We Reviewed 10 hypertensive children with pheochromocytoma retrospectively and the following results were obtained. 1) Out of 10 patients, 7 were male and 3 female. Age ranged from 5.5 years to 13.8 years and their median age was 9.9 years. 2) They complained of sweating, lethargy, headache. or chest pain and so on. Hypertension were noticed in all patients. Heart murmurs were detected in 7 patients and hypertensive retinopathy in 70%. 3) The three cases arised at extraadrenal gland and bilaterality was seen in 3 patients. In the view of diagnosis, abdominal sonography, computerized tomography and urine VMA test revealed the sensitivity of 100%. But MIBG scan showed 60% in sensitivity. 4) Waiting for operation, their hypertension were controlled by adrenergic blockers or calcium channel blockers. They received tumorectomy successfully except one who was in hypertensive state after operation and followed up through OPD. In conclusion high suspicion for the existence of pheochromocytoma from the clinical manifestations should be entertained in any pediatric patients and biochemical and imaging studies were mandatory. Furthermore, for the accurate localization of tumors, several imaging studies should be collaborated.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Adrenergic Antagonists ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Chest Pain ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Heart Murmurs ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Lethargy ; Male ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sweat ; Sweating

Goodpasture's syndrome (GS) is characterized by lung hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis and caused by autoimmune reaction between anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) autoantibodies and the alpha 3 (type IV) collagen chain. Some reports suggested that patients with anti-GBM autoantibody could be related with other autoimmune diseases including Graves' disease. We report a case of 14-year-old girl with Graves' disease treated with PTU for 4 years, who was admitted because of hemoptysis and dyspnea. Laboratory values included a serum creatinine value of 0.7 mg/dL, BUN 22 mg/dL, hemoglobin 3.9 g/mm3 and albumin 3.2 mg/dL. The thyroid function tests showed normal serum T3 and free T4, suppressed TSH, and elevated thyroglobulin Ab and TSH-R-Ab levels. Urinalysis showed 2+ for protein and many dysmorphic RBC/HPF. Both anti-GBM Ab and pANCA were positive serologically. In renal biopsy, the glomeruli showed mesangial proliferation and crescent formation with linear deposits of IgG along the GBM. This case is to represent the GS of patient with Graves' disease referring to medical documents.
Adolescent ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease* ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Graves Disease* ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lung ; Methylprednisolone ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Urinalysis

OBJECTIVE: We examined the difference between IQ(Intelligence Quotient) estimated from computerized Standard Progressive Matrices(SPM) score(SPM IQ) and Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(KWAIS) IQ(KWAIS IQ) in Korean patients with mental disorders in order to test the validity of SPM as a brief nonverbal intelligence test, and to find the groups that need standardization. And, we studied the method to predict KWAIS IQ more precisely from SPM test. METHODS: SPM test in Vienna test system was administered to 166 Korean patients with mental disorders. The degree of consistency and Pearson's correlation coefficient between SPM IQ and KWAIS IQ in total subjects and groups by sex, age, education, and clinical diagnosis were investigated. And, we obtained a regression equation to predict KWAIS IQ from SPM score. RESULTS: In total subjects, Pearson's correlation coefficient between SPM IQ and KWAIS IQ was as high as 0.704, and the percent of patients whose absolute value of difference between SPM IQ and KWAIS IQ is equal to or less than 10 was 54.8%. The degree of consistency between SPM IQ and KWAIS IQ was influenced by age and educational level. SPM IQ were higher than KWAIS IQ in younger age and lower education group. SPM IQ were lower than KWAIS IQ in older age and higher education group. The regression equation from SPM score, age, and education years predicted KWAIS IQ more correctly. CONCLUSION: The Computerized Standard Progressive Matrices test is validated and can be used usefully as a brief nonverbal intelligence test in patients with mental disorders. In order to provide more precise evaluation, standardized data should be prepared for age group 16 to 25 and age group 26 to 35 with lower educational level.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Intelligence Tests ; Mental Disorders*

OBJECTIVES: Vulnerability marker in biological relatives of schizophrenia may be very useful in identifying the propensity for the development of schizophrenia. This study suggests that the relatives at risk for genetically developing schizophrenia have impairments in several domains of cognition, social function and affective function as a vulnerability marker. METHODS: A neurocognitve function test, a social function test and an affective function test were administered to fifteen healthy relatives from families with two or more patients with schizophrenia (geneticallly high risk subjects). Fifteen healthy controls matched for age and gender were recruited in this study. RESULTS: Compared to the control subject, the genetic high risk subjects performed significantly more poorly in the selective attention and recall memory of neurocognitive function. The high risk subjects also had lower scores in independence-performance and independence-competence of the social function test and emotion control of the affective function test. CONCLUSION: Selective attention, recall memory, independence-performance, independence-competence and emotion control ability may be a valuable marker for genetic study of schizophrenia.
Cognition* ; Humans ; Memory ; Schizophrenia*

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis (AR), nationwide in random children and adolescents of Korea. METHODS: A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was done in 1,820 children from elementary, middle, and high school nationwide in Korea. The subjects were selected by the stratifying sampling method by school grade and five regions. Current AR was defined as having AR symptoms during the last 12 months with a history of physician-diagnosed AR. Skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The number of males was 945, and that of females was 875. The mean age of the patients was 12.61+/-3.40 years. The prevalence of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Risk factors for current AR were male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.486; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.189-1.856), family history of paternal AR (aOR, 3.208; 95% CI, 2.460-4.182), family history of maternal AR (aOR, 3.138; 95% CI, 2.446-4.025), antibiotic use in infancy (aOR, 1.547; 95% CI, 1.228-1.949), mold exposure during infancy (aOR, 1.416; 95% CI, 1.103-1.819), mold exposure during the last 12 months (aOR, 1.285; 95% CI, 1.012-1.630), and sensitization on skin prick tests (aOR, 2.596; 95% CI, 2.055-3.279). Risk factors for atopic current AR were the same as those of current AR, whereas breast-milk feeding (aOR, 0.720; 95% CI, 0.530-0.976) was a protective factor. Sensitized allergens as risk factors for current AR were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, ragweed, mugwort, oak, alder, birch, Japanese hop, cat, and dog. CONCLUSION: The prevalences of current AR and atopic current AR were 29.0% and 18.7%, respectively. Male, sex parental AR, antibiotic use in infancy, mold exposure during the last 12 months, mold exposure during infancy, and atopic sensitization were risk factors for current AR. Breast-milk feeding was a protective factor for atopic current AR. Aeroallergen sensitization was an important risk factor for AR.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Prevalence* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis* ; Risk Factors* ; Skin

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012. Demographic data, detection methods, treatment indication, regimens, durations, compliance, adverse events, and eradication results for H. pylori infection were collected. Data of 3,700 patients from 34 hospitals were analyzed. The overall eradication rate of the first-line therapy was 73.0%. Eradication failure was significantly associated with old age, concomitant medication, and comorbidity. Regional differences in eradication rates were observed. The most common first-line therapy was proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy (standard triple therapy, STT) for 7 days (86.8%). The eradication rates varied with regimens, being 73% in STT, 81.8% in bismuth-based quadruple therapy, 100% in sequential therapy, and 90.3% in concomitant therapy. The eradication rate in treatment-naïve patients was higher than that in patients previously treated for H. pylori infection (73.8% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001). The overall eradication rate for second-line therapy was 84.3%. There was no statistical difference in eradication rates among various regimens. H. pylori eradication rate using STT is decreasing in Korea and has become sub-optimal, suggesting the need for alternative regimens to improve the efficacy of first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Registries ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012. Demographic data, detection methods, treatment indication, regimens, durations, compliance, adverse events, and eradication results for H. pylori infection were collected. Data of 3,700 patients from 34 hospitals were analyzed. The overall eradication rate of the first-line therapy was 73.0%. Eradication failure was significantly associated with old age, concomitant medication, and comorbidity. Regional differences in eradication rates were observed. The most common first-line therapy was proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy (standard triple therapy, STT) for 7 days (86.8%). The eradication rates varied with regimens, being 73% in STT, 81.8% in bismuth-based quadruple therapy, 100% in sequential therapy, and 90.3% in concomitant therapy. The eradication rate in treatment-naïve patients was higher than that in patients previously treated for H. pylori infection (73.8% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001). The overall eradication rate for second-line therapy was 84.3%. There was no statistical difference in eradication rates among various regimens. H. pylori eradication rate using STT is decreasing in Korea and has become sub-optimal, suggesting the need for alternative regimens to improve the efficacy of first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Registries ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome