Background: Several cases of pediatric acute hepatitis of unknown etiology related to adenoviral infections have been reported in Europe since January 2022. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, severity, possible etiology, and prognosis of the disease with those in the past in Korea. Methods: The surveillance group collected data between May and November 2022 using a surveillance system. Acute hepatitis of unknown etiology was defined in patients aged < 16 years with a serum transaminase level > 500 IU/L, not due to hepatitis A-E or other underlying causes. For comparison, data from 18 university hospitals were retrospectively collected as a control group between January 2021 and April 2022. Results: We enrolled 270 patients (mean age, 5 years). The most common symptom was fever. However, the incidence was similar between 2021 and 2022. Liver function test results, number of patients with acute liver failure (ALF), liver transplantation (LT), death, and adenovirus detection rates did not differ between the two groups. None of the adenoviruspositive patients in either group experienced ALF, LT, or death. In the surveillance group, adenovirus-associated virus-2 was detected in four patients, one of whom underwent LT. Patients with an unknown etiology showed significantly higher bilirubin levels, a lower platelet count, and a higher LT rate than patients with a possible etiology. Conclusion The incidence of pediatric acute hepatitis of unknown etiology and adenovirus detection rate have not increased in Korea.

STUDY DESIGN: A noninterventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the quality of life (QoL) and functional disability in Korean adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Among patients with CLBP, 20%–55% had NP. METHODS: Patients older than 20 years with CLBP lasting for longer than three months, with a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score higher than four, and with pain medications being used for at least four weeks before enrollment were recruited from 27 general hospitals between December 2014 and May 2015. Medical chart reviews were performed to collect demographic/clinical features and diagnosis of NP (douleur neuropathique 4, DN4). The QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension, EQ-5D; EQ-VAS) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, QBPDS) were determined through patient surveys. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare PROs between the NP (DN4≥4) and non-NP (DN4 < 4) groups. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 patients (females: 65.7%; mean age: 63.4±13.0 years) were enrolled. The mean scores of EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and QBPDS were 0.5±0.3, 55.7±19.4, and 40.4±21.1, respectively. Among all patients, 492 (41.0%; 95% confidence interval, 38.2%–43.8%) suffered from NP. The prevalence of NP was higher in male patients (46.8%; p < 0.01), in patients who had pain based on radiological and neurological findings (59.0%; p < 0.01), and in patients who had severe pain (49.0%; p < 0.01). There were significant mean differences in EQ-5D (NP group vs. non-NP group: 0.4±0.3 vs. 0.5±0.3; p < 0.01) and QBPDS (NP group vs. non-NP group: 45.8±21.2 vs. 36.3±20.2; p < 0.01) scores. In the multiple linear regression, patients with NP showed lower EQ-5D (β=−0.1; p < 0.01) and higher QBPDS (β=7.0; p < 0.01) scores than those without NP. CONCLUSIONS: NP was highly prevalent in Korean patients with CLBP. Patients with CLBP having NP had a lower QoL and more severe dysfunction than those without NP. To enhance the QoL and functional status of patients with CLBP, this study highlights the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating NP.
Adult* ; Back Pain ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Low Back Pain* ; Male ; Neuralgia* ; Prevalence* ; Quality of Life ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically determined, chronic relapsing skin disease. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and the course is unpredictable. Atopy is an important risk factor for the development of AD. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) were implicated in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases, and are being targeted for their diagnosis and treatments. Early detection of tissue inflammation of target organ is important to enable early prevention and management of allergic diseases. The aim of our study is to evaluate the differences in urinary leukotrienes E4 (LTE4) levels, according to AD symptom score and aeroallergen sensitization in children with AD by using noninvasive techniques. METHODS: We recruited 46 children with AD, using predetermined criteria. Clinical features of AD were evaluated by a physician, using scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Aeroallergen sensitization was measured by using a skin prick test and UniCap. Urine samples were also collected on day of the 1st and 2nd visits, and were analyzed for LTE4 with an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. RESULTS: SCORAD indeces of children with AD were correlated with urinary LTE4 levels. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophil counts also had significant correlation with urinary LTE4 levels. Especially, aeroallergen sensitization of atopic AD significantly correlated with urinary LTE4 of these patients. CONCLUSION: Urinary LTE4 levels significantly correlated with serum total IgE and number of sensitized aeroallergen in children with AD. Clinical features of AD evaluated with SCORAD index related with urinary LTE4 level. Urinary LTE4 might be a valuable, noninvasive marker for different pathogenesis of AD.
Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Leukotriene E4 ; Leukotrienes ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

The purpose of this study is to develop species-specific DNA probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for detection and identification of Prevotella nigrescens (P. nigrescens) 9336. This study procedure includes (1) whole-genomic DNA extraction of P. nigrescens 9336 (2) construction of the genomic DNA library, (3) screening of strain-specific DNA probe by reverse dot Hybridization method, (4) confirmation of strain-specific DNA probe by Southern blot analysis, (5) determination of nucleotide sequences of strain-specific DNA probe. Thirty-five restriction fragments of P. nigrescens 9336 genomic DNA digested with the Hind III were obtained. Reverse dot hybridization and Southern blot analysis data showed that three of them, Pn10, Pn23, and Pn35, could be P. nigrescens 9336-specific DNA probes. These data indicated that these DNA probes could be useful in detection and identification of the P. nigrescens 9336.
Base Sequence ; Blotting, Southern ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; DNA Probes* ; DNA* ; Gene Library ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevotella nigrescens* ; Prevotella*

No abstract available.
Prognathism*

It is well known that developmental delay or arrest occurs before implantation in mamals, which have undergone in vitro culture. Recently, these phenomena are being attributed to oxygen free radicals, and successful cell culture are being obtained by lowering the oxygen environment of in vitro culture. This is due to the fact that the oxygen concentration in the fallopian tube is around 5%, which is lower than the room air 20% concentraition for in vitro culture. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), which are free radical scavenger, were added to early embryo mice culture and compared the free radical level at each stage of development with that of culture in which free radical scavenging agent was not added. The highest free radical level in control group observed in the late 2-cell stage and was markedly decreased if SOD added to culture media. Blastulation rate, hatching rate, and blastomere count as the parameters of embryo development was significantly increased in the experimental group. This study suggests the possibility of improvement in in-vitro embryo culture with media including free radical scavengers.
Animals ; Blastomeres ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; Free Radicals ; Mice* ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare congenital anomaly of development involving a left-handed malrotation of the visceral organs which affects approximately 1:10,000 patients. It is known that the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with dextrocardia is similar to that of the general population. Successful coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty have previously been reported in patients with dextrocardia, but to our knowledge no report exist of a successful coronary angioplasty in a patient with dextrocardia with situs inversus in Korea. We performed a successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of an infarct-related vessel in a acute myocardial infarction patient with dextrocardia with situs inversus.
Angioplasty* ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dextrocardia* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prevalence ; Situs Inversus*

Ventricular tachycardia is an important tachyarrhythmia which is encountered commonly in clinical field. The accompanying manifestations could be variable just from palpitation to sudden cardiac death. The classification of this arrhythmia has not completly settled yet, but in a broad way this arrhythmia is classified according to the prescence or abscence or underlying heart disease, especially coronary artery disease. Recently, therapeutic modalities for this arrhythmia have been changed a lot from classical antiarrhythmic drugs to radiofrequency ablation or ICD implantation although there are still some problems to overcome. We experienced a case of 34-year-old female having an incessant ventricular tacycardia which was abolished after endomyocardial biopsy performed to differentiate underlying myocardial pathology.
Adult ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biopsy* ; Catheter Ablation ; Classification ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Pathology ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

Hydroxyapatite particle(HA) impregnated polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) bone cement was fabricated in order to induce bony tissue ingrowth into the pores left behind by the resorption of the HA. The amount of HA was 0, 10, and 30% by weight. After mixing the HA with bone cement it was cast in a 4mm inside diameter glass under(10mm long). Each specimen was cut into half and used for in vitro and in vivo experiment. Diametral and compressive mechanical test were made to evaluate it's mechanical properties. SEM(scanning electron microscope) and ESCA(electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis) were used to evaluate the surface characteristics of the specimen. Push-out test and histologic studies were made after implanting the specimens for 6 weeks in the distal portion of rabbit femur. The mechanical test results show that the average flexural and diametral strength decreased linearly with the increased amount of HA significant(p < 0.05). The SEM and qualitative analysis using ESCA of the implant specimens showed no definite exposure of HA particles due to PMMA covering the surface. The surface of the implanted specimens were ground for histologic comparative analysis and the halves of each sample were decalcified. The interfacial shear strength of the implanted specimens showed significant increases in the 30% HA specimens compared with the 0% ones but the 10% specimens did not show any difference. However, there was also no statistically significant(p>0.05) difference between nondecalcified and decalcified specimens in each 10% and 30%, although the latter showed higher interfacial shear strength. Histologic observation showed little evidence of bone ingrowth into HA, but not remarkable. In conclusion, this study could not confirm the earlier results of the bone particle impregnated bone cement without surface grinding since the HA particles were not exposed at the surface by casting it into a glass tube.
Durapatite ; Femur ; Glass ; In Vitro Techniques ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Shear Strength ; Spectrum Analysis

Primary tumors of the heart are rare and the most are benign. Malignant tumors constitute less than 25% of primary cardiac tumors and angiosarcomas are the most commonly reported histologic type. At least 160 cases have been reported in the world, but no previous report in Korea. We reported a case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma located in right atrium.
Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Korea