No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is one of congenital immunodeficient disease and a rare X-linked or autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent life- threatening infections and granuloma formation. We observed clinical features, laboratory findings and genetic subgroups of 33 children who were diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital. There were 23 males and 10 females. Activated NBT test of all patients revealed 0% positive cell and mothers of 15 patients had 25%- 75% normal neutrophils in the activated NBT test. According to the result of activated NBT test and family history, the ratio of X-linked and autosomal recessive inheritance was 2:3. There was a significant difference for the age at onset of the first infection in the different genetic subgroups. The X-linked group had the mean onset at 1.98 months of age and autosomal recessive group had a mean onset as late as 3.82 months (p<0.05). The most common type of the first infection was lymphadenopathies (41%) and other infections were skin pustules, fever, perianal abscess, pneumonia and chronic diarrhea. However, the age at diagnosis was not significant in the different genetic subgroups. Lymphadenitis (27%) was the most common infection, and pneumonia, gastrointestinal tract infection, skin infection were also common. The most common infectious agent was Candida sp. (5%) and other microorganisms involved were BCG, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, S. aureus, K/ebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergi/lus sp., and Enterococcus faecium. Chronic condition associated with CGD were hepatomegaly (59%), splenomegaly, and anemia of chronic disease, underweight, and lymphadenopathy. The leukocyte count of patients at diagnosis was within normal limit except in three patients and leukopenia was not observed in any of the patients. The humoral and cellular immunity and complement system were normal, but the level of Ig E in four patients was elevated. Early diagnosis of CGD can be made by suspicion if there are lymphadenitis after BCG vaccination and recurrent pyogenic infections under the first year of age. Though progression in the treatment of CGD, like gene therapy, is concerned, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis by carrier detection and molecular genetic analysis is thought to be necessary.
Abscess ; Anemia ; Candida ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Early Diagnosis ; Enterococcus faecium ; Female ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Therapy ; Granuloma ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic* ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukopenia ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Molecular Biology ; Mothers ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Neutrophils ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Seoul ; Skin ; Splenomegaly ; Staphylococcus ; Thinness ; Vaccination ; Wills

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is difficult, because NTM are prevalent in the environment such as soil and water, and because they have fastidious properties. In this study we investigated clinical isolates of NTM for their distribution pattern and accurate species identification. METHODS: We selected presumptive NTM isolates negative for probe hybridization for M. tuberculosis complex, cultured in a third referral hospital from 21 January 2003 to 20 January 2004. Ninety seven-isolates were identified to the species level by direct sequencing of fragments of 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes. A total of 120 isolates were studied for the distribution analysis. RESULTS: Frequently identified NTM species were M. avium (30.8%), M. intracellulare (23.3%) and M. abscessus (18.3%). Others were M. gordonae, M. senegalense, M. fortuitum, M. peregrinum, M. kansasii, M. terrae complex, M. lentiflavum, M. chelonae, and M. szulgai. Three M. tuberculosis complex (2.5%) were also identified among the presumptive NTM isolates. The identification rate by sequencing of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp65 were 65%, 82% and 87%, respectively. The hsp65 or rpoB gene was more efficient than 16S rRNA for the identification of NTM by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Some NTM are increasingly considered to be the causative organisms in clinical diseases. Thus, direct sequencing could be adapted to routine work of clinical laboratories for accurate identification of NTM to the species level.
Diagnosis ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases* ; Gordonia Bacterium ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* ; Referral and Consultation ; RNA* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* ; Sequence Analysis* ; Soil ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the stability and the precision of quality control materials for clinical chemistry analytes, we compared liquid quality control materials, Moni-Trol H (MAS Inc., Camarillo, CA, USA) with lyophilized and other liquid quality control materials. For urinalysis, liquid MAS UA Controls were compared with analyte affixed-strip type quality control materials. METHODS: Using Hitachi-7600 (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan), we analyzed lyophilized Seronorm & Pathonorm (SERO AS, Billingstad, Norway) and Moni-Trol H for 26 commonly measured chemistry analytes for 3~4 weeks. Using Synchron CX-7 (Beckman Coulter Inc., Fullerton, CA, USA), liquid Decision (Beckman Coulter) and Moni-Trol H were compared for 12 emergency chemistry analytes. For urinalysis, MAS UA Controls were compared with Chek-Stix (Bayer, Elkhart, IN, USA). We evaluate the stability of analyte by regression coefficient and the imprecision by coefficient of variation. RESULTS: Moni-Trol H was more stable than Seronorm & Pathonorm and Decision. The imprecision was more evident with Moni-Trol H than the others, but the CVs of Moni-Trol H were within 10%. In urinalysis, all the results were within two semi-quantity levels with both MAS UA Control and Chek-Stix. CONCLUSIONS: The MAS quality control materials for common chemistry analytes and urinalysis showed good stability and comparable precision. The materials were efficient for laboratory use due to the advantage of human source based liquid form and long-term stability after preparation.
Chemistry* ; Chemistry, Clinical ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Quality Control* ; Urinalysis*

OBJECTIVE: This study was aiming at estimating the joint effects of various risk factors associated with uterine cervix cancer in Korea. METHODS: Data obtained from a case-control study were analyzed with a multiplicative model. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and husband's educational attainments, the family history of cervical cancer (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.9), unstable marital status due to separation, by death or divorce, etc. (OR=2.8, 95% CI=1.7-4.6), and a large number of deliveries (> or = 3 vs. nulliparous OR=6.5, 95% CI=1.4-29.9) increased the risk of uterine cervix cancer. Conversely, first sexual intercourse at an older age (> or = 25 years vs. <19 years OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.6) and husband's circumcision (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5-1.0) decreased the risk. In the multiplicative model, the highest joint risk (OR=39.2, 95% CI 5.9-258.9) was observed in women with a family history of uterine cervical cancer, an unstable marital status, where the ex-husband was not circumcised, with 3 or more delivery experiences, and having her first sexual intercourse when younger than 19 years of age. However, women without a family history of uterine cervix cancer, married to a circumcised husband, having had her first sexual intercourse at 25 years or older, and nulliparous, showed the lowest joint effect (OR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.5). CONCLUSION: As carcinogenesis is a complex action involving various factors, we consider a joint effects approach to be appropriate in an epidemiological study on risk factors for uterine cervix neoplasms.cervix neoplasm.
Carcinogenesis ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervix Uteri* ; Circumcision, Male ; Coitus ; Divorce ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Joints* ; Korea* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Models, Statistical ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Members of the genus Hantavirus are the etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), the diagnosis of which is somewhat difficult because several diseases share similar early clinical presentations such as fever and petechia. In Korea, Hantaan virus and Seoul virus are the causative organisms of HFRS, and the infection caused by Seoul virus is milder than that caused by Hantaan virus. We report a 44-year-old woman, who visited our hospital due to general weakness, fever, myalgia, facial edema and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with HFRS caused by Seoul virus. The antibody against Hantaan virus was positive by an indirect immunofluorescent test and the discrimination between Hantaan and Seoul viruses was done by RT-PCR-RFLP (reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) against viral S segment.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myalgia ; Seoul virus*

PURPOSE: Several recent studies have shown a significant association of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). The association has not been consistently confirmed; moreover, the association of ACE genotype with SLE in children has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of ACE gene polymorphism with SLE in Korean children. METHODS: Eighty-four children with SLE and 171 controls were recruited in this study. The ACE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. The serum levels of anti-double stranded (ds)-DNA antibody and serum complement levels(C3 and C4) were measured in all patients for disease activity of SLE. The SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) were scored for the clinical activity of SLE. RESULTS: The frequency of the ACE genotype DD, DI, and II in children with SLE were 13%, 52%, and 35%, respectively, similar to those in controls(16%, 48%, and 36%, respectively). The disease activity of SLE in children among the three groups of each genotype was independent of the ACE gene polymorphism. CONCLUSION: The result of this study did not show a significant association between the ACE polymorphism and the disease activity of SLE in Korean children.
Angiotensins ; Child* ; Complement System Proteins ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid ; Herpesvirus 4, Human

PURPOSE: Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have genetic mutations in a component of the NADPH oxidase enzyme that is necessary for the generation of the superoxide anion. The profound defect in innate immunity is reflected by the patients susceptibility to catalase-positive bacteria and fungi. In addition, CGD patients display signs of persistent inflammation, which is not associated only with deficient superoxide anion production. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cytokine responses in CGD patients after TNF-alpha stimulation. METHODS: Heparinized blood samples were collected from 8 CGD patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Monocytes (1x10(6) cell/well) isolated by the magnet cell isolation system were incubated with a constant amount of TNF-alpha (10 ng/mL) at 37degrees C for 6 h. Incubated cells were harvested at 60-min intervals for IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA analysis, and the supernatant was collected at the same intervals to determine IL-8 and IL-10 expression. Monocytes from healthy volunteers were also incubated with antioxidants followed by TNF-alpha stimulation for IL-8 and IL-10 expression. RESULTS: In CGD patients, a high expression of IL-8 together with a significantly higher IL-10 expression than in the healthy controls was seen after TNF-alpha stimulation. Moreover, normal monocytes treated with antioxidants exhibited increased IL-8 responses. CONCLUSION: The absence of phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants in CGD might be associated with a dysregulated production of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines. Additional research related to reactive oxidants is needed to clarify the role of cytokines in CGD patients.
Antioxidants ; Bacteria ; Cell Separation ; Cytokines ; Fungi ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Heparin ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-8 ; Magnets ; Monocytes ; NADPH Oxidase ; Oxidants ; RNA, Messenger ; Superoxides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical association of diagnostic criteria and the prevalence of autoantibodies in newly diagnosed children with juvenile dermatomyositis(JDM). METHODS: Thirty-two children with JDM were identified at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from March 1985 to March 1999 by retrospective review. The diagnosis of JDM was based of the criteria proposed by Bohan and Peter. We investigated for the presence of several autoanti bodies: antinuclear(ANA), double-stranded DNA, anti-Sm, anti-ribonucleoprotein(RNP), anti-SSA/ SSB, anti-Jo1, anti-Scl-70 antibodies and rheumatoid factor(RF). RESULTS: Sex ratio and age at diagnosis were similar to data published in other studies. All the newly diagnosed children with JDM had a typical rash(100%) and proximal muscle weakness(100%); 17(53%) had muscle pain or tenderness; 10(31%) calcinosis; eight(25%) dysphagia; eight(25%) arthritis, and seven(22%) fever. Muscle enzymes were elevated in 90% of the patients. Of the 27 patients who had an electromyogram, 20(70%) had diagnostic results. Sixteen(70%) of biopsied patients had appropriated results for JDM. Patients were negative for all autoantibodies except ANA and RF. ANA and RF were detected in 47% and 7% of the patients respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the sensitivity of the criteria proposed by Bohan and Peter is superior, each of these criteria has possible confounding factors. Additional criteria may be needed for early diagnosis of JDM. Based on our findings of autoantibodies in JDM, we do not recommend routine testing for autoantibodies in children with typical JDM.
Antibodies ; Arthritis ; Autoantibodies* ; Calcinosis ; Child* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dermatomyositis* ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Myalgia ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio