• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the strength of ligamentous attached sites of cadaveric distal femur and to obtain reliable biomechanical data to use in ligamentous reconstruction or augmentation. Materials and Methods: Fifteen cadaveric distal femurs were used for this study. After measuring the bone density, 5.0 mm cannulated screw (Experiment 1) or reconstructed porcine ligament (Experiment 2) was inserted into the each ligamentous attached sites of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). In experiment 2, reconstructed porcine graft was fixed with bioabsorbable screw in ligamentous insertion sites. And we measured the maximal pullout force of each ligamentous attached sites of cadaveric distal femur. Results: Average bone mineral density was $1.205{\pm}0.137\;g/cm^2$ in experiment 1, $1.236{\pm}0.089\;g/cm^2$ in experiment 2, which showed no statistically significant differences. In experiment 1, average pull-out strength of ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL group were $519.1{\pm}111.7$ N, $638.9{\pm}144.4$ N, $169.7{\pm}56.0$ N, $225.6{\pm}61.5$ N respectively. In experiment 2, the average pull-out strength were $310.6{\pm}31.0$ N, $379.9{\pm}47.4$ N, $104.0{\pm}14.4$ N, $131.5{\pm}21.9$ N respectively. In experiment 1, there was no significant difference between ACL and PCL group and between MCL and LCL group. However, the maximal pullout strength of MCL and LCL group were significantly lower than that of ACL and PCL group (p<0.01). Experiment 2 showed the same results of experiment 1. Conclusion: Because stiffness of MCL and LCL attached sites are much lower than that of ACL and PCL attached sites, we may consider augmented fixation in ligamentous reconstructions of MCL and LCL.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.41-56
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• 2005

Present study was performed to observe the tegumental ultrastructures by the developmental stages which derived from the experimental life cycle of Spirometra erinacei in laboratory conditions. In SEM view, coracidium was spherical in shape with numerous cilia, and its surface was covered with long cilia, tuberclelike projections with millet-like processes, and small holes. The body surface of procercoid was covered with numerous pointed microtriches except that of frontal pit with stout spine-like ones. However that of cercomer was covered with somewhat sparse blunt-tiped microtriches. Plerocercoids of 3 days old resembled the mature procercoid in shape, and their frontal pits were covered with numerous stout spine-like microtriches. However frontal pit and body surface in more than 5 days old ones were covered with conoid microtriches. On the surface of adult scolex, hairly long filamentous and stout short microtriches were mixedly distributed. Filamentous microtriches were more densely distributed in the anterior portion than in the posterior of scolex. The neck and immature proglottid were covered with only stout short conoid microtriches. In TEM view of coracidia, embryophore and oncosphere were obviously distinguished. The embryophore contained numerous glycogen particles, mitochondria and lipid granules. The cilia on the surface of embryophore rooted in the coracidial sheath, and consisted of 9 pairs of microtubules and 2 core complex. The oncosphere was covered with a thin and unarmed tegument, and was multi-nucleated. The protoplasmic layer of procercoid and plerocercoid consisted of disc-shaped bodies, vacuoles and mitochondria. Their tegumental cells commonly retained a nucleus, granular endoplasmic reticulums and secretory granules. The protoplasmic layer of plerocercoid was more compacted than that of procercoid. From the above results, it was confirmed that the tegumental ultrastructures are something different according to the developmental stages of S. erinacei.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.243-253
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of DCI on glucose control, quality of life(SF-36 Version 2.0, Korean) and SDSCA(Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed on 46 patients with HbA1c 7.0% taking triple anti-diabetic drug regimen who visited the department of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Chungnam National University Hospital between March 2015 and May 2016. As a result, DCI treatment in the intervention group resulted in significantly reduced HbA1c levels $8.75{\pm}0.79%$(baseline), $8.36{\pm}1.03%$(after 12weeks), and $8.65{\pm}0.81%$(after 24weeks). However, patients in the control group did not show any significant change. Interestingly, both DCI treatment group and the control group significantly showed improvements in SDSCA. Participants in the intervention group showed a small yet significant improvement in their only fasting blood glucose test in SDSCA and revealed significant increase in the quantitative levels of quality of life, from $73.05{\pm}16.85$ to $82.74{\pm}10.68$. By using pathway analysis, improvement of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=-0.505$, t=-2.743) was the most influential factor to the fasting blood glucose. The quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was affected by changes of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=0.411$, t=2.024) and fasting c-peptide(${\beta}=-0.445$, t=-2.668) in DCI treatment group. In conclusion, treatment of DCI effectively improved glucose control in patients with type 2 DM(HbA1c level>7.0%) after 12 weeks of treatment, although it had no impact on glucose control after 24 weeks of treatment. Improved glucose control may encourage diabetic patients to conduct self-care activities and improve the quality of life. Based on the present study, we suggest that diabetes self-management, as well as consideration of comprehensive laboratory findings, may be important factor in regulating the quality of life in type 2 DM patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Purpose : Chronic urticaria is a disorder characterized by the appearance of wheals for more than 6 weeks; in most cases, the etiology is unknown. This study was aimed to discover the clinical aspects, the etiologic factors, and the course of chronic urticaria. Methods : 51 children who were diagnosed with chronic urticaria in the past 4 years, and who had had follow-ups more than 6 months after diagnosis in the pediatric department of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Bucheon, were enrolled in the study. The laboratory findings, clinical aspects, and courses were retrospectively investigated by medical record review and telephone interview. Results : The median age of children with chronic urticaria was 4 years (8 months to 16 years) and the ratio of male to female was 1.4:1. Of the total, 39.2% of patients had a history of atopy. Angioedema occurred concurrently with urticaria in 11.8% of patients, and dermographism was seen in 41.2%. Results of thyroid function tests were normal and thyroid autoantibodies were absent in all cases. Regarding etiology, most cases (74.5%) were forms of idiopathic urticaria. Urticaria was induced by physical factors in 19.6% of patients. Open challenge tests revealed that 3 patients were allergic to food additives (glutamate 2, glutamate, and sulfite 1). In this study, most of the patients reported good response after medication of 1st- or 2nd-generation antihistamines alone. Follow-up at 6 months revealed that 70.6% of patients had experienced remission, and 84.8% of children who had follow-up at 1 year presented remission. Conclusion : Chronic urticaria in most patients was idiopathic. Remission occurred within 1 year of diagnosis, in most cases so chronic urticaria in children seems to have good prognosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 1993

Pituitary LH release has been known to be regulated by the hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and the gonadal steroid hormones. In addition, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are actively involved in the control of LH secretion. The alteration in LH release might reflect changes in biosynthesis and/or posttranslational processing of LH. However, little is known about the mechanism by which biosynthesis of LH subunits is regulated, especially at the level of transcription. In order to investigate if ovarian steroid hormones regulate the LH subunit gene expression, ${\alpha}\;and\;LH{\beta}$ steady state mRNA levels were determined in anterior pituitaries of ovariectomized rats. Serum LH concentrations and pituitary LH concentrations were increased markedly with time after ovariectomy. ${\alpha}\;and\;LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels after ovariectomy were increased in a parallel manner with serum LH concentrations and pituitary LH contents, the rise in $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels being more prominent than the rise in ${\alpha}\;subunit$ mRNA. ${\alpha}\;and\;LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels in ovariectomized rats were negatively regulated by the continuous treatment of ovarian steriod hormones for $1{\sim}4\;days$ and $LH{\beta}\;subunit$ mRNA seemed to be more sensitive to negative feedback of estradiol than progesterone. Treatment of estrogen antagonist, LY117018 or progesterone antagonist, RU486 significantly restroed LH subunit mRNA levels as well as LH release which were suppressed by estradiol or progesterone treatment. These results suggest that ovarian steroids negatively regulate the LH synthesis at the pretranslational level by modulating the steady state levels of ${\alpha}\;and\;LH{\beta}\;subunit$ mRNA and $LH{\beta}\;subunit$ mRNA seemed to be more sensitive to negative feedback action of estradiol than progesterone.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.606-612
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• 2005

Background : It has been reported that nontuberculosis mycobacterium(NTM) isolates account for approximately 10% of patients with a positive Acid-Fast Bacilli(AFB) smear. Therefore, it is necessary to consider NTM pulmonary disease when such a positive test is encountered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the etiologies and clinical characteristics of patients with NTM pulmonary disease who had been treated at a national tuberculosis hospital. Methods : The NTM isolates were recovered from the sputum or bronchial washing specimens submitted to a clinical laboratory of National Masan TB Hospital from August 2002 to July 2003. All samples were identified using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis method, which amplifies the rpoB gene. The patients were diagnosed with NTM disease according to the American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria. Results : One hundred NTM isolates were recovered from 57 patients. Of the 100 isolates, M. avium complex(MAC) was the most common species, which was found 55%(n=55) of patients, followed by M. abscessus(n=25), and M. fortuitum( n=9). 26(45.6%) patients had NTM disease. Twenty-six (45.6%) patients had NTM disease according to The American Thoracic Society classification. The main organisms involved in NTM disease were MAC(n=19, 73.1%) and M. abscessus(n=5, 19.2%). The pathogenic potential was 67.9% in M. intracellulare and 41.7% in M. abscessus. The predictive factors related to NTM disease were a positive sputum smear (OR 6.4, p=0.02) and the isolation of either MAC or M. abscessus(OR 6.9, p=0.007). Fifteen patients(57.7%) were cured. There were no significant factors associated with the treatment success. Conclusion : There was a relatively high proportion of NTM disease in NTM isolates and the common species were MAC and M. abscessus. The predictive factors for NTM disease were a positive sputum smear and the isolation of either MAC or M. abscessus.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.165-174
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• 1995

Background: Exercise is one of the most common precipitants of acute asthma encountered in clinical practice. The development of airflow limitation that occurs several minutes after vigorous exercise, i. g. exercise-induced bronchoconstriction(EIB), has been shown to be closely correlated with the nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which is the hallmark of bronchial asthma. All previous reports that assessed the correlation of EIB to nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness have focused on airway sensitivity($PC_{20}$) to inhaled bronchoconstrictor such as methacholine or histamine. However, maximal airway narrowing(MAN), reflecting the extent to which the airways can narrow, when being exposed to high dose of inhaled stimuli, has not been studied in relation to the degree of EIB. Methods: Fifty-six children with mild asthma(41 boys and 15 girls), aged 6 to 15 years(mean${\pm}$SD, $9.9{\pm}2.5$ years) completed this study. Subjects attended the laboratory on two consecutive days. Each subject performed the high-dose methacholine inhalation test at 4 p.m. on the first day. The dose-response curves were characterized by their position($PC_{20}$) and MAN, which was defined as maximal response plateau(MRP: when two or three data points of the highest concentrations fell within a 5% response range) or the last of the data points(when a plateau could not be measured). On the next day, exercise challenge, free running outdoors for ten minutes, was performed at 9 a.m.. $FEV_1$ was measured at graduated intervals, 3 to 10 minutes apart, until 60 minutes after exercise. Response(the maximal ${\triangle}FEV_1$ from the pre-exercise value) was classified arbitrarily into three groups; no response((-) EIB: ${\triangle}FEV_1$<10%), equivocal response ($({\pm})$EIB:10%<${\triangle}FEV_1$<20%) and definite response($({\pm})$EIB:${\triangle}FEV_1$>20%). Results: 1) When geometric mean $PC_{20}$ of the three groups were compared, $PC_{20}$ of (+) EIB group was significantly lower than that of (-)EIB group. 2) There was a close correlation between $PC_{20}$ and the severity of EIB in the whole group(r=-0.568, p<0.01). 3) Of the total 56 subjects, MRP could be measured in 36 subjects, and the MRP of these subjects correlated fairly with the severity of EIB(r=0.355, p<0.05) 4) The MAN of (+) EIB group was significantly higher than that of (-)EIB group(p<0.01). 5) The MAN correlated well with the severity of EIB in the whole group(r=0.546, p<0.01). Conclusion: The degree of MAN as well as bronchial sensitivity($PC_{20}$) to methacholine is correlated well with the severity of EIB. The results suggest that the two main components of airway hyperresponsiveness may be equally important determinants of exercise reactivity, although the mechanism may be different from each other. The present study also provides further evidence that EIB is a manifestation of the increased airway reactivity characteristic of bronchial asthma.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2007

Purpose : Edema is one of the cardinal features of nephrotic syndrome. Although the pathogenesis of edema is not entirely understood, it is caused by hypovolemia or hypervolemia by different mechanisms. Accordingly it is important to evaluate the volume status of patients in order to treat the edema, but it is difficult to evaluate the patient's volume status only by clinical parameters. The quotient of urine sodium and potassium excretion $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ is introduced as a more useful way to evaluate volume status. In this study we will propose the usefulness of $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ in evaluating the volume status of children with nephrotic syndrome. Methods : Primary nephrotic syndrome patients at Yeungnam University Hospital since January 1995 to June 2005, were included in the study. We analyzed clinical parameters such as tachycardia, cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, blood chemistry and urinalysis prospectively. We defined hypovolemia when $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ exceeded 60%. Intravenous albumin and diuretics were administered to hypovolemic edematous patients. On the other hand, hypervolemic edematous patients were treated only with diuretics. Results : There were 50 cases of primary nephrotic syndrome patients(hypervolemia: 29 vs hypovolemia: 21). There were no significant differences in clinical symptoms and laboratory findings except for FeNa While $F_eNa$ and $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ had a significant negative correlation, BUN and $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ had a significant positive correlation. Urine output after edema treatment was effective and there were no treatment-related side effects in both groups. Conclusion : FeNa, BUN and $U_K/(U_{Na}+U_K)$ are a useful parameters for evaluating volume status of edematous nephrotic syndrome patients. We could suggest a therapeutic option for using albumin and/or diuretics according to volemic status by means of measured $U_K/(U_{Na}+UK)$.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.121-136
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• 1986

Recently there have been some reports on human infections of Echinostoma hortense in Korea. It was found that a few species of freshwater fishes were playing the role of the second intermediate host of E. hortense. However, molluscan intermediate host has not been identified yet in Korea. The present study aimed to establish the life cycle of E. hortense in laboratory. Experimental studies such as egg production from the rat, development of the eggs in vitro, exposure of miracidia to freshwater snails, shedding pattern of cercariae from infected snails, morphology of cercariae, cercarial infection to the second intermediate host and infection of metacercariae to the definitive hosts were done. In addition, epidemiological surveys on the infection status in inhabitants and house rats, and on the natural infection of larval echinostomes in the snails and fishes were carried out along the South Hangang-river. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The eggs deposited from adults in physiological saline were cultivated at room temperature($20{\sim}24^{\circ}C$). The miracidia were firstly observed on 8 days after cultivation, and 85.5% of the eggs contained the mature miracidia on 11 days after cultivation. More than 90% formed the miracidia when cultivated at temperature $22{\sim}27^{\circ}C$. Hatching of the miracidia began on 12 days after cultivation and continued for a week. The size of the miracidia was $103.0{{\times}}51.4{\mu}m$ in average. The motility of the miracidia were active up to 8 hours after shedding, but they were all dead within 10 hours after shedding. 2. A freshwater snail, Radix auricularia coreana was cultivated in aquaria. A hatched $F_1$ snails from the egg masses were exposed to 20 miracidia respectively. Escape of cercariae started on 15 days after infecton. Radix auricularia coreana was experimentally identified as the first intermediate host of E. hortense in Korea. 3. Cercarial shedding started on $15{\sim}20$ days after infection by snail, continued for about 10 days (8.8 days in average). Infected snails were dead within 32 days after the miracidial infection. About 1,335 cercariae($328{\sim}1,994$) per snail were shed in its life, and 119 cercariae in average per snail per day were shed. The cercariae were motile for more than 24 hours, and then squirming at the bottom until death. The body and tail sizes of cercariae were $356{\times}186{\mu}m$ and $510{\times}68{\mu}m$ in average, respectively. The rediae parasitized in the snail hosts were found mainly around the pericardial regions, and their size was $1,575{\times}258{\mu}m$ in average. The numbers of developing cercariae in a mature redia were 14 in average ($7{\sim}20$ in range). The numbers of rediae in a snail were 102 in average on 15 days after miracidial infection and 221 in average on 28 days. 4. Three uninfected Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, less than 6.5cm long were used in for the cercarial infection. They were all exposed with 755 cercariae, and examined at 5-day intervals starting from 10 days after infection. All the fishes were infected with metacercariae of E. hortense and a total of 275 was found infected(36.4%). The metacercariae were fed to rats and the adult worms were obtained on 15 days after infection. 5. The infected rats began to deposit the eggs on 11 days after infection. The number of eggs deposited per day per worm (EPD/worm) was $400{\sim}500$ on 3 weeks after infection and was increased to $1,000{\sim}1,500$ on 4 to 17 weeks, then decreased to 800 on 21 weeks after infection. 6. A total of 745 stool specimens collected from 576 male and 169 female residents of 8 different villages along South Hangang basin was examined. Out of 745 specimens, the eggs of Echinostoma sp. were found in 2 cases (0.3%). Of 34 house rats one showed egg-positive (2.9%). 7. Total 971 Radix auricularia coreana collected from 7 sampling stations were examined for shedding of cercariae. Three snails (0.3%) shed the cercariae of E. hortense. A total of 119 out of 542 freshwater fishes (22.0%) had the metacercariae of E. hortense. The fishes parasitized with the metacercariae were 4 out of 14 examined species. The infection rates of 4 species were 34.1% (106 out of 311) in Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, 30.4% (7 out of 23) in Misgurnus mizolepis, 4.3% (2 out of 46) in Moroco oxycephalus and 22.2% (4 out of 18) in Odontobutis obscura interrupta. In summarizing the above results, the first intermediate host of E. hortense was found as Radix auricularia coreana in Korea. Also, it took about 46 days for the shortest completion of a life cycle of E. hortense in summer; that is, 10 days for miracidial development in eggs, 15 days for cercarial development in the snail, about 10 days for metacercarial development in the second intermediate hosts, and 11 days for the maturation as the adults in the definitive hosts. The natural infection rates of E. hortense in the intermediate hosts were relatively high but those in the definitive hosts were low in the middle areas of South Hangang basin.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.285-297
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• 1988

The present study was conducted in order to get the normal hematologic values of Korean Jindo dogs. Blood samples were taken from 328(♂ 92, ♂ 236) healthy Jindo dogs in Jindo area. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows: 1. The mean values of red blood cell(RBC) count, hemoglobin(Hb) content and packed cell volume(PCV) in the age group of less than one year were 6.77(♂ 6.80, ♂ 6.76)${\times}10^6/{\mu}l$, 13.14 (♂ 13.53, ♂ 12.99)g/100ml and 43.28(♂ 44.47, ♂ 42.79)ml/100ml, respectively, whereas the RBC count, Hb content and PCV in the age group of one year and more were 7.42(♂ 7.44, ♂ 7.42)${\times}10^6/{\mu}l$, 14.98(♂ 15.56, ♂ 14.76)g/100ml and 47.18 (♂ 48.43, ♂ 46.71)ml/100ml, respectively. The values of RBC count, Hb content and PCV appeared to be higher in the male than in the female and it increased with aging in the age group of less than one year. 2. The mean values of mean corpuscular volume(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content(MCHC) in the age group of less than one year were 63.93(♂ 65.40, ♂ 63.30)fl, 19.41(♂ 19.90, ♂ 19.22) pg and 30.36(♂ 30.43, ♂ 30.36)g/100ml respectively, whereas the MCV, MCH and MCHC in the age group of one year and more were 63.58(♂ 65.09, ♂ 62.95)fl, 20. 19(♂ 20.91, ♂ 19.89) pg and 31.75(♂ 32.13, ♂ 31.60)g/100ml respectively. The values of MCV, MCH and MCHC appeared to be higher in the male than in the female. No differences were found in the MCV and MCH between age groups. The MCHC appeared to be higher in older age group. 3. The mean values of white blood cell(WBC) count in the age group of less than one year were 14,356(♂ 13,878, ♂ 14,551)/${\mu}l$, whereas the values of WBC count in the age group of one year and more were 13,394(♂ 12,656, ♂ 13,672)/${\mu}l$. The WBC count appeared to be higher in the female than in the male. No differences were found between age groups in the WBC count. 4. In WBC differential count the mean percentage of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil of the age group less than one year were 33.45(♂ 31. 64, ♂ 34.18), 2.77(♂ 3.00, ♂ 2.68), 57.40(♂ 58.18, ♂ 57.08) and 6.38(♂ 7.18, ♂ 6.06)% respectively, while those of the age group one year and more were 30. 22(♂ 28.38, ♂ 30.90), 3.03(♂ 3.23, ♂ 2.95), 60.93(♂ 63.34, ♂ 60.03) and 5.82(♂ 5.04, ♂ 6.11)% respectively. Lymphocyte count appeared to be higher in the female and in the age group below one year than in the male and in the age group of one year and more, whereas the reverse was the case with neutrophil and monocyte counts. 5. Mean platelet count in the age group of less than one year was 377,391(♂ 398,778, ♂ 368,721)/${\mu}l$, whereas mean platelet count in the age group of one year and more was 354,657 (♂ 373,660, ♂ 347,512)/${\mu}l$. The platelet count appeared to be higher in the male than in the female and especially lower in the age group of three years and more($305,513/{\mu}l$) than in the other age groups.