Complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

We report a case of a 5-year-old girl who developed left hemiparesis and left facial palsy, 6 days after the initiation of fever and respiratory symptoms due to pneumonia. Chest radiography, conducted upon admission, showed pneumonic infiltration and pleural effusion in the left lung field. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography and transfemoral cerebral angiography revealed complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was identified by a 4-fold increase in IgG antibodies to M. pneumoniae between acute and convalescent sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were elevated, while laboratory exams in order to identify other predisposing factors of pediatric stroke were all negative. This is the first reported pediatric case in English literature of a M. pneumoniae-associated cerebral infarction involving complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.

Development of a questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in korean children with allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: Korean children have their own unique lifestyle based on their living environment and culture. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life in Korean children with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: After a preliminary survey, an initial questionnaire was developed. Questions were modified to be easily understood by young children aged 6 to 7 years. The modified questionnaire was tested on children aged 6 to 12 years old. Item scores, defined as the proportion of children whose answer score was 1 point or higher was multiplied by the average answer score of each question, were used to identify questions that have practical application to the quality of life in Korean children with allergic rhinitis. Differences in answer scores between children with allergic rhinitis and those who were healthy were assessed by a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The relationship between nasal index scores and quality of life scores was determined by a Spearman rank order test. RESULTS: An initial questionnaire was composed of 21 items. We identified 19 questions with item scores above 0.5 in children with allergic rhinitis, many of which were related to nasal symptoms and 10 questions that were different between the allergic rhinitis group and the control group. The final questionnaire included the 10 questions that had both high item scores and a significant difference in the answer scores between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The developed questionnaire is essential and practical for assessing discomfort related to the symptoms felt by Korean children with allergic rhinitis.

Antiallergic effect of anti-Siglec-F through reduction of eosinophilic inflammation in murine allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin-F (Siglec-F) in mice and its functional paralog Siglec-8 in humans are transmembrane receptors that play a role in the apoptosis of eosinophils. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of anti-Siglec-F antibodies in a murine model of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty-eight BALB/c mice were used. In group A (control group, n = 7), mice were sensitized and challenged with saline. In group B (ovalbumin [OVA] challenge group, n = 7), OVA was used for i.p. sensitization and intranasal challenge. Mice in group C (control IgG group, n = 7) or those in group D (anti-Siglec-F group, n = 7) had been given rabbit control IgG or anti-Siglec-F antibody injections, respectively. We assessed the number of nose-scratching events; serum total/OVA-specific IgE; the number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; histopathological changes in nasal cavity tissues; and the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BAL fluid. RESULTS: Mice in group D had significantly less nose scratching. Serum total and OVA-specific IgE were not significantly changed. The number of eosinophils in BAL fluid and in the lamina propria of the nasal cavity mucosa was significantly decreased with anti-Siglec-F antibody treatment. The levels of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were also significantly decreased with anti-Siglec-F antibody treatment. CONCLUSION: Anti-Siglec-F antibody has beneficial effects in a mouse model of experimental allergic rhinitis.

Comparison between febrile and afebrile seizures associated with mild rotavirus gastroenteritis.

PURPOSE: We aimed on identifying the differences of febrile and afebrile seizures associated with mild rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in the pediatric population. METHOD: Medical charts of pediatric patients who had been admitted between July 1999 and June 2011 due to RVGE were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were ultimately divided into three groups; 'no seizure' (NS: patients without seizure), 'febrile seizure' (FS: patients with fever during seizure), 'afebrile seizure' (AFS: patients without fever during seizure). Comparisons between groups were carried out on demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory test results, electroencephalogram findings, brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, antiepileptic treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: Among the 755 subjects who had been admitted due to mild rotavirus enteritis, 696 (90.3%) did not have any seizures, 17 (2.2%) had febrile seizures, 42 (5.5%) had afebrile seizures. The duration of gastrointestinal symptoms before the onset of seizures were significantly shorter in the FS group compared to the AFS group (1.3±0.8 vs. 2.8±1.0 days; p<0.0001). A single seizure attack was significantly higher in the AFS group (3.0±1.6 vs. 1.7±1.0 episodes; p=0.0003), and the frequency of seizures that were of focal type with or without secondary generalization were significantly higher in the AFS group (33.3% vs. 6.0%; p=0.0139). All patients among the FS and AFS group had not received further antiepileptic treatment after discharge, and none developed epilepsy during follow up period. CONCLUSION: Despite some differences in seizure characteristics, both febrile and afebrile seizures associated with mild RVGE were mostly benign with a favorable prognosis.

Sensitization rates of airborne pollen and mold in children.

PURPOSE: Aeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan. METHODS: After obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria). RESULTS: The sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 18.66% (D. farinae), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan. CONCLUSION: The differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required.

Prevalence of primary immunodeficiency in Korea.

This study represents the first epidemiological study based on the national registry of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Korea. Patient data were collected from 23 major hospitals. A total of 152 patients with PID (under 19 yr of age), who were observed from 2001 to 2005, have been entered in this registry. The period prevalence of PID in Korea in 2005 is 11.25 per million children. The following frequencies were found: antibody deficiencies, 53.3% (n = 81), phagocytic disorders, 28.9% (n = 44); combined immunodeficiencies, 13.2% (n = 20); and T cell deficiencies, 4.6% (n = 7). Congenital agammaglobulinemia (n = 21) and selective IgA deficiency (n = 21) were the most frequently reported antibody deficiency. Other reported deficiencies were common variable immunodeficiencies (n = 16), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 15), IgG subclass deficiency (n = 4). Phagocytic disorder was mostly chronic granulomatous disease. A small number of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiency were also registered. Overall, the most common first manifestation was pneumonia. This study provides data that permit a more accurate estimation PID patients in Korea.

Beneficial effect of anti-interleukin-33 on the murine model of allergic inflammation of the lower airway.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin (IL)-33, which mediates the T(h)2 allergic pathway, may play a key role in allergic airway inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of anti-IL-33 antibody for treatment of allergic inflammation of the lower airway in a murine model. METHODS: Twenty-four BALB/c mice were used in this study. Saline was used for sensitization and challenge of mice in Group A (control group, n = 6). Mice in Group B (ovalbumin (OVA) group, n = 6) received intraperitoneal (ip) and intranasal OVA challenge. In Group C (control IgG group, n = 6), mice received ip injection with control IgG prior to OVA challenge. Mice in Group D (anti-IL-33 group, n = 6) received an ip injection of anti-IL-33 prior to challenge. Measurements of serum total and OVA-specific IgE and the number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were performed. We performed histopathologic examination to evaluate the degree of eosinophilic infiltration in lung tissue. Airway hyperreactivity was measured according to change of enhanced pause (Penh). RESULTS: A significant decrease in serum total and OVA-specific IgE and the number of eosinophils and neutrophils in BAL fluid was observed in Group D, compared with Group B or Group C (p < .05). In Group D, treatment with anti-IL-33 resulted in a significant decrease in eosinophilic infiltration in lung tissue, compared with Group B and Group C (p < .05). Degree of airway hyperreactivity, measured by Penh, showed a significant decrease in the anti-IL-33 treatment group, compared with the OVA group or the control IgG treatment group (p < .01, at 50 mg/mL of methacholine). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-IL-33 has therapeutic potential for treatment of allergic inflammation of the lower airway.

Comparison of air pollution and the prevalence of allergy-related diseases in Incheon and Jeju City.

PURPOSE: A high level of air pollutants can increase the number of patients with allergy-related diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). To analyze the association between air pollution and allergic disease, we investigated 2 areas in Korea: Incheon, an industrial area, and Jeju, a non-industrialized area. METHODS: Second grade students at elementary schools (11 schools in Incheon and 45 schools in Jeju) were examined in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used and a skin prick test was performed. The levels of NO(2), CO(2), O(3), particulate matter (PM) PM(10/2.5), formaldehyde, tVOCs, and dust mites in the classrooms and grounds were determined. RESULTS: The levels of outdoor CO, PM(10), and PM(2.5) were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The levels of indoor CO, CO(2), PM(10), PM(2.5) were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rates of AR symptoms at any time, AR symptoms during the last 12 months, diagnosis of rhinitis at any time, and AR treatment during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rate of wheezing or whistling at any time, and wheezing during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: We found that the children living in Incheon, which was more polluted than Jeju, had a higher rate of AR and asthma symptoms compared to children in Jeju. To determine the effect of air pollution on the development of the AR and asthma, further studies are needed.

Relationship between silent gastroesophageal reflux and food sensitization in infants and young children with recurrent wheezing.

It is known that early childhood wheezing associated with sensitization to allergens, including food, has an increased risk of developing asthma later during school age. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is well known to be associated with asthma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between silent GER and food sensitization in infants and young children with recurrent wheezing. Eighty-five infants or young children with recurrent wheezing, and no gastrointestinal symptoms, underwent 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring, as well as total serum IgE and specific IgE testing for eggs and milk. Among the 85 subjects, 48.2% had significant GER. There was no significant difference in the GER between atopic and non-atopic recurrent wheezers (41.7% and 50.8%, respectively). The sensitization rate to food (eggs or milk) was 12.2% and 20.5% in the GER and non-GER groups, respectively and showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.34). In conclusion, about half of infants and young children with recurrent wheezing and no gastrointestinal symptoms have silent GER. The silent GER may not contribute to food sensitization in infants and young children with recurrent wheezing.

A case of acute hepatitis with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and transient depression of multiple coagulation factors.

We report a case of acute severe hepatitis with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection and transient depression of multiple coagulation factors. A 5-year-old boy, previously healthy, was admitted with pneumonia. M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed by serology testing. Liver enzymes were elevated on admission without any past medical history. After treatment with azithromycin for 3 days, pneumonia improved, but the hepatitis was acutely aggravated. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was prolonged and depression of multiple coagulation factors developed. Liver biopsy revealed features consistent with acute hepatitis. A week later, liver enzymes were nearly normalized spontaneously. Normalization of prolonged PTT and coagulation factors were also observed several months later. This may be the first case of transient depression of multiple coagulation factors associated with M. pneumoniae infection.

Effects of the ketogenic diet on neurogenesis after kainic acid-induced seizures in mice.

The ketogenic diet (KD) remains a therapy in search of explanation although it is an established treatment of intractable epilepsy. Recent studies suggest that the KD may be both anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic. Epileptic seizures have been shown to stimulate the proliferation rate of neuronal progenitor cells in adult animals, which may be related to epileptogenesis. It is known that calorie restriction (CR) increases neurogenesis. The KD was originally formulated to reproduce the biochemical changes seen upon fasting (extreme CR). Thus, we investigated the effects of the KD on neurogenesis after kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in mice. In the present study, quantitative analysis of BrdU labeling revealed a significant increase in the proliferation rate of neuronal progenitor cells after KA-induced seizures in the KD-fed mice. This finding may provide a clue to explain how the KD exerts antiepileptogenic effects although further studies are mandatory to elucidate the relationship between seizure-induced neurogenesis augmented by the KD and its antiepileptogenic properties. In conclusion, our results suggest that the KD enhances neurogenesis, which may be related to its beneficial effects on epilepsy.

Topiramate monotherapy in infantile spasm.

Infantile spasm is an age-related refractory epilepsy. Topiramate is a new anticonvulsant with multiple mechanisms of action, and it may be effective for treating pediatric epilepsies. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of first-line topiramate treatment for infantile spasm, 20 patients received topiramate monotherapy during this study. They were treated with an initial dose of 1mg/kg/day, with a progressive titration of 1 mg/kg a week until their spasms were controlled and a maximum dose of 12 mg/kg/day was achieved. The evaluation of the treatment efficacy was based on the spasm frequency data that was obtained by the scalp and video-EEG, and by the parental count of spasm. Thirty percent of the subjects became spasm-free during the study. Six of 20 subjects (30%) had cessation of spasm and disappearance of hypsarrhythmia as seen via the video EEG; four (50%) of eight idiopathic patients had a response, whereas two (17%) of 12 patients with symptomatic infantile spasm responded. Seventy of the patients, including the spasm-free patients, had a reduction in their seizure frequency of more than 50%, and 10% of the patients had a reduction in their seizure frequency of less than 50%. The clusters of spasm frequency decreased from 10.6 +/- 8.5 to 3.5 +/- 1.4 clusters/day. Topiramate is effective and tolerated in those patients suffering from infantile spasm. Our results suggest that this drug should be considered as a new first-line drug for treating infantile spasm.

A novel mutation (A148V) in the glucose 6-phosphate translocase (SLC37A4) gene in a Korean patient with glycogen storage disease type 1b.

We report a Korean patient with glycogen storage disease type 1b (GSD-1b) whose diagnosis was confirmed by liver biopsy and laboratory results. The patient presented with delay of puberty and short stature on admission and had typical clinical symptoms of GSD as well as chronic neutropenia and inflammatory bowel disease. Mutation analysis of the glucose 6-phosphate translocase 6-phosphate translocase (SLC37A4) gene revealed that the patient was a compound heterozygote of two different mutations including a deletion mutation (c.1042_1043delCT; L348fs) and a missense mutation (A148V). The L348fs mutation was inherited from the patient's father and has been reported in an Italian family with GSD-1b, while the A148V mutation was transmitted from the patient's mother and was a novel mutation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of genetically confirmed case of GSD-1b in Korean.

Effects of air pollutants on childhood asthma.

Epidemiologic studies have suggested the association between environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the increased risk of incurring asthma. Yet there is little data regarding the relationship between personal exposure to air pollution and the incidence of asthma in children. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of exposure to air pollution on children with asthma by using exposure biomarkers. We assessed the exposure level to VOCs by measuring urinary concentrations of hippuric acid and muconic acid, and PAHs by 1-OH pyrene and 2-naphthol in 30 children with asthma and 30 children without asthma (control). The mean level of hippuric acid was 0.158 +/- 0.169 micromol/mol creatinine in the asthma group and 0.148 +/- 0.249 micromol/mol creatinine in the control group, with no statistical significance noted (p=0.30). The mean concentration of muconic acid was higher in the asthma group than in the control group (7.630 +/- 8.915 micromol/mol creatinine vs. 3.390 +/- 4.526 micromol/mol creatinine p=0.01). The mean level of urinary 1-OHP was higher in the asthma group (0.430 +/- 0.343 micromol/mol creatinine) than the control group (0.239 +/- 0.175 micromol/mol creatinine), which was statistically significant (p=0.03). There was no difference in the mean concentration of 2-NAP between the two groups (9.864 +/- 10.037 micromol/mol in the asthma group vs. 9.157 +/- 9.640 micromol/mol in the control group, p=0.96). In conclusion, this study suggests that VOCs and PAHs have some role in asthma.

Soluble transferrin receptor concentration is not superior to log ferritin for evaluating erythropoiesis in adolescents with iron deficiency anemia.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the associations of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), log ferritin, the ratio of sTfR to log ferritin (sTfR-F index), and the log of the ratio of sTfR to ferritin [log(sTfR/F)] vs. reticulocyte production during iron deficiency. METHODS: Fluorescent intensity of reticulocytes, immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), reticulocyte maturity index (RMI), sTfR, and serum ferritin were measured in 149 adolescents. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in reticulocyte parameters between the iron deficiency anemia (IDA) subjects with sTfR> or =4.9 mg/l and those with sTfR<4.9 mg/l. However, IDA subjects with log ferritin <0.73 microg/l exhibited significantly higher mean values for IRF and RMI, compared to those with log ferritin > or =0.73 microg/l (2.75+/-1.36% vs. 1.45+/-1.01%, p<0.05; 2.76+/-1.31% vs. 1.46+/-1.09%, p<0.05). In the non-IDA group, reticulocytes averaged 0.97+/-0.31% in subjects with sTfR> or =2.1 mg/l, which were significantly above the values in those with sTfR<2.1 mg/l (0.72+/-0.16%, p=0.005), but no significant differences were observed in reticulocyte parameters between the subjects with log ferritin > or =1.35 microg/l and those with log ferritin <1.35 microg/l. Correlation coefficients of log ferritin vs. RMI (r=-0.41) were higher than those of sTfR, sTfR-F index, and log(sTfR/F) vs. RMI (r=0.24, r=0.30, and r=0.28, respectively) in IDA subjects. CONCLUSION: Reticulocytopoiesis is more closely associated with log ferritin value than with sTfR concentrations in IDA patients, although sTfR significantly reflects erythropoietic activity in non-IDA subjects.

Effects of particulate matter (PM10) on the pulmonary function of middle-school children.

It has been reported that the particulate matter under 10 microm (PM10) has deleterious effects on respiratory health. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of PM10 upon normal children's lung function. The subjects were 368 middle school students in two areas of Incheon Metropolitan City. One (Incheon) is in the central city and the other (Ganghwa) is in the suburbs. Air pollution data in the vicinities of two participating schools were obtained from monthly report of air quality from Korean Ministry of Environment in 2000. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) was done two times, the first one in March and the second one in December with the same students. We analyzed the relationship between the PM10 levels and pulmonary functions (FEV1, FVC) of the children. The monthly average of the PM10 level between the two areas showed no significant difference (55.3 vs. 52.3 microg/m3). In both regions, the difference of the PM10 level between March and December was statistically significant (64 vs. 56 microg/m3 in Incheon, 64 vs. 54 microg/m3 in Ganghwa). The findings of the PFT values in March were significantly lower than those values found in December for both regions. In conclusion, we suggest that PM10 has some adverse effect on the pulmonary function of normal children.

Effects of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms on the relationship between maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and neonatal birth weight.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in enzymes that metabolize exogenous chemicals modulate the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on birth weight. A survey was conducted from 2000 to 2001 among 266 pregnant women who were hospitalized for delivery and on their singleton live births. We determined maternal GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction and measured the urinary cotinine of pregnant women at delivery by radioimmunoassay. Birth weight was found to decrease significantly with increasing concentrations of maternal urinary cotinine (P < 0.05). The interactive effect of exposure to ETS and the presence of the GSTT1 polymorphism was found to be significant by multivariate analysis (P < 0.01), whereas the interactive effect of exposure to ETS and the presence of GSTM1 polymorphism did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.21). A combination of the GSTM1-null and the GSTT1 null-genotypes was found to exacerbate the effect of maternal exposure to ETS on birth weight more than the presence of either genotype alone. Our data indicate that maternal exposure to ETS negatively affects neonatal birth weight, and the adverse effect of maternal exposure to ETS on neonatal birth weight could be modified by the maternal metabolic genotypes, GSTM1 and GSTT1.