• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2019

Purpose: Inadequate calorie intake is one of the most important causes of nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT) and is thought to lead to multiple micronutrient deficiencies. However, there have been few studies on NOFTT and micronutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the micronutrient status of children with NOFTT. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 161 children (106 with NOFTT and 55 health controls) at a single institution. Data on weight for age, height for age, body mass index, and biochemical parameters, indicating the children's nutritional and micronutrient status were reviewed via electronic medical records, and the two groups were compared. Results: Except inorganic phosphate levels, no statistically significant differences were seen in the laboratory findings indicating the children's nutritional and micronutrient status; notably, the inorganic phosphate levels were within the normal range in both groups. We then compared the severe NOFTT (weight for age below the first percentile) and control groups; however, no statistically significant differences were seen for any of the measured parameters. Conclusion: Most children with NOFTT in this study had normal micronutrient levels and other laboratory findings. Therefore, element deficiencies should not be considered a natural consequence of NOFTT or in healthy children. Close monitoring and additional evaluations are needed.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-221
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• 2018

The characteristics of heat wave events in Seoul are analyzed using weather station data from Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2016. Heat waves are defined as events in the upper 10th percentile of the daily maximum temperatures. The associated synoptic weather patterns are then classified into six clusters through Self-Organizing Map (SOM) analysis for sea-level pressure anomalies in East Asia. Cluster 1 shows an anti-cyclonic circulation and weak troughs in southeast and west of Korea, respectively. This synoptic pattern leads to southeasterly winds that advect warm and moist air to the Korean Peninsula. Both clusters 2 and 3 are associated with southerly winds formed by an anti-cyclonic circulation over the east of Korea and cyclonic circulation over the west of Korea. Cluster 4 shows a stagnant weather pattern with weak winds and strong insolation. Clusters 5 and 6 are associated with F?hn wind resulting from an anti-cyclonic circulation in the north of the Korean Peninsula. In terms of long-term variations, event frequencies of clusters 4 and 5 show increasing and decreasing trends, respectively. However, other clusters do not show any long-term trends, indicating that the mechanisms that drive heat wave events in Seoul have remained constant over the last four decades.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2019

Background: The standardized autonomic function test has become widely available. However, there are no reference data for this test for the Korean population. This study explored reference data for sudomotor and cardiovagal function tests for the Korean population. Methods: The sweat volume by quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test, heart-rate response to deep breathing (HRdb), expiration:inspiration (E:I) ratio, and Valsalva ratio (VR) were measured in 297 healthy Korean volunteers aged from 20 to 69 years. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of age, sex, and body mass index on these variables. The 2.5th, 5th, 10th, 90th, 95th, and 97.5th percentile values were obtained for each investigation. Results: The sweat volume was higher in males than in females. The HRdb and E:I ratio were negatively correlated with age, and were higher in males than in females. The VR was negatively correlated with age, but it was not correlated with sex. Conclusions: This study has provided data on the reference ranges for sudomotor and cardiovagal function tests in healthy Korean adults.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2019

Purpose: Obesity is risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, nonobese patients are also increasingly susceptible to NAFLD. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of obese and nonobese pediatric patients with NAFLD. Methods: We retrospectively studied 68 patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD between January 2010 and October 2016 at 10-18 years of age. Body mass index ${\geq}95th$ percentile for age and sex was defined as obesity. Abdominal ultrasonography and laboratory, anthropometrics measurements were evaluated. Results: Among the 68, 26 (38.2%) were nonobese patients. The ratio of male to female was 5.8:1, and the median age at diagnosis was 13 years (range, 10-17 years). Significant higher triglyceride (223.0 mg/dL vs. 145.9 mg/dL, P=0.047) and total cholesterol levels (211.6 mg/dL vs. 173.2 mg/dL, P=0.011) were shown in nonobese than obese patients. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level <40 mg/dL (hazard ratio [HR], 6.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13-7.10; P=0.048), total cholesterol level >200 mg/dL (HR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.23-15.31; P=0.038) and abdominal obesity (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.22-4.68; P=0.013) were significant risk factors for NAFLD in nonobese patients. Conclusion: Nonobese patients present a substantial proportion of pediatric NAFLD cases. Significant abnormal lipid concentrations were found in nonobese and abdominal obesity was important risk factor for nonobese NAFLD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2019

Background: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), an important cause of acquired thrombophilia, is diagnosed when vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity occurs with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). APS is a risk factor for unprovoked recurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE). Performing laboratory testing for aPL after a first unprovoked acute PE is controversial. We investigated if a specific phenotype existed in patients with unprovoked with acute PE, suggesting the need to evaluate them for APS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with PE and APS (n=24) and those with unprovoked PE with aPL negative (n=44), evaluated 2006-2016 at the Asan Medical Center. We compared patient demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and radiological findings between the groups. Results: On multivariate logistic regression analysis, two models of independent risk factors for APS-PE were suggested. Model I included hemoptysis (odds ratio [OR], 12.897; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.025-162.343), low PE severity index (OR, 0.948; 95% CI, 0.917-0.979), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT; OR, 1.166; 95% CI, 1.040-1.307). Model II included age (OR, 0.930; 95% CI, 0.893-0.969) and aPTT (OR, 1.104; 95% CI, 1.000-1.217). Conclusion: We conclude that patients with first unprovoked PE with hemoptysis and are age <40; have a low pulmonary embolism severity index, especially in risk class I-II; and/or prolonged aPTT (above 75th percentile of the reference interval), should be suspected of having APS, and undergo laboratory testing for aPL.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate functional disability for the elderly in rural Korea and to identify influencing factors of functional disability. Methods : The data were collected for 76 community-dwelling elderly in rural area and above 65 years. We assessed cognitive function, functional disability, depression using LACLS, WHODAS 2.0, SGDS-K. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for general characteristics of subjects, Spearman's correlation among LACLS, SGDS-K, WHODAS 2.0, age, educational levels. And multiple regression was used to find influencing factors of functional disability. Results : As a result of this study, we identified that WHODAS 2.0 total score was 50.59, summary score was 9.94 and functional disability of the elderly in rural area is in the 70^th percentile. The highest level of disability occurred in areas related to 'life activities (household)', 'participation in society' and the lowest level of disability occured in areas of 'self-care', 'getting along with people'. Functional disability was significantly correlated with age (r=.398), cognitive function (r=-.547), depression (r=-.563) but not educational levels (r=-.215). Finally, we confirmed that depression (𝛽=.371), cognitive function (𝛽=-.263), widowed status (𝛽=.303), age (𝛽=.272), non-participation of community program (𝛽=.165) was significantly influencing factors of functional disability and the explanatory power of these factors was 52.80 %. Conclusion : This study revealed important factors of functional disability. Therefore, we need to consider these factors when we developed program related to health for the elderly (aged > 65 years) in rural Korea. Further, we need to standardize WHODAS 2.0 in order to enhance its applicability in clinical practices.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.474-488
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• 2021

Purpose: Malnutrition in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is a significant factor affecting their adequate growth and development. This study aimed at conducting surveys and evaluating the dietary intake of children with CP according to their BMI classification and to thereby highlight the dietary factors affecting the nutritional status of these children. Methods: A total of 16 children were enrolled between the age of four and twelve. These subjects were further classified into three groups, namely underweight, normal and obese, with 6, 8, and 2 children in each group, respectively. The general characteristics, motor disturbances, body composition, feeding problems, eating habits, nutritional intake, dietary variety, and food frequency for children with CP were evaluated. Results: It was observed that motor disturbances tended to increase in underweight children with CP. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in disturbances related to oral feeding was observed with an increase in obesity. The pattern of eating habits revealed that subjects in the underweight group consumed unbalanced meals, while those in the obese group tended to consume larger meals at a faster pace. The feeding disturbance data revealed that those in the underweight group could not prepare their meals while the obese group had the problem of overeating and consuming an unbalanced diet (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is necessary for both children with CP, who have a high degree of disability, and their caregivers to take lessons on adequate nutrient intake to prevent malnutrition. Moreover, it is necessary for the caregivers and children with CP having a low degree of disability to take lessons on providing and consuming a balanced diet and to focus on the intake of sufficient calcium in order to prevent obesity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.505-513
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• 2021

Objective : The adaptive immune response following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is not well understood. We evaluated and compared the T cell receptor (TCR) immune repertoire of good-grade and poor-grade SAH patients to elucidate the T cell immunology after ictus. Methods : Peripheral blood from six SAH patients was collected at two different times, admission and at the 7-day follow-up. Composition and variation of the TCR β-chain (TCRB) complimentary determining regions (CDR) 3 repertoire was examined using high-throughput sequencing; the analysis was based on sampling time and disease severity (good vs. poor-grade SAH). Results : Clonality at admission and follow-up were 0.059 (0.037-0.038) and 0.027 (0.014-0.082) (median, 25th-75th percentile). Poor-grade SAH (0.025 [0.011-0.038]) was associated with significantly lower clonality than good-grade SAH (0.095 [0.079-0.101]). Poor-grade SAH patients had higher diversity scores than good-grade SAH patients. CDR length was shorter in good-grade SAH vs. poor-grade SAH. Differences in clonotype distribution were more prominent in TCRBV gene segments than TCRBJ segments. TCRBV19-01/TCRBJ02-04 and TCRBV28-01/TCRBJ02-04 were the most increased and the most decreased V-J pairs in the 7-day follow-up compared to admission in good-grade SAH. The most increased and decreased V-J pairs in poor-grade SAH patients were TCRBV28-01/TCRBJ02-06 and TCRBV30-01/TCRBJ02-04, respectively. Conclusion : The TCRB repertoire is dynamic in nature following SAH. TCRB repertoire may facilitate our understanding of adaptive immune response according to SAH severity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.478-488
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• 2021

This study analyzes the change in the contribution of the elderly to income inequality by using the Gini coefficient and the decile distribution ratio from the data of the Korea Welfare Panel Survey from 2007 to 2018 on economic inequality in old age. According to the study, the Gini coefficient of total income gradually decreased from 0.430 in 2007 to 0.383 in 2018. As a result, inequality decreased. Also, the higher the income quintile, the higher the income growth rate. Market income inequality has increased and inequality between public and private transfer income has decreased. Analysis of the contribution of income inequality to total income confirmed that public transfer income has replaced the role of private transfer income in reducing inequality over time. The expansion of public transfer income for the maintenance of basic living of the elderly is an important source of income for the elderly despite the crowding-out effect of private transfer income, market income, public and private transfer income, which are components of the income structure of the elderly, mutually complement total income. Therefore, it is important to identify income sources that contribute to alleviating income inequality among the elderly and reflect them in policy-making process.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2022

PURPOSE. Masticatory loading triggers active bone remodeling, altering alveolar bone mineral density (BMD). While dental implants are placed to bear masticatory loading, their influence on changing bone properties has not been fully investigated. Objective of this pilot study was to examine whether the dental implantation has an effect on BMD distribution of bone by comparing dentate, edentulous, and edentulous patients with implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 19 partially edentulous patients (Dent), 19 edentulous patients (Edent), and 16 edentulous patients who received implants in the mandible (Edent+Im), were obtained. CBCT images were also obtained from 5 patients within Edent+Im group, before implant placement and after implant loading. Basal cortical bone region of the mandible was digitally isolated. A histogram of gray levels proportional to BMD was obtained to assess mean, histogram standard deviation (HSD), fifth percentile of low and high values (Low₅ and High₅) of the BMD distribution. Multivariate analysis of variance and paired t-test were used to compare the BMD parameters among the 3 dental status groups and between pre- and post-implantation, respectively. RESULTS. Edentulous patients with implants had significantly greater HSD and High₅ values compared to edentulous patients (P < .013). All other comparisons were not significant (P > .097). Mean, HSD, and High₅ values significantly increased after receiving implants (P < .022). CONCLUSION. The current findings suggested that receiving dental implants promoted oral bone mineralization for edentulous patients. The longitudinal investigation could provide valuable information on understanding the effects of implantation on the behavior of oral bone quality.