Analysis of Fall Accidents of Dizzy Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in South Korea (2011-2015) / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A fall refers to a sudden fall accident resulting in injury and hurt of the human body. In the hospital, fall accidents occur mainly in dizzy patients or elderly people, but can also occur even in young people who fail to adapt to the unfamiliar hospital environment. This study analyzed the incidence of fall accidents and its pattern in dizzy patients in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study was conducted using 477 fall accidents that occurred in a tertiary hospital in Korea from 2011 to 2015. Extensively investigated were related fall risk factors such as patient's sex, age, medical department, diagnosis, first witness, mental status, physical activity, patient risk factors, walking aids, medication use and treatment. RESULTS: Dizziness induced falls consisted of 20.5% of the total fall accidents. Sedative medications were frequently used in patients of dizziness induced falls (42.9%). Fall acidents were mainly detected by nurses 33%. The frequente sites of fall were the bed rooms (55%), the corridor (15%) or the bath rooms (8%). Types of physical damage were no damage (47%), abrasion or bruising (20%), laceration (10%), bath rooms (8%), fracture (3%), and head trauma (1%). In 532 treatments, observation was recommended for 68%, sterilization 15.2%, suture 4.7%, cast 1%, and surgery 1%. CONCLUSION: The study finds that the fall risk screening test and Multifactorial Fall Prevention Program should be performed for all high-risk patients of fall. About 20% of falls were associated with otologic dizziness, and otolaryngology doctors should pay attention to the fall problem and the medication related to dizziness, which may potentially increase the risk of falls.

Diagnostic utility of skin prick test to cooked egg in children with egg allergy

PURPOSE: Reliable predictors of tolerance to cooked egg in an egg allergic population are not established. We investigated the usefulness of the skin prick test to cooked egg in children with egg allergy. METHODS: We studied 36 children with egg allergy. Skin prick tests (SPTs) for the uncooked or cooked form of egg white and egg yolk, whole egg, ovomucoid (OVM), and ovalbumin (OVA) were performed at diagnosis. The reagents of cooked egg for SPT were prepared by baking for 25 minutes in 200 degree oven. We also examined specific IgE levels to whole egg, egg white, egg yolk, OVM, and OVA. RESULTS: Patients with history of allergic reaction to extensively heated egg showed significantly increased wheal size for cooked egg white (median [interquartile range]), 10.5 [7.0-14.6] vs. 4.2 [0.0-5.6], P<0.001) and OVM (9.6 [7.3-13.8] vs. 5.6 [0.0-7.8], P=0.001) than those without the history. The strongest positive correlation was found between wheal size for cooked egg white and OVM (r=0.788, P<0.001). SPT wheal size for cooked egg white were positively correlated with serum OVM-specific IgE levels (r=0.691, P<0.001). Cutoff value was 7.0 mm in SPT wheal size for cooked egg white, the sensitivity was 73.1% and specificity was 99.0%. SPT for cooked egg white showed significantly higher area under curve than serum egg white specific IgE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SPT to cooked egg white may be useful predictor of allergic reaction to cooked egg. Further investigations will be needed.

ERRATUM: Acknowledgments. Diagnostic utility of skin prick test to cooked egg in children with egg allergy

In this paper, acknowledgments section for grant support was omitted unintentionally.

Utility of tools for the assessment of asthma control in childhood asthma

PURPOSE: The goal of asthma control is to maintain well-controlled state. In this study, we investigated whether childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) may reflect lung function and whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can be used to improve the accuracy of C-ACT in reflecting the asthma control level. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 155 patients with asthma underwent lung function tests and C-ACT upon visiting our outpatient clinic. We compared lung function test results according to the C-ACT score stratified by atopy and also examined FeNO according to C-ACT and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. The diagnostic accuracy of well-controlled asthma by C-ACT, FeNO, and C-ACT+FeNO was examined. We also calculated the cutoff value of FeNO and C-ACT for well-controlled asthma. RESULTS: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) showed a significant correlation with the C-ACT score. Stratified by atopy, PEF, and forced expiration in one second (FEV1) showed significant correlations with the C-ACT score in the atopic asthma group. There was no difference in FeNO between subjects with C-ACT> or =20 and <20, but FeNO was significantly higher in the uncontrolled asthma according to the GINA guidelines. The diagnostic accuracy of well-controlled asthma was higher when FeNO was combined with the C-ACT score than C-ACT or FeNO. Our study showed that the cutoff values of C-ACT and FeNO 19 and 18.3 ppb (parts per billion), respectively, for well-controlled asthma. CONCLUSION: C-ACT showed a significant correlation with PEF, and atopic asthma group showed significant correlations with PEF and FEV1. A combination of C-ACT with FeNO might reflect asthma control status more accurately.

Hypersensitivity reaction to aspirin accompanied by severe eosinophilia in a child with history of Kawasaki disease

Drug hypersensitivity is one of drug adverse reactions that develop in susceptible patients following exposure to certain drugs and cannot be predicted from the known pharmacology of a drug. Severe hypersensitivity is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although the issue of hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been largely investigated in adults, data related to NSAIDs hypersensitivity is insufficient in childhood. And in spite of the recommendation to avoid use of aspirin due to Reye syndrome in children, aspirin is one of major treatment along with intravenous immunoglobulin in Kawasaki disease. We report a case of a 10-month-old boy who underwent intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin treatment for Kawasaki disease, and subsequently revealed severe leukocytosis and eosinophilia. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of aspirin-induced eosinophilia in Korea.

Heterogeneity of asthma according to systemic inflammatory pattern in children

PURPOSE: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation. We evaluated whether systemic inflammatory patterns could reflect the nature of airway inflammation. We assessed characteristics of asthma according to systemic inflammatory patterns. METHODS: A total of 413 children with asthma were enrolled in the study. Four systemic inflammatory patterns were classified according to eosinophil and neutrophil counts in peripheral blood. Children with neutrophil count> or =5,000/microL were defined as the NEU(hi) group, those with neutrophil count or =650/microL were defined as the EOS(hi) group, those with eosinophil count<240/microL as the EOS(lo) group. The remaining patients were excluded from the study. The characteristics of asthma include pulmonary function test results, bronchodilator response, airway hyperresponsiveness, and atopy. RESULTS: The EOS(hi) group had a lower PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]), a lower FEV1, and a higher immunoglobulin E level rather than the EOS(lo) groups, although there were no significant differences between the NEU(hi) and NEU(lo) groups. The eosinophil percentages of the induced sputum samples were higher in the EOS(hi) group than the EOS(lo) group and correlated with blood eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic inflammation was related to characteristics of asthma and sputum eosinophils. However, neutrophilic inflammation reflected neither asthma features, sputum neutrophils, nor eosinophilic inflammation. Further studies on blood neutrophils involving asthma phenotypes in terms of more specific characteristics of asthma should be needed in children.

A Case of Eosinophilic Fasciitis Presenting as Pitting Edema of the Lower Extremities

Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare disease characterized by diffuse fasciitis with peripheral eosinophilia and progressive induration and thickening of the skin and soft tissues. We report a 19-year-old female who presented with pitting edema in both lower extremities. She had a history of excessive physical activity before her symptoms developed. Physical examination revealed 2+ pitting edema in both lower legs. She complained of mild pain in both knee joints and feet, with no tenderness or heating sensations. Laboratory results were unremarkable except for severe eosinophilia. Parasite infection, venous thrombosis, and cardiac and renal problems were excluded. A magnetic resonance imaging study of both lower extremities revealed increased signal intensity in the subcutaneous lesions, consistent with superficial inflammation of the fascia. Mixed perivenular lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic infiltration in the subcutaneous lesion were observed on biopsy. The patient was treated with corticosteroids, resulting in remarkable improvement in both edema and eosinophilia.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Impulse Oscillometry in Children With Allergic Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), and bronchodilator response (BDR) are representative characteristics of asthma. Because allergic rhinitis (AR) is a risk factor for asthma development, we evaluated these 3 characteristics in AR using measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a methacholine challenge test (MCT), and impulse oscillometry (IOS). METHODS: This study included 112 children with asthma (asthma group), 196 children with AR (AR group), and 32 control subjects (control group). We compared pulmonary function parameters and FeNO levels among the 3 groups. The AR group was subdivided into 2 categories: the AR group with BHR and the AR group without, and again pulmonary function and FeNO levels were compared between the 2 subgroups. RESULTS: FeNO levels were more increased in the AR and asthma groups than in the control group; within the AR group, FeNO was higher in the AR group with BHR than in the AR group without. The BDR was more increased in the AR group than in the control group when percent changes in reactance at 5 Hz (Delta X5) and reactance area (Delta AX) were compared. In the AR group, however, there was no difference in Delta X5 and Delta AX between the AR group with BHR and the AR group without. CONCLUSIONS: Reversible airway obstruction on IOS and elevated FeNO levels were observed in children with AR. Because elevated FeNO levels can indicate airway inflammation and because chronic inflammation may lead to BHR, FeNO levels may be associated with BHR in AR. IOS can be a useful tool for detecting lower airway involvement of AR independent of BHR assessed in the MCT.

Increased inflammatory mediator in exhaled breath condensate from asthmatic children

PURPOSE: There has recently been increasing interest in the use of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) as a simple noninvasive means for understanding the physiology of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the EBC of asthmatic children. METHODS: We measured LTB4 and ECP levels in EBC from children aged 6-14 years, including healthy children (n=25) and asthmatic children (n=25). We also measured serum LTB4 and serum ECP. Pulmonary function tests and methacholine challenge tests were performed on all subjects. RESULTS: Exhaled LTB4 levels were increased significantly in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (7.1+/-3.7 pg/mL vs. 2.2+/-1.7 pg/mL, P<0.05). Serum LTB4 levels were not significantly different in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (674.7+/-484.1 pg/mL vs. 487.1+/-272.0 pg/mL, P=0.156,) and no significant correlations were found between exhaled and serum LTB4 concentrations in children with asthma (r=0.052, P=0.758). Exhaled ECP levels were not significantly different in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (P=0.419). Serum ECP levels were significantly increased in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (44.37+/-32.14 microg/L vs. 16.40+/-13.23 microg/L, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: We found significantly elevated LTB4 levels in the EBC of asthmatic children. Our results suggest that EBC may be one of the supportive tools to measure airway inflammation in children with asthma.

The effect of heat treatment or hydrolysis on cow's milk protein distributions and antigenicities

PURPOSE: Cow's milk protein is one of the most common and strongest food allergen. We investigated the effects of heat treatment on the distribution and antigenicities of major allergens from cow's milk. We also compared the protein distribution and antigenicities among cow's milk formula and its substitutes. METHODS: We heated alpha-casen, beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), alpha-lactalbumin (ALA), and crude extract of cow's milk in 100degrees C boiling water for 1 hour. We prepared crude extracts from cow's milk formula, partially hydrolyzed milk formula (pHF) and extensively hydrolyzed milk formula (eHF). The protein compositions of all the samples were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The antigenicities were determined by IgE immunoblotting with pooled serum collected from 11 patients with milk allergy. RESULTS: After heating, no significant alteration was found in casein, and the aggregates of ALA and BLG were detected with molecular weights of about 30 and 45 kDa, respectively. The antigenicities of newly detected aggregates were increased. The new aggregates of BLG with increased antigenicities were also found in heated milk total protein. Major milk allergens were not found in pHF, and residual components with a molecular weight below 10 KDa did not show IgE-binding activity. We failed to observe the residual components and antigenicities of eHF. CONCLUSION: Changes in protein distribution and antigenicity of milk total protein induced by heat treatment may not be significantly different from those of each major allergen. The residual components of pHF could have little IgE-binding capacity, and there may be few or no antigenic components in eHF.

Usefulness of Thrombocytopenia and Changes in Platelet Counts as Prognostic Markers in Pediatric Intensive Care Units / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytopenia has been shown to be a useful predictor of mortality in adult intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study is to assess whether the level of platelet count at ICU admission and the changes in platelet counts can predict mortality in the pediatric ICU (PICU). METHODS: Platelet counts were checked daily for at least 4 days in a total of 303 children who were admitted to the ICU. We compared the initial platelet counts and changes in platelet counts between survivors and non-survivors. A multivariable logistic regression model, a receiver operating characteristic curve and a linear mixed model were used. RESULTS: The initial platelet count was significantly lower in non-survivors when compared to survivors. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that platelet count <120 x 10(9)/L (Odds ratio, 4.913; 95% confidence interval 2.451-9.851; p < 0.0001) was an independent predictor of mortality. In the case of children with thrombocytopenia (<120 x 10(9)/L) at admission to the ICU, the platelet counts increased serially in survivors, whereas non-survivors maintained their decreased platelet counts. In the case of children without thrombocytopenia, the platelet counts decreased most on day 3 in non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: At admission to the ICU, thrombocytopenia defined as a platelet count <120 x 10(9)/L can be a useful predictor of mortality in children. In children who had initial thrombocytopenia, the serial increase of platelet counts can be related to increased survival, whereas in children who did not have initial thrombocytopenia, more than a 10% decrease of platelet counts on day 3 can be related to mortality.

Prognostic Usefulness of Eosinopenia in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Eosinopenia, a biomarker for infection, has recently been shown to be a predictor of adult mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our study assessed the usefulness of eosinopenia as a mortality and an infection biomarker in the pediatric ICU (PICU). We compared the PICU mortality scores, eosinophil count and percentage at ICU admission between children who survived and those who did not survive and between children with infection and those without infection. A total of 150 patients were evaluated. The initial eosinophil count and percentage were significantly lower in the group that did not survive when compared to those that did survive (P < 0.001; P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the eosinophil count and percentage seen in patients with and without infection. Eosinopenia, defined as an eosinophil count < 15 cells/microL and an eosinophil percentage < 0.25%, (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.96; P = 0.008) along with a Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 2 (HR: 1.03; P = 0.004) were both determined to be independent predictors of mortality in the PICU. The presence of eosinopenia at the ICU admission can be a useful biomarker for mortality in children, but is not useful as a biomarker for infection.

The safety of influenza vaccination in children with egg allergy

PURPOSE: Although influenza vaccine contains some residual egg protein (ovalbumin), recent studies have been reported that the influenza vaccine is even safe for patients with egg allergy. The object of this study was to assess the safety of influenza vaccination and estimate the risk factors of allergic reactions to influenza vaccination in children with egg allergy. METHODS: The medical records of 108 children were reviewed retrospectively, those were diagnosed as egg allergy at Department of Pediatrics in Severance Children's Hospital between January 2006 and December 2011. All of them were vaccinated with very low ovalbumin concentration (< or =0.12 microg/mL). Patients were vaccinated in graded doses by the international guideline. Subjects without allergic reactions to influenza vaccine among egg allergy patients were recruited as control subjects. RESULTS: Only 12 subjects of patients had adverse reactions to influenza vaccination. There were no significant relationships between adverse reactions to influenza vaccine and their own history of other allergy, history of breast feeding or graded vaccination. The egg allergy symptoms or egg-specific IgE levels were not associated with adverse reactions to influenza vaccination. CONCLUSION: These results show that patients with egg allergy may have adverse reactions with influenza vaccine, but severe adverse reactions are rare as general population. Therefore, the patients with egg allergy can be safe vaccinated with influenza vaccine, regardless of severity of allergic reaction after egg ingestion or methods of vaccination.

Erratum: Involvement of Human Histamine N-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Children

We found an error in our published article, Table 3.

Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity as a predictor for bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children with allergic rhinitis

PURPOSE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is regarded as a risk factor for asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is frequently observed in patients with AR. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of AR patients with BHR and identify factors that contribute to the incidence of BHR. METHODS: The medical records of a total of 176 children with AR were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were evaluated by performing spirometry and a methacholine challenge test. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five patients (88%) were classified as the BHR-negative group and 21 patients (12%) were classified as the BHR-positive group. Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75 %predicted) was reduced, and total eosinphil counts, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, and serum specific IgE levels of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were higher in the BHR-positive group compared to the BHR-negative group. However, FEF25-75 was the only statistically significant predictor for the presence of BHR on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value to distinguish BHR-positive subjects obtained from a receiver operating characteristics curve of FEF25-75 was 88.4%. A higher frequency of BHR was found in the group with a FEF25-75 less than 88.4%, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 57.1%, 80.6%, 28.6%, and 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reduced FEF25-75 values in children with AR can be helpful in predicting BHR. Children with low FEF25-75 in spirometric tests should be followed closely for apparent onset of clinical symptoms of asthma.

Involvement of Human Histamine N-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Children

PURPOSE: Histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) catalyzes one of two major histamine metabolic pathways. Histamine is a mediator of pruritus in atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between HNMT polymorphisms and AD in children. METHODS: We genotyped 763 Korean children for allelic determinants at four polymorphic sites in the HNMT gene: -465T>C, -413C>T, 314C>T, and 939A>G. Genotyping was performed using a TaqMan fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay. The functional effect of the 939A>G polymorphism was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 763 children, 520 had eczema and 542 had atopy. Distributions of the genotype and allele frequencies of the HNMT 314C>T polymorphism were significantly associated with non-atopic eczema (P=0.004), and those of HNMT 939A>G were significantly associated with eczema in the atopy groups (P=0.048). Frequency distributions of HNMT -465T>C and -413C>T were not associated with eczema. Subjects who were AA homozygous or AG heterozygous for 939A>G showed significantly higher immunoglobulin E levels than subjects who were GG homozygous (P=0.009). In U937 cells, the variant genotype reporter construct had significantly higher mRNA stability (P<0.001) and HNMT enzyme activity (P<0.001) than the common genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in HNMT appear to confer susceptibility to AD in Korean children.

Use of low-dose sulodexide in IgA nephropathy patients on renin-angiotensin system blockades

BACKGROUND: Despite using renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockades, some of the patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy often had persistent proteinuria of more than 500mg/d. They need to be managed further by alternative methods to halt the progression of the disease; these methods could also be applied safely over a long period of time. In this context, sulodexide has been studied for the management of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out involving 20 patients with IgA nephropathy who had been taking sulodexide (50mg daily) as an add-on therapy together with an optimal dose of RAS blockades during 2008-2009. We evaluated the proteinuria reduction rates and renal function changes. RESULTS: During 11.1+/-72.7 months of follow-up duration, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) decreased for 1.57+/-0.6 to 1.17+/-0.7 g/g (P=0.032). Twenty-five percent of the patients showed a greater than 50% reduction of UPCR, and 40% had a UPCR of less than 1.0g/g at their final observations. The analysis of the factors contributing to the effect found that a higher pretreatment UPCR showed a significant correlation with the UPCR decrease (r=0.45, P=0.047). Neither the adverse effects nor the renal function impairments were documented during the management. CONCLUSION: Low-dose sulodexide has an additional modest antiproteinuric effect on IgA nephropathy undergoing RAS blockade therapy.

A Case of Mediastinal and Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in a 3-Year-Old Immunocompetent Girl / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Cryptococcosis is an infrequently recognized infection in children, particularly those who are immunocompetent. The disease is mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen that primarily affects the central nervous system (CNS) and lungs. Most reports of children with cryptococcosis are of the CNS or disseminated infections among immunocompromised patients. This report is a case of a 3-year-old immunocompetent girl who presented with intermittent fever and cough; a large mass was found in the right infrahilar area on chest X-ray. Chest computed tomography revealed large conglomerated mediastinal lymph nodes caused by C. neoformans, which was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction as well as a histological evaluation. The patient improved after a prolonged period of antifungal therapy. This is the only known report of mediastinal and pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent child.

A Case of Hyperreactio Luteinalis in Normal Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

We report a case of hyperreactio luteinalis in a patient with normal singleton pregna-ncy. In the 10th week of gestation, the patient developed lower abdominal pain accompanied by abdominal distension. Ultrasonography revealed bilateral ovarian cysts. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed due to torsion of right ovarian cyst. The pathologic diagnosis was corpus luteal cyst. Any signs of maternal virilization were not seen. The patient deliv-ered a normal male infant at 39th week of gestation. As hyperreactio luteinalis is a benign condition in itself with normal spontaneous remission after delivery, the conservative man-agement may be appropriate.