In addition to classical synaptic transmission, information is transmitted between cells via the activation of extrasynaptic receptors that generate persistent tonic current in the brain. While growing evidence supports the presence of tonic NMDA current (INMDA) generated by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs), the functional significance of tonic I(NMDA) in various brain regions remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that activation of eNMDARs that generate I(NMDA) facilitates the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate receptor (AMPAR)-mediated steady-state current in supraoptic nucleus (SON) magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs). In low-Mg2+ artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), glutamate induced an inward shift in I(holding) (I(GLU)) at a holding potential (V(holding)) of -70 mV which was partly blocked by an AMPAR antagonist, NBQX. NBQX-sensitive I(GLU) was observed even in normal aCSF at V(holding) of -40 mV or -20 mV. I(GLU) was completely abolished by pretreatment with an NMDAR blocker, AP5, under all tested conditions. AMPA induced a reproducible inward shift in I(holding) (I(AMPA)) in SON MNCs. Pretreatment with AP5 attenuated I(AMPA) amplitudes to ~60% of the control levels in low-Mg2+ aCSF, but not in normal aCSF at V(holding) of -70 mV. I(AMPA) attenuation by AP5 was also prominent in normal aCSF at depolarized holding potentials. Memantine, an eNMDAR blocker, mimicked the AP5-induced I(AMPA) attenuation in SON MNCs. Finally, chronic dehydration did not affect I(AMPA) attenuation by AP5 in the neurons. These results suggest that tonic I(NMDA), mediated by eNMDAR, facilitates AMPAR function, changing the postsynaptic response to its agonists in normal and osmotically challenged SON MNCs.
alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid* ; Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Dehydration ; Glutamic Acid ; Memantine ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neurons ; Receptors, AMPA ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Synaptic Transmission

This study represents the first epidemiological study based on the national registry of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Korea. Patient data were collected from 23 major hospitals. A total of 152 patients with PID (under 19 yr of age), who were observed from 2001 to 2005, have been entered in this registry. The period prevalence of PID in Korea in 2005 is 11.25 per million children. The following frequencies were found: antibody deficiencies, 53.3% (n = 81), phagocytic disorders, 28.9% (n = 44); combined immunodeficiencies, 13.2% (n = 20); and T cell deficiencies, 4.6% (n = 7). Congenital agammaglobulinemia (n = 21) and selective IgA deficiency (n = 21) were the most frequently reported antibody deficiency. Other reported deficiencies were common variable immunodeficiencies (n = 16), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 15), IgG subclass deficiency (n = 4). Phagocytic disorder was mostly chronic granulomatous disease. A small number of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiency were also registered. Overall, the most common first manifestation was pneumonia. This study provides data that permit a more accurate estimation PID patients in Korea.
Adolescent ; Agammaglobulinemia/congenital/epidemiology ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency/epidemiology ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/epidemiology ; Humans ; IgA Deficiency/epidemiology ; IgG Deficiency/epidemiology ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/*epidemiology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Job's Syndrome/epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Registries ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency/epidemiology ; Sex Distribution ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome/epidemiology ; Young Adult

The hand hygiene behavior of 400 middle school students (grades 1-3) in Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do was studied to determine how stages of change were affected by food safety education, focusing on hand hygiene and general food safety. Subjects were 51.3% male and 44.3% of study subjects were first graders of middle school. Approximately 40% of subjects were at the stage of action, 42.7% were at the stage of contemplation, and 16.4% were at pre-contemplation. The most important factor that influenced proper hand washing was self efficacy (P < 0.001). Proper hand washing was also correlated significantly with positive belief (P < 0.01) and stages of change (P < 0.01). After food safety education by high-school mentors, middle-school students who were in the stages of pre-contemplation (11.1%) and contemplation (88.9%) showed significant progression toward the action stage (P < 0.001). Proper hand washing (P < 0.01) and food safety knowledge (P < 0.05) were also significantly increased after educational intervention.
Food Safety ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Male ; Mentors ; Self Efficacy

Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Recurrence ; Tooth

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Several studies have reported that (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is physiologically increased at the intact vocal cord in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis, which is explained by a compensatory mechanism of the intact vocal cord. We aimed to evaluate internal laryngeal muscles related to phonation and the compensatory mechanism in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD : We performed (18)FDG-PET imaging and neck computed tomography (CT) scan in the normal control group composed of 13 subjects and the paralyzed group composed of 11 patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The two groups were divided into two groups, phonating and silent, before performing (18)FDG-PET. (18)FDG-PET and neck CT images by Syntegra. A specialist in nuclear medicine performed all the test measurements, the standardized uptake value (SUV) in the interarytenoid muscle (IA), both thyroarytenoid muscles (TA), and both lateral cricoarytenoid muscles (LCA). The mean SUVs were statistically analyzed. RESULTS : In the Normal-Phonating group, the mean SUV of IA was the highest, with 3.68+/-0.96 (Mean+/-SD), followed by that of LCA, with 2.34+/-0.67. However, when compared with the same muscles in the Phonating-Silent group, only the SUV of IA was significantly increased by phonation. In the Paralyzed-Silent group, the SUV of TA in the intact side was the highest, with 2.30+/-0.39. In the Paralyzed-Phonating group, the SUV of TA in the intact side, IA, and LCA in the intact side were 5.88+/-2.65, 3.92+/-1.65, and 3.87+/-1.37, respectively. When compared with the same muscles in the Phonating-Silent group, the SUVs of TA and IA were significantly increased. CONCLUSION : The muscle related to the compensatory mechanism in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis is thyroarytenoid muscle in the intact side. The interarytenoid muscle plays a major role in the mechanism of phonation in humans.
Humans ; Laryngeal Muscles* ; Muscles ; Neck ; Nuclear Medicine ; Phonation* ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Specialization ; Vocal Cord Paralysis* ; Vocal Cords

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the behavioral and emotional problems associated with nocturnal enuresis in Korean children. METHODS: Three hundred eighteen children with nocturnal enuresis, together with their parents, completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Disruptive Behavior Disorder Scale according to DSM-IV (DBDS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSC). Ninety-three normal students were selected as the control group. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, the mean scores with regard to the withdrawn, social problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, externalizing problems and total problems profiles were significantly higher in the nocturnal enuresis group according to the CBCL results. The nocturnal enuresis group also scored significantly higher in the ADHD and ODD profiles of the DBDS. The nocturnal enuresis group was more depressed and anxious than the control group according to the results of the CDI and STAI. The mean score of the PHCSC was significantly lower in the nocturnal enuresis group when compared to the normal control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that children with nocturnal enuresis in Korea have clinically relevant behavioral and emotional problems. The findings support the link between nocturnal enuresis and psychopathology in Korean children.
Anxiety ; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders ; Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Korea ; Nocturnal Enuresis* ; Parents ; Psychopathology ; Social Problems

PURPOSE: Nocternal enuresis is a common disorder. Tricyclic antidepressant and desmopressin have been accepted pharmacological treatment for this disorder. We conducted a cooperative study to investigate the efficacy and adverse reactions of imipramine, desmopressin and combination treatment in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis(PMNE). METHODS: Data from a large multicenter study were analysed. In the period of 8 months in 2002, the study comprised of 168 children(78 boys and 90 girls, 5 to 15 years old) with PMNE for imipramine, desmopressin or combination treatment. Before treatment a history, physical examination and laboratory tests were performed and the children were observed for 2 weeks. Response rate, adverse reactions and enuresis episodes after stopping drug administration were evaluated after 12-weeks of imipramine, desmopressin or combination of both. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the frequency of bed wetting in all treated patients decreased during treatment significantly. Even though a 30-50% reduction in the number of wet nights were 68.6%, 74.4% and 86.1% during 12 weeks treatment by imipramine, desmopressin and both of them respectively, there was no significant difference between them. The most common adverse reaction was decreased appetite from imipramine administration. But no serious drug-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Efficacy of the combination therapy of imipramine and desmopressin in PMNE appears not to be better than either drug alone. It is necessary to pay attention on account of adverse reactions during imipramine treatment even though imipramine and desmopressin were generally well tolerated.
Appetite ; Child ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin* ; Enuresis ; Female ; Humans ; Imipramine* ; Nocturnal Enuresis* ; Physical Examination

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Parotid Gland ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Ducts ; Salivary Glands ; Salivary Glands, Minor

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obese and underweight adolescents in Incheon area and to examine the relationship between serum cholesterol level and obesity, then to assess the nutritional condition of adolescents. METHODS: With a questionnaire regarding their demographic characteristics, blood samples were obtained from apparently healthy students aged 12 to 24 years by venipuncture at April and May, 2000. We measured the obesity index using standard body weight and the body mass index(BMI) according to the criteria established by the Korean Pediatric Society in 1998. Obesity was defined as BMI more than 95 percentile, and underweight less than 15 percentile by age and sex. RESULTS: A total of 1,456 students(M:F=685:771) aged 12 to 24 years were included in this study. The prevalence of obesity by standard body weight in adolescents in Incheon were 11.7%:mild obesity 6.5%, moderate 4.6%, and severe 0.5%. By BMI, the prevalence of obesity was 6.4% in males and 6.2% in females. In males, the prevalence of obesity in rural areas was 8.5%, lower than in urban areas(14.3%). The prevalence of underweight by obesity index was 34.1% in rural areas and 22.9% in urban areas. In females, the prevalence of obesity was 12.5% in rural areas and 19.6% in urban areas. There were no significant differences between the two regions(P=0.529). The prevalence of obesity increased with age till 16.3% of peak prevalence in 16 years of age, and then decreased. In males, the prevalence of obesity in academic and vocational school were 13.7% and 9.7%, respectively(P=0.116). In females of the academic and vocational school, the prevalence of obesity was 6.8% and 18.0%, respectively(P=0.001). In obese adolescents, serum total cholesterol was over 200 mg/dL in 6.2%. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the prevalence of obesity in adolescents was about 12% and that the prevalence of underweight adolescents was considerably high. We think nutritional assessment and intervention are warranted for adolescent students.
Adolescent* ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Incheon* ; Male ; Nutrition Assessment ; Obesity* ; Phlebotomy ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinness*

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) frequently occurs in adolescents because of accelerated physical growth in boys and girls. This was aimed at assessing the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA in apparently healthy Korean adolescents according to the gender and age. METHODS: Apparently healthy students(M: F=1: 1.2) aged 11 to 24 years were included in this study and blood samples were obtained from April to May, 2000. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell indices, serum ferritin, iron and total iron-binding capacity were measured. RESULTS: In males, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 15.7% in the 11~12 years group, 16.1% in the 13~14 years group, 9.9% in the 15~16 years group, and 6.4% in the 17~18 years group. In females, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 26.8% in 11~12 years group, 27.9% in the 13~14 years group, 38.8% in the 15~16 years group, 36.0% in the 17~18 years group, 30.9% in the 19~24 years group. The prevalence of IDA in males was 3.6% in 11~12 years, 2.1% in 13~14 years group, 1.9% in 15~16 years group, and 0.6% in 17~18 years group. The prevalence of IDA in females was 4.2% in 11~12 years, 9.7% 13~14 years, 20.4% in 15~16 years, 16.2% in 17~18 years group, and 12.4% in 19~24 years group. CONCLUSION: As the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA were substantially greater than expected, studies of iron state in adolescent girls, especially middle to high school age, should be undertaken to assess iron deficiency.
Adolescent* ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Iron* ; Male ; Prevalence