PURPOSE: The prevalence of atopic diseases has been increasing remarkably. The less frequent opportunities for infection early in life, especially mycobacteria exposure, parallel this higher prevalence of atopic diseases. Bacille Calmette-Gu rin (BCG), a potent inducer of Th1 immune response, has been suggested to suppress Th2 response which is known to mediate IgE-mediated atopic disorders. This study was done to investigate whether there is any relation between the number of BCG scars and the prevalence of atopic disorders in early childhood. METHODS: We surveyed 393 parents with a children who were given percutaneous multi- puncture BCG vaccination within four weeks after birth. The main questions concerned the past history and present illness of physician-diagnosed atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis), the number of BCG scars (range; 0-18), and potential confounders such as gender, parental atopy, maternal smoking and environmental cofactors. The prevalence rate of each atopic disease was measured and analysed according to the number of BCG scars. RESULTS: Each prevalence rate was 18.1% for atopic dermatitis, 9.4% for bronchial asthma, 14.6% for allergic rhinitis, and 32.3% for any of them. All of them had received BCG vaccination during the first four weeks of life. The children with 15 or more BCG scars had a significantly lower prevalence of any atopic disease (22/99, 22.2%) as compared to those with four scars or less (51/125, 40.8%) by simple regression analysis. (P value=0.02) But this association was not significant after controlling for potential confounders. (P value= 0.26) CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrated a weak relation between a larger number of BCG scars and less atopy development at early childhood. But the relation was not so significant. Further studies are needed.
Asthma ; Child ; Cicatrix* ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Parents ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Punctures ; Rhinitis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

A prospective study was initiated to compare maternal serum concentration of CA-125 during the first trimester of normal and abnormal pregnancies. Serum specimens were obtained from 87 women with a normal intrauterine pregnancy and 47 women with abnormal pregnancies which were ended in spontaneo abortion or pathologically confirmed to be missed abortion. In normal pregnancies, the mean serum CA-125 concentrations were increased significantly from amenorhea 6 weeks (139.838.7 IU/ml), and were higher statistically than the values tested in the same weeks of abnormal pregnancies. In abnormal pregnancies serum CA-125 concentations were relatively lower than those of normal pregnancies. But these differences were not statistically significant except the values tested in amenorhea 6weeks. So serum levels of CA-125 may not be proved useful in monitoring of early pregnancies outcome.
Abortion, Missed ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Conventional open repair is a suboptimal therapy for blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) due to the high postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. Recent advances in the thoracic endovascular repair technique may improve outcomes so that it becomes an attractive therapeutic option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2003 to March 2012, 21 patients (mean age, 45.81 years) with BTAI were admitted to our institution. Of these, 18 cases (open repair in 11 patients and endovascular repair in 7 patients) were retrospectively reviewed and the early perioperative results of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward the reduction of mortality in the endovascular repair group (18.2% vs. 0%). There were no cases of paraplegia or endoleak. Statistically significant reductions in heparin dosage, blood loss, and transfusion amounts during the operations and in procedure duration were observed. CONCLUSION: Compared with open repair, endovascular repair can be performed with favorable mortality and morbidity rates. However, relatively younger patients who have acute aortic arch angulation and a small aortic diameter may be a therapeutic challenge. Improvements in graft design, delivery sheaths, and graft durability are the cornerstone of successful endovascular repair.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Endoleak ; Heparin ; Humans ; Paraplegia ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

Total anomalous pulmonary venous confluence(TAPC), a rare cyanotic congenital anomaly of the heart especially in adult, is now diagnosed by echocardiography instead of cardiac catheterization with high sensitivity and specificity. The key points are identification of pulmonary veins, pulmonary venous confluence draining anomalously to the heart. RVDVO on M-mode, abnormal echo free space posterior to left atrium on 2D-echo are basic characteristics of TAPVC. Peak velocity and flow profile measurement on the doppler provide additional informations : obstruction and anomalous vessels. A case of 23 year old male with supracardiac type TAPVC diagnosed by echocardiography was corrected successfully by surgery.
Adult* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography* ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

The familial environment may also play an important role in the epidemiology of HCV infection through vertical and horizontal transmission by infected household members. However, it is still controversial whether familial clustering of HCV occurs. We experienced a case of familial clustering of hepatitis C virus. A 10-year old girl presented with nausea, vomiting and anorexia for a month was diagnosed as hepatitis C. Her mother, grandmother, a maternal aunt and her daughter had contracted with HCV. Her laboratory findings showed AST/ALT 63/122 IU/L, positive anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA (3.54 x 10(5) copies/mL). Pathologic findings of the liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with minimal lobular activity, mild porto-periportal activity and mild portal fibrosis. After treatment with interferon-alpha 2b for 6 months, the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings were normalized.
Anorexia ; Biopsy ; Child ; Cluster Analysis* ; Epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Liver ; Mothers ; Nausea ; Nuclear Family ; RNA ; Vomiting

Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition of obscure etiology characterized by headache, papilledema and raised intracranial pressure in the absence of a space-occupying lesion. We have experienced a case of pseudotumor cerebral complicated by acute frontal sinusitis associated with mild intracranial meningeal inflammation. We have checked the intracranial pressure through serial lumbar puncture before and after medication and conservative management. Symptom were resolved gradually upon lowering the intracranial pressure by serial lumbar puncture and conservative management. So we report a case with brief review of the literature.
Frontal Sinus* ; Frontal Sinusitis* ; Headache ; Inflammation ; Intracranial Pressure ; Papilledema ; Pseudotumor Cerebri* ; Spinal Puncture

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological effects of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a newly emerged infectious disease, on doctors. METHODS: After the MERS outbreak was over, we conducted an online survey of doctors who worked at the hospitals in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed or who were directly involved in MERS diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessment methods were used to assess the severity of depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among the 64 doctors participating in the survey. RESULTS: The results of the survey indicate that 26.6% (n=17) of participants exhibited depressive symptoms and 7.8% (n=5) had post-traumatic stress symptoms. The doctors employed at hospitals with MERS cases had higher PHQ-9 and IES-R mean scores than those in doctors were not so employed. In contrast, there was no significant difference in those test scores between doctors who participated directly in MERS diagnosis and treatment and those doctors who did not. CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated that 28.1% (n=18) of doctors involved in MERS care suffered from depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms, even though the MERS infection was being controlled. Working at a hospital with MERS cases was the primary determinant of the adverse psychological outcomes among doctors ; however, direct participation in the diagnosis and care of MERS patients was not significantly related to such outcomes.
Communicable Diseases ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Depression ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Middle East*

PURPOSE: To clarify the behavior of the lumbar spine under vertical compressive load and follower compressive load and to confirm the effect of the follower load on the stability of the spinal column using finite element method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Describing follower compression test to overcome underestimation of load carrying capacity, the problem in existing ex-vivo lumbar spine compression test, with finite element analysis, comparing with the result of simple vertical compressive load, we analyze the property of kinetic behavior. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column, analyze it about vertical compressive load and follower compressive load. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. With compressive load, change of lumbar spinal curve is so much, that geometrical analysis should be done. RESULTS: Under the follower compressive load, the vertebral column was so stiff that vertical displacement of the upper end plate of L1 was markedly reduced, comparing with that under the simple vertical compressive load. Sagittal rotation of that upper end plate was also decreased in the opposite direction. Compressive load on the intervertebral disc was evenly distributed along the entire column. The bending moment at each disc was reduced in the opposite direction. A lesser A-P shear force occurred at the intervertebral disc. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of lumbar spine, the stability and load carrying capacity was increased largely, and the compressive load was transmitted through the column in a more pattern, when follower compressive load applied. This can provide the basis for explaining the difference of early buckling occurrence reported in ex-vivo testing, and load carrying capacity of the lumbar spine in-vivo, but, for more precise replication of behavior of lumbar spine in-vivo to variable loading. A invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Natural Resources ; Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc ; Inventions ; Spine*