A Study on the Relationship Between the Morphologic Change and Surfactant Protein (SP)-A and Surfactant Protein (SP)-D Levels in Intratracheal Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in White Rats / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D are involved in host defense mechanism. The author was prompted to perform a study on morphologic change and SP-A, SP-D level of surfactant after pulmonary injury inflicted by intratracheal bleomycin injection. METHODS: Fifteen white adult rats each weighing 250 g (Sprague-Daw ley) were divided into study (receiving bleomycin, n=9) and control groups (n=6). Study group were given a intratracheal injection of belomycin (5 mg/kg). Two groups were grown for five weeks at twenty five degrees Celsius, after which lung tissue were examined for morphologic change and SP-A and SP-D levels were measured using Western blot assay with densitometer. RESULTS: Before the study, the average weight of the study group was 286.69+/-14.54 g, and control was 286.69+/-14.54 g. Five weeks later, the average weight of the study group was 347.31.31+/-60.53 g and control group 352.71+/-16.84 g. However, no statistical significance was noted. On light microscopy, the control group exhibited normal findings while widening of lung interstitium and fibrotic change coupled with more prominent inflammatory cell infiltration were noted in the study group. The SP-A level were 15.34+/-1.52 ODU/microgram in the study group and 7.70+/-2.81 ODU/microgram in the control. SP-D level were 3.53+/-1.46 ODU/microgram and 7.51+/-2.33 ODU/microgram in the study and control groups respectively, there was a statistical significance (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The morphologic change after pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheal bleomycin injection in white rats can be summarized as chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, deposition of collagen tissues, and lowering of SP-D level were noted. The increase of SP-A level is subject to further study in the future.

Follow-up Study of Children with Egg Allergy: Comorbidity of Allergic Diseases and Factors Affecting Prognosis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Sensitization to eggs in infancy has been reported to be associated with increasing the risk of respiratory allergic diseases during childhood. So our study was designed to follow up children who have had atopic dermatitis with egg allergy and to evaluate the prognosis according to family history, early egg elimination diet, house dust mite sensitization, egg/histamine wheel ratio of skin prick test, RAST class and age tolerance to find the risk factors which might be helpful for applying some preventable measures. METHODS: Twenty three children diagnosed with egg allergy at Kangnam General Hospital between March 1988 and March 2000 were studied retrospectively. At the time of the first visit, we interviewed an feeding methods, past medical history, atopic family histories and performed skin prick tests, and total IgE and egg-white specific IgE tests (RAST). At the time of the last visit, we evaluated whether the children had allergic diseases or not, as well as prognosis and other allergen sensitization. RESULTS: Four (17.4%) children resolved allergic symptoms, Fifteen (65.2%) children had atopic dermatitis, 11 (47.8%) children had asthma, and 12 children (52.2%) had allergic rhinitis. Prognosis was good in children with early tolerance and no sensitization to house dust mites. There was no relationship between prognosis and atopic family history, early egg elimination diet, infant feeding methods, or RAST class. CONCLUSION: Because 19 (82.6%) of 23 children with egg allergy have persistent allergic diseases and related to sensitization of house dust mites, early environment intervention for house dust mites must be evaluated to prevent other allergic diseases.

Gastric Aspirate Examination as an Index for Detection of Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis

PURPOSE: Our study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of gastric aspirate examination (GAE) in the early identification of early onset sepsis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done for a total 291 neonates who were admitted with high risk for early onset sepsis to Nowon Eulji Hospital neonatal intensive care unit between Jan. 1999 and Jan. 2003. Contents of gastric aspirate via nasogastric tube were analyzed with wet smear, gram stain and culture. Positive blood culuture was our definitive criterion for sepsis. GAE was considered positive when five or more leukocytes per high power field were counted on wet smear or when any bacteria were present on gram stain or when any organism grew on culture. RESULTS: Positive results in gastric aspirate examination are 57 patients (19.6%) in wet smear, 28 patients (9.6%) in gram stain, 30 patients (10.3%) in culture and positive result in blood is 27 patients (9.3%). There are no statistically correlation between gastric aspirate examinations and early onset sepsis. CONCLUSION: We concluded that gastric aspirate examinations are of limited value in predicting the diagnosis of early onset sepsis in neonate.

A Case of Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome with Intra-Uterine Growth Retardation

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a rare disease; approximately 150 cases have been reported in the world literature. The syndrome consists of proportionate nanism; hypotrichosis; atrophy and extreme thinness of skin, particulary over the facial area; an usual "bird-like" face with mandibular hypoplasia; a prominent thin, pointed nose; congenital cataracts; and severe dental abnormalities. We report a case of Hallermann-Streiff syndrome in premature who showed intrauterine growth retardation with proportionate nanism, brachycephaly, a beaked nose, "bird like" face, hypoplasia of the mandible, microphthalmia, congenital cataract, neonatal teeth, and widening of sagittal suture were all found on our patient.