• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2004

Purpose: Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura (HSP) is a small-vessel vasculitic disease that most often affects the skin. Abdominal symptoms precede the typical purpuric rash of HSP in 14~36%. It is a challenge to diagnose HSP in the absence of a rash, because there are no biologic tests that can identify HSP with certainty, so we tried to find out the characteristic features of HSP gastroenteropathy without purpura before diagnosis. Methods: This study included 82 children with HSP who had been admitted or visited outward of the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital from 1995 to 2000. The cases that the onset of purpura preceded or coincided that of abdominal pain were defined as purpura-positive group. The cases that the onset of abdominal pain preceded purpura more than 1 week and purpura was not presented till diagnosed as HSP gastroenteropathy were defined as purpura-negative group. We compared and analyzed the clinical features of the two groups by reviewing the medical records retrospectively. To ensure the diagnosis of HSP gastroenteropathy, we conducted upper GI series, abdominal ultrasonogram, abdominal CT, endoscopy and/or skin biopsy. Results: The number of cases of purpura-positive group and purpura-negative group were 72 and 10, respectively. There is no difference between two groups in the incidence of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. Children with HSP gastroenteropathy had characteristic erosive or ulcerative lesions in the stomach or duodenum on esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or mural thickening of the small bowel on abdominal ultrasonogram, CT or upper GI series. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis in 3 of them, although biopsy specimen was taken from any areas of normal- appearing skin. In purpura-negative group, 9 patients improved by steroid therapy. Conclusion: In purpura-negative group, there is no diagnostic feature on the laboratory findings and clinical features. Therefore, to diagnose HSP gastroenteropathy in patients with abdominal pain in the absence of the characteristic rash, careful observation of clinical features and laboratory data, and prompt application of available diagnostic tools such as gastrointestinal endoscopy, radiologic study and skin biopsy are recommended. Early use of corticosteroid may reduce the suffering in these patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.643-648
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• 2007

Purpose : Sepsis is a common complication in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), seen especially in low birth weight (LBW) infants. A recent study showed that fungal or gram-negative sepsis is associated with a greater degree of thrombocytopenia than is seen with gram-positive sepsis. So, this study was undertaken to examine the platelet counts and platelet indices in LBW infants during episodes of sepsis. Methods : We analyzed 36 cases with culture-proven sepsis on chart review in LBW infants admitted to the NICU at Wonkwang University Hospital from January 2001 to June 2006. Results : Patients were grouped by organism type: gram-positive bacteria ($1,521{\pm}309g$, $31.3{\pm}2.9wk$, 15/36), gram-negative bacteria ($1,467{\pm}290g,\;30.6{\pm}3.6wk$, 17/36), and fungi ($1,287{\pm}205g,\;30.0{\pm}3.9wk$, 4/36). The most common organism was Staphylococcus epidermis and the incidence of thrombocytopenia was 88.9%. When compared with infants with gram-positive sepsis, those with gram-negative sepsis had significantly higher incidences of thrombocytopenia, lower initial platelet count, lower platelet nadir, and greater mean percentage decrease in platelet count from before the onset of sepsis. Those with fungal infections were similar to gram-negative sepsis, but they were not significant because of the small number of patients. And mean platelet volume (MPV) in sepsis was increased more significantly in time of platelet nadir than before the onset of sepsis. Conclusion : We conclude that decrease in platelet count was significantly greater in gram-negative sepsis than gram-positive sepsis, and also greater than fungal sepsis-which was insignificant because of the small number of patients-in LBW infants. And elevation in MPV will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in LBW infants.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2007

Objectives:Previous studies have suggested that S100B protein play an important role in the pathogenesis and progress of schizophrenia. In the present study, we evaluate the serum levels of S100B in the patients with schizophrenia, and compare them with those of healthy controls. Method:The serum S100B levels were measured by lectrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 21 schizophrenic patients (8 males, 13 females) and 27 normal controls(11 males, 16 females). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) was used to evaluate the symptoms of the patients with schizophrenia, and the correlation between PANSS subscale scores and serum S100B levels was examined. Results:No significant difference was found between the serum S100B levels of the schizophrenic patients($0.074{\pm}0.039$ng/ml) and those of the normal controls($0.072{\pm}0.030$ng/ml)(p=0.925). Correlationships between the high serum S100B level with high negative symptom scores(p=0.065) or with the low positive symptom scores(p=0.080) did not exist. Conclusion:The relation between serum S100B level and schizophrenia was not found in the present study. However, to confirm this result, further studies, such as measurement of S100 protein level in CSF, postmortem study, long-term follow-up study, and studies with other neurotrophic proteins are needed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between psychotic symptoms and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Methods : The study group was composed of 36 schizophrenic patients. Positive, negative, and disorganization symptoms were assessed using the PANSS. Verbal, visuospatial, attention, memory, and executive functions were assessed using a battery of cognitive tests. Results : Correlation analysis between symptom vs. cognitive measures showed that (a) positive symptoms were significantly correlated with no cognitive measures, (b) negative symptoms were significantly correlated with all cognitive measures, and (c) disorganization symptoms were significantly correlated with executive and memory measures. Correlation analyses between symptom vs. cognitive factors showed that negative-disorganization factor is significantly correlated with executive-memory factor. Conclusion : Significant relationships were confined mostly to frontal symptoms vs. frontal cognitive functions. Thus, the relationships may be mediated mainly by variations in severity of frontal pathology among patients.

• 건강소식
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• v.20 no.9 s.214
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• pp.12-13
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• 1996

각종 공해로 인한 오존층의 파괴와 더불어 피부에 생기는 암에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 피부암은 크게 양성종양과 악성종양으로 나눌수 있는데, 본 글에서는 대표적인 피부악성종양인 기저세포암, 편평세포암, 그리고 악성흑색종에 관하여, 각각의 원인(특히 태양광선과의 관계), 증상. 치료방법 및 예방법 등을 알아보고자 한다.

• 건강소식
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.28-29
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• 2008

인체에서 허리만큼 중요하면서도 천대받는 부위가 또 있을까? 허리가 아프면, 그저 '아이고 허리야'하는 식의 푸념과 파스 몇 장이면 족했다. 그런 허리가 나이 를 먹어서까지 온전할 리 있겠는가? 오랜 푸대접에 성이 날대로 난 허리가 노인들에게 퇴행성관절염과 디스크 등의 질환으로 앙갚음이라도 하려는 것 같다. 허나 아직은 늦지 않았다. 건강을 위한 노인들의 자각만으로 충분히 그런 증상들은 완화될 수 있다. 허리 펴고 싶은 노인들의 항변, 어디 한번 들어나 보자.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.265-269
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• 1985

Brunner's glands of the duodenum rarely develop proliferative lesions, occasionally in association with gastric hyperchlorhydria or chronic pancreatitis. The clinical presentation can vary from vague upper abdominal symptoms with dyspepsia and nausea to diarrhea, jaundice, obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis is usually made by radiological studies followed by upper endoscopy which can also provide definitive treatment. At times surgery is necessary for adequate removal of these lesions, as in the case herein described.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2000

This study was conducted to reveal the effects of musculoskeletal risk factor on farmer's syndrome. We sampled 97 farmers aged above 30 in 3 villages of Kyunggi-do. Self-administered questionnaire for general characteristics, farmer's syndrome, musculoskeletal risk factor, blood pressure, and laboratory tests were conducted. According to the score of musculoskeletal risk factor, we divide the subjects high risk group and low risk group. The most common musculoskeletal risk factor is repetitiveness, bending of waist and rapid movement in order. The prevalence of farmer's syndrome of all subjects is 28.9%. In female the prevalence of farmer's syndrome(45.2%) is higher than in male(16.4%) significantly. High musculoskeletal risk group had higher score of farmer's syndrome(5.9) than low musculoskeletal risk group(4.4). The most common symptom is lumbago(76.3%), the second was numb limb and shoulder stiffness(54.6%, 54.6%). The prevalence of numb limb and shoulder stiffness higher in high musculoskeletal risk group than low musculoskeletal risk group, but that of lumbago did not show significant differences. In linear regression, score of farmer's syndrome was related to musculoskeletal risk factor as well as gender. Blood pressure and laboratory test did not show significant differences between two groups. These results suggest that musculoskeletal risk factor would influence farmer's syndrome. Further ergonomic evaluation and intervention of farmer's works and musculoskeletal diseases are needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.494-502
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• 2008

The anaphylaxis shock reaction on the whole cells of H. pylori exhibited a symptom of slight illness for the first and second medication of causing antigen at an antigen concentration of WC (H) $60\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for WC (H) and no anaphylaxis shock symptom was observed at an antigen concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for WC (L). In the case of anaphylaxis shock reaction on the crude urease, no symptom was observed at an antigen concentration of $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ for both urease (L) and urease (H). In the heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test using a guinea pig-rat, no positive reaction was detected in all the medication groups of WC (H), WC (L), urease (H) and urease (L). In the skin sensitization test, it was observed that the best antigen concentration not causing skin disorder at each of $80\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, $40\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$, and $20\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$ was $40\;{\mu}g/100\;{\mu}l$.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2002

Purpose : Proper diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis that may cause chronic diseases in childhood is not easy because its signs and symptoms would be nonspecific. Because results of classical throat culture delays for one to two days, we'd like to determine whether early antibiotics would be introduced with according to the clinical score system. This study was undertaken to evaluate of clinical usefulness of scoring system based on the clinical and laboratory findings. Methods : From Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2000, 10 clinical items based on modified 9 items by Breese in 1977 were checked in patients with pharyngitis who visited on outpatients clinic of pediatrics, Kyunghee University Hospital. We compared the results of throat culture with the points of clinical score system. Results : Out of 45 cases, the positive culture for Group A Streptococcus was 20 and negative culture was 25. When we applied more than 30 points of score, which correspond to 70 percentile of study population, the sensitivity and specificity were 35.0% and 96.0%, respectively. Conclusion : Although sensitivity was relatively low this scoring system, but the high specificity may be useful diagnostic tool in the areas where the rate of isolation of Group A Streptococcus is low.