PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to obtain the normative data on serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in healthy Korean children and to evaluate the effects of age, sex, height, body mass index and pubertal maturation on the serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. METHODS: This study included 301 healthy Korean subjects in pediatric age group. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured twice using IRMA kit in each individual. The correlations between the serum levels of IGF-I or IGFBP-3 and age, auxological data or children's Tanner stages were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased in proportion to age progression, and their rates of increase were remarkable shortly before and during the puberty. The correlations between serum levels of IGF-1 and age, sex, height standard deviation scores, BMI, or pubertal maturation were significant(P<0.05). However, the serum levels of IGFBP-3 was correlated only with height standard deviation scores(P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between serum levels of IGF-1 and those of IGFBP-3(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although IGF-I and IGFBP-3 assays can be utilized for the evaluation of endogenous growth hormone status, the effects of age, sex, BMI, height and pubertal development on the levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 must be considered. Therefore, these results would be helpful as a normative data for the growth evaluation of children in Korea.
Adolescent ; Body Height* ; Child* ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Korea ; Puberty

This study was conducted to investigate the difference in activity of each part of Acer tegmentosum, for which there are few studies on α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and the compounds contributing to the activity. Among the barks, twigs, and leaves extracts of A. tegumentum, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of barks extracts was shown the highest inhibition. 6'-O-Galloyl salidroside (1), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (2), salidroside (3), procyanidin B2 (4) and procyanidin B2-3'-O-gallate (5) were isolated from barks using LC-QTOF MS/MS and molecular networking to identify compounds expected to contribute to high inhibition. The isolated compounds and two in-house compounds, catechin (6) and (+)-epigallocatechin (7) were evaluated for the αglucosidase inhibitory activity. As a result, compounds 1, 2 and 5 showed high inhibitory activity, and all three compounds commonly contain a galloyl moiety. Additionally, Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that compounds 2 and 5 had a strong correlation with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and quantitative analysis on each part revealed that barks had the highest content of the three compounds. These results demonstrate that extracts and compounds with a galloyl moiety from barks of A. tegmentosum might be a potential discovery of new drugs for antidiabetic effects.

BACKGROUND: Endemic areas of Clonorchis sinensis are in Asia including Korea, China, Taiwan and Vietnam. Its metacercariae consumed in uncooked, or undercooked, unfrozen fish can present human a hazard. Purposes of this study are 1) to observe the effect of each food-processing method and each storage method on C. sinensis metacercariae and 2) to suggest basis to be referred as an indicator in prevention. METHODS: Live metacercariae of C. sinensis in fish collected from Nakdong River in Korea were isolated by pepsin digestion, then were injected into the center of regular-sized muscle protein (1 cm3) of flesh water fish. The sample proteins containing metacercaria were processed according to each food-processing method (heating, frying, boiling) and each storage method (chilling, freezing, pickling with vinegar, salt and soybean sauce). After these procedures, the number of dead metacercariae were counted. RESULTS: It took 10 seconds to kill all the metacercariae in muscle protein in deep frying (180 degrees C), 30 seconds in boiling (100 degrees C) and 60 seconds in dry heating. Metacercariae did not lose all the viability in 4-6 degrees C after 40 days, but lost in -10degrees C and pickling after 5 days, and in salting (salt and soybean sauce) after 3 days. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the storing in low temperature and in such as vinegar, salt, and soybean sauce was not effective to lose the viability unless if it was kept for a long period of time. Among the food-processing methods, frying in soybean oil was the most effective method to lose the viability of metacercariae.
Acetic Acid ; Asia ; China ; Clonorchis sinensis* ; Digestion ; Freezing ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Korea ; Metacercariae ; Muscle Proteins ; Pepsin A ; Rivers ; Soybean Oil ; Soybeans ; Taiwan ; Vietnam

PURPOSE: This survey was intended to investigate the awareness and application of the asthma guideline among pediatricians. Insight into the feasibility in the guidelines can guide implementation strategies in the future and, if necessary, support the revision of the previous guideline. METHODS: This self-administered survey study was conducted with the data on 10 items of questionnaire about knowledge and implementation of Korean childhood asthma guideline. The data was analyzed using SPSS WINDOW 8.0. RESULTS: A total of 141 doctors out of 500 participants in the pediatric refresh course responded the questionnaire. Ninety-five percent of the responders were aware of guideline, but differences were found between the asthma management policies in the guideline and their habitual practice patterns. As far as the prescription of inhaled corticosteroid, approximately half of the responders followed the guideline. For peak flowmeter use, 57% of the responders never prescribed peak flowmeter and only 5% of the responders used peak flowmeter frequently. The barriers pediatricians face when applying the guideline in the practice were habitual management pattern, time limitation, low compliance, lack of knowledge and economic burden. CONCLUSION: The guideline for diagnosis and management of childhood asthma seemed to be recognized widely, however, the role of the guideline to change pediatricians habitual practice was limited. These data clearly indicate a need for further educational programs directed to both physicians and patients. Finally the development of more practical evidence- based guideline is needed
Asthma* ; Compliance ; Diagnosis* ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Prescriptions ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Alloantibodies against RBCs after transfusion of only platelet products are rarely reported except for RhD mismatched platelet transfusion. We report a case of anti-E antibody developed after transfusion of platelet concentrates. The patient was a 27- month male infant with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and was treated with IV immunoglobulin and IV Rh immunoglobulin. Anti-E antibody was detected after transfusion of 18 units of platelet concentrates for about 40 days. RBC alloimmunization was developed after transfusion of platelet products, which suggests platelet transfusion may be cause of RBC alloimmunization in childhood.
Blood Platelets* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Isoantibodies ; Male ; Platelet Transfusion ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic*

Rarely, surgical clips can migrate into the biliary tract after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and work as a nidus for biliary stone formation. We report a case of the development of a common bile duct (CBD) stone induced by surgical clip in a 57-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy 10 years ago. On computed tomography, a CBD stone with a metallic material was found, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed a CBD stone including a metallic clip. The stone was removed completely by ERCP, and the surgical clip was found along with the stone.
Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Common Bile Duct* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Instruments*

Intestinal lymphangiectasia is characterized by protein- losing enteropathy, and is diagnosed by a small bowel biopsy demonstrating dilated lymphatics in the mucosa, submucosa and serosa in the absence of coexistent inflammation. We report a case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia that occurred in a 2-year-6-month-old girl who was treated successfully with antiplasmin and octreotide. Initially, the patient was treated with a lipid restriction diet with medium chain triglyceride oil, but her symptoms were not relieved. This case shows that antiplasmin and octreotide therapy might be useful for treating refractory primary intestinal lymphangiectasia.
Biopsy ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane ; Octreotide* ; Serous Membrane ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: This study aimed to perform a systematic review of the reports on Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in the last 30 years (1980-2006) to investigate the intervals between outbreaks, change in the peak incidence age, and diagnostic methods. We also aimed to validate the proper diagnostic criteria for M. pneumoniae pneumonia. METHODS: We reviewed 62 original articles on M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean children. We analyzed the annual or seasonal variation, study areas, patient age, journal names, and the date of each report. Further, we checked the methods and criteria used for the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia. We also confirmed the proper mycoplasma antibody cutoff using the mycoplasma IgM titer as the gold standard. RESULTS: In the last 30 years, epidemic outbreaks of M. pneumoniae pneumonia occurred every 3 years, except in 1993-1994 and 1996-1997. Seasonal variations were also present and were most prevalent in October and November. The number of preschool children, especially those aged 3 years or younger, with M. pneumoniae pneumonia has increased (P<0.05). The mycoplasma antibody titer of 1:640 or greater was appropriate for diagnosing M. pneumoniae pneumonia, with an acceptable sensitivity and specificity of detection. CONCLUSION: We analyzed the results of studies on M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean children during the last 30 years. Infection in younger children is increasing, and further research is required to reveal the major cause of the changing epidemics.
Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Seasons ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Metastatic malignant tumors involving the thyroid gland are not as unusual as was once believed. They may in fact be more common than primary cancer of the thyroid, especially if careful screening is performed at autopsy. The origins of primary neoplasms that metasta size to the thyoid are myriad, but reports obviously indicate predminantly cancers of the kidney, breast, and lung and malignant melanoma. Occasienally, metastatic lesions from several gastrointestinal neoplasms such as colo-retal and esophageal carcinoma are seen, but metastasis from gastric cancer is very rare. We have seen one case of thyroid cancer metastasized from the stomach cancer. It simultaneously spread to the breast also and confirmed with gastrofiberscopic biopsy, fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid and excisonal biopsy of the breast. We report this case with reriew of literature.
Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Kidney ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cancer cell line is the basic material of various cancer research. Diverse cancer cell lines from various head and neck regions are needed for biologic research of head and neck cancer. However, cell lines derived from head and neck cancer are not common. Recently, we have established and characterized a novel human squamous carcinoma cell line, PNUH-12, from the hypopharynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Among trials of twenty cases of head and neck cancer, we established only one specimen succeeded culture passage over 50. We characterized the cell line as follows: growth pattern and curve, morphology using phase contrast microscope and transmission electromicroscope, chromosomal anaysis, flow cytometric analysis, tumorigenecity by xenograft of cell line into nude mouse and morphological comparison, expression of cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin, and P 53 mutation and its sequencing. RESULTS: PNUH-12 showed typical growth pattern of cancer cell line, representative morphological characteristics of squamous epithelial cell origin, multiple numerical and structural clonal abnormalities of chromosome, aneuploidy pattern of flow cytometry, and strong expression of cytokeratin. The formed tumor of nude mouse showed the identical histopathological phenotype (squamous cell carcinoma) of the original tumor of patient and similar morphology of PNUH-12. There was one point mutation of 78th base, C to G, in exon 7 of P53 gene. CONCLUSION: PNUH-12 can be a good control material and successufully bestowed to researchers for study of biology in head and neck cancer. There still needed more head and neck cancer cell lines from various regions and diverse cell types in future.
Aneuploidy ; Animals ; Biology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Line* ; Epithelial Cells ; Exons ; Flow Cytometry ; Genes, p53 ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Heterografts ; Humans* ; Hypopharynx* ; Keratins ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Mucin-1 ; Neck ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation ; Vimentin