OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that the sleep apnea syndrome in the asthmatic patients is prevalent, however, the systematic study in this field using polysomnography has rarely been performed. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the pulmonary function in asthmatic children. METHODS: This study enrolled 19 male and 12 female asthmatic children aged 6-13 years (average 8.2+/-1.7 years old). Complete overnight polysomnography and pulmonary function test were performed for the participants. RESULTS: Of the 31 asthmatic children, 21 (67.7%) met the diagnostic criteria of the pediatric sleep apnea and the average AHI was 1.7+/-1.5/h. The children with higher AHI showed poorer pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC ratio : p=0.002, FEV1%pred : p=0.047). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the prevalence of the pediatric sleep apnea could be very high among the asthmatic children and the severity of the sleep apnea correlates with the pulmonary function. However, the case-control study to compare the AHI between the asthma and control groups is absolutely necessary because few normative data are available for the children.
Aged ; Asthma ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes

Hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a circadian pacemaker which controls diurnal behavioral and hormonal rhythms in mammals. The SCN receives environmental light signals through the retinohypothalamic tract, and glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the retinohypothalamic tract. In the present study, we investigated the developmental expression of the mRNAs for N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NR)1, NR2A, NR2B and NR2C subunits in the rat SCN using in situ hybridization with specific riboprobes. At postnatal day 2 (P2), P8, Pl5 and P45, the high level of NRI transcripts was observed in both ventrolateral and dorsomedial subdivisions of the SCN, and the distinct expression of NR2C mRNA was principally found in the dorsomedial SCN. The weak NR2B mRNA expression was clearly found in both subdivisions of the SCN at P2 and P8, whereas specific NR2B hybridization signals were not found at Pl5 and P45. There was no specific hybridization signal of NR2A in the SCN throughout the postnatal life. These findings implicate that NR may play an important role in the neonatal SCN. In addition, this study suggests that NR1, NR2B and NR2C might be the major NR subunits in the developing SCN, whereas NRI and NR2C could be the subunit components of NR in the adult SCN.
Adult ; Animals ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mammals ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats* ; Receptors, Glutamate ; RNA, Messenger* ; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

: In order to observe the antigenic fractions in saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani, proteins in the crude extract were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in reducing conditions. The separated protein fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose paper on which 20 sera from human paragonimiasis were reacted and immunoblotted. Out of 15 stained protein bands in SDS-PAGE, 7 reacted with the sera. Of 14 reacted bands, 30 kilodalton(kDa) band was the most frequently reacted (95%) and was a strong antigen. Protein bands of 23 and 46 kDa were also strong antigens. Bands of over 150 kDa, 120 kDa, 92 kDa, 86 kDa, 74 kDa, 62 kDa, 51 kDa, 32 kDa, 28 kDa, 16.5 kDa and 15.5 kDa were also reactive but their frequencies of the reaction were variable.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Paragonimus westermani ; immunology ; antigen ; electrophoresis

The results of ABO blood typing in 64-year-old patient with chronic renal and heart failure were positive with anti-B, delayed and weak positive with anti-A in the slide method for the cell typing, mixed-field agglutiniation by light microscopy in the tube method for the cell typing, and also was negative in anti-A, lectin and positive in anti-H, therefore blood typing of this patient was confirmed to A3B.
Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Middle Aged

It is reported that the recurrence rate in intermittent exotropia is 20-50%. In this study, we evaluated whether the recurrence is reduced with asymmetric recession of bilateral lateral recti(LROU) in intermittent exotropia.Twenty-nine patients underwent the asymmetric LROU recession for intermittent exotropia with follow-up of 6-54 months. The amount of recession of lateral rectus muscle in deviating eye was 2mm more than in the fixating eye. Immediate postoperative overcorrection, the rate of orthophotia, and the occurrence of consecutive esotropia(ET) were analysed.The mean amount of immediate postoperative esodeviation was 16.5+/-7.4PD(0-34PD); four patients showed 0-4PD, 18 patients 11-20PD, and 7 patients showed considerable amount of ET as high as 21-30PD. Consecutive EToccurred in 6.8% of patients despite large amounts of postoeprative ET. The outcome of orthophoria was favorable, in 93.1% of patients in follow up of 6 months, 85.1% in 12 months and 78.5% in 24 months.This study suggests that asymmetric LROU recession is an effective procedure for the correction of intermittent exotropia.
Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
T-Lymphocytes* ; Transplantation*

We compared radiologically two groups of total hip prostheses, 36 porous-coated and 51 hydroxyapatite-coated, which had been implanted in 87 hips of 73 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Radiographs were taken at postoperative 1 year and 2 year, and used to compare various radiological parameters between the two groups. For the acetabular side radioluscent line and osteolysis were evaluated, and for the femoral side radioluscent line, osteolysis, stress shielding. endosteal new bone formation, subsidence and cortical hypertrophy were evaluated; their location was identified according to the zones described by DeLee and Charnley for the acetabulum and according to those described by Gruen et al for the femur. In both groups there was no subsidence. In terms of osteolysis, stress shielding and cortical hyper-trophy there was no significant difference between the two groups throughout the period. Radioluscent line in the acetabulum was more common around the porous-coated cup, but was focal and not progressive. The rate of radioluscent line in the femur was a little higher around hydroxyapatite-coated stem especially in zone 5. Endosteal new bone formation was excellent in both groups, but was more extensive around hydroxyapatite-coated stem. This study suggests that hydroxyapatite coating play a certain role in terms of bony ingrowth.
Acetabulum ; Durapatite* ; Femur ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Necrosis ; Osteogenesis ; Osteolysis

OBJECTIVE: Hyperprolactinemia is common side effect associated with antipsychotics use. Nevertheless, hyperprolactinemia is relatively neglected by clinician. Especially, there is no study related to amisulpride-induced hyperprolactinemia in korea. This study aimed to determine whether amisulpride can be induced hyperprolactinemia in Korean psychiatric patients. METHODS: This study methodology consisted of a retrospective review of medical charts and prolactin levels. Serum prolactin levels were measured in 24 Korean patients(12 males and 12 females) with psychosis who were treated over 400mg of amisulpride per day. RESULTS: All patients had hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin levels significantly increased after receiving amisulpride(z=-3.702, p=0.000). The prolactin level was significantly higher in females(156.29+/-63.75ng/mL) than in males(69.04+/-39.91ng/mL) after administering amisulpride(p=0.000). There was a correlation between dosage and prolactin levels(r=0.61, p=0.002). However, there was no correlation between duration of treatment and prolactin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotics, especially amisulpride can increase serum prolactin levels and may results in short and long term side effects. Routine clinical assessment of initial and additional prolactin level and associated symptoms should be done.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Korea ; Male ; Prolactin ; Psychotic Disorders ; Retrospective Studies ; Sulpiride

No abstract available.

Retrorectal cystic harmatoma; Tailgut cyst, is a rare congenital disease typically presented as presacral mass, and malignant change of this disease is extremely rare. Frequently, This disease is misdiagnosed or confused at initial time. So, we have a case of tailgut cyst and report the clinical symptom and the result. A 40-year-old woman has admitted at Severance hospital for the anal pain. About 6cm sized irregular cystic and solid mass in the retrorectal area involving coccygeal bone and right gluteal muscle tendon were detected in magnetic resonance image. Under the impression of malignant tailgut cyst, the patient underwent Hartmann's operation (abdomino-sacral approach) under the sacral resection (S4, 5). The pathology was adenocarcinoma (poorly differentiated) arising from a tailgut cyst involving rectal adventitia, gluteus muscle and sacral bone. For the following 4 months after the operation, The patient is doing well with no evidence of recurrence.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Adventitia ; Female ; Humans ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Tendons