PURPOSE:There is a clear sexual dimorphism in circulating concentration of leptin in adulthood. However, we don' know when such dimorphism begins and how much pubertal development influences on it. So we examined body composition and circulating concentrations of leptin according to Tanner stage(TS). METHODS:We examined 112 children(M; 56, F; 56, Age; 8.5-17 yr) to evaluate the relationship of leptin and body composition. Body composition was determined by bioelectric impedence measurements(BIA) and by anthropometry. Leptin was measured by human specific RIA. Leptin level was analysed according to TS, body mass index(BMI), fat mass(FM), and lean body mass. RESULTS:BMI and free FM was correlated with TS in both sexes. FM was closely correlated with TS in girls but not in boys(M; r=0.08, P=0.54. F; r=0.73, P>0.001). Leptin levels increased in girls with advanced TS(r=0.355, P<0.01), but decreased in boys(r=-0.339, P<0.01). A strong exponential relationship was observed for leptin levels with BMI, FM, and percentage body fat as determined by BIA. There was significant sexual dimorphism of leptin level at TS VI/V. Because leptin level was significantly related FM, leptin level was normalized to FM(Leptin/FM). Leptin/FM of females(0.67+/-.27 ng/mL/kg) was also significantly higher then that of males(0.31+/-.15 ng/mL/kg)(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that plasma leptin levels increase in girls and decrease in boys after TS II as pubertal development proceeds; they show a significant gender difference, especially late puberty, even after adjustment for FM. Sexual dimorphism in leptin during puberty reflects not only differential changes in body composition but also different leptin resistance; reference ranges of leptin could be modified by TS and gender.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent* ; Anthropometry ; Body Composition* ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Plasma ; Puberty ; Reference Values

PURPOSE:There is a clear sexual dimorphism in circulating concentration of leptin in adulthood. However, we don' know when such dimorphism begins and how much pubertal development influences on it. So we examined body composition and circulating concentrations of leptin according to Tanner stage(TS). METHODS:We examined 112 children(M; 56, F; 56, Age; 8.5-17 yr) to evaluate the relationship of leptin and body composition. Body composition was determined by bioelectric impedence measurements(BIA) and by anthropometry. Leptin was measured by human specific RIA. Leptin level was analysed according to TS, body mass index(BMI), fat mass(FM), and lean body mass. RESULTS:BMI and free FM was correlated with TS in both sexes. FM was closely correlated with TS in girls but not in boys(M; r=0.08, P=0.54. F; r=0.73, P>0.001). Leptin levels increased in girls with advanced TS(r=0.355, P<0.01), but decreased in boys(r=-0.339, P<0.01). A strong exponential relationship was observed for leptin levels with BMI, FM, and percentage body fat as determined by BIA. There was significant sexual dimorphism of leptin level at TS VI/V. Because leptin level was significantly related FM, leptin level was normalized to FM(Leptin/FM). Leptin/FM of females(0.67+/-.27 ng/mL/kg) was also significantly higher then that of males(0.31+/-.15 ng/mL/kg)(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that plasma leptin levels increase in girls and decrease in boys after TS II as pubertal development proceeds; they show a significant gender difference, especially late puberty, even after adjustment for FM. Sexual dimorphism in leptin during puberty reflects not only differential changes in body composition but also different leptin resistance; reference ranges of leptin could be modified by TS and gender.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent* ; Anthropometry ; Body Composition* ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Plasma ; Puberty ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that house dust mite allergy is an important cause of the atopic dermatitis(A.D). However, it is not clear that. what factors may be related to the development of the mite illergy in patients with AD. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to see whether the presence of a familial background of RA implies a relationship to the mite allergy in AD. METHODS: Skin prick test and fluoroallergosorbent, test (FAST) with house dust mit,e were performed in 47 patients wih AD. RESULTS: 1. In comparison the esult of prick test with that of FAST to house dust mite antigen, it showed a concordance ra!e of 82%. And the prick test was more sensitive than the FAST. 2. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions was significantly increased in the patients with AD who had a family hitory of RA than those in patients with AD who had neither family or personal history of RA. 3. The level of specific IgE against house dust mite did not relate to the presence of family cr personal history of RA. 4. The prevalence of positive prick test results did not relate to the presence of family or personal history of RA. 5. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions, the level of specific IgE, and the rate of positive prick test results did not relate to the severity of skin involvement. 6. The most common allergens which caused positive skin reactions were house dust, cat fur, Dermatophagoides farinac, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, et al. Antigen score of prick test to 55 common antigens wa. significant increased in the patients with AD who had a family history of RA, but did not relat to the severity of skin involvement or the presence of personal history of RA. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that type I allergy to the house dust mit,e is not directly related to AD perse. This type of allergy to the mite seems to occur predominantly in those patient s with AD who have a farilial background of RA.
Allergens ; Animals ; Cats ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ischemic preconditioning protects the heart against infarction or arrhythmias from a subsequent ischemic injury. Recent laboratory data indicate that the adenosine during the ischemic period may trigger protection via A1 or A3 adenosine receptor and also protein kinase C(PKC) plays a central role. This study was designed to determine the role of adenosine receptor subtypes and PKC in the preconditioning protection. METHODS: All cat heart groups were subjected to 40min ischemia and 30min reperfusion. The preconditioning protocol consists of 4min ischemia and then 10min of reperfusion 4 times. The effects of ischemic preconditioning, nonselective adenosine receptor blocker(SPT), an A1 specific antagonist(DPCPX) and protein kinase C inhibitor(Polymyxin B), on ischemic preconditioning were determined by infarction size. There were 5 groups : (1) control group (Group 1, n=10)(2) Ischemic preconditioned group(Group 2, n=9)(3) DPCPX pretreatment group(Group 3, n=6)(4) SPT preteatment group(Group 3, n=6)(5) Polymyxin B pretreatment group(Group 5, n=6). SPT and DPCPX were given intravenously 5 min before ischemic preconditioning. Polymyxin B was administered to cats for 30min during ischemic preconditioning period. RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning only or pretreatment with DPCPX prior to preconditioning demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size(22.6+/-1.5, 25.4+/-0.9% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.05) with respect to control, SPT-pretreatment, and polymyxin B-pretreatment groups(44.0+/-1.7, 43.0+/-2.0 and 40.3+/-0.4% infarction of the risk zone, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic preconditioning protects heart from subsequent ischemia. Protection was blocked by SPT and protein kinase C inhibitor(polymyxin B), but not by A1 antagonist DPCPX. The cardioprotective effects by ischemic preconditioning in the in vivo cat heart appear to be dependent on A3 adenosine receptors and activation of protein kinase C.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cats* ; Heart* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Polymyxin B ; Polymyxins ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

PURPOSE: Pseudohypoparathyroidism(PHP) is caused by a defect of G protein and receptor despite of normal parathyroid hormone(PTH) secretion. It is a rare disorder characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphophatemia, elevated PTH levels and albright hereditory osteodystrophy(AHO). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics of PHP. METHODS: We reviewed clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcome to treatment of 8 PHP patients, diagnosed at Seoul National University Hospital from 1988 to rool. RESULTS: Male to Female ratio was 1.7:1 and mean age at diagnosis was 11.8 years old. The initial average height SDS was 0.13+/-.08 and the average weight SDS was 0.43+/-.31. The most common symptom was seizure. Only one patient had typical AHO, three patients had mental retardation. Brain MRI or CT showed basal ganglia calcification in 3 patients. All patients treated with vitamin D and calcium supplementation could maintained normal serum levels of calcium and phophorus. CONCLUSION: PHP should be suspected in patient with seizure of unknown origin, aged above 5 year-old. AHO and mental retardation could be adjuvant signs to the diagnosis of PHP. But definite diagnosis could be made by laboratory work up.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Calcium ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Intellectual Disability ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Vitamin D

No abstract available.
Animals ; Female ; Horns* ; Humans ; Uterus*

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine differentiation and expression of drug resistance may affect the response to chemotherapy and the prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. We conducted retrospective study to evaluate the possibilities of neuroendocrine differentiation and drug resistance markers being used as prognostic factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Immunohistochemical staining of NSE, PgP and GST-pai with polyclonal antibodies in pathologic specimens of 47 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were done. The relationship between the expression of the markers and the response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and the overall survival were assessed. RESULTS: NSE staining was positive in 17% and there was no difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. NSE positive patients showed increased response rate (63% vs 26%, p=0.049) and prolonged response duration (15.8mo vs 4.5mo, p=0.0007). But there was no difference in overall survival between NSE positive and negative groups. The PgP positive rate was 17% and GST-pai positive rate was 47%. No correlations were found among the expression of drug resistance, the sensitivity to chemotherapy and overall survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer with positive NSE showed increased response rate to chemotherapy and prolonged response duration but overall survival was not related to NSE expression. Expression of PgP and GST- were not important in predicting the prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Neurons* ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Puberty is a rapid changing periods of body composition and endocrine system. Already leptin was known to be closely related to body composition and was known to change according to Tanner stage. Ghrelin, a natural GH secretagogue, was also known to be related with weight change, fat utilization, insulin secretion, and influenced by sex steroid. But the relationship between ghrelin and other parameter according to pubertal development is not established yet. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 101 peripubertal children (54 males and 47 females) aged 8.5 to 17.0 years. We examined body composition (free fat mass, fat mass, % body fat) by bioelectric impendence measurements. Total ghrelin, leptin, insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Relationship between ghrelin, leptin, insulin and body composition data was analysed according to Tanner stage controlling gender using SPSS ver 11.0. RESULTS: Ghrelin concentration is only correlated with Tanner stage (r=-0.21, P<0.05) and GIR (r=0.29, P<0.01). When we divided subjects by sex, even though there was no difference of ghrelin level between both sex, only male is correlated with Tanner stage (r=-0.28, P<0.05) and GIR (r=0.36, P<0.01). There was no difference of ghrelin level between each Tanner stage and no correlation was observed with other body composition and endocrine parameter including leptin. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Ghrelin levels decrease during puberty at least in boys as pubertal development proceeds but it is minimal. During puberty, ghrelin levels are stable. Ghrelin may have no relationship with other pubertal change. The relation of ghrelin and insulin sensitivity need to be further investigated.
Adolescent ; Body Composition ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Endocrine System ; Ghrelin* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; Male ; Puberty* ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia in adults. We identified the effect of obesity measured by BMI and insulin resistance on dyslipidemia in children and adolescents. METHODS: The fasting serum insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were measured and insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) was calculated in 35 children with simple obesity(age : 10.6+/-2.8 years; male 20, female 15; BMI : 27.1+/-5.4 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: The hypertriglyceridemia(37%), hyperinsulinemia(54%) and HDL-hypocholesterolemia(5.7 %) were observed. HOMA-IR was well expressed by fasting insulin. As BMI increased, there was a statistically significant increase in insulin resistance and insulin level in both sexes. BMI was not related with lipid profile in both sexes. Triglyceride was correlated with only insulin level and insulin resistance index in boys. In girls, there was no correlation between triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and insulin(insulin resistance). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hypertriglyceridemia was dependent on insulin resistance in pre-adult males. Monitoring of insulin resistance and those risk factors known to become a part of insulin resistance syndrome should become part of routine medical care for obese children.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Dyslipidemias* ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin* ; Male ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

Hemodialysis that to maintain life quality and may be preliminary stage of kidney transplantation is essential in end-stage renal disease(Esrd) patients. Since 1996, Brescia-cimino are used to internal radio- cephalic fistula and this fistula method was the most popular in world-wide. And then variable methods (e.g, Autogenous, PTFE, Dacron etc.) were usually tried instead of above standard fistula. We experienced 75 fistulas in 62 cases from Jan. 1993 to Dec. 1996 and among 75 fistula operations standard radio-cephalic fistula was 56, brachio-cephalic fistula 10, graft fistula 9. Early patency failure rate of A-V fistula was 9 cases, 14.5%. Significant factors to effect in patency of A-V fistula were propably diabetic mellitus, venous diameter, graft material and were not related to age/sex, blood pressure, BUN/creatinine etc. In conclusion the reduction of early patency failure rate in A-V fistula is to maintain long patency rate of A-V fistula
Blood Pressure ; Fistula ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplants