• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2014

Purpose: The pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus, one of the most widely used immunosuppressive drugs, are known to vary by sex, age, and ethnicity during pediatric transplantation. This study assessed the pharmacokinetic characteristics and associated factors of tacrolimus in Korean children receiving a kidney transplant. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the pharmacokinetic data (therapeutic dose, trough level, clearance, and half-life) of 9 children who were given tacrolimus as one of their initial immunosuppressive drugs after kidney transplantation. In addition, we compared the findings to data from 10 adult kidney transplant recipients. Results: The mean age of our pediatric patients was 13.9 years, and the maleto- female ratio was 4:5. The mean dose of tacrolimus was $0.19{\pm}0.14$ mg/kg/day. The mean dose of tacrolimus for males was $0.23{\pm}0.12$ mg/kg/day, which was significantly higher than the dose for females ($0.16{\pm}0.14$ mg/kg/day). The trough level was not significantly different between both groups. The clearance rate of tacrolimus for males was also significantly higher than females. Although the dosage of tacrolimus for patients over the age of 12 years was lower ($0.18{\pm}0.13$ vs. $0.21{\pm}0.16$ mg/kg/day) and the trough level was higher ($8.2{\pm}4.5$ vs. $7.2{\pm}4.2$ mg/mL) than that for patients under the age of 12 years, there was no significant difference between them. However, there were significant differences between children and adults in dose, clearance, and half-life of tacrolimus. Conclusion: Out study suggests that the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus tends to vary with sex and age. Therefore, large-scale prospective studies are required to verify the proper therapeutic dosage of tacrolimus in Korean children.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.12-25
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• 2003

Objectives：As increasing number of new antidepressants have been being introduced in clinical practice, pharmacological understanding has been broadened. These changes mandate new information and theories to be incorporated into the treatment process of children with depressive disorders. In light of newly coming knowledge, this review intended to recapitulate the characteristics of new antidepressants and to consider the pivotal issues to develope guidelines for the treatment of depression in childhood and adolescence. Methods：Searching the Pub-Med online database for the articles with the key words of 'new', 'antidepressants' and 'children' ninety-seven headings of review articles were obtained. The author selected the articles of pertinent subjects in terms of either treatment guideline or psychopharmacology of new antidepressants. When required, articles about the clinical effectiveness of individual antidepressants were separatedly searched. In addition, the safety information of new antidepressants was acquired by browsing the official sites of the United States Food and Drugs Administration and Department of Health and Human Services. Results：1) For the clinical course, treatment phase, and treatment outcome, the reviews or treatment guidelines adopted the information from adult treatment guidelines. 2) Systematic and critical reviews unambiguously concluded that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) excelled tricyclic antidepressants( TCAs) for both efficacy and side effect profiles, and were recommend for the first-line choice for the treatment of children with depressive disorders. 3) New antidepressants generally lacked treatment experiences and randomized controlled clinical trials. 4) SSRIs and other new antidepressants, when used together, might result in pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic drug-to-drug interaction. 5) The difference of the clinical effectiveness of antidepressants between children and adults should be addressed from developmental aspects, which required further evidence. Conclusion：Treatment guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of childhood and adolescence depression could be constructed on the basis of clinical trial findings and practical experiences. Treatment guidelines are to best serve as the frame of reference for a clinician to make reasonable decisions for a particular therapeutic situation. In order to fulfill this role, guidelines should be updated as soon as new research data become available.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1996

Background : Several studies have suggested that impaired mucociliary clearance plays a role in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Cough productive of mucoid sputum is common, and mucous plugs in the airways are frequently observed. These clinical features are in keeping with the histologic lesions of asthma, which involve primarily the epithelial and mucous-producing structures of the conducting airways. Some studies have shown that the mucociliary clearance is impaired in adult asthma, but it has not been studied in childhood asthma. The objectives of this study were to examine whether the mucociliary clearance is impaired in childhood asthma and to estimate the degree of impairment in comparison with that of immotile cilia syndrome. Method : Thirteen children with mild stable asthma and eight patients with immotile cilia syndrome completed this study. Ten healthy children were recruited as a normal control group. The whole-lung mucociliary clearance was measured by the radioaerosol technique. Aerosols, tin colloid particles tagged with the radionuclide technetium-99m($^{99m}Tc$), were generated by means of nebulizer, and inhaled via a mouthpiece. The retention of radioactivity was measured at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes by gamma camera, and mucociliary clearance was calculated as percent retention at each time. Results: 1) In each subject, the percent retention decreased variably with the lapse of time. 2) The percent retention of radionuclide decreased at each time in order of normal control, bronchial asthma and immotile cilia syndrome and the percent retention of immotile cilia syndrome was significantly higher than that of normal control at each time(p<0.05). 3) At two hours, the percent retention of bronchial asthma($65.0{\pm}1.8$(SE)%) was significantly higher than that of the normal control($54.4{\pm}3.5%$, p<0.05), and significantly lower than that of immotile cilia syndrome($73.3{\pm}1.4%$, p<0.01). 4) When the percent retention was analyzed according to $PC_{20}$ in the children with bronchial asthma, they had no relationship with each other. Conclusion: Mucociliary clearance in the children with bronchial asthma was significantly lower than normal control. This finding indicates that impaired mucociliary clearance operates in childhood asthma as well, and suggests that it may be one contributing factor in the pathogenesis of asthma. The degree of impairment, however, was not so severe as immotile cilia syndrome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.552-557
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• 2006

Purpose : The recent results observed in precocious puberty and the hope that interrupting puberty might increase adult height have led to an attempt to use GnRH agonist(GnRHa) in children with premature puberty and a poor growth prognosis. We aimed to analyze the growth promoting effect of GnRHa in girls with early puberty and low predicted adult height(PAH). Methods : Thirty six girls were recruited. They were grouped according to the GnRHa treatment period(group 1>6 mo, n=18; group 2<6 mo, n=18). The following variables were analyzed before and after GnRHa treatment : chronological age(CA), bone age(BA), ${\Delta}age$(CA-BA), height, target height (TH), PAH, serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3. Results : Duration of the GnRHa treatment was $0.89{\pm}0.81yr$($1.37{\pm}0.92yr$ in group 1, and $0.41{\pm}0.08yr$ in group 2). Before treatment, none of the variables were different between the two groups. There were no differences in the following variables the between two groups at the end of treatment : CA, BA, ${\Delta}age$, PAH, serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3. But, growth velocity(GV) and PAH increment during treatment were significantly reduced in group 1. Compared with initial PAH, PAH at the end of treatment was significantly increased($3.7{\pm}3.2cm$). The last serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were lower than those before treatment. Conclusion : Even though last PAH didn't approach TH, short term GnRHa administration in early puberty with low predicted PAH was somewhat effective. But, GnRHa administration suppressed the growth hormone-IGF-1 axis. Therefore, it is recommended that growth hormone(GH) should be used in combination with GnRHa.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-61
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was performed to understand the influence of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C) genotypes on the spontaneously aborted embryos. Methods : DNA was extracted from tissue samples of 95 spontaneously aborted embryos and 100 samples of normal children randomly and 449 samples of normal adults were selected as the controls. MTHFR genotypes were determined by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results : The aborted embryo group had higher frequency of MTHFR 677CC type (p=0.014) and lower 677CT type (p=0.063) than the controlled child group. The frequency of MTHFR 677CT type was drastically lower than that of controlled adult group (p=0.032). In the MTHFR C677T/A1298C combination, 677CC/1298AC genotype of the aborted embryo was significantly higher (p=0.034) than that of controlled child group, but it was not statistically significant in controlled adult group (p=0.063). Conclusion : MTHFR 677CC and MTHFR 677CC/1298AC genotypes may represent genetic markers for the risk of spontaneously aborted embryos at least in Koreans.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.207-223
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• 1993

Inpatients are mostly occupied in bed with restricted activity, nearly all patient populations are at risk for the occurrence of skeletal muscle atrophy due to decreased level of activity. Restriction of mobility is far greater in pediatric patients compared with adult patients since almost all the activities of daily living is performed by parents or caregivers. It could be assumed that pediatric patients are more vulnerable to skeletal muscle atrophy than adult patients, however, there have been no attempts to reduce the atrophy of developing muscle. Therefore it is important to determine the effect of exercise in developing muscle during decreased activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of periodic weight support during hindlimb suspension on the mass and cross-sectional area of Type I and II fibers in developing soleus(Type I ) muscle. To examine the effectiveness of periodic weight support activity in maintaining mass and fiber size. the hindlimb of young female Wistar rats was suspended(HS) and half of these rats walked on a treadmill for 45min / day(15min every 4h) at 5m / min at a 15 grade(HS-WS). After 7days of hindlimb suspension, soleus wet weight was 28. 57% smaller and relative soleus weight was 28. 21% smaller in comparison with con-trol rats (p〈0.05) Soleus wet weight and relative soleus weight increased by 67.72% and 71.43% each with periodic weight support activity during hindlimb suspension (p〈0.01, p〈0.005), moreover soleus wet weight and relative soleus weight of the HS -WS rats were greater than those of the control group. No change was observed in fiber type percentage of the developing soleus muscle after 1 week of hindlimb suspension plus weight support activity. Type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas of the developing soleus muscle were 50.45% and 43.39% lower in the HS group than in the control group (p〈0.0001), type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas of the developing soleus were 24.49% and 29.93% greater in the HS - WS group than in the HS rats (p〈0.0001), whereas Type I and II fiber cross-sectional areas of HS - WS group were less than those of the control group, The results suggest that periodic weight support activity can ameliorate developing soleus muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb suspension, even in type II fibers that would not have been expected to be recruited by this type of neuromuscular demand. Clinical experimental study is needed to deter-mine the effect of periodic weight bearing exercise on developing atrophied leg muscle based on these results.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2008

Introduction: In this study, we compared sleep structure, EEG characteristic of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and normal controls which were matched in sex and age. Methods: Fifteen children (male：female=4：11) who complained snoring and were suspected to have sleep apnea and their age and sex matched normal controls (male：female=5：10) have been done nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG). Sleep parameters, sleep apnea variables and relative spectral components of EEG from NPSG have been compared between both groups. Results: Pediatric OSA group were distinguished from normal controls in terms of apnea index, respiratory disturbance index and nadir of oxyhemoglobulin desaturation. Pediatric OSA group showed increased percent of sleep stage 1, decreased rapid eye movement sleep percent and increased delta power in O1 EEG channel. However other sleep parameters and spectral powers were not different between two groups. Conclusion: In pediatric OSA group, sleep structure parameter disruption may be not prominent as the previous studies for adult OSA group because of including mild OSA data in diagnostic criteria. In addition, EEG changes might not be distinct due to low arousal index compared to adult OSA patients. We can observe general characteristics and particularity of pediatric OSA through this study.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.419-429
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• 2000

Prevotella intermedia has been implicated as a potent pathogen in many kinds of periodontal, pulpal and periapical diseases. However, it has been isolated from periodontally healthy adults and from edentulous children as well. The intraspecies heterogeneity of Prevotella intermedia has been demonstrated in early studies and finally Shah & Gharbia confirmed the existence of 2 DNA homology groups and proposed dividing Prevotella intermedia into 2 species, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens. This study was designed to examine the frequency of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens in diseased periodontal pockets and healthy gingival sulcus of Korean people by PCR based on 16s ribosomal DNA sequence. One hundred adults who had adult periodontitis but not taken any periodontal treatment or antibiotics during previous 6 months and 50 adults who had healthy periodontal tissue were selected for this study. The sulcular fluid was collected into VMGA by sterilized paper point and diluted to 1,000 times in anaerobic chamber. $100{\mu}{\ell}$ of sample was cultured in $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Among the bacterial colonies, BPB were selected and cultured in BHI broth and then Prevotella intermedia was identified through Gram staining and biochemical test. Identified Prevotella intermedia was cultured again and centrifuged. DNA was extracted from the pellet using several reagents. PCR was performed by previously designed primer. The results were followed. 1. BPB were isolated from 39 of 100 samples of diseased periodontal pockets(39%). 2. Prevotella intermedia was identified from 24 of 39 BPB samples. 3. Among 24 Prevotella intermedia, 21 were confirmed as Prevotella inter - media(87.5) and 2 were confirmed as Prevotella nigrescens(8.33%). 4. BPB were isolated from 9 of 50 samples of periodontally healthy patients. Among them only two were identified as Prevotella intermedia, that is, one was confirmed as Prevotella intermedia and the other was Prevotella nigrescens.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.371-376
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• 2017

Since in case of children, they are sensitive to the radiation compared to the adult and the potential exposure damage lasts longer, the exposure dose should be managed better than for the adult. Therefore, this study was conducted to observe the change in the chest x-ray image by the use of grid, which eliminates the scattering rays but increases the exposure dose during the child chest x-ray examination. As a research method, SNR, CNR and V. Vuichi were measured at 100 cm and 180 cm with the grid varying the kVp to 70, 90 and 110. In addition, SNR, CNR and V. Vuichi were measured fixing 100 cm and 180cm without grid and varying the dose to 6, 8 and 10 mAs. In the results of measuring them by fixing kVp, SNR, VNR and V. Vuichi were represented high when FID is 100cm. And in the results of meaduring them varying mAs, SNR, VNR and V. Vuichi were represented high when FID is 100cm. Currently in our country, the chest x-ray examination is performed at 180 cm. However, as the image is measured high when FID is 100 cm, in case of child, FID is deemed to be 100 cm.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2020

Ascariasis is the most common helminthic infection in humans. However, its prevalence has been very low in Korea since the 1990s. Recently, there have been several case reports on intestinal obstruction or pancreaticobiliary disease due to infection with Ascaris lumbricoides in adults. However, cases of ascariasis in children have rarely been reported in Korea. We report a case of ascariasis in a 2-year-old boy who experienced expulsion of an adult ascaris worm from his anus. His mother found the worm in his diaper in the morning. His medical history was nonsignificant for any previous illnesses. There were no specific symptoms, and no abnormal findings were found on physical examination. The worm was pink, elongated, and cylindrical; it was 25 cm long and 5 mm wide. Unfertilized eggs of A. lumbricoides were detected in his stool specimen. He was treated with albendazole and remained asymptomatic at follow-up. As long as the number of immigrants from endemic areas and people returning from overseas trips, and import of agricultural products keep increasing, ascariasis can still occur in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness regarding ascariasis.