PURPOSE: This study was performed to explore the weight variations in high-risk term newborns hospitalized during the early postnatal period. METHODS: A retrospective explorative study was performed with 64 term newborns who were hospitalized in the NICU after birth. Data on daily weight, birth information, and clinical features such as phototherapy, placements, nutritional status were reviewed through medical records for 14 days of life. General Linear Model, GLM was applied to analyze the weight variation by clinical features of these high-risk term newborns for 14 days of life. RESULTS: Newborns at 40 weeks of gestation showed little weight loss during the few days after birth then steadily gained weight to 7.6% at the 14th day. Infants born at 37-39 gestation showed little weight gain for 14 days though the weight loss itself was not apparent. As well, return to birthweight was not observed in newborns with phototherapy, infants placed on a warmer or infants having gastrointestinal dysfunction for 14 days of life. CONCLUSION: Even for term newborns, physiologic weight loss may not be warranted even if newborn is born at less than 40 week of gestation, or with high-risk conditions that warrant admission to NICU.
Birth Weight ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Linear Models ; Medical Records ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition ; Phototherapy ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Term Birth ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study was a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with >4 metastases to the brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2006, 68 patients with > or = 4 multiple brain metastases were included and reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-nine patients received SRS and 39 patients received whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Patients with small cell lung cancers and melanomas were excluded. The primary lesions were non-small cell lung cancer (69.0%) and breast cancer (13.8%) in the SRS group and non-small cell lung cancer (64.1%), breast cancer (15.4%), colorectal cancer (12.8%), esophageal cancer (5.1%) in the WBRT group. SRS involved gamma-knife radiosurgery and delivered 10~20 Gy (median, 16 Gy) in a single fraction with a 50% marginal dose. WBRT was delivered daily in 3 Gy fractions, for a total of 30 Gy. After completion of treatment, a follow-up brain MRI or a contrast-enhanced brain CT was reviewed. The overall survival and intracranial progression-free survival were compared in each group. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 5 months (range, 2~19 months) in the SRS group and 6 months (range, 4~23 months) in the WBRT group. The mean number of metastatic lesions in the SRS and WBRT groups was 6 and 5, respectively. The intracranial progression-free survival and overall survival in the SRS group was 5.1 and 5.6 months, respectively, in comparison to 6.1 and 7.2 months, respectively, in the WBRT group. CONCLUSION: SRS was less effective than WBRT in the treatment of patients with >4 metastases to the brain.
Brain ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies

The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence and variables associated with the initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment failure in Kawasaki disease (KD) and to categorize differences in clinical characteristics between responders and nonresponders to initial IVIG treatment. Patients were classified into two groups. Group A included 33 patients who received a single dose of IVIG treatment and responded. Group B included 18 patients who received more than two doses of IVIG due to failure of the initial treatment. The mean duration of fever after initial treatment in group B was significantly longer than it was in group A. In group B, we found that higher bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) (%), and lower platelet values at baseline were independent predictors of persistent or recurrent fever in patients with KD. Coronary artery abnormalities were found in 8 patients (44.4%) in group B and in two patients (6.1%) in group A. We found that abnormal liver function tests and a lower platelet count at baseline were possible predictors of nonresponders to IVIG in patients with KD. There is a need for a prospective study focused on baseline hepatobiliary parameters.
C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/*therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/*drug therapy ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure

We present three cases of concurrent Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and B-lineage lymphoid cell infiltrations and/or nodules in the bone marrow. The first patient was a 25-month-old boy who presented with LCH on the right shoulder and multiple osteolytic lesions. Bone marrow biopsy showed the presence of LCH and two large lymphoid nodules of B-lineage, which were located in the paratrabecular region. Both LCH and the lymphoid nodules resolved after treatment with prednisone, vinblastine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide. The second patient was a 7-month-old girl who presented with LCH in the scalp and bone marrow. In spite of the treatment, a follow-up bone marrow analysis performed after 16 months showed LCH and increased B-lineage lymphoid cells in the interstitial area. The third patient was a 26-month-old girl, and imaging studies revealed reddish skin lesions and multiple osteolytic lesions. Skin biopsy and bone marrow biopsy did not show the presence of LCH; however, we initiated the treatment on the basis of the results of imaging studies. The follow-up study after 6 months showed the presence of LCH and large, patchy infiltration of B-lymphoid cells. We report three rare cases of concurrent bone marrow involvement of LCH and B-lineage lymphoid proliferation, which strongly suggest lymphoid malignancy. Further, clonal changes should be studied to elucidate the common pathogenic mechanism between the two diseases.
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/*pathology ; Bone Marrow/immunology/*pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use ; Prednisone/therapeutic use ; Vinblastine/therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Islands* ; Jeollanam-do* ; Primary Health Care* ; Ships*

We report a case of pulmonary fungal ball of Pseudallescheria boydii (Scedosporium apiospermum, the anamorph) and the result of LSU rDNA D2 region sequencing of the clinical isolate. An immunocompetent 58-year-old female suffered 2-year history of hemoptysis. Her symptom persisted despite the administration of oral itraconazole, even though the clinical, radiological, and histological findings suggested Aspergilloma. In the fungal culture, the typical morphology of S. apiospermum was observed. Even though the sequencing using LSU rDNA D2 region identified the organism as Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea, one of the P. boydii complex, the further investigation of ours suggested that the species in P. boydii complex could not be differentiated from each other by the sequencing of LSU rDNA D2 region.
DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Pseudallescheria ; Scedosporium

This study investigated the trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture of tibia in 14-week-old C3H/HeN, C57BL/6J and ICR mice using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Defined volumes of interest were scanned at a resolution of 17 micrometer (isotropic). The X-ray tube was set at photon energy of 50 kV, current of 200 microA, exposure time 1.2 sec, and a 0.5 mm-thick aluminium filter. For quantification of bone mineral density (BMD), the bone samples were scanned by micro-CT together with 2 calibration phantoms. The image slices were reconstructed using 3-dimensional CT analyzer software. C3H/HeN mice showed significantly higher levels of bone volume fraction, trabecular number and BMD, and lower levels of trabecular separation, structure model index and degree of anisotropy compared to C57BL/6J or ICR mice in trabecular bone area. So the C3H/HeN mouse appeared to be a good model animal for the study on the changes of trabecular bone with high trabecular bone mass.
Animals ; Anisotropy ; Bone Density ; Calibration ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Tibia

This study investigated the trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture of tibia in 14-week-old C3H/HeN, C57BL/6J and ICR mice using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Defined volumes of interest were scanned at a resolution of 17 micrometer (isotropic). The X-ray tube was set at photon energy of 50 kV, current of 200 microA, exposure time 1.2 sec, and a 0.5 mm-thick aluminium filter. For quantification of bone mineral density (BMD), the bone samples were scanned by micro-CT together with 2 calibration phantoms. The image slices were reconstructed using 3-dimensional CT analyzer software. C3H/HeN mice showed significantly higher levels of bone volume fraction, trabecular number and BMD, and lower levels of trabecular separation, structure model index and degree of anisotropy compared to C57BL/6J or ICR mice in trabecular bone area. So the C3H/HeN mouse appeared to be a good model animal for the study on the changes of trabecular bone with high trabecular bone mass.
Animals ; Anisotropy ; Bone Density ; Calibration ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Tibia

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats is characterized by transient paralysis followed by recovery. To evaluate whether transient paralysis in EAE affects bone density, tibiae of EAE rats were morphologically investigated using micro-computed tomography and histology. The parameters of bone health were significantly reduced at the peak stage of EAE rats relative to those of controls (p < 0.05). The reduction of bone density was found to remain unchanged, even in the recovery stage. Collectively, the present data suggest that osteoporosis occurs in paralytic rats with monophasic EAE, possibly through the disuse of hindlimbs and/or autoimmune inflammation.
Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Bone Density ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental* ; Hindlimb ; Inflammation ; Osteoporosis* ; Paralysis ; Rats* ; Tibia

Objectives: To describe and evaluate epidemiological investigation results and containment measures implemented in Busan, where 108 cases were confirmed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between February 21, 2020 and March 24, 2020. Methods: Any individual who tested positive for COVID-19 was classified as a confirmed case. Measures were taken to identify the source of infection and trace and quarantine contacts. Serial intervals were estimated and the effective reproduction number was computed. Results: Of the total 18,303 COVID-19 tests performed between January 16, 2020 and March 24, 2020 in Busan, 108 yielded positive results (positive test rate, 0.6%). All confirmed cases were placed in isolation at hospitals. Of the 108 confirmed cases, 59 (54.6%) were female. The most common age group was 20-29 years with 37 cases (34.3%). Regarding symptoms at the time of diagnosis, cough (n=38, 35.2%) and fever (n=34, 31.5%) were most common; 12 cases (11.1%) were asymptomatic. The source of infection was identified in 99 cases (91.7%). A total of 3,223 contacts were identified and quarantined. Household contacts accounted for 196, and the household secondary attack rate was 8.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7 to 12.9). The mean serial interval was estimated to be 5.54 days (95% CI, 4.08 to 7.01). After February 26, (Rt) remained below 1 in Busan. Conclusions The early containment strategy implemented in Busan shows that control is possible if outbreaks are of limited scope. In preparation for future outbreaks, public health and healthcare systems should be re-examined and put in a ready state.