• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.576-580
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• 2009

Purpose : Growth-promoting attempts are widespread in Korea, but little is known about their prevalence or associated factors. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of growth-promoting attempts among children visiting a university growth clinic. Methods : A questionnaire-based survey was carried out with 823 children (416 boys, 407 girls) who visited the growth clinic at Paik Hospital. Results : The mean age of the subjects was $10.4{\pm}2.6$ yr, and the height z-score was $-1.58{\pm}0.91$. Approximately 33.4% of the children had tried growth promotion. Among the height-gain methods, herbal medicine was the most frequently used (37.8%), followed by health-promoting supplements (37.1%), exercise or machine (3.0%), and growth hormone treatment (2.9 %). The mean age at which the parents began to worry about their children's height was 7.7 yr. The mean age at which they started height-gain methods was 8.9 yr for herbal medicine, 9.1 yr for health-promoting supplements, 9.4 yr for exercise or machine, and 9.9 yr for growth hormone treatment. Motivating factors included advice from relatives or friends (36.0%), advertisements in the Internet or newspaper (28.4%), advice from pharmacist (16.8%), and advice from their medical doctor (5.5%). The degree of satisfaction from the height-gain methods was 29.1% with growth hormone treatment, 6.6% with exercise or machine, 6.4% with herbal medicine, and 2.8% with growth-promoting supplements. Conclusion : Approximately one third of the children reported use of growth-promoting methods, but the satisfaction rate was not high. The benefits of growth-promoting methods should be carefully weighed against their costs and side effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.538-543
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• 2009

Purpose : To report the clinical experience with amitriptyline for managing children with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Methods : Totally, eleven children (eight males) were diagnosed with CVS. Of these, medical records were reviewed for eight children treated with amitriptyline; three children were not treated because one was not followed up and two were kept under observation to study the natural course without medication, because the frequency of vomiting had recently decreased to less than one episode per year. The eight amitriptyline-treated children were divided into three groups by the therapeutic response: (1) complete remission (CR), with no recurrence of symptoms after treatment; 2) partial remission (PR), in which the frequency of symptoms decreased by almost 50% after treatment; and (3) no response. Results : For the eight amitriptyline-treated children, the mean age of symptom onset was 4.7 (0.3-7) yr and mean age at diagnosis was 8.9 (6.0-11.3) yr. The mean number of vomiting episodes was 8.8 (2-25) per year, and the duration of vomiting in each episode ranged from 3 hours to 5 days. CR was achieved in five (62.5%) of the eight amitriptyline-treated children (0.2-0.8 mg/kg/day orally, at night) and PR was achieved in three children (37.5%). Two children relapsed on discontinuation of amitriptyline by their parents decision but showed improvement on remedication. No adverse effects were noted throughout the study period. Conclusion : Amitriptyline can be used in long-term prophylaxis for the management of children with CVS aged over 6 yr. However, a large-scale study is needed to ascertain its effects.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.767-788
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine emotional characteristics and to provide information about the special needs of counselling of science gifted in Korea. The subjects were 143 science gifted high school students in Busan that had been tested MBTI and MMPI-A. The distribution map of MBTI type was examined and Pearson's correlation, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the relation between MBTI and MMPI-A through SPSS 17.0 program. The results showed as follows: first, ENTP, INTP, ISTJ personality types and NT temperament type were the most frequently from the distribution map of MBTI type. Second, F1, F2, F, Hs, D, Pt, Sc and Si scales of MMPI-A were positively related to I preference of MBTI and K and Ma scales of MMPI-A were significantly related to E preference of MBTI from Pearson's correlation. Third, The score of IN group was significantly more high in F1, Hs, D, SC and Si scales of MMPI-A than other group in the relation between two combination preferences of MBTI and scale of MMPI-A. The following results were same; IS group in D, Si scales, EN group in Ma scale, IT group in Hs, D, Pt and S scales, IF group in VRIN, D and Si scales, ET in Ma scale, IJ group in D and Si, IP group in F1, F, Hs, D, Hy, Pt, Sc and Si scales, EJ and EP groups in Ma scale. Finally, I preference of MBTI by F1, F2, F, Hs, D, Pt, Sc and Si scales of MMPI-A, E preference of MBTI by Ma scale of MMPI-A, F preference of MBTI by K scale of MMPI-A and P preference of MBTI by Hy scale of MMPI-A were significantly predicted from multiple regression analysis. Limitations of the current study and the suggestions for further research were offered.