PURPOSE: We conducted the immunoassay of pertussis according to ages, in order to evaluate protective immunity against pertussis in Korean populations. METHODS: Healthy subjects were enrolled at four university hospitals in Korea. The subjects were grouped as seven age groups (every 10 years). Antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT) in sera were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of antibodies and the ratios of the subjects with seroprotective antibody levels were determined. The subjects with antibody titers > or =24.0 EU/mL were considered to seroprotective as the manufacturer's protocol. RESULTS: Total 1,605 subjects (age: 2 months-65 years) participated in this study, and their GMC was 56.16+/-50.54 EU/mL. Among seven age groups, age group <11 year showed the highest GMC (64.78+/-53.24 EU/mL) (P<0.001). In the analysis of the ratios of the subjects with seroprotective antibody titers, 68.2% of the subjects were proven to seroprotective, and age group <11 year also showed the highest ratio (76.5%) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that adolescences or adults (age group > or =11 year) showed lower levels of antibody against pertussis and lower ratio of the subjects with seroprotective antibody titers than children (age group <11 year).
Adult ; Antibodies ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoassay ; Korea ; Pertussis Toxin ; Whooping Cough

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy subjects were enrolled at four university hospitals in Korea. Subjects were assigned to seven age groups (every 10 years). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used for measurement of diphtheria or tetanus anti-toxoid antibodies in sera, and geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of antibodies were determined. Subjects with antibody titers <0.1 IU/mL would require a booster vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 1,605 subjects participated in this study. In analysis of antibody against diphtheria, subjects in the age group <11 yr showed the highest GMC (1.31 IU/mL) while the lowest GMC was observed in subjects in the 31-40 yr age group (0.17 IU/mL). With regard to tetanus, subjects in the age group <11 yr also showed the highest GMC (1.81 IU/mL). Among subjects > or =11 yr (600 subjects), 363 (60.5%) would require a diphtheria booster, and 422 (70.4%) would require a tetanus booster. CONCLUSIONS: GMC of antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus of adolescents and adults were relatively low, while those of children in Korea were satisfactory. Approximately two-thirds of Korean adolescent and adult subjects in this study would require a booster vaccination in order to maintain long-term protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies ; Child ; Diphtheria ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoassay ; Korea ; Tetanus ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Mivacurium is a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent which has short duration of action. The goal of this study was to describe a technique which could shorten the onset time of mivacurium for rapid endotracheal intubation by using priming principle. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were randomly allocated into four groups. Patients in group I(n=8) received a single dose of 0.12 mg/kg mivacurium. Those in group II(n=10), III(n=6), and IV(n=7) received 0.015 mg/kg pancuronium, 0.012 mg/kg vecuronium, and 0.008 mg/kg mivacurium 4 minutes before the intubating dose of 0.12 mg/kg mivacurium was given respectively. Accelerographic response to train-of-four(TOF) stimulation of ulnar nerve at 15 seconds interval was used for neuromuscular monitoring. The onset time, the duration and recovery indices were compared between groups. RESULTS: The onset time in group II (2.9 0.49 min) and III (2.33 0.4 min) were significantly faster than that in group I (5.19 0.47 min). In the group II, the duration (26.3 1.9 min) and recovery index (12.35 2.45 min) were significantly prolonged than those in group I (9.12 1.21 and 4.75 0.52 min), respectively. CONCLUSION: The onset time is more rapid when pancuronium or vecuronium is used as priming agent than when mivacurium as single bolus injection or priming agent.
Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Neuromuscular Monitoring ; Pancuronium* ; Pharmacology ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide*

The habituation of early (R1) and late response (R2) of blink reflex was investigated in 44 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 19 control subjects. The latency, duration and area of R1 and R2 components of blink reflex in single stimulation, and the percentage recovery of R1 in paired stimulation were not different between patients and control subjects. However, in PD patients, the latency of R2 evoked by test stimuli was shorter than that of conditioning stimuli, and the percentage recovery of R2 habituation was increased as compared to that of control subjects. The degree of early recovery of R2 habituation was slightly more evident in advanced PD patients and nonmedicated patients than that of control subjects. In addition, the early recovery of R2 was present in the test of asymptomatic side of PD patients. Our results suggests that blink reflex may be used as a method of evaluating the clinical status of PD patients.
Blinking* ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease*

Transient symptomatic zinc deficiency (TSZD) is clinically similar to acrodermatitis enteropathica. The patients are experienced dermatitis on periorifice and extremities, alopecia, diarrhea, growth retardation, anemia, delayed wound healing and infection. They showed a characteristically rapid response to zinc supplement without recurrence. We report 3 cases of TSZD infants, 2 premature infants with inadequate zinc supply and 1 mature infant with chronic diarrhea.
Acrodermatitis ; Alopecia ; Anemia ; Dermatitis ; Diarrhea ; Extremities ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Recurrence ; Wound Healing ; Zinc*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proteinuria is associated with hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancy. However, the impact of random urine proteinuria on fetal and maternal outcomes has not been established. We investigated the influence of random urine proteinuria on the clinical outcomes of pregnancy. METHODS: From January 2008 to December 2010, 2,822 patients were retrospectively studied. A total of 536 pregnant women with proteinuria in random urine and matched controls without proteinuria via propensity score matching were analyzed. Proteinuria was checked by the dipstick method. RESULTS: The patients’ mean age was 33.0 ± 4.7 years, and the mean gestational age was 235.6 ± 50.6 days on admission. The prevalence of hypertension and chronic kidney disease was 2.4% (n = 67) and 1.0% (n = 29), respectively. Women with random urine proteinuria showed higher blood urea nitrogen levels and a higher incidence of hematuria. These women also had a higher incidence of preeclampsia, preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth restriction. Proteinuria was strongly correlated with preeclampsia in both propensity score matching (p < 0.001, r = 0.783) and unmatched whole samples (p < 0.001, r = 0.851). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that random urine proteinuria is associated with preeclampsia, preterm labor, premature rupture of membrane, and intrauterine growth restriction.
Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Case-Control Studies* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Methods ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Propensity Score ; Proteinuria* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies* ; Rupture

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA) parameters, and those of the GDx VCC scanning laser polarimeter (GDx VCC), Stratus OCT optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT), and Heidelberg retinal tomograph II confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (HRT II). METHODS: Twenty-nine primary open-angle glaucoma patients were retrospectively included in this study. Measurements were obtained using the RTA, GDx VCC, Stratus OCT, and HRT II. We calculated the correlation coefficients between the parameters of RTA and those of the other studies. RESULTS: Among the optic disc parameters of RTA, the cup volume was best correlated with Stratus OCT (R=0.780, p<0.001) and HRT II (R=0.896, p<0.001). Among the posterior pole retinal thickness parameters, the posterior pole abnormally thin area (PPAT) of the RTA and the inferior average of the GDx VCC were best correlated (R=-0.596, p=0.001). The PPAT of the RTA and the inferior maximum of the Stratus OCT were best correlated (R=-0.489, p=0.006). The perifoveal minimum thickness (PFMT) of the RTA and the cup shape measurement of the HRT II were best correlated (R=-0.565, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Many RTA optic disc parameters were significantly correlated with those of the Stratus OCT and HRT II. The RTA posterior pole retinal thickness parameters were significantly correlated with those of the GDx VCC, Stratus OCT and HRT II. The RTA optic disc and posterior pole retinal thickness parameters may be valuable in the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; *Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Lasers/diagnostic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Retina/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: Vitamin K deficiency is associated with hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Late hemorrhagic disease is often intracranial and may be fatal. Many countries recommend vitamin K prophylaxis after birth to prevent this hazard of vitamin K deficiency. Nevertheless, there are still controversies concerning the best way of providing effective prophylaxis. A recent article by Golding and colleagues has questioned the safety of the routine use of intramuscular vitamin K for the newborn. These authors reported a significantly increased rate of childhood cancer in infants who received intramuscular prophylaxis. So we compared the prophylactic effect of intramuscular, oral, and maternal administration of vitamin K on hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. METHODS: A total of 60 newborns, delivered spontaneously vaginally, in the Masan Fatima hospital from March to June, 1996, were enrolled. Neonated with intrapartum anoxia, liver disease or hereditary coagulation factor deficiencies, who received antibiotics were excluded. Mothers receiving any medication known to interferes with vitamin K metabolism(such as antiepileptics, antibiotics and anticonvulsions) were excluded. The newborns were randomly allocated to one of the four groups. A group was not supplied. B group received 1mg of vitamin K1 intramusculary, C group received 2mg of vitamin K1 orally. D group was given 20mg of vitamin K1 orally to their mothers at least 2days(range 2 to 7) before birth. Blood samples were collected from 48hrs to 72hrs after birth. PIVKA-II level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EITEST-MONOP, Eisai Ltd), using a monospecific monoclonal antibody against PIVKA-II. The results obtained are expressed in arbitrary unit (AU) : 1AU corresponds to 1micro gram of purified prothrombin. (healthy adults have less than 0.13AU/ml). PT, PTT were measured simultaneously. RESULTS: 1) PIVKA-II was detected in 4 of 15 infants in group A, who were not supplied. None was detected in other groups. So PIVKA-II detection rate was significantly decreased in other groups compared with group A(p<0.05). 2) PT(sec) values were 12.74+/-0.91, 12.58+/-0.89, 12.36+/-1.04, 12.16+/-0.90 respectively, and there was no significant difference between groups. 3) PTT(sec) values were 52.41+/-13.26, 38.39+/-10.04, 42.67+/-7.01, 39.77+/-10.48 respectively and there was significant shortening in other groups compared with group A (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Not only intramuscular administration but oral and maternal administration of vitamin K have prophylactic effect on hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Prophylactic effect on the late hemorragic disease of the newborn requires further extensive study and evaluation.
Adult ; Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anticonvulsants ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Liver Diseases ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Prothrombin ; Vitamin K 1 ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*

No abstract available.
Hydronephrosis*