• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.623-629
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• 2006

Purpose : The mortality rate of neonatal sepsis has been decreased, however, the incidence has not significantly decreased because of increased invasive procedures. This study was designed to make guidelines for choosing antibiotics by analyzing the causative microorganisms and their antibiotics sensitivity test according to the onset of neonatal sepsis. Methods : One hundred seven cases of culture proven sepsis in 89 patients admitted to the NICU of Chonnam University Hospital from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2004, were enrolled. By reviewing the medical records, clinical data, laboratory findings, causative organisms and their antibiotics sensitivity, and mortality were analyzed. Results : The incidence of neonatal sepsis was 1.7 percent and more prevalent in premature and low birth weight infants. 85.4 percent of neonatal sepsis was late onset. Almost all microorganisms(92.9 percent) were gram-positive in early onset, however, two thirds were gram-positive and one third were gram-negative and Candida in late onset. Gram-negative organisms and Candida were more prevalent in patients who had central line. Gram-positive organisms were sensitive to vancomycin, teicoplanin, and gram-negative were sensitive to imipenem, and cefotaxime. Conclusion : Neonatal sepsis was more prevalent in premature and low birth weight infants. More than 90 percent were gram-positive in early onset, however, one third was gram-negative and Candida in late onset. The first choice of antibiotics were a combination of third generation cephalosporin and clindamycin in early onset, and third generation cephalosporin and glycopeptide in late onset. If there is no response to antibiotics treatment, the use of antifungal agents should be considered.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.791-797
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations of and antibiotic resistance in culture-proven childhood salmonellosis. Methods : Clinical manifestations and laboratory data of and antibiotic use in subjects with culture-proven childhood salmonellosis, who were treated at the Chonbuk National University Hospital between September 1998 and August 2008, were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with underlying diseases or concomitant illnesses were excluded. Results : We assessed a total of 72 patients. There were 68 stool culture-positive cases, 7 blood culture-positive cases, and 3 both stool culture- and blood culture-positive cases. Salmonella group D was the most frequent pathogen in stool (63.9%) and blood (71.4%) cultures. Salmonella typhi was isolated in 1 case. Of the 72 patients, 45 (62.5%) were male children, of which 29 (40.3%) were aged <3 years. The patients most commonly presented with diarrhea (90.2%) and fever (83.3%). Leukocytosis (leukocyte count, >$15,000/{\mu}L$) and leukopenia (leukocyte count, <$4,000/{\mu}L$) were detected in 8.3% and 5.6% of the patients, respectively. Elevated serum C-reactive protein concentration (>5 mg/dL) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (>20 mm/h) were observed in 88.9% and 58.3% of the patients, respectively. Fifty-two (85.2%) of 61 patients who had undergone antibiotic treatment received a third-generation cephalosporin as definitive antibiotic therapy. Multidrug resistance rate was 40.0 % in the first 5 years of the study and 71.4% in the last 5 years. No fatalities occurred in this series. Conclusion : Children with culture-proven salmonellosis showed relatively benign clinical outcomes. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of <2 weeks is probably adequate for those without a suppurative focus of infection. The incidence of antibiotic resistant isolates was recently seen to increase.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1217-1224
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• 2007

Purpose : Due to its high potency against leukemic blasts, our institution has opted for the use of dexamethasone during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remission induction, but in our most recent treatment protocol, CMCPL-2005, we shortened the length of steroid treatment from 4 to 3 weeks. We compared both the rates of remission induction and significant complications observed during induction with CMCPL-2005, with those noted for our previous protocol, CMCPL-2001. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with ALL from January, 2001 to December, 2006 at the Department of Pediatrics, St. Mary's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. Data concerning age, sex, WBC count at diagnosis, immunophenotype, cytogenetic traits, and risk group were collected for each patient. Results of remission induction treatment were compared between the two patient groups. Infection and other major complications resulting from treatment were investigated according to NCI toxicity criteria. Results : A total of 141 and 88 patients received remission induction under CMCPL-2001 and CMCPL-2005 respectively. In the CMCPL-2001 group, 136 (96%) achieved complete remission while 82 (93%) achieved CR in the CMCPL-2005 group. Patients in the CMCPL-2005 group were more likely to undergo remission induction without experiencing major complications. However, with regards to steroid related toxicities such as infection, no significant differences were noted. Conclusion : We shortened the length of steroid administration from four to three weeks, yet found the remission induction rate to be comparable to that of our previous regimen. However, rates of steroid related toxicities such as infectious complications remain unchanged despite shortened exposure to dexamethasone.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2003

Purpose : Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a leading cause of meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, and otitis media in children worldwide. Emergence of drug-resistant organism has substantially complicated the therapy of these infections. This study was conducted to determine the clinical features and changing patterns of antibiotic-resistant rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods : We have retrospectively examined 306 cases of culture proven patients who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Severance hospital, from the year 1991 to year 2000. The type of culture specimen used, presence of penicillin resistance, characteristics according to various presenting diseases and their prevailing year were also examined. Results : The mean age of cases was 7.9 year and the ratio of male to female was 1.6 : 1. The main age group of pneumococcal infection was under 2 years(42%). Systemic infections associated with pneumococci were sepsis(19.3%) and meningitis(9.5%), while local infections presented as pneumonia(29.2%), otitis media(19.3%), exudative tonsillitis(13.3%), and sinusitis(9.2%) in the order of frequency. Seasonal variation was seen in the incidence of pneumococcal infection: high incidence of infection was seen in Spring(Mar.~Apr; 32%), while the incidence was low during summer(Aug.~Sep.; 6%). Penicillin-resistant rate of pneumococci was steadily on the increase since the year 1991(65%) to year 2000(84%). Conclusion : Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci increased during the past decade. For effective prevention of pneumococcal infections, national survey of pneumococcal infections and expanded use of pneumococcal vaccination would be needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2015

Purpose: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious threat in critically ill pediatric patients. Data regarding Stenotrophomonas maltophilia VAP in pediatric population is limited. We evaluated the clinical data of S. maltophilia associated VAP in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in pediatric patients 18 years old or younger who developed S. maltophilia associated VAP at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Korea from January 2008 to December 2012. Results: A total of 31 patients were identified S. maltophilia associated VAP. Median age was 8 months (range, 0.5 month to 16.6 years) and 13 patients were male (40.6%). Underlying illnesses were cardiologic diseases (n=11, 34.4%), hematologic oncologic malignancies (n=7, 25%), neurologic diseases (n=4, 12.5%), pulmonary diseases (n=3, 9.4%), and others (n=4, 12.5%). The median duration of ventilator use before S. maltophilia VAP diagnosis was 14 days (range, 4-256 days). Overall mortality at 30 days was 12.5% (4/32). Conclusions: S. maltophilia should be also considered as a possible pathogen for VAP in critically ill pediatric patients. Empiric antibiotic choice should include agents that are active against S. maltophilia in patients who are deteriorating on broad spectrum beta-lactam antimicrobial agents.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2005

Purpose : Recently the merits of 6 weeks of initial prednisolone treatment for pediatric primary nephrotic syndrome have been reported, and the use of the 6 week regimen is increasing. We compared our experiences with the 6 week treatment versus the 4 week treatment for Korean patients. Methods : We conducted a retrospective analysis of 69 children who had primary nephrotic syndrome and who were followed up for at least 12 months in the 4 major medical centers in Daegu. The remission rate, the relapse rate, the frequency of relapse and complication of steroid treatment were compared between the 4 weeks and 6 weeks treatment group. Results : Of the 69 children, 42 were in the 4 week treatment group and 27 were in the 6 week group. The median age, blood pressure, serum total protein, serum albumin, cholesterol, creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, 24 hour urine protein and 12 month cumulative dose did not differ between the two groups. Among the children who relapsed after steroid treatment, the relapse time was significantly later for the 6 week treatment group. The relapse rate after 1 year of treatment was 62$\%$ in the 4 week treatment group and 52$\%$ in the 6 week treatment group; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The frequency of relapse at 12 months was $1.5{\pm}1.2$ times in the 4 week treatment group and $1.1{\pm}1.2$ times in the 6 week treatment group, and there was not different between the two groups. The most common side effects of steroid treatment were an increase of appetite and a cushingoid appearance, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Among the 27 children who had kidney biopsies performed, 21 suffered from minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Conclusion : The first relapse time after steroid treatment was significantly later in the 6 week steroid treatment group. The frequency of relapse and the 12 month cumulative dose of steroid were lower in the 6 week treatment group, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups. The side effects of steroid treatment did not differ between the two groups. We need to study the long term side effects and the advanced regimens of steroid treatment in the future.(J Korea Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:159-166)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.353-358
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• 2013

Recently, the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention has become a main treatment for treating Coronary because of increase of Circulatory Disease. Because of this reason, the increase of intervention using radiation causes the radiation exposure to workers. Therefore, the latent radiation injury can be increased. Thus, this study/experiment measured around under knee whether using radiation collimator shielding or not. We measured the exposure does by the experiment methods which are using 60kV, 200mA, and 10ms of Automatic exposure conditions and using the major method of the Cinefluography of Coronary in our hospital. As the result of right coronary artery test cases, LAO $30^{\circ}$ when the curtains if you use lead 98.4%, $Cranial30^{\circ}$ 98.3% have a protective effect of the radiation. left circumflex coronary artery test cases, Caudal $30^{\circ}$ if the shielding effect of 90.2%, Caudal $30^{\circ}LAO$ $30^{\circ}$ 88.7% have a protective effect of the radiation. left anterior descending artery test cases, Cranial $30^{\circ}$ 98.3%, Cranial $30^{\circ}RAO$ $30^{\circ}$ 80.3%, Cranial $30^{\circ}$LAO $30^{\circ}$ 98% of the radiation has a protective effect. OS(Spider view) in the case of test Caudal $40^{\circ}LAO$ $40^{\circ}$ 71.2% appeared to have the effect of radiation shielding. For these reasons, radiation workers need to be aware on taking care of their radiation exposure by using the radiation collimator shielding even though it is uncomfortable for them.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliablity of the Korean version of the Global Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS) Scale developed for assessing the severity of current perceived stressors, and then to use the scale in clinical practice. Methods : The questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. A comparison was made regarding the perception of stressors among 242 patients(71 with anxiety disorder, 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis was done using oblique rotation after maximum-likelihood factor analysis. Results : Factor analysis yielded 1 subscale. Reliability was computed by administering the GARS Scale to 69 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 8 items and the total score was significantly high, ranging between 0.85-.95. Internal consistency was significant(Cronbach's a for 7 items : .86). Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 8 items and the total score with the total score of the stress response inventory(SRI), the perceived stress questionnaire(PSQ), and the somatization, anxiety, depression, hostility subscales and general indices of the symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the 8 item scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found in area relevant to sickness or illness and the overill global area. The patients with anxiety disorder were significantly higher in area relevant to sickness or illness than the healthy group, whereas the patients with depressive disorder was significantly higher in the overall global score than healthy group. The depressive disorder group was the highest in overall global score of the GARS scale among 4 patient groups, and showed a significant higher scores in interpersonal relationship and overall global area than the psychosomatic disorder group. Conclusions : These results indicate that the Korean version of the GARS scale is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure of perceived stressors for research in stress-related fields. It is suggested that depressive disorder patients are more likely to perceive recent stressors than psychosomatic disorder patients.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.74-84
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• 2016

Literacy on food additives of elementary school teachers (ET) and nutrition teachers (NT) could be influential factor on safe dietary education for school children. Therefore, the perceptions and information needs on food additives were surveyed from 351 elementary school teachers and nutrition teachers in metropolitan area of Korea, and the basic data for the promotion of risk communication on food additives among them were obtained. Compared to ET who consider 'taste' (39.1%) as the most important factor while purchasing food, NT considered 'safety' (68.1%) first (p < 0.001). Among the food labelling items, the level of understanding on food additives was the lowest both in ET (3.53) and NT (4.17), and NT showed better levels of understanding overall on food labels. Both ET and NT regarded hazardous factors of food as environmental pollutants, foodborne pathogens, and food additives in order, and tended to select 'no additives' or 'no artificial color' products while purchasing processed food. Although NT answered that they know all food additives had been passed the evaluation of safety and effectiveness tests (100%) and have standards of use (81.9%), majority of them (87.5%) believed the consumption of food additives are harmful on human health. ET (75.2%) also regarded food additives as dangerous materials. Above results suggested the necessity of proper and enough risk communication for both ET and NT. Both ET and NT wanted to have information on the safety or hazard of food additives. Most preferred media to get the information on food additives was TV (3.80) among ET and lecture (3.65) among NT. ET and NT trusted hospital, research institution/universities or the personnels working in these institutions as the provider of information on food additives. The result that the trust levels of ET and NT on government were relative low suggested the weakness of risk communication in Korean government. Although ET and NT answered that they do not trust mass media, their behaviors were affected by them such as reading food labels in ET (39.4%) and reducing the consumption of food additives in NT (50%). They also indicated mass media's problem of sensitive approach on food additives and asked the urgent reaction of government by providing sound information through experts on food additives. Above results revealed that ET and NT have different perceptions and information needs on food additives, therefore, proper risk communication should be provided for them to serve as dietary educators for elementary school children.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2008

Purpose: Undertreatment of canter pain, especially due to the differences in the perception of pain between the patients and caregivers, is a well recognized problem. The purpose of this study were to determine if there exist differences in communication about pain intensity scores between patients and their family caregivers in Korea. Methods: A total of 127 patient-family caregiver dyads who have experienced canter pain participated in this study at a hospital in Seoul for six months. The data were obtained by fare to face interview with a structured questionnaire based on Brief Pain Inventory-Korean version and other previous researches. The clinical information for all patients was compiled by reviewing their medical records. Results: Patients' 'worst-pain for 24-hour' and 'right-now-pain' scores estimated by family caregivers were significantly higher than those by patient themselves. The degree of agreement between patients and family caregivers in the estimate of patients' 'worst-pain for 24-hour' intensity categories was 78.7% for 'severe pain', 40% for 'no pain', 27.5% for 'mild pain' and 22.9% for 'moderate pain'. In case of 'right-now-pain' intensity categories, the agreement was 50% for 'severe pain', 47.2% for mild pain, 46.3% for 'no pain', and 26.3% for 'moderate pain'. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the degree of agreement between patients and family caregivers in the estimate of patients 'pain intensity categories was less than 50% except for 'severe pain'. The results indicate that Korean family caregivers tend to overestimate the canter pain intensity of their caring patients, especially, when a lancer patient has 'moderate' or 'mild pain'. Health Providers are advised to educate patient-family caregiver dyads to use a pain measurement scale to promote their agreement in pain Intensity stores. Further analyses and studies are needed to identify the factors and differences that influence their communication about pain intensity scores between patients and their family caregivers.