There are ethnic differences in the timing of sexual maturation. However, averages of sexual maturity rating (SMR) for Korean adolescents were not available until recently. The purpose of this study was to determine averages for the SMR of adolescent girls and boys in Korea. The study population included 3,249 boys and 3,337 girls. The sample comprised 2,406 from the Seoul area, 2,441 from a medium-sized city and 1,739 from rural areas. Data were obtained through questionnaires and physical examinations for SMR given by pediatricians from 1991 to 1992. Sexual maturity was graded using the Tanner scales. This was a cross-sectional study. In boys, the first growth of the testes (SMR 2) was observed at a mean age 12.7 years (from 10.4 to 15.1 years of age for 95% of them). SMR 3 and SMR 4 of genitalia were 14.2+/-1.4, 15.4+/-1.3 years of age, respectively. Adult genitalia (SMR 5) was observed from 14 to 18.2 with a mean age of 16.1 years. SMR 2 of pubic hair was at a mean age of 13.2 years, and SMR 3,4, and 5 were 14.4+/-1.4, 15.6+/-1.2, 16.0+/-1.0 years of age, respectively. In girls, the mean age for breast budding (SMR 2) was 11.0 years with a range of 8.9 years to 13.1 years for 95% of them. SMR 3,4, and 5 for breast were 12.6+/-1.4, 14.2+/-1.5, 15.7+/-1.1 years of age, respectively. SMR 2,3,4, and 5 for pubic hair were 12.9+/-1.8, 14.5+/-1.5, 15.1+/-1.3, 16.0+/-1.0 years of age, respectively. Tanner stages for breast and pubic hair in girls, and genitalia and pubic in boys did not agree well within one ordinal rank. Average length of time from SMR 2 to 5 was 3.3 years for boys and 5.0 years for girls. Mean age of menarche was 12.8 years (from 10.8 to 14.8 years of age for 95% of them). Mean of menarcheal age was significantly different, geographically (12.6 years Seoul, 12.9 medium-sized city, and 12.9 rural area) (P<.0001). Menarche occurred 1.7% on breast SMR 2, 41.5% on SMR 3, 85.9% on SMR 4, 99.3% on SMR 5. In conclusion, this findings might be interpreted as providing averages of SMR for Korean girls and boys in adolescence.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Breast ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female* ; Genitalia ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Menarche ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Sexual Maturation ; Testis ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Protein-Losing Enteropathies*

The glucose uptake rate by Eurytrema pancreaticum was a mean value of 16.44 +/- 2.42 micro-mole/hr/g, and total CO(2) production rate by the fluke averaged 5.82 +/- 0.97 micro-mole/hr/g. The relative specific activity of respiratory CO(2) showed a mean value of 5.75 +/- 0.84 per cent. The rate of CO(2) production derived from medium C(14)-glucose was a mean of 0.33 +/- 0.10 micor-mole/hr/g. Therefore, the average value of 0.32 +/- 0.04 per cent of glucose utilized by the flukes from the medium C(14)-glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of glycogen in E. pancreaticum was a mean of 45.50 +/- 2.18 mg/g or 4.55 +/- 0.22 %/g. But the turnover rate of glycogen pool was a mean of 0.027 +/- 0.003 %/hr or 0.009 +/- 0.002 mg/hr/g. The average value of 0.64 +/- 0.23 percent of glucose utilized by the flukes from the medium C(14)-glucose was incorporated into the glycogen. These data account for that only 1 per cent of the utilized glucose by the flukes participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen.
parasitology-helminht-trematoda- Eurytrema pancreaticum ; glucose-biochemistry ; autoradiograhy ; glucose ; glycogen ; CO(2)

There are some reports showing that an experience of long-enduring pain causes a change in the pain transmission system, suggesting a plastic nature of the nociceptive system. However, most of the studies concerning the analgesic effect of peripheral nerve stimulation dealt with normal animal or human subjects. So, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of peripheral nerve stimulation on the dorsal horn cell activity using a tonic pain model, which was made by producing a cutaneous inflammation. The main results are summarized as follows. 1) The evoked activity by electrical or natural stimulation as well as spontaneous activity was enhanced, and the receptive field size was also expanded by the inflammation. 2) Peripheral nerve conditioning stimulation reduced the C-response of the dorsal horn cell in the normal and inflamed group, and the degree of inhibition between the two groups showed no significant difference. 3) Inhibition of the C-response of the dorsal horn cells by peripheral conditioning stimulation was completely reversed by naloxone in the inflamed group whereas there was a partial block in the normal group.
*Analgesia ; Animal ; Cats ; Dermatitis/*physiopathology ; *Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Endorphins/physiology ; Female ; Genes, fos ; Male ; Naloxone/pharmacology ; Nerve Fibers/physiology ; Peripheral Nerves/*physiology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Uremia*

No abstract available.
Uremia*

Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is seen in 3~34% of patients affected by this condition. Although the commonest sites involved are the sigmoid colon and rectum, only 4 cases have been reported in Korea. The most frequent symptoms are lower abdominal and pelvic pain typically worsening at the time of menstruation. Bleeding per rectum is uncommon since the mucosa is rarely involved. Endoscopy has not been thought to be helpful in the evaluation of patients with suspected colonic endometriosis. However, endoscopy is often used as the first test in patients with rectal bleeding, excluding malignancy or other sources of bleeding. There are few reports of endoscopic documentation of colorectal endometriosis. A 26 year-old woman having a history of endometriosis with cyclic hematochezia and lower abdominal pain is herein reported. A flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed a protrusion of hyperemic mucosa with a surrounding fold formation on the rectum 8 cm above the anal verge. The subsequent biopsy of the lesion gave rise to a diagnosis of endometriosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Menstruation ; Mucous Membrane ; Pelvic Pain ; Rectum ; Sigmoidoscopy

BACKGROUND: It has been well known that normal leukocyte counts in blood can vary depending on age, gender, other environmental factors and ethnic differe nces. However, the normal white blood cell counts in Koreans has not been settled yet. Over past several years, a large number of patients were referred to the Hematology Clinic of Asan Medical Center (AMC) for evaluation of "leukopenia", and most of them were found to have no medical problems other than leukocyte counts less than 4,000/mm3. We performed this study on persons who visited Health Screening Center to analysis of leukopenic patients and also to establish the normal value of white blood cell counts in Korean. METHOD: We studied 31,307 persons (19,540 men, 11,767 women, aged 15-90), who visited to Health Screening Center of AMC during the period from January through December 1995. We have carried out retrospec tive analysis of complete medical record of 2,406 patients (838 men, 1,568 women, aged 20-81) who were found to have leukocyte counts less than 4,000/ mm3. And we tried to establish the normal values of leukocyte counts and differential counts of 24,079 adults (15,807 men, 8,272 women, aged 19-90), who were assessed to be healthy at Health Screening Center of AMC. RESULTS: 1) Leukopenia (WBC<4,000/mm3) were found in 2,406 subjects (7.7%) among 31,307 persons screened. 2) Among them, 77 subjects (3%) had medical illness; 39 of them had chronic B or C viral hepatitis, 24 of them had iron deficiency anemia, and other diseases were de tected in remaining 14 patients. But other hematologic dis eases or significant infectious diseases were not detected. Follow-up study of them has indicated no increased incidence of infection or other hematologic diseases. 3) The total white blood cell counts of 24,097 healthy Korean adults were 3,640-9,870/mm3 (5,900/ mm3) in men, and 3,270-8,400/mm3 (5,264/mm3) in women. Neutrophil counts ranged 1,288-6,866/mm3 (3,098/mm3) in men, and 1,180-5,985/mm3 (2,816/mm3) in women. Leukocyte counts were significantly lower in female, but no significant variation was found among age groups. CONCLUSION: Normal range of leukocyte counts and neutrophil counts of healthy Korean adults were lower than those of white populations. Thus, a new normal values of leukocyte and neutrophil counts should be established in Koreans. And many persons with leuko cyte counts less than 4,000/mm3 who are otherwise he althy could be normal.
Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematology ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Leukopenia* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Neutropenia* ; Neutrophils ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between total anti-oxidant capacity (TAOC)and lipid peroxidase (LPO)levels in serum and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: The study population consisted of 99 patients with SLE according to the 1982 revised ACR criteria and 83 healthy controls.The serum TAOC levels in 99 patients with SLE and 83 healthy controls by the ABTS(R) inhibition method (Randox Ltd,Antrim,UK)and serum malondialdehyde (MDA)levels in 37 out of 99 patients with SLE were measured.Anti-dsDNA antibody (anti-dsDNA),albumin,AST,ALT,cholesterol,uric acid and creatinine were mea-sured to determine the association with the serum TAOC levels.The correlation between the serum TAOC levels and nephritis in 27 cases with nephritis out of 99 SLE patients was also investigated.The SLE disease activity was determined by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI)at the time of sample collection. RESULTS: Compared to the controls (1.37 +/- 0.127mmol/L),serum TAOC levels were significantly decreased (1.29 +/- 0.124mmol/L)in SLE patients (p=0.001). And there was a negative correlation between serum TAOC levels and SLEDAI total scores in the SLE patients (r=-0.388,p=0.0001),but no significant correlation between TAOC levels and C3 and anti-dsDNA.Further,a significant difference (p<0.04)in TAOC levels was found in SLE patients with and without nephritis.In comparison with other parameters such as AST,ALT,and cholesterol which might change anti-oxidant level,there was no correlation between the serum TAOC levels and them,except for serum uric acid (r=0.387, p=0.0001),creatinine,and albumin (r=0.507,p=0.0001).Additionally,we couldn't find significant correlation between the serum TAOC levels and MDA. CONCLUSIONS: The serum TAOC levels correlate significantly with SLE disease activity and are associated with nephritis.Also,this study showed a significant correlation with serum albumin levels in these patients.Conclusively,the measurement of the serum TAOC levels in patients with SLE will provide useful information on SLE disease activity.
Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Malondialdehyde ; Nephritis ; Peroxidase ; Serum Albumin ; Uric Acid

Primary thyroid lymphomas constitute of up to 5% of all thyroid malignancies. Recently, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma are relatively recognized as a B cell subset of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. MALT-lymphomas are thought to develop from acquired lymphocytic tissue during the course of a chronic inflammatory or autoimmune process. In the thyroid , which is normally devoid of lymphocytic tissue, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) has been associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, including MALT type. The clinical presentations include the enlarging of the neck mass, dysphagia, hoarsenes and choking or cold thyroid nodule. We report a case of MALToma of the thyroid accompanied by Hashimoto's thyroiditis with a review of the literature.
Airway Obstruction ; Deglutition Disorders ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Neck ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroiditis* ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune