• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.82-90
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Survival after liver transplantation (LT) has improved over the years, but infection is still a major complication. We aimed to identify the characteristics of bacterial infections in pediatric LT recipients. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 189 consecutive children undergoing LT between 2000 and 2015 at a single center. In this study, the incidence of infection was determined for the following periods: within 1 month, between 1-5 months, and between 6-12 months. Patients who underwent liver transplants more than once or multiple organ transplants were excluded. Results: All patients had received postoperative antibiotic for 3 days. Only the maintenance immunosuppression with oral tacrolimus and steroids were performed. As a result, 132 bacterial infections developed in 87 (46.0%) patients (0.70 events per person-year). Bacterial infections occurred most frequently within the first month (n=84, 63.6%) after LT. In the pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus (15.2%), Enterococcus species (15.2%), and Klebsiella species (13.6%) were most common. Regarding the organ infected, bloodstream was most common (n=39, 29.5%), followed by peritoneum (n=28, 21.2%), urinary tract (n=25, 18.9%), and lungs (n=20, 15.2%). We changed prophylactic antibiotics from ampicillin-sulbactam to piperacillin-tazobactam at 2011, October, there were no significant effects in the prevalence of antibiotics resistant bacterial infections. The 1-year mortality was 9.0% (n=17), in which 41.2% (n=7) was attributable to bacterial infection; septicemia (n=4), pneumonia (n=2), and peritonitis (n=1). Conclusions: The incidence and type of bacterial infectious complications after LT in pediatric patients were similar to those of previous studies. Bacterial complications affecting mortality occur within 6 months after transplantation, so proper prophylaxis and treatment in this period may improve the prognosis of LT.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Several studies have reported the recent increase in the incidence of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN). The objective of this study is to see changes of clinical findings/manifwstation in children with APSGN. Methods : Medical records of 63 children who were diagnosed with APSGN in the deparment of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital, between January 1992 and December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed various clinical characteristics such as age, sex, degrees of proteinuria, degrees of hematuria, and presence or absence of histories of systemic antibiotic use in children with APSGN, and compared the children with APSGN who were diagnosed between 1992 and 2000 to those who were diagnosed between 2001 and 2006. Results : Age of the patients ranged from 2-14 years(median 7.11 years) at the time of disease onset. Study patients consisted of 41 boys and 22 girls. APSGN followed infection of the throat in 87% of cases. Patient developed an acute nephritic syndrome 12 days after an antecedent streptococcal pharyngitis. Forty patients presented with gross hematuria. Fortyone patients had hypertension at the time of diagnosis. Hypertension disappeared within 7.8$\pm$8.2 days, gross hematuria within 11.3$\pm$17.2 days and microscopic hematuria within 3.5$\pm$3.9 months from the disease onset. Patients in 2001-2006 had significantly higher increase of antistreptolysin O(ASO) titer. However, no significant differences in clinical characteristics were observed. Age, sex, severity of proteinuria, gross or microscopic hematuria, antibiotic therapy did not affect the clinical manifestations of glomerulonephritis. In other words, hypertension, duration of hematuria, recovery of serum C3 level are not different between the two time periods. Conclusion : Our data indicates that patients in 2001-2006 had significantly higher level of ASO titer. However, they did not show significant clinical differences. To evaluate the causes of the resurgence of APSGN, a national epidemic is needed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.194-201
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) is required to detect vesicoureteral reflux(VUR), which may manifest as urinary tract infection(UTI) in children. It is well known that VCUG can cause UTI(post-VCUG UTI). In this study, risk factors for post-VCUG UTI and the preventive effect of antibiotics against this complication of VCUG were explored. Methods : Medical records of 284 patients who underwent VCUG at our hospital in 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. The incidence of post-VCUG UTI and risk factors for post-VCUG UTI, and the impact of antibiotic use on prevention of post-VCUG UTI were evaluated. According to antibiotics usage, we divided the enrolled patients into 4 groups of noantibiotics group, prophylactic antibiotics group(prophylactic antibiotics having been used before), antibiotics-for-VCUG group(antibiotics added for VCUG) and antibiotics-for-treatment group(treatment dose of antibiotics). Results : Seven of 284 children(2.5%) developed UTI after they underwent VCUG. Highgrade(grade$\geq$III) VUR was the only statistically significant risk factor(odds ratio[OR] 6.266, P=0.026) for post-VCUG UTI, while sex, age, and other anomalies of urinary system were not significant. Five post-VCUG UTI cases belonged to prophylactic antibiotics group. Antibiotics use (three groups using antibiotics vs. no-antibiotics group) or addition of antibiotics for VCUG (antibiotics-for-VCUG vs. other groups) did not have any effect on prevention of post-VCUG UTI. Conclusion : The risk factor for post-VCUG UTI was high-grade VUR. Antibiotics use did not prevent post-VCUG UTI in this study.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.53-57
• /
• 1985

This study was carried out to estimate genetic correlations among broiler body weights for the selection of broiler breeders at early age, and to investigate the difference of growth rates between male and female in mixed-sex population of broiler from 2wks to 8 wks of age. A total of 1109 records were used in this study. the heritability estimates from combined variance components for 2-,4-, 6- and 8- weeks body weights were 0.32, 0.31, 0.35 and 0.29 respectively. Genetic correlations were 0.91 between 4wks and 8wks body weights, 0.94 between 6wks and 8wks body weights. Records obtained on 4wks and 8wks might be useful in a selection program to improve traits in 8wks broiler weight. Growth rates of male and female from nonlinear equations from 2wks to 8wks were shown differently in both linear and quadratic terms, Even though both sexes showed closely equal body weights at 2wks of age, they manifested great difference about 300g at 8wks of age. At all. ages roles were havier, grew at a faster than female. From this result it might be profitable either to select the combination of lines which has little sex effect or to rear male and female broiler separately up to the marketing body weights.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.229-233
• /
• 2003

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of different BW control methods during rearing on laying performance of broiler breeder pullets. D-old 540 female breeder chicks (Arbor Acres) were assigned to three treatments consisted of standard BW (Control), 110% of standard BW at 12 wk of age (T1), and 90% of standard BW at 12 wk of age (T2), with three replicates of 60 birds per replicate (pen) for each treatment. At 20 wk of age, all birds from three treatments reached the BW reqired in the Arbor Acres Manual. There were no significant differences in egg production, egg weight and viability during laying period(p>0.05). However, total egg production rates were improved in T2 and T3. Average egg weight was the highest in T1 among all treatments. Fertility and hatchability were similar among treatments, but T2 tended to be higher than other treatments at 37 and 53 wk of age. No significant difference was found in hatchability among three treatments. The number of hatching egg of T2 reached 168 per year, showing higher number of eggs than did the other treatments. The number of hatched chicks in T2 was 131, which was also higher than the other treatments, but the difference was not significant. It appears that the laying performance of broiler breeder hens could be improved when their BW at 12 wk of age are kept at 90% of standard BW, and reach the standard BW at 20 week of age.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2004

Classification of esophageal motility disorders not yet finalized and is still ongoing as the new disorders are reported, and the existing classification is changed or removed. In terms of radiology, the primary peristalsis does not exist, and the lower end of the esophagus show the smooth, tapered, beak-like appearance. The esophageal motility disorder, which mostly occurs in the smooth muscle area, show the symptoms of reduction or loss (hypomotility) or abnormal increase (hypermotility) of peristalsis of the esophagus. It is important to understand the anatomy and physiology of the esophagus for the appropriate radiological method and diagnosis. Furthermore, the symptom of the patient and the manometry finding must be closely referred for the radiological diagnosis. The lower esophageal sphincter can be normally functioning and open completely as the food moves lower. Sperandio M et al. argues that the name diffuse esophageal spasm must be changed to distal esophageal spasm (DES) as most of the spasm occurs in the distal esophagus, composed of the smooth muscle. According to Ott et al., usefulness of barium method for diagnosing the esophageal motility disorder is Achalasia 95%, DES 71% and NEMD 46%, with the overall sensitivity of 56%. However, excluding the nutcracker esophagus or nonspecific disorder which cannot be diagnosed with the radiological methods, the sensitivity increases to 89%. Using videofluoroscopy and 5 time swallows, the average sensitivity was over 90%. In conclusion, the barium method is a simple primary testing method for esophageal motility test. Using not only the image but also the videofluoroscopy with good knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, it is believed that the method will yield the accurate diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.441-448
• /
• 2015

Lack of agricultural information for food supply and demand in Democratic People's republic Korea(DPRK) make people sometimes confused for right and timely decision for policy support. We carried out a study to estimate paddy rice yield in DPRK using MODIS NDVI reflecting rice growth and climate data. Mean of MODIS $NDVI_{max}$ in paddy rice over the country acquired and processed from 2002 to 2014 and accumulated rainfall collected from 27 weather stations in September from 2002 to 2014 were used to estimated paddy rice yield in DPRK. Coefficient of determination of the multiple regression model was 0.44 and Root Mean Square Error(RMSE) was 0.27 ton/ha. Two-way analysis of variance resulted in 3.0983 of F ratio and 0.1008 of p value. Estimated milled rice yield showed the lowest value as 2.71 ton/ha in 2007, which was consistent with RDA rice yield statistics and the highest value as 3.54 ton/ha in 2006, which was not consistent with the statistics. Scatter plot of estimated rice yield and the rice yield statistics implied that estimated rice yield was higher when the rice yield statistics was less than 3.3 ton/ha and lower when the rice yield statistics was greater than 3.3 ton/ha. Limitation of rice yield model was due to lower quality of climate and statistics data, possible cloud contamination of time-series NDVI data, and crop mask for rice paddy, and coarse spatial resolution of MODIS satellite data. Selection of representative areas for paddy rice consisting of homogeneous pixels and utilization of satellite-based weather information can improve the input parameters for rice yield model in DPRK in the future.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2005

Bioslurping combines the three remedial approaches of bioventing, vacuum-enhanced free-product recovery, and soil vapor extraction. Bioslurping is less effective in tight (low-permeability) soils. The greatest limitation to air permeability is excessive soil moisture. Optimum soil moisture is very soil-specific. Too much moisture can reduce air permeability of the soil and decrease its oxygen transfer capability. Too little moisture will inhibit microbial activity. So Modified Fenton reaction as chemical treatment which can overcome the weakness of Bioslurping was experimented for simultaneous treatment. Although the diesel removal efficiency of SVE process increased in proportion to applied vacuum pressure, SVE process was difficulty to remediation quickly semi- or non-volatile compounds absorbed soil strongly. And SVE process had variation of efficiency with distance from the extraction well and depth a air flow form of hemisphere centering around the well. Below 0.1 % hydrogen peroxide shows the potential of using hydrogen peroxide as oxygen source but the co-oxidation of chemical and biological treatment was impossible because of the low efficiency of Modified Fenton reaction at 0.1 % (wt) hydrogen peroxide. NTA was more efficiency than EDTA as chelating agent and diesel removal efficiency of Modified Fenton reaction increased in proportion to hydrogen peroxide concentration. Hexadecane as typical aliphatic compound was removed less than Toluene as aromatic compound because of its structural stability in Modified Fenton reaction. What minimum 10% hydrogen peroxide concentration has good remediation efficiency of diesel contaminated groundwater may show the potential use of Modified Fenton reaction after bioslurping treatment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 1979

The effect of liming on the potassium equilibrium activity ratio ($AR^k_e$) of Chinese cabbage cultivated soil and on the potassium uptake by the plant summarize as follows: 1. $AR^k_e$ is raised by the application of 1.6 ton of $Ca(OH)_2$ per hectare that required amount to adjust pH 6 for the soil. Generally, it could be confirmed that both liming and potassium placement to the soil show the combined effects to raise $AR^k_e$. 2. The exchangeable potassium and the electrical conductivity increase by liming. The mean value of the exchangeable potassium is 0.71 m. equ. per 100g of limed soils while the control give 0.64 m. equ. per 100g. For the electrical conductivity, limed soil show $766{\mu}mho$ and $750{\mu}mho$ is for the control. 3. The reason $AR^k_e$ value increase by liming could be considered that concentrations of $K^+$ and $Ca^{{+}{+}}+Mg^{{+}{+}}$ in the equilibrium solution are increased owing to release both K and $Ca^+$ Mg into the liquid from solid phase in the potassium equilibrium system of the soil. 4. For considering that the energies of exchange of calcium by potassium in the limed soils at different potassium treatment, that is without K, 200 kg $K_2O/ha$ and 350 kg $K_2O/ha$, give -3887 and -3778 and -3737 calories per chemical equivalent respectively. On the other hand in case of the controls which received the same amounts of potassium as mentioned above, energy values are -3983, -4392 and -4228 calories respectively. 5. The absorbed amount of potassium and weights of dry matters of the plant which grown in the limed soils show little higher values than the controls.