• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-116
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• 2010

Air reduction is a safe, effective, and fast initial treatment for pediatric intussusception. There is low dose radiation exposure. Factors affecting outcomes of air reduction were analyzed by reviewing the clinical features and results of treatment. A total of 399 out of 485 patients with pediatric intussusceptions were treated at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1996 to 2009. All of the patients received air reduction as the first line of treatment. Clinical features such as gender, age, seasonal variation, symptoms, signs, types, pathologic leading point, and treatment results including success rate, complication, recurrence, NPO time, and duration of hospitalization were reviewed. The Pearson chi-square, student T-, and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analysis. P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The prevalent clinical features were: male (65.4 %), under one-year of age (40.3 %), ileocolic type (71.9 %), abdominal pain (85.4 %), and accompanying mesentery lymph node enlargement (2.2 %). The overall success rate for air reduction was 78.4 % (313 of 399 patients), and the perforation rate during reduction was 1.5 %. There were 23 recurrent cases over 21.6 months. All were successfully treated with re-do air reduction. Reduction failures had longer overall NPO times (27.067hrs vs. 43.0588hrs; p=0.000) and hospitalization durations (1.738d vs. 6.975d; p=0.000) compared to the successful cases. The factors affecting success rates were fever (p=0.002), abdominal distension (p=0.000), lethargy (p=0.000) and symptom duration (p=0.000) on univariate analysis. Failure rates were higher in patients with symptom durations greater than 24 hours (p=0.023), and lethargy (p=0.003) on multivariate analysis. Air reduction showed high success rates and excellent treatment outcomes as the initial treatment for pediatric intussusception in this study. Symptom duration and lethargy were significantly associated with reduced success rates.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, contact history, and status of tuberculosis contact investigations in school-age children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at two centers. Methods: This study was conducted with 54 patients in the age ranging from 10 to 18 years, who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB at the Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Children's Hospital, January 2008 to December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. Results: The median age of the patients was 16 years old; 11 patients were aged 10 to 14 and 43 patients were aged 15 to 18. Among 54 patients, 19 had history of contact with pulmonary TB, 10 had contact with house members (household), and remaining 9 had contact with classmates (non-household). One out of 10 patients who had household contacts and 6 out of 9 patients who had non-household contacts were evaluated with contact investigation after the exposure to pulmonary TB. Among 7 patients who were evaluated with contact investigation, 3 were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 1 had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 3 had no evidence of TB or LTBI. The median period of diagnosis after the exposure to active pulmonary TB was 2 years in patients with household contacts and 0.23 years in patients with non-household contacts. Conclusion: This study suggested that if the contact investigation conducted properly, it would be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary TB.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Objectives : We evaluated the health effects of exposure to BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene) in the Taean area after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : We used a questionnaire survey to look for health effects among 80 pregnant women 2 to 3 months following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Their BTEX exposures were estimated using the CALPUFF method. We then used a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of BTEX exposure on the women s health effets. Results : Pregnant women who lived near the accident site reported more symptoms of eye irritation and headache than those who lived farther from the site. There was a trend of decreasing symptoms with an increase in distance from the spill site. Pregnant women exposed to higher ambient cumulative levels of Xylene were significantly more likely to report symptoms of the skin(OR 8.01 95% CI=1.74-36.76) in the first day after the accident and significantly more likely to report abdominal pain(OR 3.86 95% CI=1.02-14.59 for Ethylbenzene, OR 6.70 95% CI=1.82-24.62 for Xylene) during the 1st through 4th days following the accident. Conclusions : This study suggests that exposure to BTEX from an oil spill is correlated with an increased risk of health effects among pregnant women. This implies the need to take proper measures, including the development of a national policy for environmental health emergencies and a plan for studying the short- and long-term chronic health effects associated with such spills.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.154-160
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• 2021

Objectives: This study identified the association between excessive exposure to screen media and behavioral and emotional problems in elementary school students. Methods: A total of 331 parents of children aged 7-10 years were recruited from "The Kids Cohort for Understanding of Internet Addiction Risk Factors in Early Childhood (K-CURE)" study. Children's demographics, household media ownership, screen time, and behavioral/emotional problems were assessed using a parental questionnaire. Children's behavior/emotional problems were measured using the Korean version the of Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) score. Results: The total K-CBCL score in the screen overuse group was 51.18±9.55, significantly higher than 47.28±10.09 in the control group (t=2.14, p=0.05). For each subscale, the externalization score (51.65±10.14, 48.33±8.97, respectively; t=2.02, p<0.05), social problem score (55.41±6.11, 53.24±5.19, respectively; t=2.27, p<0.05), and rule breaking behavior score (55.71±6.11, 53.24±5.19, respectively; t=2.27, p<0.05) were significantly higher in the screen overuse group than in the control group. In addition, the screen overuse group also had a significantly higher usage rate than the control group, even if limited to smartphones, not only on weekdays (3.56±2.08, 1.87±2.02, respectively; t=-4.597, p<0.001) but also weekends (1.62±0.74, 1.19±0.83, respectively; t=-3.14, p=0.003). Conclusion: The study suggested that screen media overuse patterns in children in Korea are particularly relevant to the excessive use of smartphones and are related to higher risks of emotional and behavioral problems.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.298-311
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine 1) the relationship between the vegetable eating behavior of care givers and that of children, 2) the effectiveness of nutrition education with vegetable playing using direct visual stimulating programs on vegetable eating behavior of preschool children, and 3) the times and period of nutrition education with vegetable playing for significant changes on vegetable eating behavior. A total number of 56 individuals, aged 42 to 66 months old, participated in this study in which three kinds of vegetables (30 g)/meal were served per individual, and vegetable eating behavior was measured by the residue on the dish during 5 weeks (25 days). To the simple visual stimulating group, vegetable dish was served without education, and other groups included education 1 group (nutrition education 1 time/week), education 2 group (nutrition education 2 times/week), and education 3 group (nutrition education 3 times/week) with simple visual stimulation by the vegetable dish. The results showed 1) the significant relationship (P<0.001) between the vegetable eating behavior of the care giver and that of children by analysis of the questionnaire, 2) the effectiveness of nutrition education using vegetable playing on vegetable eating behavior of preschool children (P<0.05), and 3) the significant changes in vegetable eating behavior by the 3rd week in the education 3 group. This study shows that food neophobia caused behavior problems in children regarding vegetable eating and repeated exposure was able to reduce food neophobia.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2024

Background: Children who use playground facilities are exposed to potential risks due to the high concentration of heavy metals contained in the finishing materials of facilities in children's playgrounds. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in the finishing materials of outdoor children's playgrounds where harmful heavy metals exist in Gwangju and to conduct human risk assessment for children and adults by age to find the risks and limitations. Methods: The bottom and top layers of double-painted paint were peeled off and collected together from the finishing materials of children's play facilities such as slides, swings, and seesaws in 147 children's parks in Gwangju. Heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-OES, etc., and human risk assessment was performed using the concentrations of heavy metals. Results: Based on 1.0E-04, which requires legal regulation, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk for preschool children and no carcinogenic risk for the rest of the age groups. However, RME showed that both men and women of all ages had a carcinogenic risk. For reference, when the carcinogenic risk was based on 1.0E-06, CTE was found to pose a carcinogenic risk from infants to elementary school students, and RME was found to have a carcinogenic risk in all age groups. It was judged that there is a non-carcinogenic risk if the non-carcinogenic risk exceeds 1 based on the hazard index (HI) 1. In CTE, there was no non-carcinogenic risk, and RME for preschooler males (1.49E+00) and females (1.56E+00) were found to have non-carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: This study was meaningful in that it examines the differences in the current management of heavy metals concentration standards and potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the human body and discusses the relationship between heavy metals and human health effects.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2019

Whole Spine Scanography (WSS) using the Digital Radiography (DR) system is an examination that requires whole body X-ray exposure, which involves more exposure to radiation for patients than other general radiographies. This can affect the occurrence of breast cancer. This research measured radiation dose when breasts were shield and not shield using the Auto Exposure Control (AEC) mode. The radiation dose without a shield was 1.540 mGy, and that using a collimator was measured 0.506 mGy. Moreover, 0.733 mGy was measured when 1 shield (0.3 mm) was used, and $0.523{\mu}Gy$ when 5 of them (1.5 mm) were used. The results showed that the radiation dose with 5 shields and the radiation dose with a collimator were similar. Moreover, 0.233 mGy was measured when 8 shields (2.4 mm) were used. The standard deviation were 0.081 when using collimator and 0.014 when 5 shields were used. Also, when 8 shields were used, it was found to be 0.002. Most patients who go under a scoliosis test are children or young people who are highly sensitive to radiation. In the research results, the case where the organs sensitive to radiation, women's breasts, were shielded showed more distinct differences compared to without shields. It is considered that using shields can provide more constant shield than using a collimator and lower the risk of breast cancer caused by exposure to radiation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2008

Dialkylated phthalates have been commonly used as plasticizers and a variety of applications. Phthalate diesters have been shown to be developmental and reproductive toxicants. It is very difficult to exactly estimate the dose of dialkylated phthalates taken up by the general population because of environmental contamination. Urinary metabolites of phthalates enabled to estimate internal exposure. The objective of this study was quantitative determination of phthalate metabolites by LC/MS/MS with on-line cleanup method to analyze phthalate metabolites in Korean children's urine. We employed LC/MS/MS with on-line enrichment and column-switching techniques for this biological monitoring. Metabolites determined were 4 primary metabolites; MEHP, MnBP, MiBP, MEP and 2 secondary metabolites of DEHP; 5-OH-MEHP), 5-oxo-MEHP. We analyzed children's urine from 30 boys and 30 girls. The method detection limit of phthalate metabolites were 0.03 ng/mL for MEP, 1.05 ng/mL for MBP, 0.22 ng/mL for MEHP, 0.15 ng/mL for 5-OHMEHP and 0.16 ng/mL for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Switching Column LC/MS/MS was proven to be a useful tool to determine metabolites of phthalate diesters in human urine. The correlation among phthalate metabolites was very high and statistically significant, except MEP. The children's age (months) was negatively correlated to the concentration of phthalate metabolites. The geometric mean concentration of phthalate metabolites (mg/g creatinine) in children's urine were 25.5 for MEP, 130.3 for MnBP, 56.8 for MiBP, 19.5 for MEHP, 85.6 for 5-OH-MEHP and 83.1 for 5-oxo-MEHP, respectively. Levels of estimated daily intake of parent phthalate compounds (${\mu}g$/kg bw/day) were 0.8 for DEP, 5.0 for DnBP, 1.9 for DiBP and $8.9{\sim}14.2$ for DEHP, respectively. Estimated daily intake for DEP and DiBP were lower than those of other studies but the value for DEHP was higher than that of other study.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.270-282
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• 2013

The present study aims to investigate the effects of bicultural characteristics and social capital on psychological adaptations such as depression and self-esteem. A survey was conducted on 295 foreign-born mothers and their 305 children, ranging from third to sixth grade in elementary school up to seventh to ninth grade in middle school, residing in South Korea's seven major cities, including the city of Seoul. The results of this research are the following: 1) With regards to factors that influence depression among children in a multicultural family, less support from a friend leads to a larger exposure to multicultural programs. Also, the lower the perceived income level of his or her family, greater is the state of the child's depression. 2) Significant factors that influence self-esteem for multicultural children are friends' support, level of mothers' Korean language proficiency, teachers' support, and numbers of multicultural programs. Two implications may be addressed from this study. One is the need to consider bicultural characteristics and social capital to enhance psychological adaptability for children raised in multicultural families. Another is to apply social support characteristics such as friends' and teachers' support to multicultural programs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.425-434
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to introduce the establishment process and results of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's road map on environmental health policy. Methods: The process consisted of expert group meetings, civic participation, research, and questionnaire survey for priority environmental health policy agenda items in Seoul. Results: The announced vision for the environmental health policy was "a healthy environment, safety in Seoul". This policy was established in order to define environment health policy initiatives for a period of five years with an aim to protect Seoul citizens' health from hazardous environmental factors. The resulting Seoul environmental health policy consisted of four areas and 16 key agenda items. The four areas were "Protection for children against hazardous materials", "Enhancement of health and safety of all", "Carcinogen-free and endocrine-disrupting chemical-free Seoul (reducing environmental exposure to hazardous materials), and "Establish the foundation of environmental health policy". Sixteen key agenda items include the enhancement of management of spaces for children, certification of environmental health status at schools, establishment of a unit responsible for the environmental health of children, strengthening environmental health management for susceptible populations (children, the aged, and the socioeconomically vulnerable), management of hazardous materials, physical hazardous factors (noise, radiation, etc.), indoor air quality, and the enhancement of monitoring, research, and regulation of environment health. Conclusion: The Seoul Metropolitan Government established an environmental health policy road map for a five-year period (2013-2017). To implement this environmental health policy, budget allocation, and detailed execution plans are required.