A Case of Infantile Fungal Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is common in the pediatric population. The most common causative agents are bacteria, among which Escherichia coli is the most frequent uropathogen. Although fungal urinary tract infection is rare in the healthy pediatric population, it is relatively common among hospitalized patients. Fungus may be isolated from the urine of immunocompromised patients or that of patients with indwelling catheters. The most common cause of funguria is Candida albicans. Although more than 50% of Candida isolates belong to non-albicans Candida , the prevalence of non-albicans candiduria is increasing. Herein, we report a case of community-acquired candiduria in a 4-month-old immunocompetent male infant who had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and was administered antibiotic prophylaxis. He was diagnosed with urinary tract infection caused by Candida lusitaniae and was managed with fluconazole.

Relationships of physical fitness and obesity with metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: Chungju city cohort study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of physical fitness and obesity with metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted in Chungju city, South Korea. Total 843 subjects were enrolled, including 193 elementary school 4th grade male (E4M), 189 elementary school 4th grade female (E4F) and 461 male-middle school students (M1M). The subjects were also classified into 2 groups by body mass index; normal weight (NW) group and overweight included obesity (OW/OB) group. Physical fitness was measured by shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), sit and reach (flexibility), handgrip strength (muscular strength) and stand long jump (agility). RESULTS: The prevalence of OW/OB was respectively 33.7% (65 of 193) among E4M, 28.6% (54 of 189) among E4F, and 28.0% (129 of 461) among M1M. Hematocrit, white blood cell, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher, while high-density lipoprotein were lower in the OW/OB group than in the NW group. The OW/OB group presented significantly lower CRF (P<0.01) and lower agility, but higher muscular strength compared with NW group. CRF was negatively correlated with obesity indices and metabolic risk factors. After adjustments for potential confounders, odds ratios for 4th-5th grade CRF of OW/OB compared NW in the E4M, E4F, M1M, were 7.38 (95 % CI, 3.24-16.83), 4.10 (95% CI, 1.83-9.18), 16.06 (95% CI, 8.23-31.00) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that CRF has negative correlation with OW/OB in children and adolescents of Chungju city. We suggest that improvement of CRF through regular physical activity would be an important method for reducing the metabolic risks of childhood obesity.

Clinical Characteristics and Incidence of Thyroid Nodule in the Male Population for Health Check-up / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Thyroid nodules are a common disease in clinical practice. The prevalence of thyroid nodules has recently increased according to the development of thyroid ultrasonography. Thyroid nodules are more commonly found in women, but the potential for malignant nodules is much higher in men. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical characteristics and the incidence of thyroid nodules and malignancy in the adult male population. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and incidence of thyroid nodules was examined by screening ultrasonography targeting 6,968 male patients over the age of 40 who visited the National Police Hospital from January 2012 and April 2015. RESULTS: Among 6,968 male patients, 2,481 (35.6%) showed abnormal findings on ultrasonography. Of the 2,481 patients, 2,370 patients (34.01%) had a thyroid nodule and 111 patients (4.47%) had thyroiditis without a thyroid nodule, previous thyroidectomy, lymphadenopathy, esophageal diverticulum, parathyroid cyst, and benign calcification. Of the 2,481 patients, 958 patients (38.6%) had abnormal TFT and 204 patients (8.22%) had thyroiditis with or without a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules were benign in 1993 (80.33%) cases, indeterminate in 313 (12.61%) cases, and suspicious in 64 (2.56%) cases. Among the 2,481 subjects, thyroid cancer was detected in 37 subjects (1.49%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of thyroid nodules has recently increased according to the development of thyroid ultrasonography.

Hepatic glycogenosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus mimicking Mauriac syndrome / 소아과

Hepatic glycogenosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) can be caused by poor glycemic control due to insulin deficiency, excessive insulin treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis, or excessive glucose administration to control hypoglycemia. Mauriac syndrome, which is characterized by hepatomegaly due to hepatic glycogenosis, growth retardation, delayed puberty, and Cushingoid features, is a rare diabetic complication. We report a case of hepatic glycogenosis mimicking Mauriac syndrome. A 14-year-old girl with poorly controlled type 1 DM was admitted to The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for abdominal pain and distension. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and a Cushingoid face. The growth rate of the patient had decreased, and she had not yet experienced menarche. Laboratory findings revealed elevated liver enzyme levels. A liver biopsy confirmed hepatic glycogenosis. Continuous glucose monitoring showed hyperglycemia after meals and frequent hypoglycemia before meals. To control hyperglycemia, we increased insulin dosage by using an insulin pump. In addition, we prescribed uncooked cornstarch to prevent hypoglycemia. After strict blood glucose control, the patient's liver functions and size normalized. The patient subsequently underwent menarche. Hepatic glycogenosis is a complication of type 1 DM that is reversible with appropriate glycemic control.

Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescents: 3 case reports

Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSWS) is a rare disease characterized by a extracellular volume depletion and hyponatremia induced by marked natriuresis. It is mainly reported in patients who experience a central nervous system insult, such as cerebral hemorrhage or encephalitis. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is a main cause of severe hyponatremia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, whereas CSWS is rarely reported. We report 3 patients with childhood acute leukemia who developed CSWS with central nervous system complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The diagnosis of CSW was made on the basis of severe hyponatremia accompanied by increased urine output with clinical signs of dehydration. All patients showed elevated natriuretic peptide and normal antidiuretic hormone. Aggressive water and sodium replacement treatment was instituted in all 3 patients and 2 of them were effectively recovered, the other one was required to add fludrocortisone administration.

Serum lipid profiles and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate serum lipid profiles and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults with type 1diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 29 Korean young adults and adolescents with T1DM. The median age was 17 years (range, 10-25 years) and 18 (62.1%) were female. We compared the lipid profiles of patients with dyslipidemia and those without dyslipidemia. Correlations between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglyceride [TG]) were determined by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients with T1DM, 11 (37.9%) were classified as having dyslipidemia due to the following lipid abnormality: TC> or =200 mg/dL in 8 patients, LDL-C> or =130 mg/dL in 4 patients, TG> or =150 mg/dL in 2 patients, and HDL-C< or =35 mg/dL in 2 patients. Compared to patients without dyslipidemia, patients with dyslipidemia were more likely to have higher values of HbA1c (median, 10.6%; range, 7.5%-12.3% vs. median, 8.0%; range, 6.6%-10.0%; P=0.002) and a higher body mass index z score (median, 0.7; range, -0.57 to 2.6 vs. median, -0.4; range, -2.5 to 2.2; P=0.02). HbA1c levels were positively correlated with TC (P=0.03, R2=0.156) and TG (P=0.005, R2=0.261). CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults with T1DM had dyslipidemia. We found a correlation between poor glycemic control and poor lipid profiles in those patients.

Serum ferritin level is higher in male adolescents with obesity: results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010

PURPOSE: Previous reports show an association between high serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in adults. In adolescents, little information is available with obesity and serum ferritin levels. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (K-NHANES) conducted during 2010 by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. A total of 849 subjects aged 10-18 years participated in the 2010 survey. A body mass index (BMI) > or =95th percentile for age and sex or a BMI > or =25 was used to diagnose as obesity. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of obesity was 13.4% (62/462) in male and 8.5% (33/387) in female. We observed significantly higher serum ferritin in male than in female (mean+/-standard error [SE], 50.5+/-2.3 microU/L vs. 30.6+/-1.3 microU/L; P<0.0001). In male, serum ferritin is positively correlated with age (P<0.0001). White blood cell (WBC) count, serum fasting blood sugar, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and ferritin levels were higher and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In female adolescents, WBC count, TG, insulin, and HOMA-IR were higher and HDL were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In male, serum ferritin levels showed positive association with obesity (beta=21.196, P=0.016). CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin levels appear to be associated with obesity in Korean male adolescents.

Risk factors for short term thyroid dysfunction after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children / 소아과

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate short-term thyroid dysfunction and related risk factors in pediatric patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during childhood. METHODS: We studied 166 patients (100 boys and 66 girls) who underwent HSCT at the Catholic HSCT Center from January 2004 through December 2009. The mean age at HSCT was 10.0+/-4.8 years. Thyroid function of the patients was tested before and during 3 months of HSCT. RESULTS: Out of 166 patients, 165 (99.4%) underwent allotransplantation. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD, grades II to IV) developed in 76 patients. Conditioning regimens before HSCT include total body irradiation (n=57), busulfan (n=80), and reduced intensity (n=29). Forty-five (27.1%) had thyroid dysfunction during 3 months after HSCT (29 euthyroid sick syndrome [ESS], 6 subclinical hyperthyroidism, 4 subclinical hypothyroidism, 3 hypothyroxinemia, 2 overt hyperthyroidism, and 1 high T4 syndrome). In a univariate logistic regression analysis, age at HSCT (P=0.002) and acute GVHD (P=0.009) had statistically significant relationships with thyroid dysfunction during 3 months after HSCT. Also, in a univariate logistic regression analysis, ESS (P=0.014) showed a strong statistically significant association with mortality. CONCLUSION: In our study 27.1% patients experienced thyroid dysfunction during 3 months after HSCT. Increase in age and acute GVHD may be risk factors for thyroid dysfunction during 3 months after HSCT. There was a significant association between ESS and mortality.

Liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in a healthy 12-year-old boy / 소아과

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is rare in healthy children. We report a case of PLA in an immunocompetent 12-year-old boy. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed for the abscess. In addition, parenteral antibiotics were administered for 3 weeks. Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in the culture of blood and drained fluid. Here, we present this case and a brief review of the literature on this subject.

Comparision in the yield of fetal nucleated red blood cell between the first-and second-trimester using double density gradient centrifugation / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to make a practical comparative evaluation of the first and second trimesters in order to determine the period during which a higher yield of fetal nucleated red blood cells (FNRBCs) can be obtained. METHODS: NRBCs were isolated from maternal blood during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy using double Percoll gradients with different osmolarities. Magnetic activated cell sorting was performed with Kleihauer-Betke stain. We isolated fetal NRBCs from 10 mL of samples of maternal blood and determined fetal sex and fetal aneuploidy by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: The average number of NRBCs was 9.85 in samples obtained during the first trimester and 14.88 in samples obtained during the second trimester (P=0.07). The average number of NRBCs with Y chromosome signals was 5.73 in the first trimester and 8.22 in second trimester (P=0.56). However, the percentage of NRBCs with Y chromosome signals in the first trimester (70.6%) was significantly higher than in the second trimester (59.8%) (P=0.049). We diagnosed the blood samples from 7 pregnant women having fetal aneuploidy using this method and the number of NRBCs was 18.4. CONCLUSION: The method using Percoll osmolarity and a double density gradient system may be a very useful method for separation of NRBCs in the first trimester of pregnancy and also in the second trimester.