This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intraveneous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion on renal function in neonates. IVIG has provided quite safe in neonates given therapeutic doses. But nephrotoxicity is not a recognized adverse events of IVIG therapy, only several previous adult cases having been described. A total twenty five neonates suspected sepsis was randomely assigned to IVIG (n=12) or control (n=13) group. Neonates assigned to IVIG group received IVIG (1g/kg, 1 dose) adjunct to ampicillin and gentamicin, and neonates assigned to control group received same antibiotics. To observe changes in renal function with IVIG therapy, serum BUN, creatinine, urine creatinine, beta2-microglobulin ( beta2MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosam-inidase (NAG) were obtained before and 24 hours, 3 and 7 days after initiation of therapy. There were no statistically significant changes in serum BUN and creatinine in both groups. Transient increase of urine NAG was observed at 24 hours after therapy in IVIG group. Urine beta2MG of IVIG group remained in pretreatment level, whereas decreased with age in control group, so, at 7th day IVIG group have higher urinary excretion of beta2MG compared to control group. According to these results, it was found that IVIG therapy in neonates might cause transient renal tubular damage.
Adult ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Creatinine ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors of the causal attribution of cancer and to determine related variables. METHOD: Subjects were one hundred and thirty three cancer patients. The tool of the perceived causal attribution used was developed by authors and basically founded on Kim's work(1993). The SAS program was used to analyze the data along with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan's Multiple range test, and Principal component analysis and varimax rotation. RESULTS: 1) The perceived causal attribution measurement revealed four factors; overload, destiny, stress, and constitution. The total percentage of variance explained by the four factors was 44.3%. 2) The scores of destiny on women, having religion, unemployed, lower level of education, no spouse, groups of uterine cervix and lung cancer, not receiving an operation and receiving radiation were significantly higher than those other groups. 3) The scores of stress on women, having religion, and not having a job were significantly higher than those on men, without religion, and having a job. 4) The scores of constitution on those in their forties, women, not receiving an operation and receiving radiation were significantly higher than for those in their sixties, men, receiving operation and not receiving radiation. There was no significant difference in the factor scores of overload by any variables. CONCLUSION: Factors of the perceived causal attribution of cancer among Korean cancer patients were overload, destiny, stress, and constitution. The scores of each factor the perceived causal attribution was significantly different by general and disease related characteristics.
Cervix Uteri ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Principal Component Analysis ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at assessing the knowledge of the general public about novel influenza and the extent of preventive measures undertaken when information on novel influenza and its preventive measures was extensively broadcasted during the novel influenza outbreak. METHODS: Between September 21 and October 31, self-report questionnaires were distributed to 1,200 persons. The completed questionnaires were collected from 1,025 persons. The collected data was used to determine the frequency and percentage as well as to conduct analyses such as t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression by using SPSS WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The knowledge on novel influenza and the performance of preventive measures were scored at 6.58 and 5.10, respectively, on a scale of 12. This finding suggested that the knowledge on novel influenza and the performance of preventive measures were low. The significant factors influencing the participants' knowledge on novel influenza were age and the experience of watching relevant educational programs on television, whereas the factors influencing the performance of preventive measures were academic career, working status, and the experience of watching relevant educational programs on television. Between knowledge and implementation of preventive measures, there was positive correlation at low level (r=0.112, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that factors influencing the knowledge on and the performance of preventive measures against a disease should be considered when developing prevention strategies, such as broadcast of educational programs on television, against influenza or similar infectious diseases during an outbreak.
Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Logistic Models ; Pandemics ; Television ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Short stature is the most constant finding in Turner syndrome. Short stature in Turner syndrome has lately received considerable attention, mostly because of recent attemp to improve growth by hormonal treatments; growth hormone, oxandrolone, estrogen. The aim of this study was to find out whether growth promoting treatment would improve final height in girls with Turner syndrome. METHODS:Seventy-one girls with the clinical chracteristics Turner syndrome verified by karyotype analysis were entered into this study. The following selection criteria for final adult height were used; Chronological age of more than 14years old, bone age of more than 15years old and growth velocity of less than 0.5cm per 6months. Analysis was performed by means of multiple regression analysis between descriptive data; modality of treatment with oxandrolone and/or estrigen, parental height, karyotype and final adult height. RESULTS: 1) The final adult height of untreated Turner syndrome was 138.9+/-3.9cm. 2)The final adult height in 29 GH treated Turner girls was 143.9+/-6.5cm, significant higher value than 42 GH untreated Turner girls height, 139.8+/-5.2cm(p<0.01). 3) The final height in GH only group and combined group were 141.2+/-6.0cm, 146.2+/-6.2cm, respectively. The combined therapy was more effective than GH therapy(p<0.01). 4) The final height in 32 patients with karyotype of 45,X was 141.6+/-5.6cm, and that of 31 structural aberration group was 140.3+/-6.2cm. There was no significant difference between two groups. But in mosaicism, only numeric abnormalities, the final height 145.9+/-6.1cm was much more higher than other two groups(p<0.05). 5) The final adult height in Turner syndrome was in good correlation with target height. Final adult height(cm)= 1.01*Target height(cm)- 4.97 r=0.51, p<0.05. 6) There was positive correlation between final adult height and height SDS at start GH treatment and negative correlation with age at start GH treatment. The delta height (final height - height at start treatment) correlate with GH treatment duration. CONCLUSIONS:The final adult height in Turner syndrome in a given ethinic or national population varies in the same way as adult height in normal women. Growth hormone therapy may increase final height in Turner syndrome irrespective of ethinic or national difference. Further growth was observed in GH combined with estrogen or oxandrolone.
Adult* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Mosaicism ; Oxandrolone ; Parents ; Patient Selection ; Turner Syndrome*

We describe cytologic findings of two cases of pilomatrixoma which had been cytologically misdiagnosed as suspicious malignant and malignant lesions in 35 year-old and 22 year-old females who presented a palpable neck mass. The cytologic smears showed many basaloid cells with a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear hyperchromatism and prominent nucleoli, keratinized squamous cells with pyknotic nuclei, foreign body giant cells, and chronic inflammatory cells in necrotic background. Retrospective view of this aspiration smear revealed that these findings were characteristic features of pilomatrixoma, and the evenly distributed chromatin pattern as well as the lack of nuclear pleomorphism were considered to be the differential points from malignant neoplasm. Pilomatrixoma is a benign neoplasm which should be included in differential diagnosis if the fine needle aspiration cytologic smear of a neck mass or subcutaneous mass of any site showed these features.
Female ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential

BACKGROUND: With increase of antibiotics use and invasive procedures, infections caused by multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) are increasing. Recently, we experienced the outbreak of- nosocomial infections caused by MRAB resistant to imipenem and cefoperazone/sulbactam in intensive care units (ICU) and general ward. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of the infected patients and antibiotic susceptibility of the organisms. And surveillance cultures and IRS-PCR were performed to find out the transmission route. METHODS: We collected data from physical examination and clinical records. We performed surveillance cultures of environment, patients not infected with MRAB in ICU, and hands of health care workers. RESULTS: Between November 1996 and June 1997, 49 strains of MRAB were isolated from the 26 patients hospitalized in Kangnam St. Mary' s Hospital. The lower respiratory infection (13 cases) was the most common infection and sputum was the most common sources (47.1%). All strains of MRAB showed the same genotype. In disk diffusion test, all strains were resistant to piperacillin, gentamicin, amikacin, ceftazidime, cefoperazone/sulbactam, aztreonam, imipencm, ciprofloxacin. From the surveillance cultures, the genotypically identical strains were isolated from ventilator Y-piece, the floor of ICU, and hands of health care workers. It suggested that this strain was transmitted through ventilatory device or hands of health care workers. We instructed all the health care workers to wash hands, to disinfect hospital environment completely. Since July 1997, no further case has occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Since A. baumannii could be transmitted through ventilatory devices and the hands of health care workers, it is important to wash hands and to disinfect hospital environment completely.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter* ; Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aztreonam ; Ceftazidime ; Ciprofloxacin ; Cross Infection* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diffusion ; Genotype ; Gentamicins ; Hand ; Humans ; Imipenem* ; Critical Care Units ; Patients' Rooms ; Physical Examination ; Piperacillin ; Sputum ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Thanatophoric Dysplasia*

PURPOSE:Decreased bone mineral density(BMD) has been reported in girls with Turner syndrome. Estrogen therapy is recommanded to improve sexual infantilism and decreased BMD. Short stature is also characteristic finding in patients with Turner syndrome. Treatment modality for short stature has included estrogen, anabolic steroids and growth hormone(GH). Recently GH therapy in GH deficient children could increase BMD in addition to improve short stature. We observed the treatment effects on bone mineral density in patients with Turner syndrome. METHODS: Bone Mineral Density in second to fourth lumbar spine area were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 56 girls with Turner syndrome, before and after growth hormone and/or estrogen. All Turner girl was confirmed by clinical and chromosomal examination. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in BMD according to karyotype. 2) The mean BMD of untreated Turner syndrome was 0.752+/-0.122g/cm2. 3) The mean BMD before and after GH treatment were 0.620+/-0.028g/cm2, 0.793+/-0.093g/cm2 respectively. The mean BMD before and after estrogen treatment were 0.761+/-0.125g/cm2, 0.918+/-0.141g/cm2 respectively. In combined group, the BMD were 0.752+/-0.087g/cm2 and 0.939+/-0.134g/cm2. Growth hormone was also effective to improve BMD as well as estrogen. But the changes of BMD were more significant in estrogen and combined group(p<0.05). 4) A significant positive correlation was found between age and BMD(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Estrogen therapy can accelerate epiphysial maturation and compromise final height. Growth hormone therapy in Turner girls was effective for improvement bone mineral density as well as growth improvement. But growth hormone and estrogen combined therapy or Estrogen therapy is more effective to improve bone mineral density in Turner syndrome. Estrogen replacement can be delayed for a while on growth hormone treatment and the appropriated time of estrogen therapy should be elucidated.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Child ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Sexual Infantilism ; Spine ; Steroids ; Turner Syndrome*

Several studies revealed that low calcium intake is related to high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is high in Koreans along with their low dietary calcium consumption. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the status of calcium intake between the hypertension and normotension groups and to investigate the correlation between dietary calcium intake and blood pressure, blood lipid parameters, and blood/urine oxidative stress indices. A total of 166 adult subjects participated in this study and were assigned to one of two study groups: a hypertension group (n = 83) who had 140 mmHg or higher in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or 90 mmHg or higher in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and an age- and sex-matched normotension group (n = 83, 120 mmHg or less SBP and 80 mmHg or less DBP). The hypertension group consumed 360.5 mg calcium per day, which was lower than that of the normotension group (429.9 mg) but not showing significant difference. In the hypertension group, DBP had a significant negative correlation with plant calcium (P < 0.01) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and energy intake. In the normotension group, total calcium and animal calcium intake were significantly and positively correlated with serum triglycerides. No significant relationship was found between calcium intake and blood/urine oxidative stress indices in both groups. Overall, these data suggest reconsideration of food sources for calcium consumption in management of the blood pressure or blood lipid profiles in both hypertensive and normotensive subjects.
Adult ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; Calcium, Dietary ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Energy Intake ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides