• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2024

Purpose: Recently, the prevalence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) has shown an increasing trend worldwide. As the diagnosis of EGID requires invasive endoscopy with biopsy, noninvasive markers for detecting EGID in suspected patients, particularly children, are urgently needed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) beyond peripheral eosinophil counts in pediatric patients with EGID. Methods: Overall, 156 children diagnosed with EGID were enrolled and 150 children with functional abdominal pain disorder (FAPD) were recruited as controls. All participants underwent endoscopic biopsy in each segment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and serum ECP measurement, as well as peripheral eosinophil percent and absolute eosinophil count. Results: Comparing EGID (n=156) with FAPD (n=150) patients, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in pediatric patients with EGID than in those with FAPD (25.8±28.6 ㎍/L vs. 19.5±21.0 ㎍/L, p=0.007), while there was no significant difference in peripheral eosinophil percent and absolute eosinophil counts between the two groups. Serum ECP levels were correlated with peripheral eosinophil percent (r=0.593, p<0.001) and the absolute eosinophil count (r=0.660, p<0.001). The optimal cutoff value of serum ECP for pediatric EGID was 10.5 ㎍/mL, with a sensitivity of 69.9% and a specificity of 43.4% with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.562. Conclusion: The combination of serum ECP levels and peripheral eosinophil counts, when employed with appropriated thresholds, could serve as a valuable noninvasive biomarker to distinguish between EGID and FAPD in pediatric patients manifesting GI symptoms.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.176-185
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• 2024

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is common among children in Bangladesh. Its management depends mainly on risk stratification. This study aimed to assess the severity of pediatric AP using computed tomography (CT). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in pediatric patients with AP at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: Altogether, 25 patients with AP were included, of whom 18 (mean age, 10.27±4.0 years) were diagnosed with mild AP, and 7 (mean age, 10.54±4.0 years) with severe AP. Abdominal pain was present in all the patients, and vomiting was present in 88% of the patients. Etiology was not determined. No significant differences in serum lipase, serum amylase, BUN, and CRP levels were observed between the mild and severe AP groups. Total and platelet counts as well as hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum creatinine, random blood sugar, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p>0.05) were significantly higher in the mild AP group than in the severe AP group (p=0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT severity index (CTSI) were 71.4%, 72.2%, 50%, and 86.7%, respectively. In addition, significant differences in pancreatic appearance and necrosis were observed between the two groups on CT. Conclusion: CT can be used to assess the severity of AP. In the present study, the CTSI effectively assessed the severity of AP in pediatric patients.

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

Purpose: Alvarado scoring system was evaluated regarding its usefulness for the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adult and in reduction of the incidence of negative appendicectomies. To evaluate the accuracy of diagnosing appendicitis using the Alvarado score in children. Methods: Prospectively, we surveyed 122 patients (male 67, female 55) suffering from abdominal pain, who had visited to the emergency department of Chosun University Hospital from June 2002 to May 2003. The Alvarado score has been computed from the white blood cell count, neutrophil count, body temperature, resistance in the right lower quadrant, length of symptoms, nausea and vomiting. Each patient was evaluated by a pediatric resident and then by a general surgeon independently. Results: Out of 170 total children who visited to the emergency department due to abdominal pain, 122 patients were associated with appendicitis. A total of 122 patients (67 male and 55 female) were visited to the emergency room with suspected appendicitis. From 105 operated patients, 92 (87.6%) were diagnosed acute appendicitis and erronous diagnostic rate was 12.4%, pathologically. Mean alvarado score of appendicitis group was $5.40{\pm}1.24$ whereas those of non-appendicitis group was $3.73{\pm}1.82$ (p<0.05). From 6 Alvarado score high sensitivity (86.4%) and high specificity (80.0%) were observed. Sensitivity of ultrasonography or computed tomography was 92.5%. Conclusion: We found that Alvarado score system is a noninvasive, safe diagnostic method, which is simple, reliable and repeatable. Alvarado score is useful system for a first, rapid and economic evaluation for the appendicitis in children.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 1997

Myocardial scintigraphy is a widely used noninvasive procedure with high sensitivity for the detection of patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of a normal myocardial scintigraphy in 292 patients (150 males, 142 females, mean age $53{\pm}12$ years) with chest pain who were followed from 7 to 58 (mean 25) months. Myocardial SPECT was performed with Tc-99m MIBI in 173 patients, with Tc-99m tetrofosmin in 74 patients and with T1-201 in 45 patients. During the follow-up period, there were 2 cardiac deaths and 2 nonfatal myocardial infarctions resulting in cardiac event rate of 1.37% (0.66% Per Year). The cardiac event rate was not different in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries (1/30, 3.3%) and in those who had significant coronary artery disease (2/27, 7.4%) (p=0.60). In conclusion, patients with chest pain and normal myocardial scintigraphy have a low cardiac event rate, and there was no significant difference of. cardiac event rates between patients with normal and abnormal coronary angiograms.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.452-460
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• 2016

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma found primarily in the pediatric population. In the oral cavity, this tumor can grow rapidly and often brings about facial swelling or development of an exophytic mass involving the jaws. A 5-year-old boy was referred for swelling and pain in the left mandibular area. The patient showed diffuse swelling on the left side of the mandible and firm-moderate tenderness upon palpation. An intraoral examination showed moderate mobility and sensitivity to percussion on the left primary first and second molars, without severe caries. A radiographic examination revealed complete loss of the lamina dura on the left primary second molar and permanent first molar. There was a radiolucent osteolytic lesion and destruction of the cortical bone of the left mandibular body. Based on the clinical, radiographic, and immunohistochemical findings, the patient was diagnosed with BL, and was referred to a pediatrician for systemic evaluation and intensive chemotherapy. Even before the completion of chemotherapy, the swelling resolved and the displaced teeth were relocated to a normal position. This patient showed a good prognosis due to prompt diagnosis and intensive chemotherapy. Early diagnosis and referral for treatment can prevent the development of BL.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 1999

Exposure of the root surface due to gingival recession after periodontal surgery, elicit pain response when exposed to mechanical, heat, chemical or osmotic irritation. Especially patients treated with periodontal surgery, show high frequency. There have been reports that the 1 out of 7 patients complains of dentinal hypersensitivity. There have been many studies on the clinical effects of various materials on the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of sodium chloride and potassium oxalate and to observe the relationship between the dentinal hypersensitivity and surface characteristics such as dentinal tubule size and number. This study included 20 teeth which were scheduled for extraction and had no pulpal disease. These teeth were divided into Root planing group, EDTA group, NaCl group and Oxalate group. Dentinal hypersensitivity is measured by tactile, pressured air and cold water using NRS (Numerical Rating Scales). Teeth were extracted under local anesthesia and each specimen was sectioned to a size about 3 X 5 mm and was examined under the scanning electron microscope (X2,000) The results were as follows, 1. The EDTA group exhibited significantly increased dentinal hypersensitivity comparing with the other groups. 2. The NaCl and Oxalate groups showed significantly reduced dentinal hypersensitivity comparing with the EDTA group. 3. As a method for dentinal hypersensitivity measurement, it was presumed thet tactile sensitivity test was not sensitive method but air blast test and cold water test were adequate method. 4. In a SEM study, the root planing group exhibited amorphous smear layer and showed no dentinal tubule orifice, but the EDTA group showed the large number of dentinal tubules. On the other hand, the NaCl and Oxalate groups did not show exposed dentinal tubules. The NaCl group showed more rough root surface than the EDTA group, and the Oxalate group showed many participates to be presumed as calcium oxalate particle. As the results from this study, root planing couldn't expose the dentinal tubule and NaCl and potassium oxalate occluded exposed dentinal tubule effectively. Dentinal hypersensitivity has close relationship with the exposure of dentinal tubules, especially with it's size and number.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.43 no.3 s.309
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• pp.60-66
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to suggest a new detection method for early diagnosing diabetic neuropathic foot by obtaining a ratio of toe to finger blood flow using photoplethysmography(PPG) and Laser Doppler(LD). Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) has been routinely used for diagnosing neuropathic foot, but it applies strong electric stimulus to peripheries resulting in stress and pain. The blood flow ratio of 50 neuropathic diabetes($0.96{\pm}0.20$) was significantly higher than that of 64 normal person($0.46{\pm}0.15$)(p<0.000). It also showed that toe temperature of neuropathic diabetes($30.5{\pm}1.4^{\circ}C$) was significantly higher than that of normal group($29.3{\pm}2.0^{\circ}C$)(p<0.000). The optimal boundary value of the blood flow ratio was found to be 0.678 and the sensitivity and specificity of this proposed method resulted in 95.3% and 95.3% respectively. Lastly, there were no neuropathic diabetes whose temperature difference between finger and toe was higher than $4.5\;^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.341-347
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• 2003

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a clinically recognizable multiple congenital anomaly and mental retardation syndrome caused by an interstitial deletion of chromosome 17 p11.2. Physical features include short stature, characteristic facial appearance: flattened mid-face, down-turned mouth, prominent and often rosy cheeks; prominent jaw in older children and adults, chronic ear infections, hearing impairment, eye problems, including: strabismus (an eye which turns in or out) and myopia (nearsightedness), hoarse voice, short fingers and toes, heart defects or murmurs, problems related to the urinary system, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), an unusual gait (walking pattern), and decreased sensitivity to pain. Behavioral and developmental characteristics include speech delay and articulation problems, developmental delay, learning disability, mental retardation, hyperactivity, self-injury, including: head banging; hand biting; picking at skin, sores and nails; pulling off finger- and toenails; inserting foreign objects into ears, nose, or other body orifices, explosive outbursts, prolonged tantrums, destructive and aggressive behavior, excitability, arm hugging or hand squeezing when excited. This report is the case of a Korean 3-year-3-month old male with Smith-Magenis syndrome referred from local clinic for the treatment of dental caries. The patient was treated by physical restraint after prophylatic administration of antibiotic(Amoxacillin 50mg/kg).

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2002

Backgrounds : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that is usually diagnosed by electrophysiologic studies. However, CTS provide limited information to determine the causes of CTS and to choose the treatment method. We evaluated diagnostic sensitivity of MR imaging and treatment decisions by MR imaging in electrodiagnosed CTS. Methods : 14 patients (26 wrists) with electrodiagnosed CTS were studied using MR imaging. In 26 wrists for which axial T1 & T2 weighted images were obtained at 1.5T with a decided wrist coil. Previously described MR imaging of CTS such as increased median nerve signal, flattening of median nerve, reticular bowing, tenosynovitis and space occupying lesions were retrospectively evaluated. Degree of improvement was evaluated by global symptom score (GSS). The GSS rated symptoms from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (severe) in each of five categories: pain, numbness, paresthesia, weakness/clumsiness, and nocturnal awakening. Subjects' GSS was recorded at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months after treatment. We decided to medical treatment that showed mainly inflammatory sign such as increased median nerve signal, tenosinovitis and to surgical treatment such as space occupying lesion, high canal pressure sign. Results : MR imaging showed that increased median nerve signal were in 20 wrists (77%), flattening of median nerve were in 6 wrists (23%), reticular bowing were in 3 wrists (12%), tenosynovitis were in 8 wrists (32%), decreased canal size in 2 wrists (7.6%), space occupying lesion were in 1 wrist (4%). A good outcome was revealed in 21 wrists by medical treatment that showed mainly increased median nerve signal, tenosynovitis. The mean GSS were 27.7 at baseline, 11.2 at 2 weeks, 11.0 at 6 months in medical treatment group. Another 5 wrist had surgical treatment shown by ganglion and high canal pressure sign such as median nerve flattening, reticular bowing, decreased canal size: 3 wrists had good prognosis, but 2 wrists (one patient) had no significant improvement due to small carpal tunnel size. Conclusions : Our results are in agreement with most previously described MR imaging signs of CTS. MR imaging plays an important role in several cases and especially in the assessment of failure of surgical treatment. Knowledge of MR findings may permit more rational choice of treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 1992

Pharmacologic coronary vasodilation in conjunction with myocardial scintigraphy has become an accepted alternative to dynamic exercise testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Although dipyridamole has traditionally been used for this purpose, it causes frequent side effect, which at times can be life-threatening. Moreover, dipyridamole dose not elicit maximal coronary vasodilation in a substantial number of patients receiving the usual i.v. dose. Adenosine is an endogenously produced compound that has significant effects as a coronary vasodilator and rapid onset action and extremely short half-life (< 10 seconds). The diagnostic accuracy and safety profile of adenosine $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ myocardial scintigraphy were evaluated and comparison with exercise $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ was performed. Twenty-eight subjects underwent $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ imaging after adenosine infusion and exercise $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ imaging. Adenosine was infused intravenously at a dose of 0.14mg/kg/body weight per minute for 6 min and MIBI was injected at 3 minute. Adenosine caused an incerease in heart rate ($64{\pm}12$ at baseline versus $74{\pm}16$ beats/min at peak effect, p<0.001), a mild decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a slightly increase in PR interval(p; NS). Side effects were reported in 92% of patients and were mostly mild in nature and promptly resolved within 1 or 2 minutes of termination of adenosine infusion. Facial flushing (53%), chest pain (36%), mild dyspnea (39%), headache (21%), throat discomfort (21%) were frequent symptoms. ST segment depression (> 1 mm) and second degree AV block in electrocardiography occured in 11% of the patients, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity for individual coronary stenoses in 16 patients underwent coronary angiography were 88% and 95%, respectively. The agreement ratio of segmental perfusion between adenosine and exercise images was 92% (Kappa index=0.82). In conclusion, $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous adenosine is a feasible, safe and highly accurate noninvasive technique for the detection of coronary artery disease and results are at least comparable with those of exercise $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ scintigraphy.