• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2016

Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) is a rare form of syndromic craniosynostosis with additional systemic synostosis, including radiohumeral or radioulnar synostosis. Another characteristic feature of ABS is mid-facial hypoplasia that leads to airway narrowing after birth. ABS is associated with mutations in the FGFR2 and POR genes. Patients with POR mutations present with either skeletal manifestations or congenital adrenal hyperplasia with ambiguous genitalia. We report here two cases of ABS caused by mutations in FGFR2 and POR. Although the patients had craniosynostosis and radiohumeral synostosis in common and cranioplasty was performed in both cases, the male with POR mutations showed an elevated level of $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone during newborn screening and was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia by adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. This patient has been treated with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. He had no ambiguous genitalia but had bilateral cryptorchidism. On the other hand, the female with the FGFR2 mutation showed severe clinical manifestations: upper airway narrowing leading to tracheostomy, kyphosis of the cervical spine, and coccyx deformity. ABS shows locus heterogeneity, and mutations in two different genes can cause similar craniofacial and skeletal phenotypes. Because the long-term outcomes and inheritance patterns of the disease differ markedly, depending on the causative mutation, early molecular genetic testing is helpful.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.319-322
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• 2020

Adrenal rest tumors are a rare extra-adrenal complication of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in women although they are more commonly found in the testes of male patients with CAH. An ovarian adrenal rest tumor (OART) may coexist with CAH or imitate its symptoms without CAH. In this case report, we present the case of a woman with OART without CAH, whose main complaint was infertility and who had a baby after successful surgical treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2014

The measurement of $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) in a dried blood spot on filter paper is an important for screening of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Since high levels of $17{\alpha}$-OHP are frequently observed in premature infants without congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we evaluated cuts-off based on birth weight and performed validation. Birth weight and $17{\alpha}$-OHP concentration data of 292,204 newborn screening subjects in Greencross labopratories were analyzed. The cut-off values based on birth weight were newly evaluated and validated with the original data. The mean $17{\alpha}$-OHP concentration were 7.25 ng/mL in very low birth weight (VLBW) group, 4.02 ng/mL in low birth weight (LBW) group, 2.53 g/mL in normal birth weight (NBW) group, and 2.24 ng/mL in heavy birth weight (HBW) group. The cut-offs for CAH were decided as follows: 21.12 ng/mL for VLBW and LBW groups and 11.14 ng/mL for NBW and HBW groups. When applied new cut-offs for original data, positive rates in VLBW and LBW groups were decreased and positive rates in NBW and HBW groups were increased. The cut-offs based on birth weight should be used in the screening for CAH. We believe that our new cut-off reduce the false positive rate and false negative rate and our experience for cut-off set up and validation will be helpful for other laboratories doing newborn screening test.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Purpose: To follow up Korean patients with metabolic and endocrine disorders ascertained by Korea Genetics Research Center, and assess the long-term effectiveness of extended newborn screening program in Korea. Methods: From January 2000 to December 2017, tandem mass spectrometry and fluoroimmunoassay were employed in extended newborn screening (NBS). The NBS program obtained dried blood spots from 283,626 babies, 48 hours after birth, and screened for galactosemia, congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and 50 preventable inborn errors of amino acid, fatty acid, and organic acid metabolism. Results: 28 cases of amino acid disorders, 75 cases of organic acid disorders, 27 cases of fatty acid disorders, 51 cases of urea cycle disorders, 127 cases of CH, 14 cases of CAH, and 15 cases of galactosemia were ascertained through NBS and subsequent confirmatory laboratory tests. Patients with amino acid metabolic disorders, galactosemia, CH, or CAH were more likely to have a better long-term outcome if detected early. Early management of MSUD led to much better outcome in over 90%. Despite early intervention, 32% of other organic acidemia cases still resulted in developmental delay and neurological problems. Fatty acid disorders showed varied results; those with EMA and MCAD had a good outcome, but those with VLCAD had serious neurological problems and considerably higher mortality. 75% with UCD experienced serious neurological complications and higher mortality. Conclusion: The nation-wide NBS program must be accompanied by comprehensive long-term management and physician and family education of inborn errors of metabolism for a better outcome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1125-1139
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• 2006

In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia & congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU & congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. Government decided to test PKU & hypothyroidism for all newborns from 1997. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government didn't decide laboratory center for a certain district and placed responsibility on free competition. Government are planning to test 573,000 newborns from 1998, Government decided to screen 6 items PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disese, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. 17 laboratores are participating now. The cost of screening test is supported by both the federal government and local government on a 40-60 basis. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. Interlaboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. According to the government project, 3,707,773 newborns were screened. 86 PKU, 718 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/43,114 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/4,612. Maeil dairy company produced new special formula for PKU, MMA and PA, MSUD, urea cycle disorder, homocystinuria, isovaleric acidemia from Oct. 1999. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass sereening & Wilson disease from 2008. Now it is a very important problem to decrease laboratory numbers of neonatal screening in Korea. So we are considering 4-5 central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Many inborn errors of metabolism can be completely cured with early detection and early treatment. This is why neonatal screening on inborn errors of metabolism is implemented worldwide. In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia and congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU and congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government decided to screen six items of PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. In 2014, thirteen laboratories are participating. Inter laboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. According to the government project, from 1997 to 2013, 7,080,569 newborns were screened. 144 PKU, 2.451 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/49,170 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/2,888. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. By January 2007, many European countries had expanded of their newborn screening programs by inclusion of Tandem mass spectrometry. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass spectrometry from 2016. We are considering four to five central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose. And I hope to expand test including Wilson disease screening test and lysosomal storage diseases.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2014

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods have been used extensively in clinical steroid analyses. Evaluating the metabolic ratios of precursors to products by accurate quantification of individual steroid levels in biological samples can reveal the activities of enzymes associated with steroid metabolism. This review article discusses the impact of GC-MS-based steroid profiling on our understanding of the biochemical role of steroids and their metabolic enzymes in hormone-dependent diseases, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), cortisol-mediated hypertension, apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), male-pattern baldness, and breast and thyroid cancers. Steroid profiling is a comprehensive analytical technique that can be applied whenever the highest specificity is required and may be a reasonable initial diagnostic approach.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.616-621
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was undertaken to identify factors that influence 17-OHP levels in preterm infants and to suggest a reasonable follow-up schedule of screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in preterm infants. Methods : The 17-OHP concentrations in filter paper blood spots of 427 preterm infants were obtained. The effects of gestational age (GA), systemic diseases, and antenatal dexamethasone on screening and follow-up 17-OHP values were investigated. Results : The screening 17-OHP values were markedly variable (range: 0.1-143.3 ng/mL). The screening 17-OHP levels were negatively correlated with GA (r=-0.535, P<0.01). In infants with GA<32 weeks, the screening 17-OHP levels were significantly higher in sick infants or infant with hypotension than in healthy infants. The screening values of prenatal dexamethasone-treated infants had a tendency to be low. In infants with initial 17-OHP values ${\geq}20ng/mL$, the intervals until rescreening 17-OHP <10 ng/mL or serum 17-OHP <20 ng/mL were negatively correlated with GA (r=-0.541, P<0.01) and were prolonged in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01). None of the preterm infants were confirmatively diagnosed with CAH. Conclusion : The 17-OHP values of preterm infants were influenced by GA, prenatal dexamethasone, and postnatal diseases. Because the 17-OHP values of preterm infants were markedly variable, a follow-up schedule should be developed considering both 17-OHP values and clinical status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2016

21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), most common form of congenial adrenal hyperplasia, is categorized into classical forms, including the salt-wasting (SW) and the simple virilizing (SV) types, and nonclassical (NC) forms based on the severity of the disease. Newborn screening for 21-OHD has been performed in Korea since 2006. $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) is a marker for 21-OHD and is measured using a radioimmunoassay or a fluoroimmunoassay. Premature and low birth weight infants are likely to give false positive 17-OHP findings, therefore, cutoff values for these infants should be determined based on gestational weeks or birth weight. ACTH simulation test is helpful when the 17-OHP shows equivocal increase, and it is gold standard for diagnosis of NC type. Recently, liquid chromatography linked with tandem mass spectrometry was developed for rapid, highly specific, and sensitive analysis of multiple analytes. Molecular analysis of CYP21A2 is useful for confirming diagnosis of mild SV or NC type, predicting prognoses, and genetic counseling. In order to make newborn screening for 21-OHD more efficient, early detection of boy with SW type, early determination of girl with ambiguous genitalia, detection of NC type, and overcoming of false positive in premature and low birth weight infants should be considered. Above all, early treatment should be started when the patient is suspected as having 21- OHD clinically before confirming the diagnosis to prevent adrenal crisis. Here, author reviewed recent articles of guideline and proposed guideline for 21-OHD.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.225-232
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• 2019

Traceability establishment in chemical measurements is a like a linkage established through an unbroken chain from the measured results to the international system (SI) of units. The primary process for traceability establishment is the purity assignment of a target material to be measured. In this study, we studied the purity assignment of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). The presence of 17-OHP is indicative of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and it builds up due to the deficiency of 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase enzyme in the human blood. The purity assignment of 17-OHP was performed by the mass balance method, in which the impurities are categorized into four classes: total related structural impurities, water, residual organic solvents, and nonvolatiles/inorganics. The total related structural impurities were characterized by HPLC-UV; water content was determined by Karl-Fisher coulometer; and the total residual solvents and nonvolatiles/inorganics were determined by TGA. The purity of 17-OHP from a commercial manufacturer was calculated as 993.30 mg/g, and the expanded uncertainty was 0.58 mg/g. The proposed method was validated by uncertainty evaluation and comparing with the actual value of purity.