No abstract available.
Malaria*

No abstract available.
Thrombocythemia, Essential*

Objectives: This study analyzed the decline in quality of life according to age in the chronic disease patient group, quantified it as a quantitative index, and compared it by sex and chronic disease. Methods: In the 2017-2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, 11,473 adults aged 19 years or older, excluding cancer patients, were analyzed for age-specific changes in the EQ-5D Index by chronic disease. The decline in quality of life according to age in patients with chronic diseases was analyzed by linear regression analysis while controlling for general characteristics. Then, linear regression analysis was performed according to sex. Results: In the case of the control group, the quality of life decreased by 0.0004 for every 1-year increase in age(P<0.001). By chronic disease, asthma(β=0.0019, P<0.001), arthritis(β=0.0017, P=0.002), thyroid disease(β=0.0016, P=0.015), dyslipidemia(β=0.0011, P=0.020), and hypertension(β=0.0009, P=0.027) mostly showed a greater decrease in quality of life than the control group. In addition, when divided into two groups by sex, hypertension(β=0.0012, P=0.029), thyroid disease(β=0.0041, P=0.038), and arthritis(β=0.0022, P<0.001) showed a significant decrease in quality of life only in male. Diabetes(β=0.0056, P=0.038), dyslipidemia(β=0.0022, P=0.001) significantly decreased quality of life only in female. Conclusions Chronic disease had a negative impact on patients perception of quality of life, and the more severe the pain and activity limitation due to the chronic disease, the more severe it was. It also showed different patterns according to sex. Therefore, it is necessary to allocate more medical resources and provide policy support to prevent chronic diseases, which are serious social problems.

PURPOSE: To develop optimal microbubble contrast agents (MBCAs) for performing ultrasound microscopy when examining small animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prepared three types of MBCAs. First, a mixture of three parts of 40% dextran and one part of 5% human serum albumin were sonicated with perfluorocarbon (PFC) (MB1-D40A5P). Second, three parts of 40% dextran and one part of 1% human serum albumin were sonicated with PFC (MB2-D40A1P). Third, all parts of 1% bovine serum albumin were sonicated with PFC (MB3-A1P). We measured the microbubbles' sizes and concentrations with using image analysis software. The acoustic properties of the microbubbles were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The majority of the MB1-D40A5Ps had a diameter of 2-5 um, the mean diameter of the MB2-D40A1Ps was 2.5 um, and the mean diameter of the MB3-A1Ps was less than 2.0 um. Among the microbubbles, the MB1-D40A5Ps and MB2-D40A1Ps showed increased echogenicity in the abdominal vessels, but the duration of their contrast effect was less than 30 sec. On the contrary, the MB3-A1Ps exhibited strong enhancement in the vessels and their duration was greater than 120 sec. CONCLUSION: A microbubble contrast agent consisting of all parts of 1% serum albumin sonicated with PFC is an effective contrast agent for ultrasound microscopy.
Acoustics ; Animals ; Contrast Media* ; Dextrans ; Humans ; Microbubbles* ; Microscopy* ; Microspheres ; Serum Albumin ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; Ultrasonography*

Several blood dyscrasias associated with clozapine have been well known to clinicians and potentially life threatening agranulocytosis has been widely reported. However, there is little report regarding incidence, progression and associated features of eosinophilia associated with clozapine. In clinical studies, the onset of eosinophilia usually occurs artier 3 to 5 weeks of treatment and rarely were cases fatal with medical complication. We report the first case of severe eosinophilia, bilateral pleural effusion, asicites, hepatitis and cholecystitis associated with clozapine that would be fatal. Eosinophilia occurred after 19 days of treatment with clozapine and all the clinical conditions improved along with interruption of clozapine treatment. It is suggested that eosinophilia may be more severe side effort than has ether been known and close hematologic monitoring should be done during early treatment of clozapine.
Agranulocytosis ; Ascites* ; Cholecystitis ; Clozapine ; Eosinophilia* ; Ether ; Hepatitis* ; Incidence ; Pleural Effusion*

Patients who have repaired cleft lip and palate generally undergo restriction of maxillary growth. Concave facial profile is often exhibited with relatively normalized mandible. Horizontal and sagittal deficiency of the maxilla could cause anterior and posterior crossbites. In growing patients, orthodontic and orthopedic treatment is acceptable with maxillary expansion and protraction. However, surgical approach has to be accompanied with orthodontic treatment in skeletally matured patients. We used SARPE and BSSRO to expand the constricted maxilla and retract the mandible in a patient who had cleft palate repaired in infancy. Through SARPE, orthodontic treatment and BSSRO, we sufficiently expanded the maxillla and improved facial profile.
Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthopedics ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Palate

Patients who have repaired cleft lip and palate generally undergo restriction of maxillary growth. Concave facial profile is often exhibited with relatively normalized mandible. Horizontal and sagittal deficiency of the maxilla could cause anterior and posterior crossbites. In growing patients, orthodontic and orthopedic treatment is acceptable with maxillary expansion and protraction. However, surgical approach has to be accompanied with orthodontic treatment in skeletally matured patients. We used SARPE and BSSRO to expand the constricted maxilla and retract the mandible in a patient who had cleft palate repaired in infancy. Through SARPE, orthodontic treatment and BSSRO, we sufficiently expanded the maxillla and improved facial profile.
Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthopedics ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Palate

A 25-year-old Korean woman was referred for uncontrolled hypertension. Laboratory examination revealed increased plasma renin activity and microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography demonstrated compression of the left renal vein (LRV) between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery; however, both renal arteries were intact and there was no adrenal mass. Renal vein catheterization showed external compression with a pressure gradient of up to 8 mm Hg between the LRV and the inferior vena cava. Plasma renin activity in the LRV was almost five times higher than that in the right renal vein. In this patient, renin-dependent hypertension was caused by renal congestion due to LRV obstruction.
Adult ; Aorta ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Plasma ; Renal Artery ; Renal Nutcracker Syndrome ; Renal Veins ; Renin ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Infantile spasm is an age-related refractory epilepsy. Topiramate is a new anticonvulsant with multiple mechanisms of action, and it may be effective for treating pediatric epilepsies. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of first-line topiramate treatment for infantile spasm, 20 patients received topiramate monotherapy during this study. They were treated with an initial dose of 1mg/kg/day, with a progressive titration of 1 mg/kg a week until their spasms were controlled and a maximum dose of 12mg/kg/day was achieved. The evaluation of the treatment efficacy was based on the spasm frequency data that was obtained by the scalp and video-EEG, and by the parental count of spasm. Thirty percent of the subjects became spasm-free during the study. Six of 20 subjects (30%) had cessation of spasm and disappearance of hypsarrhythmia as seen via the video EEG; four (50%) of eight idiopathic patients had a response, whereas two (17%) of 12 patients with symptomatic infantile spasm responded. Seventy of the patients, including the spasm-free patients, had a reduction in their seizure frequency of more than 50%, and 10% of the patients had a reduction in their seizure frequency of less than 50%. The clusters of spasm frequency decreased from 10.6 +/- 8.5 to 3.5 +/- 1.4 clusters/day. Topiramate is effective and tolerated in those patients suffering from infantile spasm. Our results suggest that this drug should be considered as a new first-line drug for treating infantile spasm.
Treatment Outcome ; Spasms, Infantile/*drug therapy ; Male ; Infant ; Humans ; Fructose/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Female ; Electroencephalography ; Child, Preschool ; Anticonvulsants/*therapeutic use ; Age of Onset

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata(RCDP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder clinically characterized by symmetrical shortening of the proximal limbs, contractures of joints, a typical dysmorphic face, cataracts, and itchyosis. Patients with RCDP can be subdivided into three subgroups based on biochemical analysis and complementation studies. RCDP type I results from mutations in the PEX7 gene encoding the peroxisomal targeting signal type II(PST2) receptors and presents with both a defect in plasmalogen biosynthesis and phytanic acid oxidation. RCDP type II is deficient in the activity of dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase(DHAP-AT). RCDP type III is deficient in alkyl-dihydroxyacetonephosphate synthase(alkyl-DHAP). We report a case of RCDP type I which was confirmed with biochemical study, fibroblast culture, and gene study.
Cataract ; Chondrodysplasia Punctata, Rhizomelic* ; Complement System Proteins ; Contracture ; Extremities ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Joints ; Phytanic Acid