No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus*

PURPOSE: We prospectively determined the value of a non-enhanced spiral CT (NESCT) in the diagnosis of suspected urolithiasis by a comparison with excretory urography (EU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After giving informed consents, 114 and 103 patients, with suspected urolithiasis, underwent either NESCT or EU, respectively. All the NESCT and EU films were assessed by 2 urologists and 1 radiologist with no knowledge of the clinical histories. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy and other valuable diagnostics in each group were compared. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of NESCT in diagnosing urinary calculi were 96.8, 95.2 and 96.5%, and for EU, were 75.3, 90.9 and 78.6%, respectively. The examinations were performed with an average of less than 5 minutes for the NESCT versus 113+/-31 minutes for the EU, and the times taken to a definitive diagnosis in the two groups were 2.4+/-0.3 and 59+/-5.2 hours, respectively. In the EU group, 24 patients (23.3%) had revisited and 11 (10.6%) were admitted for pain control, prior to the imaging evaluation, only 2 patients (1.7%) revisited, and none were admitted in the NESCT group. In our institution, the cost of a NESCT was more expensive than that of an EU (140,000 vs. 35,790 Won), however the cost-effectiveness is enhanced by the accuracy of NESCT, which lead to fewer ancillary studies. CONCLUSIONS: NESCT is accurate, reliable and safe, and has many advantages over EU, and therefore could be recommended as a first diagnostic modality for the evaluation of patients with suspected urolithiasis.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Urinary Calculi ; Urography ; Urolithiasis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to induce the differentiation of mast cells from human umbilical cord blood. METHODS: Mononuclear cells and CD34+ cells were obtained from cord blood and were cultured in the presence of stem cell factor, IL-3 and IL-6 in liquid suspension culture for 8 weeks. Mast cell was confirmed by Wright-Giemsa staining, immuno-histochemistry for tryptase and flowcytometry. RESULTS: When mononuclear cells were cultured for 4 weeks, the percentage of CD34-, CD117+ cells increased up to 8% in the presence of SCF only and 6.6% in the presence of SCF and IL-6. After 8 weeks of culture of CD34+ cells, the percentage of CD34-, CD117+ cells was highest at an average of 14.8% when cultured with SCF only, although absolute number of CD34-, CD117+ cells was higher when cultured in the presence of SCF, IL-3 and IL-6. CONCLUSION: We developed human mast cells from umbilical cord blood. However, some other factors such as combination or concentration of cytokines should be considered to enhance the efficiency of mast cell culture. In addition, mature cultured mast cells should be evaluated by flowcytometry as well as a special staining including immunohistochemistry.
Cytokines ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mast Cells* ; Stem Cell Factor ; Tryptases ; Umbilical Cord*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The most common cause of thyrotoxicosis is Graves' disease (GD), while painless thyroiditis (PT) comes in second. In Korea, the treatment of choice for GD is antithyroid drugs (ATDs). Since most cases of PT spontaneously improve, an accurate diagnosis is very important for the proper management of patients presenting with thyrotoxicosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine thyrotoxic patients were routinely checked with 99m Technetium (99mTc) thyroid scan except in pregnant or lactating women. We assessed the patients' clinical characteristics, serum levels of free T4 (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII), and findings of 99mTc thyroid scan. RESULTS: Among the 99 thyrotoxic patients, 69 were diagnosed with GD and 30 had PT. All of the patients with GD, diagnosed by scan, improved clinically and the thyroid hormone returned to normal with ATDs. All patients with PT improved spontaneously without ATDs. TPOAb and TGAb were positive in 13 (43.3%) and 20 (66.7%) patients with PT, respectively. TPOAb and TGAb were positive in 45 (65.2%) and 44 (63.8%) patients with GD, respectively. TBII was positive in only 73.5% of GD, and was entirely negative in the PT group. Mean FT4 level in GD was higher than in PT, but some patients with PT showed the highest level of FT4. CONCLUSION: PT accounted for a very high proportion of thyrotoxicosis in this study. All parameters investigated such as age, sex, goiter size or nature, level of FT4, TPOAb or TGAb, and TBII were unable to differentiate GD from PT. Considering the increased proportion of PT in the current study, we recommend routine thyroid scan in all thyrotoxic patients except in pregnant or lactating women.
Antithyroid Agents ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Goiter ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Korea ; Technetium ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis* ; Thyrotoxicosis* ; Thyrotropin

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for growth delay of infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to evaluate the nutritional adequacy of therapeutic elimination diets. METHODS: We studied 67 infants with AD aged from 6 to 23 months, who were managed with conservative treatments for more than 3 months in Samsung Medical Center, and compared with 56 normal age-matched infants. Height and weight for age and weight for height were converted to Z score to evaluate their growth. Basic characteristics including birth characteristics, heights and weights of parents, and socioeconomic status of parents were surveyed by the questionnaire. The 24-hour recall method, assessment of all foods eaten on the day prior to the interview, was performed to evaluate dietary intake. A P value <0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The mean Z scores of height and weight (-0.10+/-1.10 and -0.41+/-0.91, respectively) in male patients were decreased more than those in healthy age-sex-matched controls, (0.44+/-0.77 and 0.07+/-0.77, respectively) (P=0.032 and 0.039 for each) while female infants did not show any difference. Severity of AD, socioeconomic status of parents, duration of breast feeding, and birth characteristics were not different between patient and control groups. Zinc levels of both groups, especially patients, was lower than recommended dietary allowances (RDA). CONCLUSIONS: Infants with AD were shorter than control group, while they did not show nutritional problems. Our study suggests that longitudinal growth assessment should be performed on infants with AD and it may be helpful in counseling about the prognosis of growth.
Aged ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Counseling ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status ; Parents ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Weights and Measures ; Zinc

The purpose of this study was to prevent the dilutional effect of excessive absorption of irrigating solution by using furosemide intraoperatively during transurethral resection of the prostate. Thirty patients, classified as ASA ps 2 or 3, were selected randomly and divided them into two groups as follows: Group l(N=15); Not-administrated furosemide(control group) Group 2(N=15); Administrated furosemide(Experimental group) All patients were premedicated with hydroxyzine(1 mg/kg, IM) and were performed continuous epidural anesthesia with 2/ lidocaine(1-1.5 mg/segment). 5% D-sorbitols were used for irrigating solution, and Hartmans solutions were given for maintenance fluid. And fixed the irrigating container to 60 cm in height from symphysis pubis. With the starting of operation, 20 mg furosemide was administrated to experimental group. The blood samples for serum Na+, K+, glucose and BUN were obtained at preoperation, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min after the stating of operation and immediate postoperative period, and serum osmolality and effective osmolality were calculated. The results were as follows: l) The values of sodium concentration of control group were decreased significantly at 10 min, 20 min, 30 min after the starting of operation and immediate postoperative period as compared with the preoperative value(p<0.05). But those of experimental group were not changed significantly. 2) The values of serum osmolality and effective osmolality were decreased significantly at 30 min after the starting of operation and immediate postoperative period as compared with the preoperative value(p<0.05). But those of experimenta1 group were not changed significantly. These results show that the dilutional effect of excessive absorption of irrigating solution might be prevented by using furosemide intraopertively. So we would like to recommend the use of furosemide during TURP, especially in patients with congestive heart failure or renal failure.
Absorption ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Electrolytes* ; Furosemide* ; Glucose ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Postoperative Period ; Prostate* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sodium ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

PURPOSE: Peanut allergy is a major cause of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis. Cooking methods can affect the allergic properties of peanut proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the allergenicity of peanut according to cooking methods. METHODS: Eight kinds of peanut were included in the study: raw peanut, boiled peanut, roasted peanut (10 min, 20 min and 30 min), peanut butter, fried peanut and vinegarish peanut. The proteins were extracted with PBS and analyzed using the SDS-PAGE IgE immunoblot assay with pooled sera from 8 patients with atopic dermatitis. These patients had peanut- specific IgE levels greater than 15 kU/L, which were measured by the CAP-FEIA. RESULTS: The SDS-PAGE IgE immunoblot assay revealed more intense protein bands of Ara h 2 in roasted peanut and peanut butter than in raw, boiled, fried and vinegarish peanut. The protein band of Ara h 1 was not undetected in fried and vinegarish peanut. Ara h 3 had a stable band pattern in all samples, but there was the most prominent band at 37-40 kDa in vinegarish peanut. The IgE immunoblot assay revealed that 10 min roasted peanut had more IgE binding to Ara h 2, and there was no IgE binding to Ara h 1 in fried and vinegarish peanut. In vinegarish peanut, there was almost no IgE binding to it. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the roasted peanut may increase the allergenicity of Ara h 2 as compared to Ara h 1. Fried and vinegarish peanut may reduce the allergenicity of peanut.
Anaphylaxis ; Butter ; Cooking ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Peanut Hypersensitivity ; Proteins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of frontal facial type (FFT) and sex on preferred chin projection (CP) in three-dimensional (3D) facial images. METHODS: Six 3D facial images were acquired using a 3D facial scanner (euryprosopic [Eury-FFT], mesoprosopic [Meso-FFT], and leptoprosopic [Lepto-FFT] for each sex). After normal CP in each 3D facial image was set to 10° of the facial profile angle (glabella–subnasale-pogonion), CPs were morphed by gradations of 2° from normal (moderately protrusive [6°], slightly protrusive [8°], slightly retrusive [12°], and moderately retrusive [14°]). Seventy-five dental students (48 men and 27 women) were asked to rate the CPs (6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, and 14°) from the most to least preferred in each 3D image. Statistical analyses included the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the distribution of preferred CP in the same FFT between male and female evaluators. In Meso-FFT, the normal CP was the most preferred without any sex difference. However, in Eury-FFT, the slightly protrusive CP was favored in male 3D images, but the normal CP was preferred in female 3D images. In Lepto-FFT, the normal CP was favored in male 3D images, whereas the slightly retrusive CP was favored in female 3D images. The mean preferred CP angle differed significantly according to FFT (Eury-FFT: male, 8.7°, female, 9.9°; Meso-FFT: male, 9.8°, female, 10.7°; Lepto-FFT: male, 10.8°, female, 11.4°; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings might serve as guidelines for setting the preferred CP according to FFT and sex.
Chin* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Students, Dental

PURPOSE: All IgG subclasses such as IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 can be transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta, though the amount of each IgG subclass is different from one another. Maternally acquired immunity might have an important role for the protection against the infections. We studied transplacental passage of IgG subclasses. METHODS: In this study, we observed the transplacental passage of IgG-subclasses in 22 paired samples of maternal and full- term fetal cord sera. Gestational ages varied from 37 to 42 weeks. The concentrations of IgG subclasses were analyzed by radial immunodiffusion method using commercialized Human IgG Subclass Combi kit. RESULTS: The concentrations of IgG subclasses, IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 in cord sera exceed the maternal concentration, while IgG2 did not. The ratio of serum levels of cord to maternal were 1.330+/-0.067 for IgG1, 0.859+/-0.039 for IgG2, 1.258+/-0.058 for IgG3 and 1.159+/-0.038 for IgG4. CONCLUSION: This result suggested that the placenta may play a selective barrier for passage of IgG2.
Fetus* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired ; Immunodiffusion ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Mothers ; Placenta

PURPOSE: Foreign body aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree is a common medical emergency in children and represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed to analyze the clinical spectrum of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children and to evaluate the causes of late diagnoses. METHODS: A total of 108 patients with foreign body aspiration were recruited in the last 10 years, who had a flexible or rigid bronchoscopic examination. The age, sex, symptoms, causes of aspiration, radiologic findings, and clinical courses were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the elapsed time from aspiration to a definite diagnosis as early (< or =24 hours after aspiration) and late diagnoses (>24 hours after aspiration). The two groups were compared for clinical courses, radiologic findings, and the duration of admission of early- and late-diagnosed foreign body aspiration. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of the patients were less than 24 months of age and the most common symptoms were the sudden onset of a cough. Hyperinflation or obstructive emphysema (52.8%) and normal chest radiographs (19.4%) were the most frequent radiologic findings. Plain chest radiographies revealed visible foreign bodies in 7.4% of all patients with foreign body aspiration. Nuts were the most common foreign bodies aspirated. Sudden onset of a persistent cough and fever were predominant in the late-diagnosed group.(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that clinical suspicion upon interviewing is enough to indicate bronchoscopy. The best way to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with foreign body aspiration is to promote public prevention polices.
Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Cough ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis* ; Emergencies ; Emphysema ; Fever ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nuts ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax