A Case of Scoliosis Due to a Foreign Body (Pencil) in the Colon

Scoliosis describes a lateral curvature of the spine and is often associated with cosmetic and functional impairments due to severe deformity of the spine. The incidence of adolescent scoliosis is 2-4% of children between 10 and 16 years of age. Eighty five percent of them are idiopathic, in which the most common type of scoliosis is right side-bending. In addition, it is classified into congenital, and secondary scoliosis such as neuromuscular disease and neurofibromatosis. Congenital scoliosis is associated with abnormalities of urinary system(20%), congenital heart diseases(15 %), and other abnormalities(10%) such as syringomyelia. We experienced a case of scoliosis by a foreign body(a pencil) in the colon which has never been reported up to date. A brief review of the literature was made.

Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-beta Receptors in Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome in Infancy / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a symptom complex of vomiting and diarrhea caused by non-IgE mediated allergy to cow's milk and/or soy in young infants. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta has been reported to protect the epithelial barrier of the gut from foreign antigens. We studied the expression of type 1 and 2 TGF-beta receptors in the mucosa of small intestine to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of FPIES. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients, aged 7 to 120 days (mean 49 days) who were diagnosed with FPIES by clinical criteria and challenge tests were included. Immunohistochemical stainings for type 1 and 2 TGF-beta receptors were performed on endoscopic duodenal biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Type 1 and 2 TGF-beta receptors were expressed in the villous and crypt epithelial cells but nearly absent in the lamina propria in both patients and controls. Type 1 TGF-beta receptor expression was significantly lower in the patients who had villous atrophy than in the patients who had not and in controls. The expression of type 1 TGF-beta receptor was negatively correlated with the severity of villous atrophy. Type 2 TGF-beta receptor expression showed no significant difference between the patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our results suggests that the decreased activity of type 1 TGF-beta receptor is implicated in the pathogenesis of FPIES in young infants.

A Case of Klinefelter Syndrome associated with Unilateral Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney in a Newborn Infant

Klinefelter syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality, with a 47, XXY karyotype and typical clinical findings of infertility, hypogonadism, reduced body hair, gynecomastia, tall stature, and incresed gonadotropins and decreased testosterone levels. In addition to this classic description, several other diseases have been discribed in Klinefelter syndrome such as unilateral renal aplasia, autoimmune disease, diabetes mellitus, sexual precoxity, renal cell carcinoma, intravesical ureterocele, and osteoporosis. The incidence is 1 in 400-1,000 of the population and urological abnormalities are not common. However a case of Klinefelter syndrome associated with multicystic dysplastic kidney has not been not reported up to date. Therefore, we describe a 1- day-year old baby boy who presented with Klinefelter syndrome with unilateral multicystic kidney dysplastic disease, plus with a brief review of the literature.

Thymus Size and Its Relationship to Perinatal Diseases; Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Intrauterine Growth Retardation

PURPOSE: Thymus size can be affected by several factors and perinatal diseases can be estimated by its size. The purpose of this study was to search for a relationship between cardiothymic/ thoracic(CT/T) ratio and perinatal diseases such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) and intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR) by measuring the width of the cardiothymic shadow at the level of the carina and dividing it by the width of the thorax at the costophrenic angles. METHODS: A clinical study was conducted on newborn infants with RDS(n=51), IUGR(n=27), and premature rupture of membranes(PROM, n=48), who were admitted at NICU of Catholic University of Daegu from June 2000 to Oct. 2001. CT/T ratio was measured within six hrs of age, at 2-3 days of age, and at 5-7 days of age. RESULTS: CT/T ratios of RDS group, IUGR group, and PROM group were 0.46+/-0.07, 0.32+/-0.04. 0.36+/-0.06, respectively. CT/T ratios of RDS group within 6hrs of age, at 2-3 days of age, and at 5-7 days of age were 0.43+/-0.07, 0.34+/-0.06, 0.25+/-0.04, respectively. There were statistically significances among the RDS group, the IUGR group, and the PROM group and in the RDS group at different times. Regression for gestational age among three groups was not statistically significant but correlation for gestational age in the entire groups was statistically significant. CT/T ratio between normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and c-section among three groups was not statistically significant. CT/T ratios with dexamethasone-treated group and untreated group was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We concluded that thymus size differed significantly in the perinatal diseases such as RDS and IUGR, and so can be used as an early diagnostic tool for perinatal diseases.