No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Streptococcal Infections*

No abstract available.
Sotos Syndrome*

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESC; SNUhES2) on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFC), which had been storaged after karyotyping. METHOD: The hAFC was prepared for feeder layer in the presence of Chang's medium and STO medium (90% DMEM, 10% FBS) at 37degrees C in a 5% CO2 in air atmosphere. Prior to use as a feeder layer, hAFC was mitotically inactivated by mitomycin C. The hESCs on hAFC were passaged mechanically every seven days with ES culture medium (80% DMEM/F12, 20% SR, bFGF). RESULTS: The hAFC feeder layer support the growth of undifferentiated state of SNUhES2 for at least 59 passages thus far. SNUhES2 colonies on hAFC feeder appeared slightly angular and flatter shape as compared with circular and thicker colonies observed with STO feeder layer and showed higher level with complete undifferentiation in seven days. Like hESC cultured on STO feeders, SNUhES2 grown on hAFC expressed normal karyotype, positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, high telomerase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 and formed embryoid bodies (EBs). CONCLUSION: The hAFC supports undifferentiated growth of hESC. Therefore, these results may help to provide a clinically practicable method for expansion of hESC for cell therapies.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Atmosphere ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Feeder Cells ; Female ; Humans* ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Mitomycin ; Telomerase

PURPOSE: Although Bednar's aphthae are common and regress spontaneously, these lesions may lead to feeding intolerance and are often misdiagnosed, rendering examinations useless. This study sheds new light on the clinical features of Bednar's aphthae. METHODS: Sixteen neonates and infants were newly diagnosed with Bednar's aphthae via routine health check-ups in an outpatient clinic. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and the following parameters were analyzed; sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, and perinatal problems. A physical examination was carried out during the next outpatient visit to examine the healing process and check for the existence of scars or complications. RESULTS: Initial presentation included changes in feeding habits (n=10), longer feeding time, reduced intake, and increased irritability. In 6 patients, Bednar's aphthae were discovered incidentally, without prior symptoms. Feeding posture and method of feeding are important causes of Bednar's aphthae. Eleven patients were fed in a horizontal position, whereas 5 patients were fed in a semiseated position. Fifteen patients were bottle-fed, whereas 1 patient was exclusively breastfed. After correcting the feeding position, the ulcerative lesions disappeared within 1 month of diagnosis. During the follow-up period, lesions did not recur in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Bednar's aphthae are caused by mechanical pressure. A diagnosis of Bednar's aphthae should be considered when lesions are found on the palate of infants and when symptoms seem to be feeding related. Proper education of parents can both treat Bednar's aphthae and easily prevent its recurrence.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Birth Weight ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Mouth Mucosa ; Outpatients ; Palate ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Posture ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomatitis, Aphthous* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o) can be increased within several mM by the efflux of intracellular K+. To investigate the effect of an increase in [K+]o on vascular contractility, we attempted to examine whether extracellular K+ might modulate vascular contractility, endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in endothelial cells (EC). MATERIAL AND METHOD: We observed isometric contractions in rabbit carotid, superior mesentery, basilar arteries and mouse aorta. [Ca2+]i was recorded by microfluorimeter using Fura-2/AM in EC. RESULT: No change in contractility was recorded by the increase in [K+]o from 6 to 12 mM in conduit artery such as rabbit carotid artery. whereas resistant vessels, such as basilar and branches of superior mesenteric arteries (SMA), were relaxed by the increase. In basilar artery, the relaxation by the increase in [K+]o from 1 to 3 mM was bigger than that by the increase from 6 to 12 mM. In contrast, in branches of SMA, the relaxation by the increase in [K+]o from 6 to 12 mM is bigger than that by the increase from 1 to 3 mM. Ba2 (30microM) did not inhibit the relaxation by the increase in [K+]o from 1 to 3 mM but did inhibit the relaxation by the increase from 6 to 12 mM. In the mouse aorta without the endothelium or treated with NG-nitro-L-arginine (30microM), nitric oxide synthesis blocker, the increase in [K+]o from 6 to 12 mM did not change the magnitude of contraction induced either norepinephrine or prostaglandin F2alpha. The increase in [K+]o up to 12 mM did not induce contraction of mouse aorta but the increase more than 12 mM induced contraction. In the mouse aorta, EDR was completely inhibited on increasing [K+]o from 6 to 12 mM. In cultured mouse aorta EC, [Ca2+]i was increased by acetylcholine or ATP application and the increased [Ca2+]i was reduced by the increase in [K+]o reversibly and concentration-dependently. In human umbilical vein EC, similar effect of extracellular K+ was observed. Ouabain, a Na+-K+ pump blocker, and Ni2 , a Na+-Ca2+ exchanger blocker, reversed the inhibitory effect of extracellular K+. CONCLUSION: In resistant arteries, the increase in [K+]o relaxes vascular smooth muscle and the underlying mechanisms differ according to the kinds of the arteries; Ba2 -insensitive mechanism in basilar artery and Ba2 -sensitive one in branches of SMA. It also inhibits [Ca2+]i increase in EC and thereby EDR. The initial mechanism of the inhibition may be due to the activation of Na+-K+ pump.
Acetylcholine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Calcium ; Carotid Arteries ; Dinoprost ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Humans ; Isometric Contraction ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesentery ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroarginine ; Norepinephrine ; Ouabain ; Potassium ; Relaxation* ; Umbilical Veins ; Vasodilation

We report a case of awakening during general anesthesia due to a vaporizer malfunction. The sevoflurane vaporizer had a hole through which approximately 20% of fresh gas escaped. The gas in the common gas outlet contained only 60% of the sevoflurane stated on the vaporizer setting. Moreover, the gas monitor module was out of order, and the heart rate and blood pressure were stable. As a result, we were unaware of the low sevoflurane concentration. The leakage through the hole could not be detected with the commonly used low-pressure system leak checking method. The implication of this case is that unexpected awakening can occur in patients with stable vital signs with an inhalation anesthesia. Therefore, more attention is needed to detect the level of patient awareness.
Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers* ; United Nations ; Vital Signs

The radiation exposure has multiple complication of various organs. Especially, the Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a bulletin warning of the risks of acute skin injury occurring during fluoroscopically guided procedures. Physicians need information about typical radiation doses during fluoroscopically guided various procedures and estimates of entrance skin dose must be monitored using thermoluminescent dosimetry, film badge dosimetry, pocket dosimetry and on-line computer system. Current National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements recommended are that yearly total body dose should not exceed 50 mSv (5 rem) and that life time dose measured in millisieverts should not exceed one's age in years multiplied by 10. Types of skin injury are erythema, alopecia, dry desquamation, invasive fibrosis, dermal atropy, telangiectasia, moist desquamation, skin necrosis and secondary ulcer. Also, long-term exposure caused skin cancer. We experienced personally pigmentation on the finger nail and the hand after repeated fluoroscopically guided procedures. Thus, we report this case for giving warning to the physiatrist by the complications due to frequent exposure during procedures.
Alopecia ; Computer Systems ; Erythema ; Fibrosis ; Film Dosimetry ; Fingers ; Fluoroscopy ; Hand ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pigmentation ; Radiation Protection ; Skin Neoplasms ; Skin* ; Telangiectasis ; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry ; Ulcer ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) caused by anti-M is rare and clinical manifestations are variable ranging from mild anemia and hyperbilirubinemia to hydrops fetalis and intrauterine fetal death. There were few reports of HDN caused by anti-M in Korea but no case in siblings. We experienced a case of 2 male siblings, both of whom had anti-M induced HDN and prolonged anemia persisted for over a month. We report this case with a brief review of literature. This report documents the first case of HDN caused by anti-M in siblings in Korea.
Anemia ; Erythroblastosis, Fetal ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Male* ; Siblings*

Fruits are generally recommended for a balanced meal, as they are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which may improve blood glucose control. However, fruits have simple sugars with a wide glycemic index (GI) range. The purpose of this study was to analyze the sugar content and composition and to determine the glycemic indices of the most frequently consumed fruits in Korea, including apple, tangerine, pear, water melon, persimmon, grape, oriental melon, and peach. The sugar content and composition of the fruits were analyzed by high performance anion-exchange chromatography (Dinonex model DX-600). The GI of the fruits was measured in 13 healthy subjects (seven females and six males) after permission was received from the University Hospital institutional review board (KHU-IRB 1114-06). The subjects consumed 50 g of glucose as a reference and carbohydrate portions of eight fruits. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after consuming the fruits. The GI values for the fruits were calculated by expressing the increase in the area under the blood glucose response curve for each subject. As a result, the total sugar contents of 100 g fruits were: grape (13.9 g), apple (12.3 g), persimmon (11.9 g), oriental melon (11.2 g), watermelon (9.3 g), tangerine (8.9 g), peach (8.6 g), and pear (8.3 g). The GI values of the fruits were as follows: GI value of peach (56.5 +/- 14.17), watermelon (53.5 +/- 18.07), oriental melon (51.2 +/- 18.14), tangerine (50.4 +/- 15.16), grape (48.1 +/- 14.05), persimmon (42.9 +/- 18.92), pear (35.7 +/- 14.38), and apple (33.5 +/- 11.92). These findings will help individuals choose fruit for controlling blood sugar.
Blood Glucose ; Carbohydrates ; Chromatography ; Citrullus ; Cucurbitaceae ; Diospyros ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Female ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Korea ; Meals ; Minerals ; Prunus persica ; Pyrus ; Vitamins ; Vitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of patella taping on pain and disability in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: Using a within-subjects study design, 54 patients were tested under three conditions in random order: untaped, wearing therapeutic knee tape and wearing control knee tape. Outcome measure was pain as measured by visual analogue scale and disability as measured by walking speed, timed up and go test, and step test. RESULTS: The therapeutic tape significantly reduced pain, when compared with the control and untaped conditions (p<0.05). Also significant improvement in disability was observed on timed up and go test and step test in therapeutic tape compared with the control and untaped conditions (p<0.05). But there was no significant difference on walking speed among three conditions (p>0.05). A significant association between change of pain in stairs and lateral patellofemoral joint space was evident (r=0.503, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic knee tape is a simple, inexpensive strategy that increases the treatment options for therapists and patients in the conservative management of knee OA.
Exercise Test ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Patella* ; Patellofemoral Joint ; Walking