No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute*

No abstract available.
Bronchiectasis* ; Humans ; Infant*

The hair growth of the scalp is influenced by many systemic and local factors. So the study of standard hair growth rate is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of some pathological conditions. That study has not been done well in Korea. The present study was to establish the standard hair growth rate of the scalp of healthy Koreans at different ages. The investigations were carried out on 509 individuals of both sexes whose ages ranged between 2 and 69 years. The subjects were grouped according to 5 age periods. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The mean value of the daily scalp hair growth rate was 0.401+ 0.037mm. 2. The daily hair growth rate of each groups were as follows: under 10 years of age; 0.367+0.032mm, in the teenagers; 0.419,+0. 032mm, in the twenties0.398+0.037mm, in the thirties and fourties; 0.394+0.034mm, above 50 years of age 0.386+029mm. 3. Sex differences of each age groups in the scalp hair growth were not statistically significant.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Hair* ; Humans ; Korea ; Scalp ; Sex Characteristics

No abstract available.
Myelitis, Transverse*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To identify clinical and laboratory features of atypical Kawasaki disease(KD), and to develop criteria for early diagnosis of atypical KD patients. METHODS: All patients with KD treated at our hospital from January 1998 to June 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among a total of 167 patients, 28(16.8%) were atypical KD of which seven(25%) were infants. Among the five cardinal symptoms, oral mucosal change(96.4%) occurred most frequently, followed by conjuntivitis(57.1%) and rash(46.4%). Most notable laboratory findings were anemia, and increased erythrocyte sedementation rate(ESR) or C-reactive protein(CRP). Coronary artery abnormalities developed in seven(25.8%) atypical KD patients, compared with 14.4% in typical KD patients. We considered oral mucosal change as major criterion, and conjunctivitis, rash, hematocrit <35% and ESR >30 mm/hr or CRP >3.1 mg/dL as minor criteria. Proposed modification in diagnostic criteria for atypical KD include fever of >or=5 days;major criterion+>or=2 minor criteria, or fever of >or=5 days+4 minor criteria. CONCLUSION: The modified diagnostic criteria has yielded a sensitivity 89.3%. Our diagnostic criteria may be used for early diagnosis of atypical KD.
Anemia ; Conjunctivitis ; Coronary Vessels ; Early Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) in Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unclear. We investigated the clinical significance of hyponatremia, and the role of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1beta in the development of hyponatremia and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in KD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty KD patients were prospectively enrolled and analyzed for clinical and laboratory variables according to the presence of hyponatremia or SIADH. RESULTS: Thirteen KD patients (26%) had hyponatremia and 6 of these had SIADH. In patients with hyponatremia, the percentage of neutrophils (% neutrophils), C-reactive protein (CRP), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were higher than in those without hyponatremia, while serum triiodothyronine (T3) and albumin were lower. Patients with hyponatremia had a higher incidence of intravenous immunoglobulin-resistance but this was not statistically significant. No differences existed between patients with and without SIADH with regard to clinical or laboratory variables and the incidence of IVIG-resistance. Serum sodium inversely correlated with % neutrophils, CRP, and NT-proBNP, and positively correlated with T3 and albumin. Serum IL-6 and IL-1beta levels increased in KD patients and were higher in patients with hyponatremia. Plasma antidiuretic hormone increased in patients with SIADH, which tended to positively correlate with IL-6 and IL-1beta levels. CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia occurs in KD patients with severe inflammation, while increased IL-6 and IL-1beta may activate ADH secretion, leading to SIADH and hyponatremia in KD.
C-Reactive Protein ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Neutrophils ; Peptide Fragments ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; Triiodothyronine

A group of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) initially present with cervical lymphadenitis or deep neck infection. These unusual KD presentations lead to unnecessary antibiotic therapy or surgical intervention, thereby delaying intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and increasing the risk of coronary artery damage. We present four KD patients whose initial presentations mimicked a retropharyngeal abscess. Nonsuppurative cervical lymphadenitis or suspected neck abscess unresponsive to intravenous antibiotics could signal the possibility of KD.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphadenitis ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Neck ; Retropharyngeal Abscess

BACKGROUND: The basal ganglia plays a major role in regulating motor, cognitive and emotional functions. In addition, it has been proposed that the functions of the basal ganglia is also related to control of sensory discrimination and sensorimotor integration. One possible way to test this hypothesis would be to investigate sensory functions in patients with various diseases affecting basal ganglia functions. Since idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is caused by selective impairment of basal ganglia functions, it could be a good model for this purpose. METHODS: We measured the grating resolution threshold (GRT) using the JVP (Johnson-Van Boven-Phillips) dome in 52 patients with IPD and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Statistical analysis employed unpaired t-test, paired t-test and simple regression analysis. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: Patients showed significantly higher GRT than controls (3.07 +/- 0.74 vs 2.03 +/- 0.80; p<0.05). In patients, the mean GRT was not different between symptomatically dominant and non-dominant hands (3.10 +/- 0.95 vs 2.93 +/- 0.82). In the patients with hemiparkinsonism, GRT was also significantly higher in asymptomatic hands compared with controls (3.00 +/- 0.71 vs 2.03 +/- 0.80; p<0.05). The severity of sensory dysfunction in patients was not correlated with symptom duration or to symptom severity, measured by the modified Columbia rating scale (MCRS). CONCLUSIONS: The present results demonstrate that spatial discrimination is impaired in IPD, suggesting the basal ganglia plays a role in sensory regulation.
Basal Ganglia ; Discrimination (Psychology)* ; Dopamine ; Hand ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease* ; Regression Analysis ; Sensation

BACKGROUND: Bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is known as an effective neurosurgical procedure for the treatment of advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Although short- and long-term effects of STN stimulation in PD are relatively well known, an interim analysis of its efficacy is essential for us to continue with this procedure in the future. We present the clinical outcome of 6 month follow-up in patients who were assessed in our hospital after bilateral STN stimulation. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with PD treated with bilateral STN DBS were included in this study. The effect of STN DBS was assessed at 6 months after surgery, which included the followings; motor disability in 'DBS- off/on, medication-off/on' states, activity of daily living (ADL) in 'medication-off/on' states, levodopa-induced motor complication, daily levodopa and levodopa-equivalent dosage, neuropsychological assessment and quality of life. RESULTS: Nineteen patients completed the follow-up assessment. STN stimulation produced significant improvements in the motor disability score both during 'medication-off' and 'medication-on' states. The ADL score was improved only in 'medication-off' states. The amount of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and response fluctuation also significantly decreased. Scores of Korean version of Mini-mental status examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) did not change. Daily levodopa and levodopa-equivalent dosages were significantly reduced. No serious side effect was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral STN DBS is a relatively safe and beneficial treatment for PD patients with levodopa- induced motor complications. In order to obtain a better prognosis in the future, we should assess the long-term outcome and the clinical predictive factors of STN DBS.
Activities of Daily Living ; Alzheimer Disease ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Depression ; Dyskinesias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Parkinson Disease ; Prognosis ; Subthalamic Nucleus