No abstract available.
Neural Conduction*

BACKGROUND: Determination of left ventricular(LV) myocardial mass with echocardioraphy is feasible and validated. American society of echocardiography(ASE) issued recommendations for the quantitation of the left ventricle by M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography in 1978 and 1989, respectively. Although some controversies exist regarding the relative accuracy of M-mode and 2-dimensional techniques, many workers now agree that 2-dimensional methods are more accurate and can be applied to a higher percentage of patients. But sometimes the validated methods are not optimal when parasternal short axis view is difficult to obtain, when the ventricle is distorted, or when scar tissue constitutes a portion of the myocardial volume. METHODS: We measured left ventricular mass in 72 normal subjects using three different methods-ASE cube method with correction in M-mode(method A), area-length method from parasternal short axis view and apical four chamber view(method B), and the method using Simpson's rule from apical four chamber view(method C). RESULTS: 1) LV mass(index) was 161.8+/-30.3g(98.7+/-15.6g/m2) by method A, 166.2+/-32.8g(101.2+/-16.5g/m2) by method B, and 161.2+/-31.8g(98.2+/-15.5g/m2) by method C. 2) LV mass or index by method B was significantly different from that by method A(p<0.001) and from that by method C(p<0.001). However there was no significant difference in LV mass or index between by method A and C(p>0.05). 3) There was a strong correlation between LV mass or index by the method A and B(r=0.873, p<0.001), by the method B and C(r=0.923, p<0.001), and by the A and C(r=0.945, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the method using Simpson's rule can reliably assess LV mass, although it results in smaller value that that by area-length method.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cicatrix ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

Prader-Willi syndrome is characterized by infantile hypotonia, mental retardation, hyperhagia, hypogonadism and obesity. Approximately 60% of all PLW syndrome show an interstitial deletion of chromosome 15, 37% have apparently normal chromosome, and 3.6% have a variety of other abnormalities involving chromosome 15. Diabetes mellitus has been considered a component of PLW syndrome and the incidence is about 7%. We experienced a 17-year-old female who revealed mental retardation, hypogonadism, obesity, and non-insulin dependent type DM, compatible with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Adolescent ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Obesity ; Prader-Willi Syndrome*

This study was undertaken to document the effect of transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2(TGF-beta2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of pig retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). Whereas bFGF increased the proliferation, TGF-beta2 showed the inhibitory effect on the proliferation The inhibitory effect of TGF-beta2 disappeared in RPE subcultured with 10ng/ml of bFGF. Both TGF-beta2- and bFGF-specific antisense oligonucleotides blocked the autocrine effect of the growth factors. PLC-71 -specific antisense oligonucleotide inhibited the effect of TGF-beta2 and bFGF. Genistein inhibited the effect of TGF-beta2 and bFGF in dose-dependent man, ner. The data suggest the involvement. of in PLC-/1 and tyrosine kinase in signalling.
Epithelial Cells* ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Genistein ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Retinaldehyde* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2*

This is a report of clinical study on the 63 patients of symptomatic urinary tract infection who were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics in Kangnam General Hospital during the period between the May of 1989 and the September of 1992. The observation results were as follows: 1) The frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) was the highest in children under the age of one year (66.7%). 35 patients were male, while the other 28 were female. The ratio of male and female patients was 1.25:1. 2) Fever was observed in most of the cases. Systemic nonspecific manifestation was predominant in the infancy and early childhood, whereas local symptom of UTI was predominant in the late childhood. Among the 35 male patients, 32 cases were phimoses. As for the other 3 cases, Phimoses were not identified. 3) E. coli had the most frequency (65.3%), followed by Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas in descending order. 4) In the vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test, Gram negative organisms such as E. coli Klebsiella, Enterobacter were sensitive to cefotaxime, amikacin, and ampicillin/sulbactam. Meanwhile, Gram positive organisms such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus were sensitive to vancomycin and cephradine. 5) The renal ultrasonography test was performed for 59 patients, 13 cases of whom showed abnormal findings. 6 cases out of the 13 abnormal patients had hydronephrosis. 6) DMSA renal scan was performed for 40 patients within 2 months of an acute pyelonephritic attack. Signs of pyelonephritic change were found in 18 patients. DMSA scan was repeated 4~12 months later in 4 of these patients. This showed renal cortical scarring in all patients. 7) Voiding cystourethrographic findings in 38 patients showed vesicoureteral reflux in 13 patients. 8) We performed urine culture again after 48 hours from the beginning of therapy and 85.5% of the cases became sterile. 9) The recurrent percentage of UTI was 23.8% with the ratio of 1:1.5 between male and female. Most of the patients were clildren under the age of one year. 10) Operations were made on two cases showing the increase of reflux during the follow-up of unilateral Grade ll and Grade 3 reflux, respectively. Operations were also performed on other two cases with bilateral Grade IV reflux. All the cases were good after the operations. In the meantime, as for another two cases having the right reflux of Grade lland the bilateral reflux of Grade lll, the refluxes were able to be reduced by prophylaxis only, in the course of following up.
Amikacin ; Cefotaxime ; Cephradine ; Child* ; Cicatrix ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Infant* ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Phimosis ; Pseudomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Succimer ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vancomycin ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

No abstract available.
Busan* ; Infection Control*

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is very difficult because of no specific clinical and laboratory findings. It also takes at least 48 hours of incubation period to isolate the organism by culture study. So several laboratory tests have been evaluated for their usefulness in rapid detection of the neonatal sepsis. Those are evaluated either singly or in combination with a defined scoring system include leukocyte count with differential count, platelet count, C-reactive protein level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haptoglobin level, fibronectin level, leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and so on. But no single test or combination with others has proved superior to the leukocyte count and differential count as a reliable indirect indicator of neonatal bacterial infection. We performed this study to determine the appropriate screening test for early detection of neonatal sepsis. METHODS: During the period of May 1991 through April 1997, we selected 200 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kon-Kuk University Medical Center Seoul Hospital. All of the cases were retrospectively evaluated and divided two groups; sepsis group-88 neonates who were confirmed by blood cultures, and control group-112 neonates who had no evidence of neonatal bacterial infection. RESULTS: The results were as follows; 1) The sex ratio of male to female was 1.5:1 in the sepsis group and showed significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). The incidence of neonatal sepsis in prernature infant was higher in sepsis group than control group (P<0.05), and mean body weight was lower in sepsis group (2351.4148.3g) than control group (Z821.8 142.6g) significantly (P<0.05). 2) Predisposing perinatal factors associated with neonatal sepsis were premature rupture of membrane (> or = 24hrs) (14.5%) meconiurn staining (6.8%), asphyxia (Apgar score < or = 6 at 5mins) (5.7%), eclampsia and preeclampsia (4.5%), maternal infection (3.4%) and bleeding (including placenta previa, abruptio placenta) (1.1%) in order of frequency. Among th, only premature rupture of membrane was significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). Others risk factors including umbilical catheterization, endotracheal intubation, ventilatory care, total parenteral nutrition were also signi- ficant difference between two groups (P<0.05). 3) The common presenting symptoms of neonatal sepsis were jaundice (48.9%), poor feeding (45.5%), ternperature instability (43.2%), lethargy (30.7%), irritability, dyspnea, diarrhea, vomiting, tachypnea, and cyanosis in order of frequency. Among the above symptoms, poor feeding, dyspnea and cyanosis were significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). 4) The peripheral blood findings (leukocyte count, platelet count, ESR) showed no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05). The acute phase reactants (APR) score above two (37/88) and positive C-reactive protein (51/88) in the sepsis group were regarded as significantly high compared to the control group. 5) In the cases with APR score above two including positive C-reactive protein and abnormal total leukocyte count, sensitivity was 17.0%, specificity 97.3% positive predictive predictive value 83.3%, and negative predictive value 60.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The higher frequency of neonatal sepsis was proved in the cases of APR score above two including positive C-reactive protein. In the cases with abnormal total leukocyte count and APR score above two including positive C-resctive protein, the specificity was 97.3% and the positive predictive value was 83.8%. So APR score above two including positive C-reactive protein and abnormal total leukocyte count could be regarded as an useful test method for early detection of neonatal sepsis.
Academic Medical Centers ; Acute-Phase Proteins ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Asphyxia ; Bacterial Infections ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cyanosis ; Diarrhea ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis* ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fibronectins ; Haptoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Jaundice ; Lethargy ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Membranes ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Placenta Previa ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Sepsis* ; Sex Ratio ; Tachypnea ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: According to the statistics announced by the Ministry of Unification, the number of North Korean refugees living in South Korea has increased by 200 on average monthly in 2010. The number of refugees increased only by 300 annually until 2000. The total number of refugees as of February 2012 was 20,956. This study aims to investigate the psychobiology of the North Korean refugees who consulted psychiatric clinics among those living daily life in South Korea. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 85 North Korean refugees that consulted psychiatric clinics from January 1, 2005 to July 2011. This study obtained demographic and psychiatric information in a retrospective approach. RESULTS: Among the 85 North Korean refugees, 75 (88.2%) were females and their average age was 48 years of age. A total of 16 (18.8%) were admitted to a clinic and among the inpatients, 4 were admitted twice and two were admitted three times. As for the claimed symptoms of outpatients, insomnia was shown in 47 (55.3%) patients, headaches in 37 (43.5%), anxiety in 20 (23.5%), depression in 19 (22.4%), etc. The major symptoms represented by inpatients were insomnia in 14 (87.5%) patients, depression in 12 (75%), and headaches in 8 (50%), etc. CONCLUSION: The most frequent psychiatric symptoms of North Korean refugees living in South Korea were insomnia and headaches. It suggests that when performing psychiatric diagnosis and treatment of North Korean refugees, we have to take into consideration the fact that they claimed the physical symptoms more than the emotional ones. Also, from the aspect that most symptoms of North Korean refugees were insomnia, more profound research on sleep is required in the future.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mental Disorders ; Outpatients ; Refugees ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

BACKGROUND: The recent experimental observations suggested that location of M. leprae in the Schwann cells was mediated by epineurial and endoneurial endothelial cells, giving M. leprae access to the inner compartment of nerves and thus to Schwann cells. CD1 is a family of nonpolymorphic beta2-microglobulin-associated transmembrane glycoproteins that is structurally related to classical MHC Ag-presenting molecules, but is encoded by a separate genetic locus. Recent reports have described that human T cells specifically recognize foreign lipid and glycolipid antigens presented by CD1 proteins. Thus, it appeared likely that CD1 represents the key component of a MHC - independent pathway for antigen presentation to T cells. OBJECTIVE: we observed expression of antigen presenting molecules, such as MHC class I, II and CD1, in the vascular endothelial cells and inflammatory cells of leprosy skin lesion. METHODS: MHC class I, II and CD1 expression were studied using immunohistochemical stains. RESULTS: 1. In immunohistochemical stain of HLA-A, B, C, the level of expression in vascular endothelial cells of the borderline tuberculoid leprosy is higher than that of borderline lepromatous leprosy, but lower than that of normal skin tissue. 2. In HLA-A,B,C expression of the inflammatory cells, the level of borderline tuberculoid leprosy is higher than that of borderline lepromatous leprosy and of normal skin tissue(p>0.05). 3. Expression levels of HLA-DP, DQ, DR on endothelial cells decrease significantly in order of normal tissue, borderline tuberculoid leprosy, borderline lepromatous leprosy, lepromatous leprosy(p<0.05). 4. Expression levels of HLA-DP, DQ, DR on inflammatory cells decrease in order of lepromatous leprosy, borderline lepromatous leprosy, borderline tuberculoid leprosy, normal tissue, but statistical significance did not exist. 5. In immunohistochemical stains of CD1b, 3 sections of all 4 normal skin sections and 1 section of 3 borderline tuberculoid leprosy sections showed focal positivity on the dermal inflammtory cells, but borderline lepromatous leprosy sections did not show any positive inflammatory cells. 6. Epidermal Langerhans cells showed positivity on immunohistochemical stains of CD1a and CD1b. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that expression of MHC class I and II on the vascular endothelial cells and expression of CD1b on the inflammatory cells decrease in order of immunity of lepromatous skin lesion and that vascular enothelial cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Antigen Presentation ; Coloring Agents ; Endothelial Cells* ; Genetic Loci ; Glycoproteins ; HLA-A Antigens ; HLA-DP Antigens ; Humans ; Langerhans Cells ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Borderline ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Leprosy, Multibacillary ; Leprosy, Paucibacillary ; Leprosy, Tuberculoid ; Schwann Cells ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes

Congenital pericardial defect is relatively rare and two different types, partial and complete, of different clinical significance have been recognized. Most reported defects are complete type and left-sided lesion. Most patients are asymptomatic or complain of vague chest pain. Partial pericardial defect can be potentially fatal due to cardiac herniation and strangulation or coronary insufficiency. Plain chest reontgenography shows abnormal prominence along the cardiac border. 2-D echocardiography demonstrates a drop-off of pericardial echo and protruding cardiac chamber through the defect. Because of the potential fatality, surgical repair is recommended for the partial pericardial defect. We report a case of congenital partial left pericardial defect, which was diagnosed by plain chest reontgenography and 2-D echocardiography, with related literatures.
Chest Pain ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Thorax