BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile acute multi-systemic vasculitis, which develops into carditis and coronary aneurysm. This study was performed to investigate cardiac troponin T (cTnT), troponin I (cTnI) and creatinine kinase-MB fraction (CK-MB) for diagnostic and prognostic value in acute KD before IVGG (intravenous gamma globulin). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The KD group comprised of 45 patients hospitalized between Jan. 2000 and Jul. 2003, with 25 non KD febrile illness subjects as controls. The KD group was subdivided into groups A (persistent normal coronary artery, n=20), B (abnormal coronary artery, n=19) and C (carditis, n=6) according to the initial echocardiography. The cTnT, cTnI and CK-MB levels were measured and compared. RESULTS: Comparing the KD and control subjects, the cTnT (0.0101+/-0.0030 vs. 0.0090+/-0.0000 ng/mL, p=0.025) and cTnI (0.0662+/-0.0581 vs. 0.0143+/-0.0112 ng/mL, p=0.000) were significantly elevated in the KD patients. However, all the data were within normal reference ranges. In a comparison among the KD groups, the number of infants, total fever duration and IVGG re-treatment were significantly higher in group B (p=0.021, 0.046 and 0.007, respectively). There were no significant differences in the cTnT, cTnI and CK-MB levels between the 3 groups. The CK-MB and cTnI levels were slightly elevated in group B compare to groups A+C, but these were not statistically significant. The CK-MB, cTnT and cTnI levels were slightly elevated in those with cardiac abnormalities (groups B+C) compare to group A, but these were not significant. The cTnT and cTnI levels were significantly decreased in the subacute phase (p=0.034 and 0.000, respectively). CONCLUSION: The levels of cTnT, cTnI, CK-MB were not very useful tools for detecting and predicting subsequent cardiac damage in KD patients. However, the cTnI level appears to be a more sensitive marker than the cTnT or CK-MB levels in KD patients.
Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatinine ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocarditis ; Reference Values ; Troponin I* ; Troponin T* ; Troponin* ; Vasculitis

Although antenatal diagnostic technique has considerably improved, precise detection and proper management of the neonate with congenital heart disease (CHD) is always a great concern to pediatricians. Congenital cardiac malformations vary from benign to serious conditions such as complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA), critical pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis/atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), which the baby needs immediate diagnosis and management for survival. Unfortunately, these life threatening heart diseases may not have obvious evidence early after birth, most of the clinical and physical findings are nonspecific and vague, which makes the diagnosis difficult. High index of suspicion and astute acumen are essential to decision making. When patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is opened widely, many serious malformations may not be noticed easily in the early life, but would progress as severe acidosis/shock/cyanosis or even death as PDA constricts after few hours to days. Ductus dependent congenital cardiac lesions can be divided into the ductus dependent systemic or pulmonary disease, but physiologically quite different from each other and treatment strategy has to be tailored to the clinical status and cardiac malformations. Inevitably early presentation is often regarded as a medical emergency. Differential diagnosis with inborn error metabolic disorders, neonatal sepsis, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and other pulmonary conditions are necessary. Urgent identification of the newborn at such high risk requires timely referral to a pediatric cardiologist, and timely intervention is the key in reducing mortality and morbidity. This following review deals with the clinical presentations, investigative modalities and approach to management of congenital cardiac malformations presenting in the early life.
Arteries ; Decision Making ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Emergencies ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung Diseases ; Parturition ; Referral and Consultation ; Scimitar Syndrome ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most important threats to patient safety. When hospitalized children face these threats, there is morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Research on local healthcare epidemiology is necessary to enhance collective knowledge and evidence formanaging this problem. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of databases of patients who were diagnosed with HAIs at Chung-Ang University Hospital (CAUH) from 2007 through 2011. Cases were selected from the microbiology registry databases. The data on prevalence of HAIs in various wards and its annual trends were compared to previously reported nationwide data. Moreover, we analyzed the patterns of antibiotic susceptibility results for HAI pathogens. RESULTS: A total of 181 HAIs were identified in 122 patients. The HAI rate among pediatric patients at CAUH was 2.4/1,000 person-hospital days. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) (53 episodes, 29.3%) were the most common, followed by pneumonia (33 episodes, 18.2%). Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common gram-positive organism, whereas Escherichia coli was the most common gram-negative organism. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) comprised 84% of the S. aureus infections. Imipenem resistance was detected in 58.8% and 55.0% of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION: Between 2007 and 2011, UTIs were the most common type of HAIs, and MRSA was the most common pediatric HAI pathogen, both in the general ward and intensive care unit at the CAUH. Further research on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HAIs is necessary and prevention measures should be implemented to prevent HAIs in children.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Delivery of Health Care ; Escherichia coli ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Patient Safety ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Candida dubliniensis is newly described yeast that is a close phylogenetic relative of C. albicans and isolates mainly from the oral cavity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to screen for C. dubliniensis using the 'spiking' appearance on a blood agar plate (BAP), germ tube test with human pooled serum (HPS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) and to investigate the prevalence of C. dubliniensis from respiratory samples in Korea. METHODS: A total 434 isolates of Candida spp. were examined for the presence of 'spiking' on BAP and the germ tube test with HPS and FBS. Also all isolates were tested using the VITEK 2 ID-YST system. RESULTS: No C. dubliniensis was found in the study population. C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species (74.9%). CONCLUSIONS: No C. dubliniensis was identified in our study. Further large-scale studies are needed to isolate and to confirm the prevalence of C. dubliniensis.
Agar ; Candida ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mouth ; Prevalence ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of mild hypoxia in the mature and immature brain. METHODS: We prepared organotypic slice cultures of the hippocampus and used hippocampal tissue cultures at 7 and 14 days in vitro (DIV) to represent the immature and mature brain, respectively. Tissue cultures were exposed to 10% oxygen for 60 minutes. Twenty-four hours after this hypoxic insult, propidium iodide fluorescence images were obtained, and the damaged areas in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) were measured using image analysis. RESULTS: In the 7-DIV group compared to control tissue, hypoxia-exposed tissue showed decreased damage in two regions (CA1: 5.59%+/-2.99% vs. 4.80%+/-1.37%, P=0.900; DG: 33.88%+/-12.53% vs. 15.98%+/-2.37%, P=0.166), but this decrease was not statistically significant. In the 14-DIV group, hypoxia-exposed tissue showed decreased damage compared to control tissues; this decrease was not significant in the CA3 (24.51%+/-6.05% vs. 18.31%+/-3.28%, P=0.373) or DG (15.72%+/-3.47% vs. 9.91%+/-2.11%, P=0.134), but was significant in the CA1 (50.91%+/-5.90% vs. 32.30%+/-3.34%, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Although only CA1 tissues cultured for 14 DIV showed significantly less damage after exposure to hypoxia, the other tissues examined in this study showed a tendency towards less damage after hypoxic exposure. Therefore, mild hypoxia might play a protective role in the brain.
Anoxia* ; Brain ; Dentate Gyrus ; Fluorescence ; Hippocampus ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxygen ; Propidium

PURPOSE: To identify the necessity of more reasonable diagnostic criteria and the possibility of early prediction of coronary involvement in the higher risk group, we investigated and compared clinical and laboratory findings in the acute phase and coronary involvements in those younger (n=17) and older(n=53) than one year of age in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were performed on 70 patients with KD who were admitted to the Chung-Ang University Hospital from April 1997 to May 2001. RESULTS: Male were significantly higher in the younger age group(M : F ratio 3.3 : 1 vs. 1.0 : 1, P=0.004). Fever durations before intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) and echocardiography were significantly shorter in the younger group(4.6+/-1.3 vs. 6.2+/-2.5, P=0.004 vs. 0.01, respectively). Cases meeting typical diagnostic criteria were significantly less in the younger group(P=0.006). In the laboratory findings, serum albumin, BUN and K+ levels in the acute febrile phase were significantly higher in the younger group(P=0.002, 0.006, <0.001, respectively) and incidences of coronary artery dilatation in the acute phase were significantly higher in the younger group(P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Although less met the typical diagnostic criteria of KD, infants younger than one year of age are more susceptible to coronary artery change in the acute febrile phase. Therefore, KD should be entertained as a diagnostic possibility in young infants with prolonged fever without distinct fever focus, and echocardiography should be considered as part of the evaluation of these patients, and then early diagnosis and prompt IVIG should be conducted.
Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin