BACKGROUND: This study examined the change in the trabecular bone score (TBS), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who underwent thyrotropin (TSH)-suppressive therapy for treating papillary thyroid cancer after a total thyroidectomy procedure. METHODS: We evaluated 36 postmenopausal women who received a total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer and were undergoing TSH suppressive therapy with levothyroxine. Postmenopausal women (n=94) matched for age and body mass index were recruited as healthy controls. The aBMD and TBS of the lumbar spine were compared between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and at follow-up after an average of 4.92 years. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of diagnoses of osteoporosis, osteopenia, or normal bone status between the 2 groups during the baseline DXA evaluation. However, the TBS was significantly lower whereas aBMD did not show significant difference at the time of baseline DXA measurement (1st DXA, 1.343±0.098 vs. 1.372±0.06317, P < 0.001; 2nd DXA, 1.342±0.095 vs. 1.370±0.062, P < 0.001). The TBS and aBMD did not differ significantly between the initial and follow-up DXA images in both groups of TSH suppressive patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The average value of TBS and aBMD did not significantly change during the follow-up period. The TSH suppressive therapy was revealed as not a significant factor for the progressive deterioration of bone status during long term follow-up.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Postmenopause ; Spine ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine

The relationship between anti-Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibody levels and the prevalence of malaria in epidemic areas of South Korea was evaluated. Blood samples were collected from inhabitants of Gimpo-si (city), Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (county) in Gyeonggi-do (province), as well as Cheorwon-gun in Gangwon-do from November to December 2004. Microscopic examinations were used to identify malaria parasites. ELISA was used to quantitate anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies against P. vivax. A total of 1,774 blood samples were collected. The overall CSP-ELISA-positive rate was 7.7% (n=139). The annual parasite incidences (APIs) in these areas gradually decreased from 2004 to 2005 (1.09 and 0.80, respectively). The positive rate in Gimpo (10.4%, 44/425) was the highest identified by CSP-ELISA. The highest API was found in Yeoncheon, followed by Cheorwon, Paju, and Gimpo in both years. The positive rates of CSP-ELISA were closely related to the APIs in the study areas. These results suggest that seroepidemiological studies based on CSP may be helpful in estimating the malaria prevalence in certain areas. In addition, this assay can be used to establish and evaluate malaria control and eradication programs in affected areas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malaria, Vivax/*blood/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium vivax/*immunology/physiology ; Prevalence ; Protozoan Proteins/immunology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 1993, and is likely to continue to affect public health. The purpose of this study was to measure levels of anti-P. vivax antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in border areas of ROK, to determine the seroprevalence of malaria (2003-2005) and to plan effective control strategies. Blood samples of the inhabitants in Gimpo-si, Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (Gyeonggi-do), and Cheorwon-gun (Gangwon-do) were collected and kept in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Out of a total of 1,774 serum samples tested, the overall seropositivity was 0.94% (n=17). The seropositivity was the highest in Paju-si (1.9%, 7/372), followed by Gimpo-si (1.4%, 6/425), Yeoncheon-gun (0.67%, 3/451), and Cheorwon-gun (0.19%, 1/526). The annual parasite incidence (API) in these areas gradually decreased from 2003 to 2005 (1.69, 1.09, and 0.80 in 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively). The highest API was found in Yeoncheon-gun, followed by Cheorwon-gun, Paju-si, and Gimpo-si. The API ranking in these areas did not change over the 3 years. The seropositivity of Gimpo-si showed a strong linear relationship with the API of 2005 (r=0.9983, P=0.036). Seropositivity data obtained using IFAT may be useful for understanding malaria prevalence of relevant years, predicting future transmission of malaria, and for establishing and evaluating malaria control programs in affected areas.
Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malaria, Vivax/*epidemiology ; Plasmodium vivax/*immunology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

PURPOSE: Dexamethasone intramuscular injection and oral prednisolone have been known to be effective in the treatment of croup. The aim of this study was to determine whether nebulized budesonide leads to clinically important improvement in respiratory symptoms within four hours for child with mild to moderate croup. METHODS: Patients with croup visited to the department of Pediatrics, Han Il General Hospital from March 1995 to June 1996 were enrolled in this study. Patients were eligible if their age was between six months and six years, their total croup score was higher than 2 after breathing humidified air for at least 15 minutes. 28 patients were treated with 2mg (8ml) of nebulized budesonide and 8 patients with 8ml of normal saline as control group over the 30 minutes. Croup score, heart rate and respiratory rate were then assessed hourly for up to four hours. Side effects were also observed. RESULTS: 1) The croup score was improved from 3.6+/-0.8 to 1.9+/-0.9 at 4 hours after the nebulized budesonide treatment. 2) No significant differences in changes in heart rate were observed until 4 hours after both the nebulized budesonide group and control group. 3) Significant decrease in respiratory rate was observed at 4 hours after the nebulized budesonide group. 4) No specific side effects were noted during and 4 hours after the nebulized budesonide treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that nebulized budesonide leads to a prompt and important clinical improvement in children with mild to moderate croup without any specific side effects.
Budesonide* ; Child ; Croup* ; Dexamethasone ; Heart Rate ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Pediatrics ; Prednisolone ; Respiration ; Respiratory Rate

Amebiasis is an infectious disease caused by Entameba histolytica. Amebiasis remains an extremely important consideration in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, especially when there is associated bleeding. It is imperative that appropriate studies to establish or exclude the diagnosis of amebiasis be carried out in all patients who present with a clinical and sigmoidoscopic picture of colitis, and that patients treated with metronidazole for amebiasis have adequate clinical and parasitological follow-up. We have experienced one case of intestinal amebiasis with protein losing enteropathy in 30month-old boy whose chief complaint was mild fever, vomiting and blood tinged diarrhea. His laboratory findings were compatible with protein losing enteropathy. The diagnosis of amebiasis is confirmed by observation of trophozoite of E. histolytica in the stools. A brief review with related literatures is also presented.
Amebiasis ; Colitis ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Dysentery, Amebic* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Metronidazole ; Protein-Losing Enteropathies* ; Tolnaftate ; Trophozoites ; Vomiting

A 12-year-old girl with hypertension, hypokalemia, cystic ovaries and absence of secondary sexual development is presented. Hormonal study revealed very low levels of cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and high levels of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, FSH and ACTH. Following treatment with dexamethasone and estrogen, the levels of the latter group remarkably decreased. Serum potassium level and blood pressure also became normal. With all the above hormonal profile and clinical findings, we reached the diagnosis of 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency and report this case with the review of literature.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Corticosterone ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Ovary ; Potassium ; Progesterone ; Sexual Development ; Testosterone

Quantitative morphological or histological features within the hepatic acinus were studied to determine the proportional difference of tissue components by regions or zones in different ages in the male albino rat of the Sprague-Dawley strain. In the newborn rat, weighing about 6 gm. there were lesser cytoplasmic and greater nuclear volumes per unit volume of the hepatic cell than for these components of the hepatic cells of the adult rat weighing about 160 gm. No difference between the volume occupied by the hepatic sinusoid per unit volume of the hepatic acinus was found. In the newborn rat the ratio of hits on cytoplasm of the hepatic cell to hits on nuclei of the hepatic cell throughout the zones of the hepatic acinus was fairly uniform. However, the hepatic sinusoid of Zone 3 or the pericentral area was wider than that of the other zones. In the adult rat the ratio of hits on cytoplasm to hits on nuclei of the hepatic cell throughout the zones of the hepatic acinus was not significantly different. However, the hepatic sinusoid of Zone 3was wider than that of Zone 2 and the sinusoid of Zone 3 was not significantly different from that of Zone 1 in volume. Consequently it was concluded that the quantitative morphological or histological features of hepatic tissue components conformed to the points of regions or zones of the hepatic acinus in different ages in the normal albino rat.
Age Factors ; Animal ; Animals, Newborn/analysis ; Cell Nucleus ; Cytoplasm ; Human ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver/cytology* ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Rats

Histological studies were carried out on the degranulation of mesenteric mast cells of white rats caused by injections of morphine and nalorphine hydrochloride intravenously and the following conclusions were obtained. 1. By the injection of morphine hydrochloride fairly significant degranulation of the mesenteric mast cell was observed. 2. In various experimental doses of morphine hydrochloride the cytological change of the degranulation was not proportional to the doses of it in cases given more than 12mg./kg. of body weight. 3. The degranulating effect of the mesenteric mast cell by the injection of morphine hydrochloride was significantly inhibited by an adrenalectomy.
Adrenalectomy ; Animal ; Male ; Mast Cells/drug effects* ; Mesentery/drug effects* ; Morphine/antagonists & inhibitors ; Morphine/pharmacology* ; Nalorphine/pharmacology ; Rats

Group totalling 55 young rabbits (both sexes), whose right optic nerves had been severed intraorbitally, were fed for 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks respectively. The retina of the left eye was used as a control and that of the right eye for the experiment. The histochemical changes of cholinesterase, acid phosphatase and ribonucleic acid in the reitna after to severance of the optic nerve were observed for 8 weeks after section. In the retina of the young rabbit, whose visual connection to the central nervous system was blocked, there was a decreasing specific cholinesterase activity beginning at the 4th week after the section of it. By the 8th week, the enzyme activity in the perikaryon of the ganglion cell and the inner plexiform layer was considerably decreased. Acid phosphatase activity in the young rabbit's retina peaked at the 2nd week, but decreaseed below normal after the 4th week. This rapid decline of acid phosphatase activity was characteristic in the experimental retinae and was in contrast to the rather slow alteration of enzymatic activity in neurons undergoing wallerian degeneration. Pyroninophilic granules contained in neural cytoplasm of the retina were affected by the surgical blocking of the visual connection with the central nervous system. By the 4th week the granules had partially disappeared from the perikaryon of the ganglion cell and from the inner nuclear layer. Consequently, as the result of histochemical studies, firstly it is postulated that the gradual decline of specific cholinesterase activity in the rabbit's retina was closely related to the intraorbital blocking of the optic nerve, and secondly, that the typical degeneration of the ganglion cell in the ganglion cell layer (which was associated with a partial disappearance of the ganglion cell) was related to the changes in the acid phosphatase activity and alteration of the pyroninophilic granules in the retina following optic nerve transection.
Acid Phosphatase/metabolism* ; Animal ; Cholinesterases/metabolism* ; Histocytochemistry ; Nerve Degeneration ; Neurons/enzymology ; Optic Nerve/surgery* ; Rabbits ; Retina/enzymology* ; Substances: ; Cholinesterases ; Acid Phosphatase

Morphological effects of degranulation upon me-senteric mast cells of albino rats (SPrague-Dawley strain) by means of lipid administration were studied. An evident degranulation of metachromatic granules from mesenteric tissue mast cells was observed in more than half of experimental rats which were intraperitoneally given 10cc of stearic monoglyceride suspension in warm Tyrode solution (5Omg. of stearic monoglyceride in 10cc of Tyrode solution). A fairly light degranulation of metachro-matic granules from mesenteric mast cells was also displayed by the rats fed ad libitum with butter for 6 hours after being deprived of food for 24 hours.
Animals ; Cytoplasmic Granules/*drug effects ; Lipids/*pharmacology ; Mast Cells/*drug effects ; Mesentery/cytology ; Rats