• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.31-37
• /
• 2017

Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most prevalent form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), accounting for approximately 95% of cases. With the advent of newborn screening and hormone replacement therapy, most children with CAH survive into adulthood. Adolescents and adults with CAH experience a number of complications, including short stature, obesity, infertility, tumor, osteoporosis, and reduced quality of life. Transition from pediatric to adult care and management of long-term complications are challenging for both patients and health-care providers. Psychosocial issues frequently affect adherence to glucocorticoid treatment. Therefore, the safe transition of adolescents to adult care requires regular follow-up of patients by a multidisciplinary team including pediatric and adult endocrinologists. The major goals for management of adults with 21-hydroxylase deficiency are to minimize the long-term complications of glucocorticoid therapy, reduce hyperandrogenism, prevent adrenal or testicular adrenal rest tumors, maintain fertility, and improve quality of life. Optimized medical or surgical treatment strategies should be developed through coordinated care, both during transition periods and throughout patients' lifetimes. This review will summarize current knowledge on the management of adults with CAH, and suggested appropriate approaches to the transition from pediatric to adult care.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2021

Purpose : This study aims to investigate the awareness of occupational therapists among managers and directors of adult day care centers in Korea to explore the cause of the low employment rate of these therapists and offer the results as basic data that can be used to expand occupational therapy at adult day care centers. Methods : This study collected data by conducting an online questionnaire with managers and directors of adult day care centers located in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Ulsan. A total of 70 completed questionnaires were divided into two groups a 'group with experience in occupational therapy information (OT experience)' and a 'group with no experience in occupational therapy information (OT inexperience)' and analyzed. Results : First, the 'OT experience' was found to have higher levels of awareness of the scope of work of occupational therapists than the 'OT inexperience'. Second, significant differences were found in the degree of awareness and necessity of occupational therapists and plans to employ occupational therapists later between the 'OT experience' and the 'OT inexperience'. Third, it was shown that there were significant correlations between whether the respondents were familiar with occupational therapy and the degree of awareness and necessity of occupational therapists and plans to employ occupational therapists later. Conclusion : Based on these findings, the following measures are recommended to expand the area of occupational therapy in adult day care centers, the need for occupational therapists should be mentioned in the health and welfare-related education for workers at these adult day care centers, policies such as a medical fee system for occupational therapy at these adult day care centers should be prepared.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2021

Echinostoma mekongi was reported as a new species in 2020 based on specimens collected from humans in Kratie and Takeo Province, Cambodia. In the present study, its metacercarial stage has been discovered in Filopaludina martensi cambodjensis snails purchased from a local market nearby the Tonle Sap Lake, Pursat Province, Cambodia. The metacercariae were fed orally to an experimental hamster, and adult flukes were recovered at day 20 post-infection. They were morphologically examined using light and scanning electron microscopes and molecularly analyzed by sequencing of their mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes. A total of 115 metacercariae (1-8 per snail) were detected in 60 (60.0%) out of 100 Filopaludina snails examined. The metacercariae were round, 174 ㎛ in average diameter (163-190 ㎛ in range), having a thin cyst wall, a head collar armed with 37 collar spines, and characteristic excretory granules. The adult flukes were elongated, ventrally curved, 7.3 (6.4-8.2)×1.4 (1.1-1.7) mm in size, and equipped with 37 collar spines on the head collar (dorsal spines in 2 alternating rows), being consistent with E. mekongi. In phylogenetic analyses, the adult flukes showed 99.0-100% homology based on cox1 sequences and 98.9-99.7% homology based on nad1 sequences with E. mekongi. The results evidenced that F. martensi cambodjensis snails act as the second intermediate host of E. mekongi, and hamsters can be used as a suitable experimental definitive host. As local people favor to eat undercooked snails, these snails seem to be an important source of human infection with E. mekongi in Cambodia.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.611-625
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behaviors and health-related lifestyles of adult visitors at a public health center in Gyeonggi urban area. A survey using questionnaire was conducted with 949 visitors at Seongnam public health centers from June to August, 2012. The data from 905 respondents were analyzed by gender, consisting of 322 males and 583 females, and age group, consisting of 243 low-age group (LA), 312 middle-age group (MA), 350 high-age group (HA), aged 20 to 30 years, 31 to 50 years, and 51 to 69 years, respectively. Average Body Mass Index was 23.0, which increased with age, and education level was high in LA. 59.0 percent of the subjects had various diseases, and the incidence of hypertension was the highest, followed by allergy, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, joint rheumatism. Incidence rates of chronic disease increased with age, which were lower than those from 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Weekly drinking frequency rate and smoking rate decreased with age, and exercise performing rate was high at male and HA, which showed the same tendency as KNHANES. Female and HA showed more healthy dietary behaviors such as restricting salt, sugar, oily foods, foods containing food additives, calorie, caring for balanced diet, and referring to nutrition label. Subjects chose stress as the first factor, followed by diet, exercise, etc., among 13 suggested factors which strongly influence on human's life-span. In general, public health center visitors, especially female and HA, showed better dietary behaviors and health-related lifestyles compared with KNHANES.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.28-40
• /
• 2019

The incidence of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise, accounting for up to 25% of IBD cases. Pediatric IBD often has extensive bowel involvement with aggressive and rapidly progressing behavior compared to adult IBD. Because IBD has a high morbidity rate and can have a lifelong impact, successful transition from pediatric to adult care is important to maintain the continuity of care. Furthermore, successful transition facilitates appropriate development and psychosocial well-being among patients, as well as comprehensive and harmonious healthcare delivery amongst stakeholders. However, there are various obstacles related to patients, family, providers, and organizations that interfere with successful transition. Successful transition requires a flexible and tailored plan that is made according to the patient's developmental abilities and situation. This plan should be established through periodic interviews with the patient and family and through close collaboration with other care providers. Through a stepwise approach to the transition process, patients' knowledge and self-management skills can be improved. After preparation for the transition is completed and the obstacles are overcome, patients can be gradually moved to adult care. Finally, successful transition can increase patients' adherence to therapy, maintain the appropriate health status, improve patients' self-management, and promote self-reliance among patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.6919-6924
• /
• 2013

Background: Between 1998-2009 South Korea experienced significant progress in reducing the male smoking rate from 66.3% to 46.9%. As part of a significant government effort in the area of smoking cessation intervention, the Korean government implemented the national "Smoking Cessation Clinics (SCC)" program in 2004. Materials and Methods: Data covered 804,334 adult male smokers participating in SCC program at 253 public health centers between 2006-2009. We examined participant cessation rates with the SCC program, their characteristics and program intervention components using health insurance status as a socioeconomic status (SES) indicator. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed correcting for intra-class correlations within public health centers. Results: The overall 6-month quit rate was high (46.8%). Higher odds of smoking cessation were positively associated with higher levels of behavioral counseling sessions, but not nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Cessation rates were lower for Medicaid participants than for regular health insurance participants. Disadvantaged younger smokers were less likely to participate in the program. Older smokers were more likely to quit regardless of SES. Stress was cited as major reason for failure. Conclusions: SES inequalities across different age groups exist in smoking cessation among Korean adult male smokers. There is a need for intervention programs specifically targeting sub-populations of SES by different age groups.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.477-488
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health literacy of inpatients at general hospitals. Methods: The sample of this study was 157 inpatients from secondary general hospitals located in a J city during April 1st to April 15th, 2011. The linguistic health literacy was measured by Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT). The functional health literacy was measured by Korean Functional Health Literacy Test (KFHLT). Results: The mean score of the linguistic health literacy was $36.03{\pm}16.33$ (percent of correct answer: 54.6%). The mean score of the functional health literacy was $9.62{\pm}4.75$ (percent of correct answer: 56.6%). The linguistic and functional health literacy were by age, education level, marital status, socioeconomic status and their health status. There was statistically a significant correlation between the linguistic health literacy and the functional health literacy (r=.75, p<.001). Conclusion: The health literacy of inpatients was strongly related to education level and age. There is a need to develop the educational materials for adjusting the health literacy level of inpatients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.537-541
• /
• 2016

Stellantchasmus falcatus (Digenea: Heterophyidae) is first reported from Cambodia through recovery of the metacercariae from mullet fish and adult flukes from an experimentally infected hamster. We purchased 7 mullets, Chelon macrolepis, in a local market of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and each of them was examined by the artificial digestion method on May 2010. The metacercariae of S. falcatus were detected in all mullets (100%) examined, and their average density was 177 per fish. They were elliptical, $220{\times}168{\mu}m$ in average size. They were orally infected to an hamster to obtain adult flukes. Adults recovered at day 10 post infection were observed with a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). They were small, $450{\times}237{\mu}m$ in average size, had a small oral sucker ($41{\times}50{\mu}m$), subglobular pharynx ($29{\times}21{\mu}m$), slender esophagus ($57{\mu}m$), long and thick-walled expulsor ($119{\times}32{\mu}m$), spherical ovary ($58{\times}69{\mu}m$), and 2 ovoid testes (right: $117{\times}74{\mu}m$; left: $114{\times}63{\mu}m$). Eggs were small, yellow, and $23{\times}12{\mu}m$ in average size. In SEM observations, tegumental spines were densely distributed on the whole tegument, and single small type I sensory papillae were distributed around the lip of oral sucker. The small ventral sucker was dextrally located and had 8 type I sensory papillae on the left margin. It has been first confirmed in the present study that the mullet, C. macrolepis, is playing the role of a second intermediate host of S. falcatus in Cambodia.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.433-439
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the body composition, health status, and dietary behaviors of middle-aged women in a weight control program at a community health center. The study subjects were 66 middle-aged women who lived in Ansan city, and they participated in the program for 24 weeks. Anthropometries, blood pressure, and serum biochemical indices were measured. These measurements were taken both before and after the weight control program, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 program. Weight, fat mass, body fat %, and the waist-hip ratio all decreased. According to the decreases in body fat %, blood pressure, serum biochemical indices and dietary behaviors were improved after the weight control program. Thus, this study demonstrated the desirable changes of a weight control program offered at a community health center, for health conditions and physical fitness.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.261-271
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that have influence on a health examination among the middle aged living in Busan. Method: The survey was conducted with 235 participants who were the parents of students of five nursing schools in Busan, living in Busan, and subjects to a health examination under the National Health Insurance Corporation. The data was collected from September to November 2004 using a structured self-administered questionnaire that contained general characteristics, characteristics related to a health examination, and health belief variables. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 10.0. Results: Among the subjects, 122(51.9%) had performed a health examination in the past, and 113(48.1%) had not. Variables that have a significant influence on getting a health examination were: previous disease experience, perceived barrier and perceived seriousness. Those who did not have previous disease experience(2.6 times) and whose perceived seriousness was high(1.1 times) were more likely to have a health examination, and those with perceived barrier high(0.9 times) were less likely. Conclusion: Therefore, to increase the rate of health examinations, it is necessary to advertise the importance of health examinations particularly for the people who had disease experience and the seriousness of target diseases; and furthermore, to remove barriers of a health examination.