• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Growth impairment is usually observed in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Studies on the final height and weight of this population are insufficient. Our aim was to evaluate the final height of children with CHD and to identify the relationship between CHD and growth. Methods : We recorded the values of final height and weights of 105 CHD patients (age, <19 years) who visited Chonnam National University Hospital between November 2000 and March 2009, and we reviewed the medical records. Results : The mean values of weight and height of male CHD patients were significantly lower than those of the normal subjects. Patients with severe growth impairment (below the third percentile of normal) included 5 males (8.6%) and 4 females (8.5%) with height less than normal and 9 males (15.5%) and 8 females (17.0%) with weight less than normal. The mean growth of the patients in the cyanotic heart disease group was lower than that of normal subjects, but a statistically significant difference was noted in the weights of males. In a comparative study based on the type of CHD, a significant difference was noted in weights of males. Patients with patent ductus arteriosus and those with tetralogy of Fallot had the highest and lowest mean values of weight, respectively. Conclusion : Growth impairment was more evident in children with CHD than normal children. Patients should be treated during an optimal time frame. Thus, CHD patients should be treated if follow-up studies indicate growth impairment.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.33-59
• /
• 2008

This paper aims to analyse the preference for German farm tourism among the German population. For this reason, we conducted an empirical study in Germany during summer 2007 and we applieda structural equation model based on partial leasts quares(PLS) to analyse the data. In the following chapters we will introduce the literature review and our conceptual frame work. We will then outline the procedures we adopted and the results of the empirical analysis. In the final part so me conclusions will be presented and a discussion will follow in order to draw the future directions of our research. According to our hypotheses, the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked set of an individual is higher: H1: The higher the information degree about it. H2: The lower the influence of the social stimuli. H3: The higher the physical exposure to it (experience). H4: The higher the wellness image of agri-tourism. H5: The higher the traditional image of agri-tourism. H6: The higher the exciting image of agri-tourism. H7: The higher the perceived value for money. Our further hypotheses affirm that the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked set of an individual is higher: H8: The lower the perceived risk. H9: The higher the motive to enjoy a holiday in the nature. H10: The higher the motive to enjoy a sport holiday. H11: The lower the motive to have an organized holiday. H12: The lower the motive to have a holiday abroad. H13: The lower the motive of action and night life. H14: The higher the motive to spend a holiday with the family. H15: The lower the motive to spend a city holiday. Finally, our model has some socio-demographics data. As we mentioned before, German agri-tourism has traditionally been the travel destination of large-size families, with low-to-middle income. For that reason, our final hypothesises are the following: the possibility that agri-tourism enters in the evoked-set of an individual is higher: H16: The higher the number of family members. H17: The lower the family income. Since in this study we use a path model with a PLS approach, we are able to state some interrelations among the exogenous latent variables: H18: The motive of sport holiday has a positive influence towards nature motives. H19: The physical exposition to agri-tourism has a positive influence toward information. H20: The motive of family holiday has a negative influence toward the motive of action and night life. H21: Social stimuli have a positive influence towards individuals risk perceptions. H22: Social stimuli have negative influence towards experience. Data for this study were gathered via administrated questionnaires during the summer 2007 within the frame of an academic "marketing research" course. The corresponding t-values are assessed using the bootstrapping method with 500 re-samples. In our model 61% of the degree of appreciation of German agri-tourism (evoked set) is explained by five independent variables: value for money ($0.335^{{\ast}{\ast}{\ast}}$) (H7) experience ($0.267^{{\ast}{\ast}}$) (H3), exciting image ($0.204^{\ast}$) (H6) organisation ($-0.162^{\ast}$) (H11) and holiday abroad ($-0.156^{\ast}$) (H12). The variance explained ($R^2$) for the other endogenous variables are the following: nature 24.3%, information 14.1%, action holiday 13.8%, risk perception 5.8% and experience 2.4%. An overview can be inferred from table 5. The results also allow us to test each of the proposed hypotheses. With exception of organization and abroad, none of the others travel style factors (H9 to H15) seem to have any significant impact towards evoked set which leads to the rejection of the respective hypotheses. As expected, social stimuli have a significant influence on individuals' risk perception (H21 accepted), however neither the former nor the latter have a valuable impact on evoked set (rejection of H2 and H8). Besides, since the influence of social stimuli towards experience is not significant, also H22 has to be rejected. Experience influences information (H19 accepted) but the latter does not affect significantly the evoked set (H1 rejected). Both H4 as well as H5, referring respectively to the perceived images of German agri-tourism as a wellness destination and the traditional image of the German farm tourism have to be rejected. Finally, none of the demographic data included in the model explains significantly the variance of the factor evoked set. Therefore neither H16 nor H17 has been accepted. As far as the interrelation between sport and nature (H18) and family and action (H20) are concerned, the stated relationship among these variables has been statistically confirmed. Our path model based on partial least squares shows the factors influencing the preference for farm tourism in Germany. Among others value for money and experience are the most significant ones. Practical implications are discussed.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2010

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is bacterial infection, with more than half of the world population infected and oral cavity is considered second reservoir of H. pylori infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate role of oral cavity in H. pylori infection by comparison of the mode H. pylori infection in oral cavity and stomach. We recruited 100 subjects without systemic disease including gastrointestinal disease. Samples in oral cavity taken on gingival sulcus fluid(GSF) of lower left central incisor and 1st molar, area of buccal mucosa, dorsum of the tongue, palatal and saliva. We analyzed by Nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for oral infection and Urea Breath Test(UBT) for gastric infection. The results were as follows : 1. Among these 100 subjects, 36(36%) were positive by Nested PCR and 33(33%) were positive by UBT(p>0.05). 2. In detection rate of H. pylori in sites taken sample, 11(11%), 8(8%), 9(9%), 3(3%), 9(9%), 7(7%) were positive on GSF of lower left central incisor and 1st molar, area of buccal mucosa, dorsum of the tongue, palatal and saliva, respectively. Statical significance was observed in samples of GSF of lower left central incisor and area of dorsum of the tongue(p<0.05). 3. In comparison of the mode of H. pylori infection in oral cavity and stomach by analytic method, positive in oral cavity and stomach was 10(10%), negative in oral cavity and positive in stomach was 23(23%), positive in oral cavity and negative in stomach was 26(26%) and negative in oral cavity and stomach was 41(41%)(p>0.05). Conclusively, we can guess that oral H. pylori is not associated with gastric H. pylori infection and normal flora.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.223-231
• /
• 2020

Governments and private companies have established various local entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions in most regions in order to reduce youth unemployment, and boost youth entrepreneurship and regional employment. However, previous studies has been limited to explore the impact of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions on the willingness of start-up entrepreneurs. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to fill in the gaps of the research, identify the effect of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions on regional employment focusing on the Partner Squares which are entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions in several regions and established by N company, and set a foundation for further research regarding the effectiveness of the entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions. In order to verify the effectiveness of the Partner Squares on the local employment, we use the raw data of the Economically Active Population Survey (Statistics Korea) and analyze the effectiveness by using the Difference-in-Differences model. The main findings are as follows. While the Partner Square Seoul has not statistically influenced on the employment of local youth workers, the Partner Square Busan has increased about 3% of the average number of employees (575 thousand) from May 2017 to July 2019, increasing the number of local youth workers by 17,000. Also, after the establishment of the Partner Square Gwangju, the institution has increased 4,500 local employees, which is about 1.7% of the average number of employees (267,000) from September 2018 to July 2019. This implies that the Partner Squares provide a variety of effective start-up education programs and networks for pre-starters and founders in the region, thereby helping them to grow and boosting the local employment. An important implication is that by using government statistical data, we find roles of entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions to revitalize local economy and employment. In future studies, studies need to be conducted considering various exogenous variables that can affect local employment, such as the government industrial policies and entrepreneurial infrastructure institutions other than the Partner Squares.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.172-179
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the current original habitat and to conserve the narrow-mouthed toad populations. For this study, we used 240 pitfall traps (30 cm height ${\times}$ 20 cm width) to catch the narrow-mouthed toads that inhabit in Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu, in Busan metropolitan city from August 2, 2013 to November 7, 2013. We measured the environmental characteristics (soil composition factors, soil moisture, Humidity, soil temperature) for the seven habitat patterns of narrow-mouthed toads based on vegetation types. Main habitats of narrow mouthed toads were flat grassland where grass and false acacia grew and there was wetland all over the place. When analyzing habitats that main habitats of narrow-mouthed toads prefer after selecting representative seven vegetation, it was found that the most narrow-mouthed toads were caught in amur silver grass colony while the least narrow-mouthed toads were caught in bare land. Totally, we caught 846 narrow-mouthed toads over 68 times, and released them into the newly constructed habitat after injection VIE-tag. It seems that the reason for which the least narrow mouthed toads were caught in bare land is that bare land is not suitable for narrow mouthed toads to protect themselves from strong sunlight and to hide themselves from natural enemy. We found that temperature had the greatest influence on activities of narrow mouthed toads and at temperature of less than $15.6^{\circ}C$. We also found that the activities of narrow mouthed toads were remarkably low and then temperature was below $15.6^{\circ}C$. It meant that narrow mouthed toads seemed to go into hibernation. From this research, we could find the prefer habitat after analyzing habitats for the narrow-mouthed toads and could suggest for construction for the better habitat of narrow-mouthed toads.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.996-1002
• /
• 2003

Purpose : In Rett syndrome patients, the incidence of sudden death is greater than that of the general population, and cardiac electrical instability including fatal cardiac arrhythmia is a main suspected cause. In this study, we are going to find out the possible cause of the higher risk of sudden death in Rett patients by the evaluation of heart rate variability, a marker of cardiac autonomic activity and corrected QT intervals. Methods : Diagnosis of Rett syndrome was made by molecular genetic study of Rett syndrome (MECP2 gene) or clinical diagnostic criteria of Rett syndrome. Heart rate variability and corrected QT intervals were measured by 24 h-Holter study in 12 Rett patients, and in 30 age-matched healthy children with chief complaints of chest pain or suspected heart murmurs. The were compared with the normal age-matched control. Results : Patients with total Rett syndrome, classic Rett syndrome, and Rett variants had significantly lower heart rate variability(especially rMSSD)(P<0.05) and longer corrected QT intervals than age-matched healthy children(P<0.05). Sympathovagal balance expressed by the ratio of high to low frequency(LF/HF ratio) also showed statistically significant differences between the three groups considered(P<0.05). Conclusion : A significant reduction of heart rate variability, a marker of autonomic disarray, suggests a possible explanation of cardiac dysfunction in sudden death associated with Rett syndrome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.966-971
• /
• 2003

Purpose : It is now well established that infection and inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain damage. The loss of neutrophils from systemic circulation is an associated finding in injury mediated by granulocyte. Periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) caused by ischemia is the principal form of brain injury in premature infants. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the low neutrophil count is associated with periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) in premature infants. Methods : Retrospective review of medical records was undertaken. Subjects were premature infants with a birth weight of less than 1,500 gm, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Kyungpook University Hospital. A complete blood count of peripheral blood was done within the 1st hour of life. Neutropenia was defined as absolute neutrophil count < $1,500/mm^3$, PVL as increased periventricular echodensities followed by cyst formation on ultrasonography or corresponding signs on brain MRI. Results : Thirteen infants out of a total population of 37 revealed neutropenia. Respiratory distress syndrome and requirement for respiratory support were not different between infants with neutropenia( neutropenia group) and infants without neutropenia(control group). Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and grade 3 and 4 IVH were more frequent in neutropenia group(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant increase of PVL in neutropenia group. The neutrophil count was $18,760.0{\pm}10,266.1/mm^3$, $7,272.0{\pm}7,435.0/mm^3$ infants with PVL and $11,131.7{\pm}3,386.5/mm^3$, $2,407.5{\pm}1,933.1/mm^3$ in infants without PVL, respectively. The frequency of mechanical ventilation and artificial surfactant therapy was higher in infants with PVL compared with infants without PVL, but statistical analysis was not performed due to small number of subjects. Conclusion : A low number of neutrophils in the systemic circulation was not associated with an increased risk of PVL in premature infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.532-537
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Early postoperative arrhythmias are a major cause of mortality and morbidity after open heart surgery in the pediatric population. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of early postoperative arrhythmias after surgery of congenital heart disease. Methods : From January 2002 to December 2008, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the 561 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in Kyungpook National University Hospital. We analyzed patients' age and weight, occurrence and type of arrhythmia, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, aortic cross clamp (ACC) time, and postoperative electrolyte levels. Results : Arrhythmias occurred in 42 of 578 (7.3%) cases of the pediatric cardiac surgery. The most common types of arrhythmia were junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) and accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR), which occurred in 17 and 13 cases, respectively. The arterial switch operation (ASO) of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) had the highest incidence of arrhythmia (36.4%). Most cases of cardiac arrhythmia showed good response to management. Patients with early postoperative arrhythmias had significantly lower body weight, younger age, and prolonged CPB and ACC times ($P$<0.05) than patients without arrhythmia. Although the mean duration of ventilator care and intensive care unit stay were significantly longer ($P$<0.05), the mortality rate was not significantly different among the 2 groups. Conclusion : Early postoperative arrhythmias are a major complication after pediatric cardiac surgery; however, aggressive and immediate management can reduce mortality and morbidity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.7
• /
• pp.672-677
• /
• 2007

Purpose : To assess the prevalence and characteristics of headache comorbidity with epilepsy in children and adolescents in a specialty epilepsy clinic. Methods : Two hundred twenty nine consecutive patients attending the Chosun University Hospital Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic (mean age $10.0{\pm}4.1\;years$, range 4-17, M:F ratio 1.1:1.0) were interviewed with a standardized headache questionnaire. Headache was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition and epilepsy was classified according to the International League Against Epilepsy. Disability was assessed using pediatric migraine disability assessment (PedMIDAS). Results : Of the 229 epilepsy patients, 86 (37.6%) had co-morbid headache. Of the headache patients, 64 (74.4%) had migraine (65.6%- migraine without aura, 20.3% - migraine with aura, 14.1% - probable migraine). The mean headache frequency was $7.2{\pm}8.4$ per month, mean duration was $2.2{\pm}4.0$ hours, mean severity was $5.2{\pm}2.2$ out of 10, and mean PedMIDAS score was $13.0{\pm}35.4$. The proportion of females was not higher in epilepsy with headache patients (48.8%) compared to epilepsy patients alone (48.0%). In the patients with migraine, 48.4% had complex partial seizures, 17.2% had simple partial seizures, and 34.4% had generalized seizures (P=0.368). A postictal association of migraine was reported in 18.8% with 17.2% reporting a preictal headache, and 7.8% reporting an ictal headache. Conclusion : The prevalence of headache in pediatric epilepsy is higher than that in general pediatric population, suggesting a co-morbidity of headache in epilepsy patients with migraine being the most frequent headache disorder. Altered cerebral excitability resulting in an increased occurrence of spreading depression may explain the headache comorbidity with epilepsy. Further studies are needed to assess the etiology of this co-morbidity as well as assess the frequency, duration, severity and disability response to antiepileptic drugs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.547-554
• /
• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the dietary effects of a transgenic Aspergillus oryzae(AO) culture on the performance, egg quality and intestinal microflora of layers. A total of 840 Hy-line Brown layers of 39wks old were assigned to one of the following 7 dietary treatments: control(C), C+0.2% AO culture, C+0.5% AO culture, C+0.2% transgenic AO culture, C+0.5% transgenic AO culture, C+0.2% transgenic mutant AO culture, and C+0.5% transgenic mutant AO culture. The transgenic AO was made by inserting Salmonella gallinarum gene to AO. And the transgenic mutant AO was made by inserting Salmonella gallinarum gene to mutant AO which was mutated by UV irradiation. Each treatment was replicated six times with 20 birds housed in 2 bird cage. Twenty birds units were arranged according to completely randomized block design. Feeding trial lasted for 8wks under 16 hour lighting regimen. Laying performance and egg quality were significantly(P<0.05) affected by the treatments. Transgenic AO culture supplementation at the level of 0.2% significantly increased egg production, while its egg weight was significantly decreased compared to that of the control. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio(FCR) were not significantly different among the AO treatments and the control. The eggshell strength of the AO treatments was significantly higher than that of the control. Transgenic mutant AO culture supplemented at the level of 0.5% significantly increased egg yolk color. Intestinal microflora were significantly(P<0.05) affected by the treatments. The cfu of Lactobacilli spp. significantly increased and those of Salmonella species and E. coli decreased in the AO treatments. The transgenic AO and transgenic mutant AO culture were more effective than the AO culture in reducing the cfu of Salmonella species and E. coli. It is concluded that supplementation of the transgenic AO culture at the level of 0.2% could be recommended for the improvement of egg production. Supplementation of transgenic AO or transgenic mutant AO culture at 0.2% level effectively controlled intestinal Salmonella species population.