No abstract available.
Chondrodysplasia Punctata*

Objectives: Dental caries and periodontal disease are infectious and chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of mentha extracts against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans ) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis ). Methods: This activity of mentha extracts were confirmed by the disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and colony forming unit (CFU) assays. Results: S. mutans and P. gingivalis showed the highest antimicrobial activity within the inhibition zones. The antimicrobial activity was interrupted as the MIC and MBC of the herbal extracts against the two bacteria were 1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml, respectively. The antimicrobial effect was determined by the CFU assay. Conclusions Mentha herb extract demonstrated potential antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and P. gingivalis that cause dental caries and periodontal disease.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study are to examine clinical characteristics, patterns of medical care utilization, and factors which determine medical care utilization of elementary school children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP), to find possible factors influencing the onset and the course of the disorder. METHOD: We performed questionnaires in Kwangju on children from two primary schools from June, 1 1998 to June 30 and carried out statistical analysis. RESULT: 1) Total number of questionnaires were 1417. 715 were male and 702 were female and the ratio of male to female was 1.02 : 1. Average age was 10.3 years. 2) 268 children had RAP (18.9%), boys 132 (18.4%), girls136 (19.2%). 3) The duration of the pain within 10 minutes was 68.5%. 178 children with RAP (66.3%) visited the doctor, The utilization pattern of medical facilities of the pupils with RAP; the most frequently utilized medical facility was pediatrics (35.2%) and the order ran as infernal medicine (31.5%), and pharmacy (29.25). The utilization pattern of medical facilities for the older students; the utilization rate of pediatrics decreased, but internal medicine increased. The major factors affecting the selection of the medical facility were geographic accessibility, kindness of the personnel, good results and traffic convenience. 4) Symptoms which were accompanied with abdominal pain were headache (44.5%), chest pain (28.2%), dizziness (26.6%), vomiting (9%), and 119 children (44.5%) had no accompanied symptoms. 5) In 95 children (35.3%) abdominal pain, occured at postprandial time, in 55 children (20.5%) before meal and in 39 children (14.7%) at school. The highest incidence rate of RAP was observed on Monday (21.4%), and the lowest on Saturday (8.7%). 6) The most frequent involved part of the abdomen was periumbrical area (38%) and the order ran as epigastrium and suprapubic area. The most frequent characteristics of abdominal pain were burning pain (36.9%) and the order ran as dull, cramping and colicky pain. CONCLUSION: RAP is a frequent disease entitiy in children. Too many times children with RAP are treated by other departments instead of Pediatrics. A child has a peculiar growth and development which is different to those from an adult with advancing years. So, it is necessary to choose special medical care and an adequate medical facility.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain* ; Adult ; Burns ; Chest Pain ; Child* ; Abdominal Pain ; Dizziness ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Gwangju ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Meals ; Muscle Cramp ; Pediatrics ; Pharmacy ; Pupil ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vomiting

Intracranial nerve sheath tumors unrelated to the cranial nerve roots are extremely rare, and the origin of the tumors are debatable. We report a case of pathologically-proven neurofibroma inside the lateral ventricle. A 49-year-old man presented with headache of 6 months duration, urinary incontinence, visual disturbance and right hemiplegia. Brain CT scan showed a well defined isodense mass with homogenous contrast enhancement and marginal calcification. At surgery the tumor was found to be a 4cm-sized lobulated mass attached only to the choroid plexus. Histologically, the tumor masses consisted of fasciculating bundles of wavy spindle cells, with a considerable collagen laydown.
Brain ; Choroid Plexus ; Collagen ; Cranial Nerves ; Headache ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurofibroma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the cytotoxic effect of Cimicifuga rhizoma extract is associated with cell death in the human keratinocyte (HaCaT) and human melanoma cell lines (G361). METHODS: Apoptosis induced by Cimicifuga rhizoma extract was confirmed by water-soluble tetrazolium salts-1 (WST-1) assay, immunocytochemistry, and western blot. Additionally, the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: The results showed that Cimicifuga rhizoma extract significantly reduced the viability of G361 cells with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of 200 µg/ml, and the apoptotic process was found to occur via the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 pathways. Besides, the release of cytochrome c and AIF was also detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that Cimicifuga rhizoma extract causes apoptosis of human melanoma cells through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.
Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 9 ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cimicifuga ; Cytochromes c ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Melanoma ; Microscopy, Confocal

No abstract available.
Gwangju* ; Humans ; Pediatric Obesity*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of chronic recurrent headache and the factors associated with it among primary school children. METHODS: The survey was performed by a special questionnaire on one thousand and eleven children in grades 4 to 6 at primary schools from 1 to 30 June 1999 in Gwangju city. RESULTS: Prevalence of chronic recurrent headaches was 17.5%(17.1% among males, 18% among girls). Over forty two point seven percent(42.7%) of the children had headache 4-6 times a month. Age at onset of headache was more predominant at 7-10 years of age. Headache most frequently occured before school(30.7%), during school(29%), and before awaking in the morning(16.5%). The highest incidence rate of chronic recurrent headache was observed on Monday(23.5%), and the lowest on Saturday(5.3%). Risk factors of chronic recurrent headaches were stress(26.1%), fatigue, poor sleep(25.1%), weather change(18.3%) and anxiety(18.2%). Of 177 cases with chronic recurrent headaches, 62 cases(35%) had family history. Among them, 50.0% of the patients had history in their mothers, 24.2% in the fathers, 17.7% in the brothers and sisters. Of 177 cases with chronic recurrent headaches, 122 cases(69%) were treated at the pharmacy(35%), hospital(23%), and herb medicine(11%). CONCLUSION: This study finds a high overall prevalence(17.5%) of chronic recurrent headache on primary school children. And among many causative factors, stress schools is most common. In conclusion, while evaluating chronic headache in children, environmental and emotional factors associated with school should be considered as well as organic causes.
Child* ; Fathers ; Fatigue ; Gwangju ; Headache Disorders ; Headache* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mothers ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Siblings ; Weather

BACKGROUND: In febrile convulsions, glucose concentrations are known to increase both in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF). The reason behind this increase is, however, not completely understood. We have studied the effects of convulsion and fever on the CSF and blood concentrations in four different groups of children: convulsive and non- convulsive children, with and without fever. METHODS: This study was retrospectively undertaken to review medical records of 167 children who had lumbar puncture at Chosun University Hospital during 2 years from January 1994 to December 1996. The blood samples for glucose determinations were taken just before the lumbar puncture. The effects of several variables (body temperature, duration of fever, convulsions) were analysed on glucose concentrations in the CSF and blood between the groups. RESULTS: 1) The concentration of glucose in the CSF was significantly higher in convulsive children with(90.9+/-24.Smg/dl) and without fever(105+/-29.7mg/dl) than in non-convulsive children with(68.4+/-12.3mg/dl) and without fever(67.5+/-13.3mg/dl). 2) The concentration of glucose in the blood was not significant in the different groups. 3) There was no correlation between the body temperature and the concentration of glucose in the CSF(r=0.09, p>0.05).4) A negative correlation between the duration of the fever and the concentration of glucose in the CSF was found in febrile chi1dren (r=-0.26, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that an increase in the CSF glucose concentration in convulsive children may be influenced more by a stress reaction, evoked by the seizure than increased body temperature.
Body Temperature ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child* ; Fever ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Seizures, Febrile ; Spinal Puncture

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to provide useful information for the prevalence of obesity by the standard weight for height and the relationship of the body image to dieting methods for weight control in children. METHODS: The survey was performed by an anthropometry and a special questionnaire on children in grades 5 to 6 at elementary schools from May to June 1997 in Kwangju city. RESULTS: 1) Selected individuals were categorized into obese, normal, thin by the standard weight for height and body image. The prevalence of obesity by the standard weight for height was 19.5%, normal was 70.5%, thin was 10.1% in males and respectively 10.5%, 66.3%, 23.1% in females. The prevalence of obesity in regards to body image was 18.4%, normal was 58.4%, thin was 23.2% in males and respectively 24.5%, 58.6%, 16.9% in females. 2) The obese body image was 6.8% in normal and thin groups in males and 19.4% in females. The body image of obese children who do not perceive themselves as obese was 32.6% in males and 28.7% in females. 3) The standard body image was 88.8% as realized by themselves, 77.9% when they compared themselves to friends, 62.7% as told by parents, 56.8% as told by friends, and 29.9% when they compared themselves to celebrities. 4) The source of information for dieting treatment was 44% from radio and television, 30% from books, newspapers, magazines, 17% from family and 9% from friends and seniors. 5) The prevalence of dieting according to the standard weight for height was 18.0% in thin, 18.7% in normal and 36.7% in obese group in males and respectively 17.8%, 22.4%, 46.3% in females. There was a statistically significant correlation between males and females (p < 0.0005). 6) The prevalence of dieting up to 2 weeks in the thin and normal groups as recognized by weight centile was 17.3% according to body image. The prevalence of dieting up to 2 weeks in the obese groups was 37.2% according to body image (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We suggest that many students perceived their body size incorrectly and tried weight control. The incorrect perception of body size seems to cause the problem of failure to thrive, malnutrition etc. It is necessary for further study to find and prevent side effects by unnecessary weight control and to provide proper health education and management about obesity.
Anthropometry ; Body Image ; Body Size ; Child ; Diet ; Failure to Thrive ; Female ; Friends ; Gwangju ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Obesity ; Parents ; Periodicals ; Periodicals as Topic ; Prevalence ; Television

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been identified as an important cause of posttransfusion hepatitis, but vertical transmission of chronic infected HCV RNA positive mothers has been documented in some cases. The reports of the risk of perinatal infection have been widely varied in the literature. The authors experienced one case of vertical transmission of HCV in an infant of a mother who had hepatitis C during pregnancy. At admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+) and Ig M anti HCV (+) were found in the mother Also at admission, HCV RNA (+), Ig G anti HCV (+), Ig M anti HCV (+), elevation of liver aminotransferase level and hepatosplenomegaly on ultrasonography were found in the baby on day 31. HCV RNA (-), Ig M anti HVC (-) and normal of liver aminotransferase level were noted on day 250 in the serum of the infant. We used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to find a very small amount of HCV RNA in the serum. All the findings suggest vertical transmission of HCV RNA from mother to infant during 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Liver ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Ultrasonography