• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2007

Purpose: Henoch-Sch$\"{o}$nlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis involving the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Although the pathogenesis of HSP is still unclear, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$) is regarded as an important cytokine contributing to the disease. The goal of this study was to determine the role of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pathogenesis of HSP, and to evaluate the TNF-${\alpha}$ polymorphism for genetic susceptibility to HSP. Methods: From March 2004 to November 2005, 40 children with HSP and 32 healthy controls were included. Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were measured using the ELISA method during the acute and convalescent phase of HSP. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the TNF-${\alpha}$ gene polymorphisms at positions -308 and -238 were evaluated in patients and controls. Results: Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were $23.17{\pm}11.31$ pg/mL in the acute phase of children with HSP and $10.56{\pm}5.59$ pg/mL in the convalescent phase (p=0.000). There was no significant correlation between the serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels and the clinical scores of HSP (r=0.310, p=0.070). The genotypic frequency of the TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 polymorphism in children with HSP was not significantly different compared to healthy controls (GG 80%, GA 20% vs. GG 93.8%, GA 6.2%; p=0.094). The genotypic frequency of the TNF-${\alpha}$ -238 polymorphism in children with HSP was not significantly different (GG 97.5%, GA 2.5% vs. GG 93.8%, GA 6.3%; p=0.429). Conclusion: TNF-${\alpha}$ is assumed to be the main cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of HSP during the acute phase. However, the presence of TNF-${\alpha}$ gene polymorphisms at positions -308 and -238 did not distinguish children with HSP from normal controls.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of ultrasound examination of children performed by a pediatrician. Methods: One thousand children who presented with symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder and underwent abdominal ultrasound evaluation in the Department of Pediatrics, between January 2003 and June 2006, were included in this study. We analyzed the patient's medical records and ultrasound results retrospectively. Results: Among the 1,000 patients, 58.4% were male and 41.6% were female. The mean age of the patients was $4.7{\pm}4.0$ years. The main reasons for ultrasound were abdominal pain (43.9%), vomiting (17.3%), elevated liver enzymes (11.8%), and jaundice (9.8%). Abnormal ultrasound findings were present in 57.9% of cases. The major abnormal findings were mesenteric lymphadenitis (29.2%), fatty liver (12.1%), hepatitis (6.4%), hepatosplenomegaly (6.2%), and acute appendicitis (4.8%). The time interval between the initial medical evaluation and the ultrasound evaluation was within 24 hours in most cases (78.5%). The main findings in children with abdominal pain were mesenteric lymphadenitis (32.6%), fatty liver (5.9%), intussusception (2.7%), and acute appendicitis (2.7%). The main findings in children with vomiting were mesenteric lymphadenitis (12.7%), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (10.4%), and acute appendicitis (3.5%). The major ultrasound findings in children with urinary tract diseases were hydronephrosis (45.4%), urolithiasis (21.5%) and cystic renal disease (18.1%). Conclusion: Ultrasound examination played an important role as a non-invasive and prompt screening examination for detection of abdominal diseases. Ultrasound was an important tool for pediatricians to determine timely information for patient management.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2007

Purpose: The ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) are popular diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children, but there are many debates about their clinical significance. The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical significance of USG, CT and follow-up CT performed subsequently to USG, especially in perforated acute appendicitis in children. Methods: We have reviewed 419 cases of surgically confirmed acute appendicitis in children under the age of sixteen, who had been treated in Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital from March 2002 to February 2006. All the clinical data including the results of USG and CT were collected and analyzed. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of USG were 98.7%, 96.8%, 98.1%, 97.8% in non-perforation group and 90.8%, 100%, 100%, 81.9% in perforation group. Those of CT were 96.4%, 100%, 100%, 96.5% and 86.6%, 100%, 100%, 87.5% respectively. Those of follow-up CT after USG were 100%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 87.5%, 100%, 100%, 92.0% respectively. The duration of using antibiotics in seven patients showed positive correlation with the interval between two imaging studies (r=0.0472, p=0.019). There was no statistical significance of correlation when these imaging studies performed within 30 hours together. Conclusion: In most of the cases, single choice between USG and CT would be enough to diagnose the acute appendicitis in children. But, it may be helpful to perform CT as early as possible subsequently to USG when there is discrepancy between initial USG and clinical impression.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2007

Purpose: The role of plain, abdominal radiography in childhood constipation has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of scoring systems assessing a fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Methods: Plain, abdominal radiographs from 38 constipated children and 39 control children were examined by four independent inspectors, pediatric residents. Four inspectors independently scored the radiographs according to three different scoring systems Barr, Blethyn, and Leech. No clinical information about the patients was available to the inspectors. Each abdominal radiograph was evaluated on two separate occasions, one week apart. Kappa coefficients were calculated as indicators of inter-and intra-inspector variability, coefficients <0.20, 0.21~0.40, 0.40~0.60, 0.61~0.80 and 0.81~1.00 were considered to indicate poor, fair, moderate, good, and very good agreement, respectively. Results: The Leech score showed the highest reproducibility: the inter-inspector agreement was uniformly very good on two separate occasions (${\kappa}$ values of 0.88, 0.91, 0.92, 0.86 in the first time and 0.81, 0.88, 0.89, 0.84 in the second time). Agreement using the Barr score was good (${\kappa}$ values of 0.66, 0.67, 0.69, 0.66 in the first time and 0.68, 0.65, 0.71, 0.68 in the second time). However, agreement for the Blethyn score was the lowest of the three scoring systems. The Leech scoring system had the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to the Barr scoring system for the diagnosis of functional constipation by plain, abdominal radiographs. Conclusion: The Leech score appeared to be a more accurate and reliable method because of its high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating the fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Therefore, the Leech scoring system was found to be the most useful for assessment for the degree of constipation on plain, abdominal radiographs in children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2007

Purpose: Recently well-developed anorectal function tests have revealed that there is an obvious pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) pattern in pediatric patients with constipation, as well as in adult's. The use of biofeedback therapy (BT) has been widely implemented in adult PFD patients; however, this approach has only rarely been considered for pediatric PFD patients. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of BT in children with PFD. Methods: We studied 70 children with PFD, who were referred to the department of pediatrics at the Asan Medical Center for the management of soiling or chronic constipation from September 2002 to February 2005. Diagnosis of PFD and assessment of the efficacy of BT for PFD treatment were carried out along with several ano-rectal function tests (cine-defecography, ano-rectal manometry, balloon expulsion test and intra-anal EMG); in addition, a questionnaire was administered. The BT based intra-anal EMG was performed. A follow-up telephone interview was performed more than 6 months later. Results: Most of the symptoms and results of the ano-rectal function tests were statistically improved after BT. In comparisons between the BT and control groups (BT refusal group due to poor compliance), the symptoms were statistically improved at follow-up. Therefore, for the shortterm improvement of symptoms, BT was better than conservative therapy alone. The negative feelings associated with ano-rectal function testing and BT were directly associated with failure or success of therapy. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with constipation or soiling that presented with an obvious PFD pattern showed that BT was a useful therapeutic tool for rapid improvement of symptoms.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2006

Purpose: Crohn disease (CD) in children is frequently complicated by malnutrition and growth retardation. Conventional treatment with corticosteroid may also affect the growth of children, which may be alleviated by nutritional therapy. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the role of nutritional therapy in the treatment of CD in children. Methods: The study cohort consisted of thirty children under the age of 17 years, admitted to the Asan Medical Center from 2001 to 2005. While 11 children received nutritional therapy (NT) with an elemental diet, 19 received conventional corticosteroid therapy (ST). Comparative analysis was performed for the rate of the induction of remission, recurrence, disease activity index of pre and post-treatment, and changes of the growth using mean standard deviation score for weight (zW) and height (zH). Results: Ten of 11 children with NT and 18 of 19 children with ST completed the therapy. Two of them were lost to follow-up during the treatment. All 10 children with NT and 15 of 18 children with ST achieved remission. While there was no recurrence in children with NT, 7 with ST showed recurrence within 1 year. Pre- and post treatment Pediatric Crohn disease Activity Index (PCDAI) did not show a difference between the two groups. There were no differences in zW and zH between the two groups after 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion: This study showed that nutritional therapy could be considered instead of steroid therapy for treatment of children with CD. However, a long-term study will be needed to determine the long-term efficacy.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the factors correlated with the clinical course and outcome in patients of Henoch-Sch${\ddot{o}}$nlein Purpura. Methods: The medical records of 104 children diagnosed with Henoch-Sch${\ddot{o}}$nlein Purpura (HSP) from January 1996 to April 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and those without GI symptoms. When there were joint, scrotum, and renal symptoms except for skin lesion in whole HSP, those patients were excluded. The history of acute infection, duration of admission, treatment requirement, recurrence of HSP, CBC, stool occult blood test, abdominal ultrasonographic findings and GI endoscopic findings were reviewed. Results: Among 104 patients, patients with GI symptoms included 66 cases (63.5%), those without GI symptoms accounted for 38 cases (36.5%). GI symptoms included: abdominal pain in 57 cases (54.8%), vomiting 21 cases (20.2%), GI bleeding 5 cases (4.8%), nausea 3 cases (2.9%) and diarrhea 3 case (2.9%). Positive GI symptoms and GI mucosal lesions on GI endoscopy had a statistically significant correlation with increased admission duration, treatment requirement, recurrence of HSP, and positive stool occult blood. Six cases with small intestinal wall thickening were noted on abdominal ultrasonography. Six cases of hemorrhagic gastritis and hemorrhagic duodenitis, 3 cases of duodenal ulcer, 3 cases of hemorrhagic gastritis and duodenal ulcer, 2 cases of hemorrhagic duodenitis and colitis, and 1 case of colitis were noted on GI endoscopy. Conclusion: These results suggest that GI endoscopic examination may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of children with HSP.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of gastrointestinal mucosal lesions in the children presenting with short-term abdominal pain. Methods: Thirty one children with short term abdominal pain for less than 1 month from January 1995 to May 2004 who were examined using gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy were reviewed retrospectively. Children presenting with acute abdominal pain unrelated to proper GI were excluded from this study. Results: Male patients were 16 and female were 15. Three patients were 1~5 years old, 15 were 6~10 years old, and 13 were 11~15 years old. The duration of the abdominal pain was less than 7 days in 23 patients, 10 days in 1, 20 days in 2, and 30 days in 4. The major accompanying symptoms were vomiting (15), diarrhea (4), melena (1), hematemesis (1), and fever (2). Using endoscopy, 6 patients were found to have hemorrhagic gastritis, 5 nodular gastritis, 4 duodenal ulcer, 3 gastric ulcer, 3 reflux esophagitis, 2 nodular duodenitis, 2 superficial gastritis, 2 erosive hemorrhagic duodenitis, 2 ulcerative colitis, 1 duodenogastric reflux, and 1 esophageal polyp. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection was positive in 10 patients. The age and sex ratio, duration of abdominal pain, site of abdominal pain, and duration of abdominal pain between H. pylori- positive and negative children were different. However, only the site of abdominal pain (epigastric) showed statistical significance. All symptoms improved with medication for the GI mucosal lesions noted by the endoscopic findings. Conclusion: The author suggests that GI endoscopy be one of the important first steps in examinations to find out diverse GI mucosal lesions in the patients with short-term abdominal pain. Additionally, the examinations for H. pylori infection are important for these patients, also.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2006

Purpose: Neonatal hepatitis is the major cause of neonatal cholestasis and may be divided into infectious, metabolic, genetic, and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis. Non-familial, non-metabolic, and non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis is known to have made satisfactory progress, but little is known about its chronic clinical features. Methods: Clinical and histological assessments were carried out in 34 cases with chronic neonatal hepatitis [elevated serum alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) level for more than 6 months] except for A, B, C viral hepatitis, metabolic, or genetic neonatal hepatitis, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1998 to January 2004. Results: Males were more common (70%). Jaundice (100%) and hepatomegaly (44%) were frequent manifestations. Peak serum ALT levels were most commonly below 300 IU/L in 41.2% of patients and peak serum direct bilirubin levels were most commonly between 1.0~5.0 mg/dL in 50% of patients. Ten cases (34%) of 29 patients had positive serum cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM or urine CMV polymerase chain reaction. Serum ALT level was normalized within 1 year in 11 (37.9%) of 29 cases, and within 2 years in 9 (69.2%) of 13 cases. Serum ALT level was elevated persistently over 2 years in four (30.7%) of 13 cases. Histologic findings such as portal or periportal activity, lobular necrosis, portal or periportal fibrosis were more severe in patients with persistent ALT elevation over 2 years than in those showing normalization of ALT within 2 years (p>0.05). Conclusion: When the elevation of ALT level sustains over 1 year in non-familiar, non-metabolic, non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis, an assessment of the severity of liver injury and a careful monitoring about chronic liver disease may be required.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2005

Purpose: This study aimed to provide, as a basic material, the experiences of endoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of tumorous conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract in children. Methods: The objects were 26 patients diagnosed as having tumorous conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract among 1,283 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination at the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1994 to July 2004 retrospectively. The characteristics of patients, the chief complaints for endoscopic examination, the sorts of tumors diagnosed, the endoscopic findings of tumors, and the treatment of tumors were analysed. Results: 1) Eleven male and fifteen female were included, whose mean age was $6.93{\pm}4.02years$. 2) The chief complaints for endoscopic examination were abdominal pain (80.7%), vomiting or nausea (30.8%), and gastrointestinal beeding (30.7%) in order. 3) Six cases of ectopic pancreas, five cases of sentinel polyp, three cases of papilloma and vallecular cyst, two cases of Brunner's gland hyperplasia and gastric submucosal tumor, one case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, duodenal intramural hematoma, T cell lymphoma, lipoma, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were diagnosed by endoscopy with or without biopsy. 4) The location of tumors was in the pharynx (19.2%), esophagus (7.7%), gastro-esophageal junction (23.0%), stomach (30.7%) and duodeneum (26.9%). 5) The size of tumors was less than 10 mm in 53.8%, 10~20 mm in 26.9%, more than 20 mm 19.2%. 6) Treatments for tumors included resection by laser, surgical resection, endoscopic polypectomy with a forcep or snare, and observation 7) There was no significant complication. Conclusion: Various and not a few tumors were found in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The endoscopy was accurate, effective, and safe means for diagnosis and treatment of those lesions in children.