45.7+/-17.6 and 65.4+/-22.2 min. in l, ll and lll group, respectively. The interval in group lll was significantly longer than that in group l and ll(p<0.05). In conclusion, the priming and intubating doses may not be required in the divided doses of pancuronium more than 15 and 100ug/kg, respectively.
Depression ; Diplopia ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Male ; Myalgia ; Pancuronium* ; Succinylcholine

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative efficacy of three active exercise programs for work-related, chronic low back pain, and to observe to what extent the programs affected the mechanical stability of the lumbar region. METHODS: The subjects were 64 employees who were randomly divided into three groups to match the three active exercise programs which were performed 3 times a week for 6 months. All subjects were assessed with the same measurements at a pre-study examination, and then were reassessed at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the study. RESULTS: The pain intensity didn't show any significant difference among the three groups. However, the Oswestry Disability Index showed significant differences among the three groups at 6 months and the lumbar and thoracic exercise groups showed significant decreases compared to the general physiotherapy group (p<0.05). Maximal stretching with both hands in the overhead direction showed a significant difference among the three groups at 3 months and 6 months, and the thoracic exercise group at 6 months showed a significant increase in overhead stretching compared to the lumbar exercise and general physiotherapy groups (p<0.05). The lumbar region angle of inclination showed significant differences among the three groups at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, with the thoracic exercise group being decreased significantly more than the lumbar exercise and general physiotherapy groups at 6 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise aimed at increasing thoracic mobility has an effect on lumbar stability. Furthermore, it is far more effective for lumbar stabilization than general physiotherapy and deep muscle strengthening lumbar exercise.
Hand ; Low Back Pain* ; Lumbosacral Region

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Hematoma*

BACKGROUND: The development of new drugs or alternative therapies effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of great importance, and various natural anti-MRSA products are good candidates for combination therapies. We evaluated the antibacterial activities of a Phellinus baumii ethyl acetate extract (PBEAE) and its synergistic effects with beta-lactams against MRSA. METHODS: The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the PBEAE. The PBEAE synergistic effects were determined by evaluating the MICs of anti-staphylococcal antibiotic mixtures, with or without PBEAE. Anti-MRSA synergistic bactericidal effects of the PBEAE and beta-lactams were assessed by time-killing assay. An ELISA was used to determine the effect of the PBEAE on penicillin binding protein (PBP)2a production. RESULTS: The MICs and MBCs of PBEAE against MRSA were 256-512 and 1,024-2,048 microg/mL, respectively. The PBEAE significantly reduced MICs of all beta-lactams tested, including oxacillin, cefazolin, cefepime, and penicillin. However, the PBEAE had little or no effect on the activity of non-beta-lactams. Time-killing assays showed that the synergistic effects of two beta-lactams (oxacillin and cefazolin) with the PBEAE were bactericidal in nature (Deltalog10 colony forming unit/mL at 24 hr: 2.34-2.87 and 2.10-3.04, respectively). The PBEAE induced a dose-dependent decrease in PBP2a production by MRSA, suggesting that the inhibition of PBP2a production was a major synergistic mechanism between the beta-lactams and the PBEAE. CONCLUSIONS: PBEAE can enhance the efficacy of beta-lactams for combined therapy in patients infected with MRSA.
Acetates/chemistry ; Agaricales/*chemistry/metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/*pharmacology ; beta-Lactams/*pharmacology

Haemophilus influenzae type b(Hib) is one of the most common cause of invasive bacterial disease in children. In Korea, However, the proportion occupied by Hib as a cause of pediatric pathogen is less compared to those of western countries. Natural immunity to Haemophilus influenzae type b was determined on 308 Korean children. The titration of antibody to capsular polysaccharide (PRP) was performed by the radioantigen binding assay. Forty percent of the total subjects and 31% of children under 5 years had an antibody level considered to be protective( 0.15 g/ml).Seropositivity was 13.6% in 12~17 month age group, and increased progressively to 19% in 5~10 year age group. In the age groups under 36 months of age, the geometric mean titers of anti-PRP antibody were below the protective level. These data indicate that a lot of Korean children under 5 years of age do not have antibody levels considered to be protective against H. influenzae type b, and do not explain the apparent low risk of Korean children to Hib Further studies including comparative antibody response to polysa-charide and protein antigens with other racial groups are needed.
Antibody Formation ; Child* ; Haemophilus influenzae type b* ; Haemophilus influenzae* ; Haemophilus* ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Influenza, Human ; Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study was to identify small inhibitory RNAs (siRNAs) that are effective in inhibiting growth of cervical cancer cell lines harboring human papilloma virus (HPV) and to examine how siRNAs interact with interferon beta (IFN-beta) and thimerosal. METHODS: The HPV18-positive HeLa and C-4I cell lines were used. Four types of siRNAs were designed according to their target (both E6 and E7 vs. E6 only) and sizes (21- vs. 27-nucleotides); Ex-18E6/21, Ex-18E6/27, Sp-18E6/21, and Sp-18E6/27. Each siRNA-transfected cells were cultured with or without IFN-b and thimerosal and their viability was measured. RESULTS: The viabilities of HPV18-positive tumor cells were reduced by 21- and 27-nucleotide siRNAs in proportion to the siRNA concentrations. Of the two types of siRNAs, the 27-nucleotide siRNA constructs showed greater inhibitory efficacy. Sp-18E6 siRNAs, which selectively downregulates E6 protein only, were more effective than the E6- and E7-targeting Ex-18E6 siRNAs. siRNAs and IFN-beta showed the synergistic effect to inhibit HeLa cell survival and the effect was proportional to both siRNA and IFN-beta concentrations. Thimerosal in the presence of siRNA exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of C-4I cell survival. Finally, co-treatment with siRNA, IFN-beta, and thimerosal induced the most profound decrease in the viability of both cell lines. CONCLUSION: Long (27-nucleotides) siRNAs targeting E6-E7 mRNAs effectively reduce the viability of HPV18-positive cervical cancer cells and show the synergistic effect in combination with IFN-b and thimerosal. It is necessary to find the rational design of siRNAs and effective co-factors to eradicate particular cervical cancer.
Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; Papilloma* ; RNA* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Thimerosal ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis has been known to be associated with systemic inflammatory status. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between hepatitis viral infection or vaccination and carotid atherosclerosis in a relatively healthy population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 281 subjects (mean age+/-SD, y; 43.8+/-7.2) in the Chonbuk national university hospital. All the participants were examined for the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in both common carotid, carotid bulb, and internal carotid arteries. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and IgG antibodies against hepatitis B and C virus (anti-HBs and anti-HCV) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Twelve subjects (4.3%) were HBsAg seropositive and 6 (2.1%) were anti-HCV positive but the positivity did not affect the mean carotid IMT. However, the hepatitis B-exposure group including both the HBsAg positive and anti-HBs positive without vaccination history showed a significantly higher carotid IMT (mean+/-SD, mm; 0.757+/-0.107 vs. 0.728+/-0.105, P=0.031), even after adjusting for the potential confounders. And, in the subgroup having anti-HBs, the carotid IMT was lower in the hepatitis B vaccinated subjects than in the others (0.725+/-0.103 vs. 0.760+/-0.111, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects exposed to the hepatitis B pathogen, even though they had anti-HBs, showed the higher carotid IMT, and the participants with a vaccination history demonstrated the lower IMT values. Subsequent study in a large representative population might be needed to further delineate the characteristic associations.
Antibodies ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Jeollabuk-do ; Vaccination

A five-year-old boy received a blunt trauma on chest by a kindergarten bus on Feb. 29, 1996. Pulmonary hemorrhage and pericardiac effusion were developed, followed by multi-organ failure threatening his life. All symptoms were improving when pansystolic harsh murmur (III/IV) originating from a tiny ventricular rupture with a blood leak to the pericardial space was auscultated on the 12th day after the trauma. This murmur disappeared with the left ventricular healing and progressive aneurysmatic formation. Howeve, on the 61st day after the trauma a continuous murmur (II/III) of aortic dissecting aneurysm on the left upper sternal border and dorsum was newly auscultated. Two-dimensional color doppler echocardiogram and aortogram by femoral artery catheterization revealed aneurysmatic dilatations of both the left ventricular free wall and descending aorta immediately after the origin of the subclavian artery with mild mitral regugitation. The patient underwent successful corrective surgery.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Automobiles* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Dilatation ; Femoral Artery ; Heart Ventricles* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Rupture ; Subclavian Artery ; Thorax

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the clinical and radiological results after total knee arthoplasty using the Press Fit Condylar (PFC) Sigma fixed bearing platform knee and the rotating platform knee in the same patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 44 patients who had undergone bilateral total knee arthroplasties due to osteoarthritis of both knees from November 2001 to December 2004, using the fixed bearing platform and the rotating platform, respectively. The mean age of the study group was 71.5 years (range: 65~85 years). The mean follow up period was 74.3 months (range: 62~86 months). The clinical results were evaluated according to the knee score, the functional score, the presence of flexion contracture, the range of motion and the complications, and the visual analog scale system was used for the patients' satisfaction. The radiological results using the American Knee Society criteria and the tibiofemoral angle were also evaluated. RESULTS: The average knee score improved from 36.5 to 87.3 in the fixed bearing group and from 38.8 to 87.9 in the rotating platform group, respectively. The average functional score improved from 28.4 to 83.5 in the fixed bearing group and from 32.6 to 85.8 in the rotating platform group, respectively. The average range of knee motion improved from 85.5degrees to 115.5degrees in the fixed bearing group and from 86.6degrees to 116.8degrees in the rotating platform group. The average tibiofemoral angle improved from varus 8.2degrees to valgus 5.5degrees in the fixed bearing group and from varus 7.1degrees to valgus 5.3degrees in the rotating platform group. We did not observe any clinically significant osteolysis or wear. However, there were 3 cases of instability out of the 13 cases in rotating platform group, and this was accompanied by varus deformities of over 15 degree and 6 cases of friction sound during walking. CONCLUSION: We could find no clinical and radiological differences between the fixed bearing platform and the rotating platform in this study. However, we should regard the fixed bearing prosthesis as a good option for the patients with severe varus deformities, with considering performing bulky soft tissue release for obtaining a balanced gap, for preventing spin-out and to correct deformity.
Arthroplasty ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Friction ; Humans ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteolysis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Ursidae ; Walking