• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2009

A review was given of the role of traditional morphometrics in plant morphological studies using 54 published studies in three major journals and others in Korea, such as Journal of Korean Forestry Society, Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy, Korean Journal of Breeding, Korean Journal of Apiculture, Journal of Life Science, and Korean Journal of Plant Resources from 1997 to 2008. The two most commonly used techniques of data analysis, cluster analysis (CA) and principal components analysis (PCA) with other statistical tests were discussed. The common problem of PCA is the underlying assumptions of methods, like random sampling and multivariate normal distribution of data. The procedure was intended mainly for continuous data and was not efficient for data which were not well summarized by variances or covariances. Likewise CA was most appropriate for categorical rather than continuous data. Also, the CA produced clusters whether or not natural groupings existed, and the results depended on both the similarity measure chosen and the algorithm used for clustering. An additional problems of the PCA and the CA arised with both qualitative and quantitative data with a limited number of variables and/or too few numbers of samples. Some of these problems may be avoided if a certain number of variables (more than 20 at least) and sufficient samples (40-50 at least) are considered for morphometric analyses, but we do not think that the methods are all mighty tools for data analysts. Instead, we do believe that reasonable applications combined with focus on objectives and limitations of each procedure would be a step forward.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2005

Purpose : Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura(HSP) is a systemic vasculitis, characterized by cutaneous palpable purpura, gastrointestinal(GI) symptoms, arthritis and renal involvement. In general, the prognosis is determined by GI complication as well as the severity of nephritis. In this study, we analyzed the statistical relationship between the GI symptom and other clinical findings for assessing the prognosis, and evaluated abdominal ultrasonographic findings for early diagnosis of this disease with atypical clinical presentation and early detection of serious GI complications. Methods : One hundred seventy seven patients with HSP in the Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1994 to June 2004, were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed charts about clinical and abdominal ultrasonographic findings, and classified our patients into two groups(GI-Sx(-), GI-Sx(+)) for statistical analysis. Results : The ratio of female to male is 1.5 : 1. The peak age incidence was five to eight years in 95 cases(53%). The GI symptoms appeared in 117 cases(66%), which include abdominal pain 115 (98 %), tenderness 45(38%), nausea and vomiting 35(30%), bloody stool 10(8.5%), diarrhea four(3.4%), rebound tenderness four(3.4%), and also intussusception and appendicitis were complicated in five and two cases respectively. GI-Sx(+) group had an increased risk of renal involvement and relapse than the GI-Sx(-) group. But there were no relationships about sex and age incidence, or other clinical and laboratory findings between two groups. Ultrasonographic findings in 98 patients with GI symptoms included small bowel thickening in 70 cases(71%) in which duodenum, jejunum and ileum were involved in 71%, 45.7%, 40% respectively, small bowel dilatation in 41 cases(42%), lymph node swelling in 46 cases(47%), and ascites in 25 cases(25.5%). Conclusion : GI symptoms in patients with HSP suggested increased risk of renal involvement and relapse. Abdominal ultrasonography could be helpful in the early diagnosis on atypical clinical presentation and early detection of serious GI complication in these patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1212-1218
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• 2005

Purpose : Forward pulmonary blood flow may be absent in some neonates with Ebstein's anomaly by anatomical or functional pulmonary atresia in association with the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, patent ductus arteriosus and tricuspid regurgitation. We reviewed the presentation and outcomes of symptomatic neonates with Ebstein's anomaly focusing on the pulmonary atresia. Methods : Clinical presentation and outcome of 15 symptomatic neonates with Ebstein's anomaly seen at Asan medical center from 1998 to 2004 were reviewed. Results : Ten(67%) of 15 patients showed no forward pulmonary blood flow and 6 of them had functional pulmonary atresia. $O_2$ saturation and pH were lower and cardiothoracic(CT) ratio in chest radiography was more increased in the patients with pulmonary atresia than in the patients without pulmonary atresia(P<0.05). pH and CT ratio were not different between the anatomical and functional pulmonary atresia group, but $O_2$ saturation was lower in functional atresia group(P<0.05). 13 patients(87%) were managed with $PGE_1$. 4 of 6 patients with functional pulmonary atresia were treated with inhaled nitric oxide. Surgery was performed in 1 of 5 patients without pulmonary atresia and in 8 of 10 patients with pulmonary atresia during follow-up period(mean 37 months). 3 patients(20%) died and none of patients without pulmonary atresia died. Conclusion : We found that most symptomatic neonates with Ebstein's anomaly had functional or anatomical pulmonary atresia. The neonates with Ebstein's anomaly who had no forward pulmonary blood flow were more symptomatic and needed surgery earlier. Further studies will be needed to distinguish effectively functional and anatomical pulmonary atresia and to manage appropriately neonates with functional atresia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.677-685
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• 2006

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate whether exogenous thyroxine($T_4$) treatment to alcohol-fed dams would ameliorate the detrimental effects of alcohol on the postnatal development of neuropeptide-Y(NPY)-containing neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the offspring. Methods : Time-pregnant rats were divided into three groups. An alcohol-fed group A received 35 calories of liquid alcohol diet daily from gestation day 6; control group B was fed a liquid diet in which dextrin replaced alcohol isocalorically; and alcohol＋$T_4$ group C received 35 calories of liquid alcohol diet and exogenous thyroxine subcutaneously. The features of the growth and maturation of rat brain tissue were observed at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 postnatal days via immunohistochemistry. Results : Group C showed prominent NPY immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex compared to group A and B at P7. In group C, NPY-containing neurons were widely distributed in the all layers of cerebral cortex after P14. Also, numerical decreases of NPY-containing neuron were not found according to increasing age in group C. A decrease of NPY-containing neurons, however, was clearly observed in group A compared to group C at P28. In the hippocampus, similar patterns appeared in groups B and C after P7. Especially, in groups B and C, NPY-containing fibers formed plexus in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus at P14. Conclusion : These results suggest that the increase of NPY synthesis caused by maternal administration of exogenous thyroxine may convalesce fetal alcohol effects, one of the effects of the dysthyroid state following maternal alcohol abuse.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1340-1347
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• 2006

Purpose : The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of polymorphic cytosine adenine (CA) repeat of the IGF-I gene in the age-related alterations of serum IGF-I levels in healthy children. Methods : Two hundred and forty three normal healthy children (136 boys; 107 girls) aged between 7 and 15 years were enrolled in the present study. The primers were designed to cover the promoter regions containing the polymorphic CA repeat. Data were analyzed using GeneMapper software, version 3.7. All analyses were performed using MEDCALC software packages. Results: Deletion of 2 bp (G, A) following 3' of CA repeat were observed in all Korean children. The CA repeat sequences ranged from 17 to 23, and 19 CA repeat were the most common with an alleles frequency of 39.3 percent. Considering genotypes, 63.8 percent of subjects were homozygote or heterozygote for 19 CA repeat (192 bp allele), suggesting that this is wild type allele from which all other alleles originated in Korean children. Homozygote for 19 CA repeat were 14.7 percent, heterozygote for 19 CA repeat was 49.1 percent and 19 CA noncarriers totalled 36.2 percent. In 19 CA repeat noncarriers, the mean height, weight and serum IGF-I level were lower compared with those of 19 CA homozygous carriers, but statistically not significant. Correlations between serum IGF-I level and age according to the IGF-I genotypes revealed statistically significant relationships in the all groups, in the 19 CA repeat carrier group and, even in the noncarrier group. Conclusions : There were no significant differences of the mean height, weight and serum IGF-I levels among three different genotype groups. Also, there were no significantly different correlations between 19 CA repeat polymorphisms and serum IGF-I levels, according to genotype. Our results suggest that the IGF-I 19 CA repeat gene polymorphism is not associated with circulating IGF-I levels in healthy children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.447-453
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was performed to compare complications and perinatal factors according to the birth weight groups in the infants of diabetic mothers(IDM). Methods : Three hundred and one singleton diabetic mothers and their babies of more than 30 weeks' gestational age admitted in the department of Pediatrics, Chonnam University Hospital from January 1996 to March 2002 were enrolled. Complications and perinatal factors were compared between large for gestational age(LGA) and appropriated for gestational age(AGA) infants. Results : Hypomagnesemia was observed in 37.5%, jaundice in 21.3%, hypoglycemia in 11.1%, hypocalcemia in 7.0%, and birth injury in 19.6%. Congenital anomaly was noted in 24.9% with cardiovascular anomaly most commonly. In the LGA group, the frequencies of jaundice, hypoglycemia, tachypnea, and birth injuries were higher, and the interventricular septum was thicker than the AGA group. In the LGA group, Cesarean section rate, maternal height, weight before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, and the incidence of unawareness of gestational DM were significant compared with the AGA group. Conclusion : In the LGA group, the frequencies of jaundice, hypoglycemia, tachypnea, and birth injuries were higher, and the interventricular septum was thicker than the AGA group. In the LGA group, maternal height, weight before pregnancy and weight gain during pregnancy were larger, and the incidence of unawareness of gestational DM was higher compared with the AGA group. These results suggest that careful examination and management are needed to detect the high risk, pregnant DM mothers with possible LGA babies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.798-803
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to examine the effectiveness of the head-up tilt test (HUT) for the diagnosis of syncope or presyncope in children and adolescents. Methods : HUT results and clinical features of 160 children and adolescents with syncope or presyncope were studied from May 2003 through March 2008 at the Chonbuk National University Hospital. The children and adolescents were subjected to $70^{\circ}$ HUT for 45 minutes. The testees were divided into 2 groups: group I (children) comprising 39 children in the age range 7-12 years (mean, $10.59{\pm}1.60$ years) and group II (adolescents) comprising 121 adolescents in the age range 13-20 years (mean, $15.93{\pm}2.28$ years). Positive result rates of the HUT and types of hemodynamic response to the test in the 2 groups were compared. Results : Of the 160 testees, 92 (57.5%) showed positive HUT results; they showed 3 patterns of response to tilting. Twelve patients showed a predominantly vasodepressor response; 10 patients showed a cardioinhibitory response; and 70 patients showed a mixed response. The positive result rates were 43.6% (17/39) and 62.0% (75/121) in groups I and II, respectively. Mixed response was the predominant positive hemodynamic response in both the groups. Conclusion : The HUT is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the condition of pediatric patients, including adolescents, with syncope. Further, it may be considered as the first step for evaluating the condition of such patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.930-937
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• 2009

Purpose : We evaluated the effectiveness of treatment and cardiac complications of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen for children in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. We also analyzed the possibility of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen to prevent complications such as Reye󰡑s syndrome caused by aspirin. Methods : One hundred eight children with Kawasaki disease were admitted in the pediatrics department from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008. Echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed during diagnosis, and the children were followed-up at 6-8 weeks after the diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed their characteristics and clinical results. Results : The children were assigned to receive either a high dose of aspirin with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (aspirin group) or a high dose of ibuprofen with IVIG (ibuprofen group). A total of 55 and 53 children were included in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively. The mean defervescence period was 6.5${\pm}$2.1 days in the aspirin group, and $6.9{\pm}1.9$ days in the ibuprofen group (P=0.309). The number of failed treatments, during and after treatment, was 8 in the aspirin group and 10 in the ibuprofen group (P=0.547). There were 11 initial cardiac complications in the aspirin group, and 14 in the ibuprofen group, but children who showed improvement at follow-up was 7 and 13 in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively (P=0.133). Laboratory findings were also improved in both groups. Conclusion : We can be considered whether we will replace high dose of aspirin by high dose of ibuprofen in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. Therefore, we can prevent the severe complications of aspirin use, such as Reye's syndrome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.772-777
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2 developmental tests-Korean Infant and Child Development Test (KICDT) and Korean Bayley Scale of Infant Development-II (K-BSID-II)-in the assessment of children with developmental delay. Methods : Twenty-eight children with suspected developmental delay, who visited the Department of Pediatrics in Asan Medical Center from February 2007 to June 2008 were enrolled. They were examined using both KICDT and K-BSID-II. The results of the tests were compared on the basis of 2 parameters: age group of the children and detection of organic brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The correlation between the results of the 2 tests was analyzed using SPSS. Further, intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated using SAS to examine consistency between the results of the 2 tests. Results : The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation with every KICDT score (P<0.01). The psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II was also significantly correlated with every KICDT score except the fine motor score (P<0.01). The mental developmental index of K-BSID-II showed significant correlation [Editor20] with the KICDT gross motor, fine motor, and language scores (P<0.05). Further, there was significant correlation between the psychomotor developmental index of K-BSID-II and the KICDT gross motor score (P<0.05). Conclusion : There was significant [Editor21]correlation between the results of KICDT and K-BSID-II for infants and children with developmental delay. Although our results suggest that KICDT is useful in assessing developmental delay, further research would be needed to standardize this test.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.869-874
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• 2009

Purpose : Short attacks of headache are present in the pediatric age group. Short-lasting headaches (SLH) have been infrequently reported in children and adolescents. This study aims to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of short-lasting headaches in children and adolescents. Methods : One hundred twenty-three consecutive patients attended the Chosun University Hospital Headache Center between March 2006 and July 2007. Among 123 headache patients, 44 patients with one key criterion, namely, recurrent headaches episodes of a few seconds to less than 30 minutes, were selected. Results : Of the 123 headache patients, 44 (35.8%, males 18, females 26) had SLH. The mean age was 9.24 years (range 2.3-14.2). The mean headache frequency was $11.50{\pm}10.30$ per month, mean severity was $4.86{\pm}1.36$ out of 10, and the mean PedMIDAS score was $7.97{\pm}17.51$. SLH was significantly more common in children <6 years old (10/22, 45.5%) than in ${\geq}6$ years old (34/101, 33.7%) (P=0.015). The nature of pain was pressure in 30.2%, stabbing in 27.9%, throbbing in 18.6%, and dull in 11.7%. In 52.4% patients, the pain occurred in the front, one side of the temple in 28.5%, both sides of the temple in 7.1%, and back in 4.8% patients. The duration of attacks was <6 minutes in 38% and ${\geq}6$ minutes in 61.4%. The intensity of the pain was 4-6 out of 10 in 75.0%, in 13.6% 1-3, and in 11.4% 7-10. Treatment was significantly effective in reducing the frequency, duration, and severity of headaches and the PedMIDAS score after 3 months (P<0.05). Conclusion : Short attacks of headache are common (35.8%) in children and adolescents. These are difficult to classify according to International Headache Society criteria. The outcome, after a period of 3 months to 2 years, was favorable in most patients. Further studies are needed to gather more data and to obtain a better description of these forms of headache in the pediatric group.