• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2018

Purpose: To clarify the clinical features of appendicitis in preschool children and to explore clinical appendicitis scoring systems in this age group. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 142 children, aged 10 years or younger, with confirmed diagnosis of appendicitis based on surgical and pathologic findings. Enrolled subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1 (preschool children aged ${\leq}5$ years, n=41) and Group 2 (school children aged >5 to ${\leq}10$ years, n=101). Data analyzed included clinical presentation, laboratory findings, the pediatric appendicitis score (PAS), and the modified Alvarado score (MAS). Results: The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain in both groups (92.7% vs. 97.0%). Other presenting symptoms were as follows: fever (65.9%), vomiting (68.3%), right lower quadrant (RLQ) localization (24.4%), anorexia (14.6%), and diarrhea (7.3%) in Group 1, and RLQ localization (74.3%), vomiting (71.3%), anorexia (52.5%), fever (47.5%), and diarrhea (11.9%) in Group 2. Perforation and abscess occurred more frequently in Group 1 than in Group 2 (43.9% vs. 12.9%, p<0.001; 34.1% vs. 5.0%, p<0.001; respectively). PAS and MAS were lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 ($4.09{\pm}1.97$ vs. $6.91{\pm}1.61$, p=0.048; $4.65{\pm}1.79$ vs. $6.51{\pm}1.39$, p=0.012; respectively). Conclusion: In preschool children, appendicitis often presents with atypical features, more rapid progression, and higher incidence of complications. This age group is more likely to have lower PAS and MAS than those of school children.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2017

Purpose: The American Society for Apheresis provides clinical guidelines for therapeutic apheresis in adults, but there are no guidelines for children. This study aimed to analyze the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in pediatric patients with various kidney diseases in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 16 children (up to 18 years of age) who were admitted to Severance Children's Hospital with refractory kidney disease. All patients received TPE between 1994 and 2016. Clinical and laboratory characteristics such as age, weight, sex, change in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine level before and after TPE, and complications after TPE were analyzed. Results: The mean age and weight of the 16 patients at the time of TPE was $11.3{\pm}4.0$ years and $34.6{\pm}17.5$ kg, respectively. The BUN level was 35.4 mg/dL before TPE and significantly decreased to 21.5 mg/dL (P=0.025) at 1 week and 20.5 mg/dL (P= 0.01) at 1 month after TPE. The creatinine level significantly decreased from 1.20 mg/dL before TPE to 0.90 mg/dL (P=0.02) at 1 week after TPE. Four complications (hypovolemia, anemia, hypocalcemia, and thrombocytopenia) were reported, but were not fatal. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that TPE is an effective therapeutic modality in children with refractory kidney disease and can be indicated for the treatment of various kidney diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the frequency, presentation, management, and outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 70 patients under the age of 18, who underwent renal transplantation between January 1990 and November 2014. A diagnosis of CMV infection was based on serology, molecular assays, antigenemia assays, and culture. CMV infection was defined as detection of virus and CMV disease was diagnosed when clinical signs and symptoms were present. Results: The number of patients with CMV infection was 18 (25.7% of renal transplant recipients). Twelve were male (66.7%), and the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation (SD) age at infection was $13.3{\pm}3.9$ years. Median time of infection after renal transplantation was 4 months (range 1.0-31.0 months). Pretransplantation CMV status in the infected group was as follows: donor (D)+/recipient (R)+, 11 (61.1%); D+/R-, 7 (38.9%); D-/R+, 0; and D-/R- 0. Nine patients had CMV disease with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or organ involvement such as enteritis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The age of disease occurrence was $13.1{\pm}3.9$ years and the median time to disease onset after renal transplantation was 8 months (range 1.0-31.0). Immunosuppressive agents were reduced or discontinued in 14 patients (77.8%), antiviral agents were used in 11 patients (61.1%), and all patients with CMV infection were controlled. Conclusions: A quarter of the patients had CMV infection about 4 months after renal transplantation. CMV infection was successfully treated with reduction of immunosuppressants or with antiviral agents.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2001

With the advances in neonatal intensive care, pediatric surgeons experience very low birth weight infants, weighing <1,500 g, more frequently. We report our 14 cases of very low birth weight infants with intestinal perforations without congenital causes, at the Asan Medical Center during the 11-year period from 1989 to 2000. The average birth weight was 919 g(563-1,490), and average gestational age was 206 days(161-286). There were nine males and five females, Operation was performed at an average age of 14.0 days(3-38). Ten neonates with symptomatic PDA were given indomethacin in an attempt to close the ductus. Bowel perforation involved the jejunum in two and ileum in twelve. At laparotomy, there were seven focal intestinal perforations, five typical NEC, one intussusception, and an unknown cause, Four neonates underwent resection and anastomosis of the bowel, and nine underwent exteriorization. One underwent resection and anastomosis after peritoneal drainage. Four patients had postoperative complications; two leakage of anastomosis, one stoma necrosis, and one internal herniation. Seven of fourteen patients survived(50.0 %). Seven patients died of septic complication. There was a significant difference in the birth weight and gestational age in survivors compared with those who died(p<0.05). There was an increased risk of bowel perforation in indomethacin treatment for PDA. Careful clinical observation and keen judgment are essential for this particular group of infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Purpose: Korean adolescents have severe nighttime sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness because of their competitive educational environment. However, daytime sleep patterns and sleepiness have never been studied using age-specific methods, such as the pediatric daytime sleepiness scale (PDSS). We surveyed the daytime sleepiness of Korean adolescents using a Korean translation of the PDSS. Methods: We distributed the 27-item questionnaire, including the PDSS and questions related to sleep pattern, sleep satisfaction, and emotional state, to 3,370 students in grades 5-12. Results: The amount of nighttime sleep decreased significantly with increasing age. During weekday nights, $5-6^{th}$ graders slept for $7.95{\pm}1.05h$, $7-9^{th}$ graders for $7.57{\pm}1.05h$, and $10-12^{th}$ graders for $5.78{\pm}1.13h$. However, the total amounts of combined daytime and nighttime sleep during weekdays were somewhat greater, $8.15{\pm}1.12h$ for $5-6^{th}$ graders, $8.17{\pm}1.20h$ for $7-9^{th}$ graders, and $6.87{\pm}1.40h$ for $10-12^{th}$ graders. PDSS scores increased with age, $11.89{\pm}5.56$ for $5-6^{th}$ graders, $16.57{\pm}5.57$ for $7-9^{th}$ graders, and $17.71{\pm}5.24$ for $10-12^{th}$ graders. Higher PDSS scores were positively correlated with poor school performance and emotional instability. Conclusion: Korean teenagers sleep to an unusual extent during the day because of nighttime sleep deprivation. This negatively affects school performance and emotional stability. A Korean translation of the PDSS was effective in evaluating the severity of daytime sleepiness and assessing the emotional state and school performance of Korean teenagers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.840-844
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• 2010

Purpose: Microalbuminuria is defined as increased urinary albumin excretion (30-300 mg/day) or microalbumin/creatinine ratio (30-300 mg/g) in a spot urine sample. Although microalbuminuria is a predictor of clinical nephropathy and cardiomyopathy, few studies have investigated microalbuminuria in children with urinary tract infection (UTI). Therefore, we compared the spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio in pediatric UTI patients with that of control subjects. Methods: We investigated the correlation between the ratio in children with UTI and age, height, weight, blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hematuria, vesicoureteral reflux, renal parenchymal defect, and renal scar, and its predictability for UTI complications. Results: We studied 66 patients (42 boys, 24 girls) and 52 healthy children (24 boys, 28 girls). The mean microalbumin/creatinine ratio in UTI patients was statistically significantly increased compared to the control group ($340.04{\pm}321.36mg/g$ vs. $225.68{\pm}154.61mg/g$, $P$=0.0141). The mean value of spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio ($384.70{\pm}342.22mg/g$ vs. $264.92{\pm}158.13mg/g$, $P$=0.0341) in 1-23 months age patient group showed statistically significant increase compared to control group. Microalbumin/creatinine ratio showed negative correlation to age (r=-0.29, $P$=0.0167), body surface area (BSA) (r=-0.29, $P$=0.0173) and GFR (r=-0.26, $P$=0.0343). The presence of hematuria ($P$=0.0169) was found to be correlated. Conclusion: The spot urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio in children with UTI was significantly greater than that in normal children, and it was positively correlated with GFR. This ratio is a potential prescreening and prognostic marker in UTI patients. Further studies are required to validate the predictability of microalbuminuria in pediatric UTI patients.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of intracranial hemorrhage in children with skull fractures from head trauma. Methods: The retrospective study included 205 patients diagnosed with a skull fracture in a pediatric emergency room. Data were analyzed using 𝓍²-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN24.0 program. Results: Intracranial hemorrhage was diagnosed in 71 patients. There were statistically significant differences between the hemorrhagic group and non-hemorrhagic group in age group, places of accident, type of accident, location of the fracture, and symptoms. Intracranial hemorrhage by age group was higher in school-age and adolescence than in infancy. The places of accidents of hemorrhage were higher in street and school than in the home. The types of an accident of bleeding were higher in the case of knock and traffic accident than in fall. Symptoms of nausea, headache, and loss of consciousness were associated with higher intracranial hemorrhage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that knock (OR= 3.29, 95% CI= 1.50-7.22), traffic accident (OR= 4.78, 95% CI= 1.31-17.43), nausea (OR= 4.18, 95% CI= 1.42-12.31), and loss of consciousness (OR= 3.29, 95% CI= 1.41-9.50) were risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusion: In this study, the risk factors of intracranial hemorrhage were identified in pediatric patients with skull fractures caused by head trauma. It is recommended that the results of this study be used to manage and educate patients, caregivers, and medical staff after head trauma hemorrhage.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.228-232
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• 2019

Background: The epidemiology of nasal fractures varies according to factors such as the era and area of the study, as well as the age of the patient. We compared the characteristics and causes of pediatric nasal fractures. Methods: A total of 2,321 patients with nasal fractures from 2010 to 2017 were examined. The patients were divided into age groups using the Korean school system of age classification. The causes of injury were divided into five groups: violence, fall or slip down, sports, road traffic accidents, and others. Fractures were classified using the Stranc and Robertson standard: vector of force and plane of fracture. Results: Violence was the most common cause of nasal fracture in patients older than 12 years. Violence was a significantly less frequent cause among patients younger than 12 years old than among adolescent and adult patients. Nasal fractures due to violence were not observed in patients younger than 10 years. Plane 2 and lateral force fractures were the most common; however, in patients younger than 12 years, frontal force fractures were significantly more frequent than were lateral force fractures. Conclusion: As children may simply be injured due to a fall or slip down, it is important for the parents and guardians to ensure their safety. As they become older, children should abstain from violence and be monitored. It is therefore very important to ensure that the environment is free of violence in order to prevent such injuries.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2011

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common diseases of young people that requires emergency operation. This is especially true for those age 10 years old and older. However, the numbers of cases of appendicitis are increasing in both the young and the elderly. The main purpose of this study is to understand the clinical features of acute appendicitis in children and elderly patients. We retrospectively compared clinical characteristics in 4 groups of patients who underwent appendectomy in our hospital. There were 16 patients in the pre-school age group, 9 were males and 7 females. The total number of patients in the juvenile group were 287, 156 were males and 131 females. The total numbers of patients in the adult group were 794, 436 were males and 358 females. The numbers of elderly patients were 189, 91 were males and 98 females. Complicated appendicitis was found in 15 patients (93.7 %) in the pre-school age group, 79 patients (27.5 %) in the juvenile group, 332 patients (41.8 %) in the adult group, and 96 patients (50.7 %) in the elderly group. Four patients (40 %) had generalized panperitonitis in the pre-school group. The occurrence of perforated appendicitis was the highest in the pre-school age group and the lowest in the juvenile group. Since generalized panperitonitis has a higher incidence in the pre-school age group, prudent and careful diagnosis and treatment are required for the pre-school age group.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify the predictive factors of long-term therapeutic response or resistance to lamivudine treatment in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Eighty one children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B were included, who received lamivudine treatment for at least 6 months. Their condition was monitored for at least 12 months (12-88 months) thereafter. Twenty one (25.9%) were preschool children ($age{\leq}6$). For patients who had developed HBeAg seroconversion or breakthrough, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the effects of age, gender, pretreatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus DNA levels. Results: HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 49 (60.5%) of the 81 patients after the initiation of the lamivudine therapy. In 65 patients whom were monitored for over 24 months, the seroconversion rate was significantly higher in younger patients (p=0.040), especially in those patients of preschool age ($age{\leq}6$, p=0.031). The seroconversion rate was significantly higher in higher pretreatment ALT (p=0.003). The breakthrough occurred in 21 (25.9%) of the 81. The breakthrough rate was lower in younger aged patients ($age{\leq}6$), and with higher pretreatment ALT levels, but no significant difference. Conclusion: Younger age is a good predictor of HBeAg seroconversion in children with long-term lamivudine treatment as well as high pretreatment ALT levels.