In 1,146 term neonates without perinatal problems who were born in Kwangju Christian Hospital, blood TSH levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay. In 397 term neonates among them, blood T4 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in same specimens. 1) In normal neonates aged 3~5 days, 6~10 days, 11~20 days and 21~28 days, the TSH levels were 8.88+/-5.21(mean+/-SD), 9.44+/-5.16, 9.69+/-4.98, 11.96+/-3.75 IU/ml and the T4 levels were 11.41+/-2.79, 11.37+/-2.82, 11.19+/-2.63, 10.51+/-2.99 g/dl respectively. 2) No significant sex difference in TSH level was found in each age group, and TSH level did not correlate with birth weight. In neonates delivered by Cesarean section, TSH levels were lower than those of the normally delivered. 3) T4 levels did not differ between both sexes, and between types of delivery in each age group, and nor did it correlate with birth wweight 4) If the recall rate should be set at 0.2% of the total, TSH levels above 26.9 IU/ml would be required to recall for serum sampling. TSH level above 2 SD was 19.7 IU/ml. Cutoff points of T4 levels at 1.5 SD and 2 SD were 5.8 and 7.2 g/dl respetively, and the lowest 10th percentile was 7.4 g/dl.
Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mass Screening* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sex Characteristics

We observed 233 twins and 2 triplets cases among 16,774 newborns delivered at Kwangju Christian Hospital during 5 years from Jan, 1986 to Dec. 1990. The results obtained are as follows: 1) The overall incidence of win pregnancy was 1:72(1.4%)and that of triplets 1:z8387(0.01%). 2) The average male-female sex ratio of twins was 1.06:1 with male predominating and 86% were same sex pairs(male-male 43.8%, female-female 41.3%), only 14.0% being different. 3) The incidence of twin delivery tended to be more prevalent in primigravidas. 4) More than half of all cases(248/466)had birth weight less than 2,500 g, with 33% falling into the range of 2,001~2,500 g. No statistically significant differences of birth weight were noted between both sexes or among birth sequences. 5) At 5 minute after birth, Apgar score below 7 were found in 9.5% of the firtst born and in 11.6% of second born twins, with no significant difference noted. 6) The perinatal mortality rate of twins were 94.4/1,000 and the perinatal mortality rates of first and second twins were 77.2 and 111.6, resp., but not significantly different. The larger the difference of birth weight between co-twins, the shorter thee gestational age and the less the birth weight between co-twins, the shorter the gestation age and the less the birth weight of twins, the larger became the perinatal mortality. But, it was not related to the parities or maternal ages. 7) The overall principal causes of perinatal death were still birth (45.5%), respiratory distress syndrome(36.4%) and immaturity(11.4%) in descending order.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Sex Ratio ; Triplets ; Twins*

Ultrasonic evaluation of the pylorus was performed in a group of 22 infants clinically suspected of having Congenital Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis (CHPS), from march 1990 to July 1991. In every case the diagnosis of CHPS was confirmed by surgery. Ten normal babies served as the control group. 1) In CHPS group, the mean age on admission was 36.7 +/- 16.4 days, and male to female ratio was 19.3. In control group, the mean age was 33.7 +/- 18.7 days, with the sex ratio of 8 : 2, male predominating. 2) In CHPS group, the mean age of symptom onset was 18.6 +/- 12.7 days, the majority occurring between 2 to 3 weeks (13 cases : 59%). 3) The ultrasonographic measurements showed that the pyloric muscle thickness of CHPS group was 4.94 +/- 1.35 mm (mean+/-S.D), nearly four times greater than that of the control group with 1.30 +/- 0.17mm, whereas the pyloric canal length of CHPS group (18.03 +/- 1.84mm) was increased significantly, but only by 50%, compared with the control group (11.54 +/- 1.70). 4) In CHPS group, operative measurements of pyloric muscle thickness was 5.20+/-1.23mm, not significantly differing from the sonographic measurement, while pyloric canal length measured 22.13 +/- 3.45mm, significantly larger than ultrasonographic measurement. This indicates that the pyloric muscle thickness measured on preoperative ultrasonogram may provide more significant diagnostic value than the pyloric canal length. 5) If the diagnostic criteria for CHPS were taken as pyloric muscle thickness above 4mm and pyloric canal length above 16mm, 21 out of 22 cases (99.4%) were diagnosed correctly.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Pylorus ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

An objective evaluation of the degree of respiratory impairment in children depends on the establishment of standards of normal function. In addition to sex and growth, various factors such as race and geography have been shown to be important determinants of lung function. The purposes of this paper are to report the result of lung function tests performed on a group of healthy children, to define the range of normal values, to provide a prediction formula of each parameter, and to compare the data with those of other investigators. Pulmonary function tests were performed on 198 healthy normal children in Kwangju between the ages of 5 and 15 years. The following variables were measured: vital capacity, forced vital capacity, one-second forced expiratory volume, peak expiratory flow, and maximal expiratory flow at 25%, 50% of expiratory vital capacity. Simple and complex prediction formulas for variables of PFT are presented according to sex, age, height, weight, and body surface area. 1) With increasing age, height and weight development increased in both sexes and their mean values in each age groups were more higer than those of Korean standard for children. 2) The correlation coefficients were 0.8 or more more in VC, FVC, FEV1 & more higher than that of PEFR, V25, V50. 3) Of the parameters examined, height had the heighest correlation coefficient in all pulmonary function test items. 4) The correlation coefficients by age, weight, body surface area were similar, but according to sex each parameters of PFT varied slightly. 5) Among complex prediction formulas, the correlation coefficients by 3 variables (age, height, and weight) and 2 variables (height and weight) were more higher than others. But disregarding age and weight, the correlation coefficients of height resembled that of simple regression equation. 6) Predicted values of pulmonary function test and correlation coefficients to the parameters were generally higher in boys than those of girls.
Body Surface Area ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Continental Population Groups ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Geography ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Lung ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Research Personnel ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports suggesting involvement of mast cell and neutrophil to induce bronchoconstriction in aspirin-sensitive asthrna. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mast cell and neutrophil activation in pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We observed changes of serum NCA and MPO levels during L-ASA bronchoprovocation test in 14 subjects with aspirin-sensitive asthma. RESULTS: Serum NCA was significantly increased at 30 min(p=0.01) after the inhalation of L-ASA and then, no significant changes were noted at 240 min (p=0.14). NCA was significantly higher in subjects with late asthmatic responses than in those without it (p=0.04). Serum MPO level tended to increase at 30 min with no statistical significance (p=0.08), and then it significantly decreased at 240 min (p=0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum NCA and MPO level (r=0.22, p=0.58). CONCLUSION: These results support the view that NCA derived from mast cell may contribute to neutrophil recruitment into the airway in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients.
Asthma ; Bronchoconstriction ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition education on nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and food behavior of college students. The subjects of this study were 350 college students attending a university. The education group students received nutrition education three hours per week during a 4-week period offered in a 'Home Economics' course. A total of 150 students in the education group and 200 students in the non-education group completed pre-test questionaires examining nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and food behaviors. Major findings were as follows : nutrition knowledge, and food behavior of the education group were improved compared to the non-education group. But significant changes were not observed in dietary attitudes in the education group. There were higher correlations between nutrition knowledge and dietary attitudes score, and between dietary attitudes and food behavior score at the posttest than those at the pretest. These results suggest that nutrition education for college students can effectively improve their nutrition knowledge and food behaviors.
Education* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of splenectomy in children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) who do not respond to corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG). METHODS: Fifteen patients(7 boys and 8 girls) who were admitted to St. Mary's Hospital under the diagnosis of ITP from December 1990 to February 1997 were enrolled In this study. All had chronic forms(more than 6 months after diagnosis) and were refractory to corticosteroids(prednisolone 1~2mg/kg) and IVIG(400mg/kg for 5 days or 1 g/kg for 2 days). We you-finely employ pneumococcal vaccine in 13 patients before splenectomy slnce 1992. Antiplatelet antibody was examed in 10 patients. We measured platelet count at preoperative time, postoperative 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months or more. Hematologic results were analyzed according to Berchtold and McMillan's criteria (1) complete response(CR) >120 x 10(9)/l; (2) partial response(PR) >50 x 10(9)/l (3) no response(NR) < 50 x 10(9)/l. RESULTS: The median age at operation was 10 yr(6~16). The median time interval between diagnosis and splenectomy was 2 yr 2 mo(6 mo~5 yr 5 mo). Antiplatelet antibody was positive in 2 cases of 10 cases(20%). Of 15 cases, 12 cases were corticosteroid resistant and 3 cases were corticosteroid dependent. The postsplenectomy platelet count(median 407 x 10(9)/l of 1 day; 254 x 10(9)/l of 1 month; 227 x 10(9)/l of 3 months or more) was significantly higher than presplenectomy platelet count(median 9 x 10(9)/l)(P<0.05). All patients showed complete or parial response throughout the follow up period. Accessory spleen was found in 1 case and removed during operation. There were no serious complications following splenectomy except mild fever in 2 cases(14%). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy appears to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with chronic ITP who have had inadequate response to conventional therapies.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Blood Platelets ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic* ; Spleen ; Splenectomy*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the total cholesterol levels and related factors in a rural adult population. METHODS: 3,207 adults( 1,272 men and 1,935 women) were examined in 1997. Their heights, weights, and fasting serum total cholesterol levels were measured, and their body mass indices were calculated. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. RESULTS: The mean value of total cholesterol were 190.5 mg/dl, and 198.8 mg/dl, and the age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia (above 240 mg/dl) were 13.7% and 10.2%, in men and women, respectively. From simple analyses, age, educational level, coffee intake, amount of meat and food intake, waist circumference, waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR), and body mass index(BMI) were significant risk factors in men (p<0.05) relating to serum total cholesterol levels. In women, age, educational level, hypertension history, diabetes history, herbal drug history, amount of food intake, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, WHR, BMI, and menopausal status were significant risk factors (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, waist circumference (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), and coffee intake (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors in men. Whereas, menopausal status (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), herbal drug history (p<0.01), amount of food intake (p<0.05), waist circumference (p<0.05), and alcohol consumption (p<0.05) were significant risk factors in women. Conclusions : The significant risk factors, for both men and women, relating to the serum total cholesterol were waist circumference and BMI. Thus, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that health education for the control of obesity should be implemented.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol* ; Coffee ; Eating ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Meat ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between psychiatric disease and systemic disease in geriatric psychiatric inpatients who were consulted to department of internal medicine and were above 6th decade, and was directed to assess the physical problems and possible ways to resolve them in a closed psychiatric unit. METHOD: Through evaluation of medical records of 225 inpatients who had consulted in department of internal medicine in Seoul National Mental Hospital from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999. We classified the physical illness according to ICD-9-CM and psychiatric disease according to NTA. RESULTS: The result were as follows: 1) In age sex distribution, male was 62.7%, and 81.8% of the subjects was 6th decade. 2) The most common systemic diagnosis were disease of circulatory system, disease of digestive system, and disease of respiratory system. 3) The most systemic disease was disease of circulatory system in 6th and 8th decade. 4) Disease of circulatory system in all psychiatric disease was the most frequent. 5) Rate of circulatory disorder was the highest in organic mental disorder. Disease of digestive system and disease of endocrine system were the most frequent in alcoholics. Disease of respiratory system showed the highest rate in schizophrenea. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics of psychiatric diseases influenced to get systemic disease in geriatric patients.
Alcoholics ; Neurocognitive Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System ; Endocrine System ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Internal Medicine ; International Classification of Diseases ; Male ; Medical Records ; Respiratory System ; Seoul ; Sex Distribution

Steroid withdrawal followed by interferon therapy is an alternative approach for treating chronic hepatitis B virus infection when there has been no therapeutic response to interferon alone. The effectiveness of steroid withdrawal followed by interferon therapy and factors predictive of the response were evaluated in 35 children with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B. Patients had received a 1-month course of prednisolone, 1 mg/kg per day orally, followed by a 2-week rest, and then were treated with interferon alpha 3 MU three times per week for 4-6 months. The serum aminotransferase values normalized in 80%, and negative seroconversion rates of HBeAg and HBV-DNA were 69% and 66%. The good response rate was associated with a pretreatment HBV-DNA level lower than 100 pg/ml and a posttreatment ALT level more than 200 IU/L. Normalization of ALT values usually took 5 months, and the clearance of HBV-DNA and HBeAg took 7.8 and 6.7 months, respectively. These results suggest that steroid withdrawal followed by interferon therapy is useful in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children, and that a good response rate can be expected in children with lower pretreatment HBV-DNA levels (< 100 pg/ml).
Adolescence ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/therapy* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/pathology ; Human ; Infant ; Interferon Alfa-2a/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use*