• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2010

Purpose : Recently, we have noticed an increase in the number of patients with mumps in Incheon, Korea. The aim of this study is to estimate the regional trend in mumps incidence and to evaluate the factors related to the recent increase. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 66 patients with mumps who had been admitted to Incheon St. Mary's Hospital from July 1999 to June 2009. We compared the differences in records between "outbreak, 2009" and "nonoutbreak, 2000-2008." Results : Of the 66 patients, 35 (53%) were admitted in 2009, and 31 (47%) were admitted between 2000 and 2008. Most of the patients admitted during the outbreak were over 15 years of age (80.0%), were born before 1993 (77.1%), and had received a single dose of mumps vaccine (62.9%). There were no significant differences in contact history, present address, clinical manifestations, and complications, except for orchitis, between the two groups. Conclusion : There was a sharp increase in the number of inpatients with mumps who were born before 1993 and who were over 15 years of age. We recommend that a booster vaccination be considered for adolescents and young adults born before 1993 who are susceptible to mumps infection due to their reduced opportunities for receiving two doses of mumps vaccine.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2008

Purpose : We evaluated the prevalence and clinical, microbiological features of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) in pediatric patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with EPT at The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital between 2000 and 2007. Results : Of 109 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), 12 patients (11%) were admitted with EPT. At 2006-2007, the proportion of patients with EPT among patients with TB was the highest (20%) comparing with last 6 years. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.4:1 and the mean age was 9.2 years (range, 3 months-15 years). The involved sites were pleura in 5 (41.6%), central nervous system in 3 (25%), miliary TB in 2 (16.7%), gastrointestinal tract in 1 (8.3%) and bone and joint in 1 (8.3%). The most common symptom at admission was fever (91.6%) and mean duration of fever was 15.8 days (range, 0-47 days) in spite of the proper treatment. Confirmed rate for acid fast bacillus stain, culture, and polymerase chain reaction were 33.3%, 41.6% and 41.6%. Of 5 culture proven cases, 4 (80%) were resistant to more than one antituberculosis drugs. Eleven patients recovered without complication and 1 patient died. Conclusion : Total incidence of TB decreased steadily according to the nationwide survey. However, our results suggest that the proportion of diagnosis with EPT among diagnosis with TB in children has increased. Microbiological diagnosis of EPT in children was more difficult than that of pulmonary TB. And drug resistance rate has increased.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-106
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• 2014

Purpose : To describe how a robust implementation of a radial 3D gradient-echo sequence with stack-of-stars sampling can be achieved, to review the imaging properties of radial acquisitions, and to share the experience from more than 5000 clinical patient scans. Materials and Methods: A radial stack-of-stars sequence was implemented and installed on 9 clinical MR systems operating at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. Protocols were designed for various applications in which motion artifacts frequently pose a problem with conventional Cartesian techniques. Radial scans were added to routine examinations without selection of specific patient cohorts. Results: Radial acquisitions show significantly lower sensitivity to motion and allow examinations during free breathing. Elimination of breath-holding reduces failure rates for non-compliant patients and enables imaging at higher resolution. Residual artifacts appear as streaks, which are easy to identify and rarely obscure diagnostic information. The improved robustness comes at the expense of longer scan durations, the requirement for fat suppression, and the nonexistence of a time-to-center value. Care needs to be taken during the configuration of receive coils. Conclusion: Routine clinical use of radial stack-of-stars sequences is feasible with current MR systems and may serve as substitute for conventional fat-suppressed T1-weighted protocols in applications where motion is likely to degrade the image quality.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.430-442
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the dietary intake according to calorie intake from a coffee containing beverage and the bone health status of 189 female collegians. The study was conducted through questionnaires, anthropometric checkup, 3-days food records and ultrasound measurement of calcaneus bone mineral density. Subjects were divided into three groups: students not drinking coffee(non-coffee group, N=56), students consuming <100 kcal daily from coffee(low-calorie coffee group, N=84), and students consuming $\geq100$ kcal of their total daily calories from coffee(high- calorie coffee group, N=49). There were no significant differences in weight, height, body mass index, body fat and calcaneus bone mineral density among the three groups. The low-calorie coffee group usually drank black coffee or instant coffee mix, and the high-calorie coffee group habitually drank coffee with milk or sugar syrup. There were no significant differences in the mean daily energy and food intake among the three groups. However, vitamin $B_2$(p<0.05) and calcium (p<0.01) intake in the high-calorie coffee group were higher than in the non-coffee group. Also, mean intake of sugars, fish and shellfishes, milks and beverages in the high-calorie coffee group were also significantly higher than in non coffee group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the Korean Dietary Diversity Score(KDDS) among the three groups. The main calcium source was milk in all three groups, and milk intake(total and included with coffee) was highest in the high-calorie coffee group. Although no significant difference was apparent between the high-calorie and non-coffee groups concerning anthropometric factors and calcaneus bone mineral density, consumption of coffee may have influenced food and nutrient intake. The results suggest that consumption of milk-supplemented coffee may be of nutritional benefit.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1419-1424
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• 2012

Objectives: To investigate in depth the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by cancer patients at the end-of-life (EOL) and how they communicate with physicians about them. Design and location: In 17 hospitals in Korea between January and December 2004 we identified 4,042 families of cancer patients. Results: The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients at the EOL was 37.0%, and 93.1% had used pharmacologic types of agents. The most frequent motive for CAM use was the recommendation of friends or a close relative (53.4%) or a physician (1.6%). Only 42.5% discussed CAM use with their physicians. Satisfaction with CAMS was recalled for 37.1%. The most common reason given for that satisfaction was improvement of emotional or physical well-being, while ineffectiveness was the most common reason given for dissatisfaction. The average cost of CAM during the last month of life was $US 900. CAM use was associated with longer disease periods, primary cancers other than liver, biliary, and pancreatic, and need of support from physicians or religion. Conclusions: CAM use among cancer patients at the EOL was common, not discussed with physicians, and associated with expectation of cure. Expectations were generally unmet while the treatments were a financial burden. Further studies evaluating the effects of CAM at the EOL and factors that enhance communication with the physician are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.176-189
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of clinical nutrition services at various medical centers in Seoul, Korea. A questionnaire was distributed to the departments of nutrition at 44 hospitals in Seoul on July 2009. Nutritional screening carried out at a rate of 59.1% at the medical centers, and a significant difference was found according to the type of center, from 100% in tertiary hospitals to 18.8% in normal hospitals. On annual average, the numbers of inpatients, inpatients for malnutritional screening, inpatients with malnutrition, and inpatients for malnutrition management were 15,169.5, 10,870.9, 2,224.8, and 1,546.2, respectively. On average the group nutrition education was done 36.1 times/year for diabetes, 8.2 times/year for cancer, and 1.9 times/year for renal disease, and the numbers of participants 423.1, 95.1, and 31.5, respectively. On average the individual nutrition education of inpatients with diabetes was done 135.4 times/year for ordered-type, and 119.3 times/year for unordered-type, 106.2 times/year for paid-type, and 148.5 times/year for unpaid-type. The mean fee for education and counseling was the highest for peritoneal dialysis (73,090.9 won) but the lowest for heart disease (23,609.1 won). On average the individual nutrition education of outpatients with diabetes was done 234.6 times/year for ordered-type, and 2.5 times/year for unordered-type, 204.4 times/year for paid-type, and 32.7 times/year for unpaid-type. The mean fee for education and counseling was also the highest for peritoneal dialysis (63,500.0 won) but the lowest for heart disease (21,336.4 won). To implement more effective clinical nutrition service, a national medical insurance imbursement policy should be urgently instituted such that diseases left as unpaid are covered by health insurance, including all nutrition-related disease.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2016

Purpose: Little is known regarding the factors associated with the willingness of family caregivers of terminal cancer patients to participate in a bereaved survey. This study aimed to ascertain the pre-loss factors that predict actual participation in a bereaved survey. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study using data from two multi-center surveys at the end-of-life and after loss. In order to identify the pre-loss factors associated with participating in the bereaved survey, we used a step-wise multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 185 bereaved individuals, 30 responded to the survey (response rate: 16.2%). There were differences between the participation group and the non-participation group regarding religion, economic status, and perceived quality of care as assessed by the Quality Care Questionnaire-End of Life. A final multivariate model revealed that bereaved individuals who professed a religion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=5.01; P=0.008), had a high income (aOR=4.86, P=0.003), and satisfied with the care for familial relationship (aOR=4.49, P=0.003) were more likely to engage in the bereaved survey. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that improving the quality of end-of-life care may promote actual participation in a bereaved survey through easing post-loss distress. More attention should also be paid to those bereaved individuals who are hesitant to participate in a bereaved survey.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 2014

Purpose: This is a retrospective study that investigated cancer patients' complaints of moderate or severe pain to analyze pain characteristics, pain relief interventions and their effects. Methods: The participants of this study were 363 patients who were hospitalized in the cancer ward for three to 30 days and scored 4 points or higher on the pain severity assessment. Results: The most frequent region of pain was the abdomen. The most frequent factor that exacerbated pain was movement. The most frequent pain alleviating factor was administration of analgesics. The most frequent pain type was breakthrough pain, and the most frequent non-pharmaceutical intervention for pain control was heat therapy. Among all, analgesics were routinely prescribed for 52.2% of the participants. Morphine sulfate was the most frequently used analgesic while Gabapentin was the most frequently used non-narcotic analgesic. At the time of discharge, 82.5% of the participants marked their pain intensity as 3 points or lower. Conclusion: For cancer patients complaining of moderate or severe pain, it is important to actively control pain from the beginning of admission. Thus, it is necessary to educate not only cancer patients using narcotic analgesic for pain control and their families but nurses about the effects and side-effects of drugs. Moreover, patients and their families need to learn how to assess and record pain at home to collect data that can be referred for future treatment.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.265-295
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• 2017

Breast tissue is composed of skin, mammary gland(including lactiferous duct), subcutaneous fat layer. The anatomical position is on the anterior chest wall(the outside of the chest cavity) but not on the inside of the thorax. Therefore, when the internal organs in the thoracic cavity are defined and expressed as 'organs' and the internal organs of each are labeled for a long time, for the breast located outside the thoracic cavity, it is thought that there is considerable difficulty in defining and recognizing the breast tissue as organs. For this reason, it is necessary to discourage the controversy over whether or not the breast is contained in the chest(or intra-thoracic cavity). In order to completely exclude it, it is assumed that the "chest-abdomen" can be called the "intra-thoraxic or intra-abdominal." But it is difficult to change the terms in various laws and regulations, I think that it would be necessary to insert only the clue clause "Breasts are excluded" in the detailed criteria for grading. In order to include it, it is necessary to change the terms of the ordinance or to say that the breast is exceptionally included.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2003

Purpose : We evaluated and compared clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with measles in three epidemics(1989~90, 1993~94, and 2000~01) in Daejeon, Korea. Methods : Retrospective analyses were performed using medical records of 520 patients with measles at the Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital during three epidemics. We divided the subjects into three groups, i.e., those who admitted during 1989~1990(group I, 116 patients), those during 1993~1994(group II, 127 patients), and those during 2000~2001(group III, 277 patients). We compared clinical, demographic and laboratory characteristics among these 3 groups. Results : In age distribution, ratios of under 2 years of age in three groups were 61%, 58% and 57%, respectively with no statistical differences. However there are differences in age distribution above 2 years of age, as 21% in 2~5 years of group I, 28% in 6~9 years of group II, and 21% above 10 years of group III. No statistical differences were present between 3 groups in the male to female ratio, MMR vaccination rate in above 2 years of age, duration of fever, incidence of hepatitis. Hospitalization days(P=0.019) and rate of complications(P=0.012) were longer and higher in group I than in group III. Conclusion : In three epidemics, the second peak age group(except 0~1 year) of children above 2 years of age who had mostly received MMR vaccination showed a trend for increased age with increasing time(statistical difference). This result suggest that secondary vaccine failure may have a role in each epidemics. So, if measles outbreaks is happened in the future, we will have consideration in this aspect.