ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We surveyed parental knowlege about febrile convulsion in order to reduce unnecessary use of diagnostic method and management, and to use as an educational guideline. METHODS: The survey composed of four items : etiology, diagnosis and treatment, prognosis, and method management at home. The rate of correct answers on the total questionnaire, and each questionnaires was compared to the febrile convulsion group (FCG) and control group (CG), to a group that had one episode of febrile convulsion and two and more episodes. The questionnaire about method management was compared to FCG and CG. RESULTS: Comparisons done on the general profiles between FCG and CG showed no singnificant difference statistically. The rate of correct answers on the total questionnaire is 30.6% in FCG and 21.2% in CG. The rate of correct answers on the total questionnaire is 29.0% in the group that had one episode of febrile convulsion, and 33.0% in two and more episodes. Comparing the method management between FCG and CG, cold massage and acupuncture were higher in FCG, statistically. CONCLUSION: The rate of correct answers showed no significant difference between FCG and CG, and was very low in both groups. There is also no difference in the rate of correct answers. Parental knowledge about proper management before they go to the hospital is insufficient. Therefore, we need to establish an educational program on febrile convulsion in order to reduce the use of unnecessary diagnostic method and inappropriate management.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture , Diagnosis , Massage , Parents , Prognosis , Surveys and Questionnaires , Seizures, FebrileABSTRACT
Isolated ACTH deficiency is a rare cause of secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. The clinical presentation can be similar to that of primary adrenal insufficiency, but most of them may be nonspecific. A female patient of 25 months of age, complainig short stature, showed hypocortisolemia without ACTH & cortisol stimulation by insulin-induced hypoglycemia test. All the other hormone state was normal. Left hand AP view revealed delayed bone age(3 month) compared with chronological age. No radiologic abnormality was found in sella MRI and adrenal CT. Here we report a case of isolated ACTH deficiency presented by short stature.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Addison Disease , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone , Hand , Hydrocortisone , Hypoglycemia , Magnetic Resonance ImagingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Single umbilical artery (SUA), the most common malformation of the umbilical cord, has long been of interest because of its association with congenital malformations. This retrospective study was aimed to evaluate the incidence of SUA and its associated malformations. METHOD: The study population was inborn neonates of Kang-Nam Sacred Heart Hospital of Hallym University. We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 15 infants with SUA, including 1 infant identified in prenatal ultrasonography. RESULTS: The incidence of SUA was 0.2% (15/9,351 cases). The mean birth weight was 2,658 gram (ranged from 1,060 to 3,700gram), and the mean gestational age was 38 weeks (ranged from 32 to 40 + 3weeks). Six cases (40%) of 15 cases with SUA were associated with congenital malformations : urogenital malformations in 4 cases, cardiovascular malformations in 3 cases, and musculoskeletal malformations in 3 cases. Only 1 case had abmormal karyotype, trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: Because SUA is highly associated with congenital malformations newborns with SUA should have a thorough and complete physical examination at birth and physicians should also be alert to the possibility of congenital malformations not evident at initial examination. Furthermore, prenatal detection of SUA has potential importance, since it may indicate that further work is necessary to rule out associated malformations and to help determine whether management should beltered.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Birth Weight , Gestational Age , Heart , Incidence , Karyotype , Medical Records , Parturition , Physical Examination , Retrospective Studies , Single Umbilical Artery , Trisomy , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Umbilical CordABSTRACT
Although midgut volvulus is clinically characterized by bilous vomiting and abdominal distention, plain abdominal X-ray is usually non-specific and therefore it can be misdiagnosed to other diseases. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study and computed tomography have been used as a routine diagnostic tool but it takes cost and time. Abdominal ultrasonography is a relatively good alternatives in diagnosing midgut volvulus and it relatively saves cost and time. But case presentation of midgut volvulus diagnosed with abdominal ultrasonography are rarely found in literature. We experienced a 6 month old girl who had come to our hospital with bilous vomiting and was diagnosed as midgut volvulus with ultrasonography. Thus we report this case with the presentation of typical ultrasonographic findings of midgut volvulus.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant , Diagnosis , Intestinal Volvulus , Intussusception , Ultrasonography , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color , VomitingABSTRACT
The HUMACTBP2 locus was investigated to collect population genetic data in the Korean population and to evaluate the applicability for the forensic field. An Automatic fluorescent-based sequencer (377 automatic DNA sequencer, ABI) was used to detect amplified fragments of the HUMACTBP2 locus electrophoresed on 4% denaturing polyacrylamide sequencing gels. ACTBP2 allelic ladder consisting of different sizes of 18 alleles was constructed and employed as an internal size standard in combination with a GS-350 size standard for precision of allele-band sizing. By utilizing different fluorescent dyes, both the allelic ladders and samples were able to be analyzed in the same lane by 99% orecision of allele-band sizing. Among the Korean population (n=224), 26 alleles in the range of 239-313 bp are determined. allele No. 6 is found 45 times (0.100) which is mostly frequent, and the rest of allele is distributed with their relative frequency of 0.002-0.100. The comparison between observed and expected numbers of homozygous and heterozygous individuals confirms that ACTBP2 locus is in the state of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium among the Korean population. The heterozygosity is 0.9389+/-0.0034(93.89%), and the power of discrimination(PD) and power of exclusion(PEX) are calculated to be 0.991(99.1%)and 0.890(89.0%), respectively, showing the high informativeness for individual identification. Thus, these results mean that the HUMACTBP2 locus can effectively be used for the forensic application.
Subject(s)
Alleles , DNA , Fluorescent Dyes , Gels , Genetic VariationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In the Summer 1996, there was an outbreak of aseptic meningitis without sequele. 116 cases who were admitted to our Department during a six month period from May to October, 1996. Therefore, we report epidemic of aseptic meningitis in 1996 and analyze and compare it with a epidemic of aseptic meningitis in 1993. METHODS: We studies about clinical manefestation and laboratory finding by retrospective study on 116 patients diagnosed as aseptic meningitis who had been admitted at Department of Pediatrics, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University. RESULTS: 1) Aseptic meningitis affected mostly children between the ages of 1 to 5 in 1996. Male-to-female ratio was 1.2 : 1 in aseptic meningitis in 1996. 2) The outbreak of aseptic meningitis was from middle to late August in 1996.3) Common chief complaints were fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and irritibility in order. On physical examination, pharyngeal injection, neck stiffness, Kernig's sign were detected in decreasing frequency. 4) Values of WBC on peripheral blood were 5000-10,000/mm3 (60 cases, 51.7%) and values of ESR were more than 20mm/Hr (70 cases, 60.3%) and values of CRP positivity were 58 cases (50.0%) in 1996. In comparision with its in 1996, more than 10,000/mm3 in values of WBC and less than 20mm/hr in values of ESR and negativity in CRP values were detected mostly in 1993. 5) 176 cerebrospinal fluid studies were done. WBC count in cerebrospinal fluid were 6-75,000/mm3 (754+/-2351/mm3) and peaked on eighth days of onset of illness and decreased afterwards. Pleocytosis of cerebrospinal fluid were had of mean value 27.2% and peaked on first days of onset of aseptic meningitis. On virus culture, six cases were cultured in that one case of coxsakie virus, two cases of echo virus and six cases of nonspecific enterovirus and on enterovirus PCR, the positivity were 49 cases (41.0%). 6) 76 cases of who were diagnosed as aseptic meningitis were treated with antibiotics and 18 cases treated with mannitol for severe headache. None cases reported with seizure or decreased consciousness. The disease course mostly were three to seven days. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the causative agents of outbreak of aseptic meningitis in our hospital in 1996 were enterovirus and on virus culture, echo virus 9 and coxsackie virus A24 were cultured. Recently in our state, outbreak of aseptic meningitis epidemically in summer season and the causative viruses are cultured variably and various clinical symptoms and signs are manafested as well as.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Abdominal Pain , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Consciousness , Diarrhea , Echovirus 9 , Enterovirus , Enterovirus B, Human , Fever , Headache , Heart , Leukocytosis , Mannitol , Meningitis, Aseptic , Neck , Pediatrics , Physical Examination , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Respiratory Tract Infections , Retrospective Studies , Seasons , Seizures , VomitingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The importance of trace elements in their effect on the physiology and pathology of the central nervous system is well recognized. Changes in the concentrations of these elements in the brain could take place in pathological states. Recently, a greater emphasis has been given to the role of trace elements in the function of the nervous system both in normal and pathological conditions. The past experiments from animal demonstrate that Na+-K+-ATPase inhibition, particularly in the hippocampus, is involved in epileptogenicity. Zinc is the most potent inhibitor of Na+-K+-ATPase followed closely by copper. Zinc modulates the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of -aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. There are few reports of zinc and copper concentrations in normal CSF and in CSF from patients with neurological diseases. The aim of this study was designed to determine the zinc and copper concentrations and their correlation with protein in CSF of pediatric patients with neurologic disorders. METHODS: The study population was 43 patients who had admitted to Kang Nam Sacred Heart Hospital of Hallym University from March to June, 1996 due to high fever, headache, vomiting, and seizure. All patients were examined CSF study, 32 patients (group I) were showed abnormal CSF and seizure disorders including febrile convulsion and 11 patients (group II) were showed normal CSF and clinical symptoms of febrile illness. Zinc and copper concentrations in CSF were determined with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In addition, CSF zinc and copper concentrations in normal CSF proteingroup (group A) and in increased CSF protein group (group B) were determined to investigate probability that the damaged blood-brain-barrier permits the passage of zinc and copper into the subarachnoid space. RESULTS: 1) The CSF zinc concentrations in group I and II were 9.40+/-6.18 and 7.39+/-5.48microgram/dl, and the CSF copper concentrations in group I and II were 4.86+/-7.07 and 2.93+/-1.45microgram/dl, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the CSF zinc and copper concentrations between the two groups. 2) The CSF zinc concentrations in group A and B were 7.21+/-4.96 and 11.24+/-7.32microgram/ dl, and the copper concentrations in group A and B were 3.31+/-2.15 and 5.59+/-9.46microgram/dl, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the CSF zinc and copper concentrations between the two groups. 3) There was a significant positive correlation between the CSF zinc and copper concentrations as well as between the CSF zinc and protein concentrations. But there was no significant correlation between the CSF copper and protein concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statiscally significant defference in the CSF zinc and copper concentrations between neurologic disorders and febrile diseases. Increased CSF zinc and copper concentrations in increased CSF protein groups were not found. But there were some correlation between zinc, copper, protein levels in CSF. These results do not support assumption that damaged BBB permits the passage of the zinc, copper into the subarachnoid space.
Subject(s)
Animals , Child , Humans , Brain , Central Nervous System , Cerebrospinal Fluid , Copper , Epilepsy , Fever , Glutamate Decarboxylase , Headache , Heart , Hippocampus , Nervous System , Nervous System Diseases , Neurotransmitter Agents , Pathology , Physiology , Seizures , Seizures, Febrile , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Subarachnoid Space , Trace Elements , Vomiting , ZincABSTRACT
The "band heterotopia" or "double cortex" is a brain anomaly that is presumed to result from a premature arrest of neuronal migration. Generalized disorders of neuronal migration to the cerebral cortex have been recognized since the end of the 19th century. Recently, development of neuroimaging technique, such as MRI, have permitted easy diagnosis of generalized neuronal migration disorder. This syndrome is prevalent in females. Most patients present with generalized or multifocal epilepsy, some mental retardation, pyramidal signs and in some dysarthria. Full scales I.Q.s ranging from severely low to normal have been reported. EEG investigations usually demonstrate generalized spike-and-wave discharges or multifocal EEG abnormalities. Classic MRI findings demonstrate a band of subcortical gray matter heterotopia underlying the cortical mantle and separated from it by a thin rim of white mater. We report a 3 year old girl who present a single episode of generalized tonic clonic seizure with fever. Her MRI showed characteristic findings of band heterotopia. She has not been showed further seizure attack. She is being follow up at OPD without medication.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Brain , Cerebral Cortex , Diagnosis , Dysarthria , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy , Fever , Follow-Up Studies , Intellectual Disability , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neuroimaging , Malformations of Cortical Development, Group II , Neurons , Seizures , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
No abstract available.