• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2023

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is increasing in South Korea. Several strategies have been tried to prevent its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is questionable whether the strategies being tried in the West can be applied adequately in South Korea. However, despite the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the West, which is considerably higher than that in South Korea, the incidence of high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma in population-based studies is as low as 0.23%/person-year. Therefore, in Korea, where the prevalence is lower than that, it is necessary to select high-risk groups more carefully for chemoprevention. The age of onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease-like symptoms at least once a week is related to the high-risk group rather than the presence or absence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma include the patient's sex, age, smoking habit, and obesity. Proton pump inhibitors have a better preventive effect against esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to H2-receptor blockers, but their application to patients in Korea is limited due to the high number of individuals in need of treatment. Therefore, while considering the risk factors for the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the administration of proton pump inhibitors should be considered for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2015

Purpose: Diencephalic syndrome is an uncommon cause of failure to thrive in early childhood that is associated with central nervous system neoplasms in the hypothalamic-optic chiasmatic region. It is characterized by complex signs and symptoms related to hypothalamic dysfunction; such nonspecific clinical features may delay diagnosis of the brain tumor. In this study, we analyzed a series of cases in order to define characteristic features of diencephalic syndrome. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 8 patients with diencephalic syndrome (age, 5-38 months). All cases had presented to Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 1995 and 2013, with the chief complaint of poor weight gain. Results: Diencephalic syndrome with central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm was identified in 8 patients. The mean age at which symptoms were noted was $18{\pm}10.5$ months, and diagnosis after symptom onset was made at the mean age of $11{\pm}9.7$ months. The mean z score was $-3.15{\pm}1.14$ for weight, $-0.12{\pm}1.05$ for height, $1.01{\pm}1.58$ for head circumference, and $-1.76{\pm}1.97$ for weight-for-height. Clinical features included failure to thrive (n=8), hydrocephalus (n=5), recurrent vomiting (n=5), strabismus (n=2), developmental delay (n=2), hyperactivity (n=1), nystagmus (n=1), and diarrhea (n=1). On follow-up evaluation, 3 patients showed improvement and remained in stable remission, 2 patients were still receiving chemotherapy, and 3 patients were discharged for palliative care. Conclusion: Diencephalic syndrome is a rare cause of failure to thrive, and diagnosis is frequently delayed. Thus, it is important to consider the possibility of a CNS neoplasm as a cause of failure to thrive and to ensure early diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 1996

We have previously reported that Korean schizophrenic patients hove low production of IL-2 in vitro suggestive of autoimmunity to the pathogenesis of the disorder. In an attempt to further explore this issue, we measured in vivo serum levels of interleukins(IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, and IL-6) using a quantitative "sandwich" enzyme immunoassay(ELISA) in 26 male schizophrenic patients and in 26 age-matched normal controls. Patients met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and were drug free for at least six months. The severity of symptoms was assessed by SANS and SAPS. We found a significant increase of IL-2 level(p<0.05) in schizophrenic patients as compared with normal controls. There were significant positive correlations between IL-2, IL-6 levels and negative symptom scores. There were no correlations between age, age at onset, duration of illness and interleukin levels. Our results may support the hypothesis of viral-autoimmune dysfunction in schizophrenia. IL-2 or IL-6 may be associated with specific clinical feature in schizophrenic syndrome, especially negative symptom.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.39
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• pp.5-28
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to identify different adolescent smoking trajectories in Korea; and 2) to examine predictors of those smoking trajectories within a social developmental frame. Data were from the Korea Youth Panel Survey(KYPS), a longitudinal study of 3,449 youths followed since 2003. Using semi-parametric group-based modeling, four smoking trajectories were identified: non initiators, late onsetters, experimenters, and escalators. Multinomial logistic regressions were then used to identify risk and protective factors that distinguish the trajectory groups from one another. Among non smokers at age 13, late onsetters were distinguished from non initiators by a variety of factors in every ecological domain. Among youths who already smoked at age 13, escalators who increased their smoking were distinguished from experimenters who almost desisted from smoking by age 17 by self-esteem and academic achievement. Finally, implications for youth welfare practice from this study were discussed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2021

Background : Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive metabolic disorder which is caused by genetic mutations that disrupt the urea cycle. It is characterized by variable clinical presentation and the age of onset. Patients may present with gait disturbance and progressive paraplegia and muscle tightness in the lower extremities. The use of botulinum toxin in metabolic disease has rarely been discussed. We describe a case of a 14-year-old-boy with HHH syndrome, who presented with a several - month history of gait disturbance and lower extremity weakness. Case presentation : A 14-year old male had a history of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, occasional vomiting, loss of appetite, and general weakness, all of which started since he was 10 months old. He was diagnosed with HHH syndrome at one year of age. At the age of 14, he was referred for the assessment and treatment of his gait disturbance and aggravated weakness of the lower extremities. Brain MRI, electrodiagnostic study and blood test were performed to exclude any lesions related to neurologic dysfunction. Botulinum toxin type A were injected into muscles of adductor longus, adductor magnus, lateral and medial hamstring, and lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle heads under needle electromyography guidance to reduce lower limb spasticity. Intensive physical therapy including gait training and stretching exercise of adductor and calf muscles were also provided. After intensive physical therapy and botulinum toxin injection to reduce lower limb spasticity, he was able to ambulate for 20 meters independently without any walking aids. There were no adverse events after the injection. Conclusion : Botulinum toxin injection is a safe and effective therapy for patients with HHH syndrome who suffer from gait disturbance.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2020

Purpose: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by impaired neuromuscular transmission. This study aims to provide the clue for early diagnosis and improved therapeutic strategies in CMS. Materials and Methods: Through the targeted panel sequencing including twenty CMS causative genes, eleven patients were genetically confirmed and enrolled in this study. A retrospective medical record review was carried out for the clinical and laboratory data analysis. Results: The age of patients ranged from 5 to 23 years, with the median age of 16 years. The peak age at onset of symptoms was the neonatal period. Seven out of the eleven patients were symptomatic at birth. The most commonly reported initial finding was generalized hypotonia with poor sucking and crying. Mean time to accurate diagnosis was 9.3±5.0 years. Total fifteen different variants in seven genes associated with CMS (DOK7, AGRN, RAPSN, CHRNE, COLQ, SLC5A7, and GFPT1) were identified. Conclusion: We describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of CMS patients and treatment outcome in a single tertiary center. High clinical suspicion and timely molecular diagnosis is particularly important for the tailored therapy to maximize clinical improvement in CMS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.335-340
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical course of childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and to assess the risk factors for developing chronic ITP Methods: The records of 64 children diagnosed with ITP from November 2005 and December 2014 at single center were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis and the median platelet count were 1 year (range, 1 month to 15 years) and $9{\times}10^9/L$ (range, $0-84{\times}10^9/L$), respectively. No patient experienced severe bleeding. Nineteen children (29.7%) spontaneously recovered their platelet count to ${\geq}100{\times}10^9/L$ at a median of 10 days. In total 45 patients (70.3%) received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as first-line therapy, and showed platelet recovery at 1 week. The final diagnosis of 55 (85.9%) and 9 patients (14.1%) was acute and chronic ITP, respectively. Older age, absence of prior infection and insidious onset of symptoms were significantly associated with the development of chronic ITP. Among the patients who received IVIG, those with platelet count <$45{\times}10^9/L$ at 1 month after IVIG showed a significantly higher incidence of chronic ITP compared to those with platelet count ${\geq}45{\times}10^9/L$ (88.8% vs. 44.4%, P<0.01). Conclusion: In most patients, ITP runs a benign course and approximately 86% of them recover within 1 year of their initial diagnosis. The potential impact of the risk factors of chronic ITP on clinical practice needs to be explored and further studies are warranted to determine whether IVIG influences the course of ITP.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2010

Objectives: By analyzing data of pediatric patients who had visited the emergency room of an oriental medical hospital, we can understand their characteristics and diseases. The purpose of this study was to introduce the excellence of Oriental medicine, to develop various treatments and to revitalize pediatric emergency care at oriental medical hospital. Methods: The study was composed of 371 pediatric patients who had visited the emergency room of the $\bigcirc\bigcirc$ university oriental hospital from January 2008 to December 2009. Results: 1. Average age of the pediatric patients was 4.28 years old, and it has showed that 1 to 3 years old patients (36.7%) were the most common age. 2. The number of pediatric patients was increased in June. According to the weekly distribution data, the number of pediatric patients who had visited on Sunday was the most (29.1%). Also, the number of pediatric patients who had visited ER for 18 to 21 hours(35.6%) were the most common. 3. The major problems of hospitalization were digestive symptoms and nervous symptoms. The nervous symptoms were the most at infancy. The musculoskeletal symptoms were the most common in adolescence. The digestive symptoms were common in other stages of development. 4. The time interval between arrival and onset; within 6 hours were the most(48.0%). Acupuncture and herbal medication treatment(75.2%) were the most common medical treatments. Most of the pediatric patients(97.3%) were discharged after medical treatments. Conclusions: Pediatric patients who had visited emergency room at the oriental medical hospital were mostly not due to acute form of serious diseases. The most common disease states that have preferred to treat with oriental medicine were dyspepsia, crying, febrile fit, and ankle sprain. We have to introduce the excellence of oriental medicine, and we need to try to develop other treatments such as magnetic acupuncture, moxa therapy, aroma therapy and revitalize pediatric emergency care at oriental medical hospital.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.804-812
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• 2016

Purpose: This research was done to identify the hospital arrival rate and factors related to prehospital delay in arriving at an emergency medical center within the golden time after symptom onset in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Data used in the research was from the National Emergency Department Information System of the National Emergency Medical Center which reported that in 2014, 9,611 patients went to emergency medical centers for acute myocardial infarction. Prehospital time is the time from onset to arrival at an emergency medical center and is analyzed by subdividing arrival and delay based on golden time of 2 hour. Results: After onset of acute myocardial infarction, arrival rate to emergency medical centers within the golden time was 44.0%(4,233), and factors related to prehospital delay were gender, age, region of residence, symptoms, path to hospital visit, and method of transportation. Conclusion: Results of this study show that in 2014 more than half of AMI patients arrive at emergency medical centers after the golden time for proper treatment of AMI. In order to reduce prehospital delay, new policy that reflects factors influencing prehospital delay should be developed. Especially, public campaigns and education to provide information on AMI initial symptoms and to enhance utilizing EMS to get to the emergency medical center directly should be implemented for patients and/or caregivers.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.144-147
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• 1998

The sacrococcygeal region is the frequent site for meningocele, congenital dermal sinus and pilonidal cyst. From May 1995 to July 1998, we have treated 8 neonatal patients with an abscess in the sacrococcygeal area. The mean age at onset was 8.3 days with a range from 6 to 11 days. The sex ratio was 5:3 with male preponderance. Mild fever was the only systemic symptom. Ultrasonogram revealed a slightly hypo echoic lesion in the subcutaneous tissue which became more hypoechoic with time. Pus cultures showed $Staph.$ $aureus$ in 7 patients, two of them had mixed infection with $E.$ $coli$ and other 2 had methicillin-resistant $Staph.$ $aureus.$ The remaining one patient had a mixed infection with $Klebsiella$ and $Proteus.$ Histopathological examination revealed non-specific granuloma and fibrinoid necrotic debris. All patients were easily treated by incision, drainage and proper antibiotics.