• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.162-166
• /
• 2009

Purpose : Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infectious disease in childhood. Renal scarring is an important complication of UTIs. Known risk factors for renal scarring are younger age, anatomic defects, delayed treatment, and causative pathogens other than Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of clinical and laboratory features of UTI with E. coli to those with non-E. coli in infants. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 1,120 infants under 12 months of age who had been admitted for UTIs between January 1998 and December 2007. All patients who were diagnosed with UTIs were divided into two groups (E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs). Results : Three hundred twenty-four of 1,120 cases met the inclusion criteria. The number of E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs was 273 (84.3%) and 51 (15.7%), respectively. As compared to the non-E. coli UTI group, the E. coli UTI group was younger (3.59 vs. 4.47 months, P =0.008), a longer duration of pyuria (3.96 vs. 3.06 days, P =0.01), higher peripheral white blood cell counts (13.89 vs. $12.13{\times}10^3/mm^3$, P =0.043), and lower rates of high degree (III-V) vesico-ureteral reflux (P =0.005). Conclusion : UTIs with E. coli might have more severe clinical features and a lower prevalence of high grade vesicoureteral reflux than UTIs with non-E. coli. However, no difference was noted in the clinical response to antibiotic therapy between the two groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.871-876
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to verify the relation between relation between vegetarian diet and the serum lipid levels, blood sugar and blood pressure from October 1996 to February 1997. The vegetarians subjects were 245 Buddhist nuns (age:23～79 yrs) and control subjects consisted of 235 healthy female adults (age: 23～70 yrs) selected from the teachers, the nurses and the housekeepers living in Chinju Gyeongsang Nam-do. The contents included anthropometric measurement, questionnaires about eating behavior score and preference for taste and biochemical characteristics of the blood. The results were summarized as follows. The average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.1 years. Vegetarians prefer to a pepper, a sweet and a acidic in the right order but that non-vegetarians prefer to a sweet, a acidic and pepper in the right order. Both groups of less than a decade and more than two decade of vegetarian diet prefer to a pepper, sweet, a acidic, a bitter, a salty and a lily, and a 10～20 yr group with vegetarian diet was fond of a pepper, a bitter, a acidic, a sweet, and a oily, in the right order. This seems to be ascribable to a difference in the health knowledge and interest. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians who said that they were fond of salty were 38.8% and 52.8%, medium was 33.9% and 33.6%, and not salty was 27.3% and 13.6%. Eating behavior score of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 25.1 and 23.1 respectively. Eating behavior scores of vegetarians were significantly higher than those of non-vegetarians (p<0.05). Eating behavior scores of the group with more than a decade of vegetarian diet were significantly higher than those of the group with less than a decade of vegetarian diet. Levels of serum total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and AI of the salty group were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of not salty group. Levels of serum triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, blood sugar had no significant relation with preference of salty. Blood pressure was not related with preference of salty, but that of those who prefer a salty tended to be high. This study also reveals that the preference of a salty was significant influence on serum total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and AI, but the vegetarians did not prefer salty and have a good eating behavior. Consequently, vegetarian diet can be considerably effective in reducing the level of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of hepatobiliary dysfunction (HD) at our hospital and determine the possible risk factors and complications associated with the development of HD in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) treated with parenteral nutrition (PN). Methods: A retrospective study of VLBWI (n=92) that required PN between 2004 and 2008 in the NICU at the Bucheon St. Marys Hospital of Catholic University was performed. HD was defined by a direct bilirubin (DB) >2 mg and a transaminase of 60 IU/L defined cholestasis and liver injury. Groups I, II, and III were limited to cases of cholestasis, liver injury without cholestasis, and no abnormalities, respectively. The VLBWI were compared to each other. Results: Thirty-six subjects (39.1%) had cholestasis and 51 (55.4%) had liver injury. In addition, 36 (39.1%), 19 (20.7%), and 37 (40.2%) subjects were classified as groups I, II, and III, respectively. The three groups showed significant differences in gestational age, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, use of surfactant, duration of parenteral nutrition, frequency of RBC transfusions, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (P<0.05). The multiple regression analysis with cholestasis as the dependent variable, showed a significant correlation with gestational age, use of surfactant, frequency of RBC transfusions, and PDA. Conclusion: Various factors, such as birth weight, gestational age, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, use of surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), frequency of RBC transfusions, BPD, and PDA may be related to hepatobiliary dysfunction in VLBWI treated with PN.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.201-211
• /
• 1999

Objectives：This study investigated the characteristics of detained delinquent adolescents and variables related to the repeated crime during 6 months after release. Methods：The socio-demographic and crime-related characteristics of 73 detained adolescents were evaluated by semi-structured interviews and police records, and the psychological characteristics of them measured by the MMPI. We also compared the characteristics between subjects with and without repeated crime during 6 months after release. Results：1) Most of detained adolescents had families with low socioeconomic status(77%) and broken families(48%). Sixty-six percent of them were dropped out of school. The most frequent crime pattern was theft(49%), and with accomplice(77%). Seventy-five percent of total subjects had the records of previous conviction. Of the previous convictions, seventy-eight percent was same with the present crimes. 2) Subjects with repeated crime during 6 months after release were younger and had higher T-score on Pa scale of MMPI than the subjects without repeated crime. More adolescents with repeated crime had broken families than those without repeated crime. They also showed the crime-related characteristics of higher percent of theft among crime patterns, higher incidence of previous conviction, younger age of the first crime, and shorter crime-free duration from the last to present crime. Conclusion：These results of present study suggest that the development and the persistence of adolescent delinquency would be resulted from interaction of factors of individual, family, school, and community. By the comparison between subjects with and without repeated crime, it was found that familial dysfunction, younger age at first crime, presence of previous conviction might be the risk factors for repeated delinquency. To prevent repeated crime of delinquent adolescents more effectively, early therapeutic intervention and the development of programs to help adaptation in school and community would be essential.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.12
• /
• pp.837-842
• /
• 2007

Background: Closure of the ductus arteriosus is often delayed in premature infants, which creates a hemodynamically significant left to right shunt that exerts an adverse effect on the normal development and growth of these babies. We reviewed out experience on surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus via axillary minithoracotomy in premature infants. Material and Method: From April 2002 to October 2006, 20 premature infants whose gestation was under 37 weeks underwent surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus as a result of complications or contra-indications for the use of indomethacin. Their mean gestational age was 28.8+3.4 weeks, ranging from 25+3 to 34+6 weeks, and the average age at operation was $15.6{\pm}6.3$ days. The mean body weight at operation was $1,174{\pm}416\;g$, ranging from 680 to 2,100g; 16 infants were under 1,500 and 9 infants were under 1,000 g. The procedures were performed in the newborn intensive care unit via $2{\sim}3\;cm$ long axillary minithoracotomy with the infant in the lateral position with left arm abduction. The mean size of the patent ductus arteriosus was $3.8{\pm}0.3\;mm$. For the most part, the ductus was closed with clips; 2 infants in whom the ductus was ruptured while dissection was being performed underwent ductal division. Result: Ten of twelve infants who had been ventilator dependent preoperatively could be successfully weaned from the ventilator at a mean duration of 9.7 days after the operation. There was no procedure-related complication or death. Two infants eventually died of the conditions not related to the operation; one from sepsis at postoperative 131 days and the other from pneumonia at postoperative 41 days, respectively. Conclusion: Surgical closure of the patent ductus arteriosus improved the hemodynamic instability and so promoted the successful growth and normal development of premature infants. Considering the low surgical risk along with the reduced invasiveness, early and aggressive surgical intervention is highly recommended.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2005

Purpose : There is growing use of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) for pediatric patients, but reports about the use and outcome of CRRT in children is rare in Korea. We report our experiences of CRRT in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 23 pediatric patients who underwent CRRT at Asan Medical Center between May 2001 and May 2004. We evaluated underlying diseases, clinical features, treatment courses, CRRT modalities and outcomes. Results : Ages ranged from three days to 16 years with a median of five years. Patients weighed 2.4 to 63.9 kg(median 23.0 kg; 10 patients ${\leq}20kg$). The underlying diseases were malignancy(nine cases), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(five cases), hyperammonemia(four cases), acute renal failure associated with liver failure(three cases), dilated cardiomyopathy(one case) and congenital nephrotic syndrome(one case). Pediatric Risk of Mortality(PRISM) III score was $17.6{\pm}7.6$ and the mean number of failing organs was $3.0{\pm}1.7$. Duration of CRRT was one to 27 days(median : nine days). Eleven patients(47.8%) survived. Chronic renal failure developed in two cases, intracranial hemorrhage in one case, and chylothorax in one case among the survivors. PRISM III score and the number of vasopressor before the start of CRRT was significantly lower in the survivors($12.7{\pm}4.2$ and $0.9{\pm}1.1$) compared with nonsurvivors($22.1{\pm}7.8$ and $2.4{\pm}1.4$)(P<0.05). Conclusion : CRRT driven in venovenous mode is an effective and safe method of renal support for critically-ill infants and children to control fluid balance and metabolic derangement. Survival is affected by PRISM III score and the number of vasopressors at the initiation of CRRT.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.105-138
• /
• 2009

Although the decline in fertility rate is generally observed along the history of economic development throughout the world, the continuing decline hitting below the replacement level in Korea over the recent years gathered serious social concerns on the ground that it accelerates the process of population aging. The total fertility rate in Koreareached 2.08 in 1983, and gradually fell to the levels of 1.08 in 2005 and 1.26 in 2007. The policy debate over the role of the government has been focused mainly on the level of theoretical discussion without substantial basis on firm empirical evidence and the determinants of fertility. The objective of the paper is to empirically investigate the fertility effect of the female wage, which is understood as one of the most important determinants of fertility in Koreasince 1980 focusing on one aspect of fertility, namely birth spacing. Using the Korean National Fertility Survey conducted in 2006, I estimate a duration model of first and second births taking into account individual heterogeneity, which turned out to be an important factor to control for. Compared with previous studies in the literature on the Korean fertility, the study has an advantage of using the complete pregnancy history of women in a more representative sample. Unlike the previous studies, the analysis also deals with the endogeneity of marriage by treating a certain age, rather than age at marriage, as the time in which a woman becomes exposed to the risk of pregnancy. The study shares the common problem in the literature on birth spacing of lacking relevant wage information for respondents in a retrospective survey. I estimate the wage series as a function of the basic characteristics using the annual Wage Structure Survey from 1980 to 2005, which is considered as a nationally representative sample for wage information of employees. The results suggest that the increase in female wage by 10 percent leads to a decrease in second birth hazard by 0.56~0.92 percentage points and that the increase in spouse's wage by the equal amount is accompanied by the increase in second birth hazard by 0.36~1.13 percentage points. These estimates are more precisely estimated and of smaller magnitude than those presented by the previous studies. The results are robust to the different specifications of the wage equation. The simulation analysis based on the predicted values shows that about 17% of the change in the second birth hazard over the period 1980 to 2005 was due to the change in the female wage. Although there is some limitation in data, the results can be viewed as one estimate of the role of female wage on the recent fertility decline in Korea. The question raised by the paper is not a normative one of whether a government should promote childbearing but a positive one thatexplains fertility decline. Therefore, if there is a wide consensus on promoting childbearing, the finding suggests that the policies designed to reduce the opportunity cost of women in the labor market would be effective. The recent movement of implementing a wide range of family-friendly policies including child care support, maternity leave, parental leave and tax benefit in developed countries should be understood in this context.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.594-598
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin of the penis over the glans of the penis. Even though phimosis is not pathogenic, the presence of phimosis is known to increase the risk of urinary tract infection in infancy. The use of topical steroids has been advocated as a safe and economical alternative to surgical intervention. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of topical steroids for the treatment of phimosis in young boys. Methods : A total of 53 boys with phimosis were divided into two groups to distinguish between the efficacy of low-potency topical steroid(group 1, 27 cases) and of high-potency topical steroid (group 2, 26 cases). Results : The success rate increased in the process of time. After 6 weeks, the success rate was 21 cases in group 1 and 22 cases in group 2. There was no significant differences in treatment outcomes between the two groups. The age of the boys, the appearance of prepuce prior to treatment, and the presence of previous symptoms, including symptoms of UTI, and ballooning of the prepuce at micturation had no significant difference on treatment outcomes. Conclusion : Topical steroid was effective in treatment of phimosis in boys younger than 4 years old. Although treatment outcomes between low- and high-potency topical steroids were not significantly different, those treated with a high-potency steroid cream showed more fast improvement. Further studies are necessary to assess systemic side effects of steroid treatment, duration of treatment and prevention of genitourinary tract infection in male infants.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2001

Purpose : Since the first report of vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE) in 1986, the resistance to vancomycin in enterococci has been increasingly rapidly. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations of pediatric patients with VRE and the pattern of the antibiotic use with increasing the rate of VRE in pediatrics Methods : We studied retrospectively 36 pediatric patients who were isolated VRE from January 1998 to December 2000. We classified patients into ICU and non ICU groups and reviewed species of VRE, specimens in which VRE were first detected and procedures performed before VRE detected. Results : We have found that the number of pediatric patients isolated VRE is increasingly annually in this study. In addition, the number of VRE-isolation in the ICU group and in patients who were operated or who underwent active procedures is much higher than that of in the non ICU group and in patients who were taken medication only. Enterococcus faecium is the main species of VRE. VRE showed high resistance to almost all antibiotics except tetracycline, and resistance was closely related to the duration of hospitalization and history of the antibiotic use. The proportion of the cephalosporin use was higher than any other antibiotic before VRE detection. In contrast, that of teicoplanin was higher than any other antibiotic after VRE detection(P<0.05). The cases of superinfection is higher in the ICU group than in non ICU group. Conclusion : In the hospital level, prevention of nosocomial infection through proper administrative policies, through surveillance of high risk VRE regions and prudent antibiotic use can prevent VRE outbreaks and corresponding side effects.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
• /
• v.58 no.6
• /
• pp.706-711
• /
• 2017

Purpose: To analyze blinking patterns when watching an ultra-high definition (UHD) television and to compare the results between normal eyes and dry eyes. Methods: A total of 59 participants aged from 13 to 69 years were instructed to watch a colorful and dynamic video on a UHD television for 10 minutes. Before and after watching the UHD television, we measured the best corrected visual acuities, autorefraction, tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion and conjunctival hyperemia via slit lamp biomicroscopy. In addition, questionnaires for the evaluation of eye fatigue and symptoms of a dry eye were completed. The definition of dry eye syndrome was that the tear-break-up-time of one of the eyes was less than 5 seconds, conjunctival injection, or marked corneal erosion. The number of blinks and the duration of blinking were both measured and analyzed at the early and late phases of video-watching. Results: After watching the UHD television in the normal eye group, the tear-break-up-time was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and the degree of corneal erosion was significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, the subjective symptoms of participants were not aggravated (p = 0.080). There were no significant differences in blinking patterns in the dry eye group. On the other hand, in the normal eye group, the mean blinking time was significantly increased (p = 0.030). Conclusions: Watching an UHD television changes the tear-break-up-time, degree of corneal erosion, and blinking pattern in normal eyes, which may increase the risk of dry eye syndrome.