PURPOSE: It is known that single umbilical artery is frequently associated with gastrointestinal or urogenital anomaly, however, routine renal sonography has been debated in healthy neonate with isolated single umbilical artery. This study is designed to determine the usefulness of routine renal sonography in apparently healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery. METHODS: Thirty healthy neonates with a single umbilical artery without a major anomaly from January 1995 to July 2002 were enrolled. The authors investigated the clinical background of babies and their mothers after renal sonography after 72 hours of age. When the abnormalities were found at the first renal sonography, the severity of hydronephrosis and degree of obstruction and renal function were analyzed by follow up renal sonography, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) and technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan or technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyl-triglycerine (MAG3) scan. RESULTS: Among the 30 healthy patients with isolated single umbilical artery, five patients(16.7%) showed abnormalities on first renal sonography with one major(3.3%) and four(13.4%) minor renal anomaly(minimal or mild hydroneohrosis). One major renal anomaly(severe hydronephrosis) showed severe decreased renal function on MAG3 scan without reflux, and the other four minor regressed spontaneously on follow up study. CONCLUSION: The value of routine early renal sonograpy for detecting renal anomaly in healthy infants with an isolated single umbilical artery remained unclear because most of the anomalies would regress spontaneously in the follow up study.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Mothers ; Single Umbilical Artery*

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*

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) is generally considered to be a rare benign renal tumor in neonates, requiring only total excision. However, an atypical mesoblastic nephroma (AMN) may behave aggressively, in contrast to a congenital mesoblastic nephroma. AMN shows atypical gross and microscopic features such as hemorrhage, necrosis, high cellularity, and a mitotic index. We report a case of atypical mesoblastic nephroma which presented in a 2 month-old male infant. Grossly, the tumor involved the upper and the midportion of the left kidney. On section, the cut surface was flesh,which was hemorrhagic necrotic, multicystic degenerative, grayish-white, and heterogenous. Microscopically, the tumor showed a high degree of cellularity and an arrangement of monophagic ovoid spindle cells in sheets and vague interlacing bundles. The individual tumor cells showed fusiform to oval nuclei, indistinct scanty pale-eosinophilic cytoplasm, and many mitotic features.
Cytoplasm ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; Male ; Mitotic Index ; Necrosis ; Nephroma, Mesoblastic*

PURPOSE: The staging of bladder carcinoma is a major determinant of operative management. CT of bladder carcinoma has been widely used to diagnose external extension (pT3b and over), but tumors confined to the bladder wall (from pT1 to pT3a) are poorly delineated. The authors describe CT findings of the superficial bladder carcinoma (below T1, stage A) in thin section CT with air insufflation technique (air insufflation-CT) to facilitate early detection and to aid correct staging of the superficial bladder carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials consisted of proved 24 cases (1'9 patients, single tumor: 16 patients, multiple tumors :3 patients) of stage A bladder carcinomas. Air insufflation-CT was performed by the infusion of approximately 200 mL of air into the bladder via a Foley catheter. After the routine pelvic CT, bladder tumors were re-scanned with 1.5 to 5 mm thickness and intervals. RESULTS: The superficial bladder carcinomas were detected as nodular(5 cases, 20.8%), papillary(15 cases, 62.5%), pyramidal(2 cases, 8.3%), and domed(2 cases, 8.3%) forms on air insufflation CT. These tumors were classified into three types according to the size of the tumoral neck:type I(pedundulated polypold tumor:4 cases, 16.6%), type II(polypid tumor with short neck :13 cases, 54.2%), and type Ill(sessile tumor :7 cases, 29. 2%). The mean size(tumoral width x height x base o, neck/stalk) of the tumors was 22 x 20 x 16mm. The average tumoral sizes according to each type of the superficial tumors were type 1:22 x 25 x 6mm, type 11:23 x 22 x 18mm, and type III :18 x 15 x 18mm. The mean width of the type I--II tumoral necks was 15mm. The mean length of the type I tumoral neck(pedicle) was 2.5mm. Papillary fronds of the tumors were seen in 10 cases(41.7%) of 24 superficial tumors. Outer margin of the involved bladder wall was smooth in all cases. CONCLUSION: Thin-sectin CT with air insufflation technique for bladder carcinoma was useful in tumoral demonstration, and characteristics of the superficial bladder carcinomas were small polypold tumors had a short neck mostly and smooth outer wall of the involved bladder wall.
Catheters ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Neck ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to identify the effects of a mother's nationality on adolescent oral health using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2016). METHODS: This research matched adolescent health behavior online survey results using propensity score matching and identified the influence of a mother's nationality on her adolescent child's oral health. A total of 715 adolescents whose mothers' nationalities were identified as not Korean were selected as research participants, and 715 adolescents were selected from 62,349 individuals whose mothers' nationalities were identified as Korean as a comparison group to undergo propensity score matching. RESULTS: Having a non-Korean mother showed no influence on adolescents' subjective oral health. Socioeconomic characteristics, oral health behaviors, and experience visiting dental clinics were identified as affecting oral health. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between the characteristics of a multi-cultural family and oral health shown in this research suggests that health and welfare services essential to protect the rights to health must be maintained. Moreover, the results suggest that health services that focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged multi-cultural families must be seriously considered.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Health ; Dental Clinics ; Ethnic Groups ; Health Services ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Oral Health ; Propensity Score ; Risk-Taking ; Vulnerable Populations

PURPOSE: We investigated the risk factors related to the development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis, which is associated with residential environment and lifestyle habits of children residing in Incheon. METHODS: A total of 182 children diagnosed with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis and 67 healthy children were enrolled. A detailed questionnaire of the environmental characteristics and the dietary habits were completed by the parents. Further, skin prick tests with 14 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the children with allergic rhinitis and healthy control was 8.2+/-2.8 and 9.4+/-2.0 years, respectively. The presence of indoor mold was associated with an increased risk of development of allergic rhinitis. (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-9.27) Among the food groups, there was no significant difference of the daily intake of milk and yogurt between the patients and the controls. However, daily intake of vegetables, except Kimchi, and daily intake of fruits or fruit juice were associated with a decreased risk of allergic rhinitis. (aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.92 / aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.13-0.90, respectively) CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an indoor dampness is one of the risk factors of development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis. Control of indoor humidity and daily intake of fruits and vegetables can prevent the development and control symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Allergens ; Child ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humidity ; Life Style ; Milk ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Vegetables ; Yogurt

No abstract available.
Perfusion* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

We have analyzed two (BclI and XbaI) intragenic restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and St14 (DXS52) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) by rapid PCR method in 97 unrelated normal subjects. The incidences for positive Bc1I and XbaI polymorphic sites in the Koreans were 81% and 72%, respectively, which were higher than other ethnic groups but similar to that reported in the Chinese or Japanese, giving the heterozygosity rate of 0.32 and 0.40, respectively. The amplified allele size was 880 bp with no other polymorphism in the analysis of St14 (DXS52) VNTR. This finding should be taken into account in the planning of a prenatal diagnosis program for ethnic Koreans
Base Sequence ; Gene Frequency ; Hemophilia A/epidemiology/*genetics ; *Heterozygote Detection/methods ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence

Balloon dacryocystoplasty has been reported to be a safe, easy and effective nonoperative treatment for nasolacrimal stenosis. The results were not encouraging, however, because of its high failure and recurrence rates. To evaluate the feasibility of using modified Gianturco expandable metallic stents for maintenance of the dilated nasolacrimal system(NLS), 20 stents of 3 mm in diameter and 10mm long were placed in 20 nasolacrimal ducts of 10 dogs for 1 month to 10 months. It was more difficult to introduce the stents into the proximal portion(A) of the NLS than into the distal portion(B) due to the narrow and bony canal of the A portion. Twenty stents showed no migration in follow-up studies of up to 10 months. One complete occlusion occurred in a stent placed in A portion. Autopsy studies showed stents were covered with epithelium within 2 months after placement. Our experience suggest that the placement of Gianturco self-expandable stents may be a useful method of dilating and maintaining the luminal diameter of the NLS, although care must be taken to select the proper stent size.
Animals ; Autopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dogs* ; Epithelium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Methods ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Phenobarbital ; Recurrence ; Stents*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographic endometrial thickness with that of hysteroscopy, it is to establish the most appropriate method for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and other endometrial diseases in postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in 105 consecutive postmenopausal patients with AUB, who underwent ultrasonographic evaluation of endometrial thickness, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity was performed. RESULTS: Histologic findings for <4 mm level revealed that atrophy was present in 30 (71.4%) and in 1 case (2.4%) endometrial cancer was found; for > or =4 mm values polyps and myomas were present in 31 (49.2%) and there were 3 (4.8%) in endometrial cancer. Sensitivity and specificity for trans-vaginal ultrasound, with a cut-off value > or =4 mm, was 75% and 40.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Generally speaking, obstetrics & gynecologists know that endometrial aspiration biopsy is the routine method in postmenopausal women with AUB. However transvaginal ultrasound remains the first line diagnostic procedure in postmenopausal women without AUB. In case of endometrial thickness less than 4 mm, it is likely to miss the early stage endometrial cancer but trans-vaginal ultrasound remains the first line diagnostic procedure in postmenopausal women, because it is not invasive and has high sensitivity for detecting endometrial cancer and other endometrial disease; According to our experience, hysteroscopy with biopsy is mandatory in all postmenopausal women with AUB.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy* ; Myoma ; Obstetrics ; Polyps ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Diseases ; Uterine Hemorrhage