• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The most concerning issue in children with urinary tract infection(UTI) is the probability of underlying genitourinary anomalies and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which is frequently associated with renal scarring and eventually end-stage renal disease. Therefore, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) is usually recommended at the earliest convenient time for children with UTI. However, VCUG is an invasive procedure that requires catheterization and exposure to X-ray. In this study, we aimed to determine the predictability of clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters for VUR in children with UTI. Methods: Data of children with bacteriologically proven UTI who underwent VCUG were evaluated retrospectively for clinical(age, gender, fever), laboratory(leukocytosis, ESR, CRP, pyuria, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine) and imaging(renal ultrasound and DMSA renal scan) findings. First, children with UTI were divided into two groups according to the presence of VUR as non-VUR group and with VUR group, and clinical, laboratory variables were compared between these groups. Second, patients who had VUR were reclassified as low-grade VUR(grade I-II) group and high-grade(grade III-V) VUR group according to grading of VUR, and clinical, laboratory and imaging variables were compared between these groups. Results: Among 410 children with UTI, 137 had VUR and 78 high-grade VUR. Fever, leukocytosis, ESR, CRP, pyuria were associated with VUR. In addition, abnormal findings of ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan were closely related to VUR. However, these clinical and laboratory variable in patients with high grade VUR were not different significantly, compared to those with low-grade VUR group. Conclusion: Fever, leukocytosis, ESR, CRP seems to be potentially useful predictors of VUR in pediatric patients with UTI. In addition, renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan findings supported the presence of VUR. Further study of these findings could limit unnecessary VCUG in patients with UTI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for the Gifted Conference
• /
• 1994.08a
• /
• pp.1.2-37
• /
• 1994

Currently Korea encourages gifted high schoolers and junior high schoolers to participate in international achievement contests such as International Olympiads. Participants for these contests are selected nationwide among gifted students in areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and others. They go through a series of screening tests and programs. One of the screening processes IS Korean Olympiad School, which provides study programs each summer for student-candidates prior to following year's International Olympiads. Approximately 40 students of high schools and junior high schools, in each subject of study, gather at Korean Olympiad Summer School, and they go through intensive study programs during a short period of time. Out of 40 candidates,' less than 10 students are finally selected to participate in International Olympiads. In this study, a psycho-educational program called "Situation Coping Training Program" was developed to enhance ahievement motivation for these student-candidates. This study was to see if this training program actually improved their cognitive, emotive motivation factors, and to see how this training program affected their achievement level. Training was administered for five days. This training program was found effective for participants to increase self-efficacy, internal locus of control, and anxiety copmg. These cognitive and emotive motivation factors, other than intelligence, were found to have positive relationship with achievement level, of which self-efficacy and attribution style of students were found as two best predictors of achievement. This training program was perceived as necessary. by participants, and helpful for recovering self-confidence and self-control as well as coping pressure. Suggestions were made that this kind of training program be administered as a regular curriculum in preparative study programs such as Korean Olympiads, since cognitive, emotive motivation factors are related with achievement, and furthermore, be utilized in all gifted education programs in Korea. in Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the total white blood cell count (WBC) in predicting bacterial infections in febrile infants<6 months of age. Methods : A prospective study was performed with infants <6 months of age who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with a fever of uncertain source between July and September 2008. Spinal taps were performed according to clinical symptoms and physical examination. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : Seventy-one infants (mean age, 2.62 months) were studied. Twenty-six infants (36.6%) had urinary tract infections (UTIs), and 22 infants (31.0%) had viral meningitis. The remaining infants had acute pharyngitis (n=1), herpangina (n=1), upper respiratory tract infections (n=7), acute bronchiolitis (n=8), acute gastroenteritis (n=4), and bacteremia (n=2). The median WBC and CRP levels were significantly higher in infants with UTIs than in infants with viral meningitis. However, there were no differences in the median PCT levels between the groups (0.14 ng/mL vs. 0.11 ng/mL, P=0.419). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.65-0.896) for WBC, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.626-0.879) for CRP, and 0.568 (95% CI, 0.417-0.710) for PCT. An elevated WBC count (>11,920/${\mu}L$) and an increased CRP level (>1.06mg/dL) were significant predictors of UTIs based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : Serum PCT concentrations should be interpreted with caution in infants <6 months of age with a fever of uncertain source.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.25-37
• /
• 2005

Objective : To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample. Methods : A total of 6,977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress. Results : The results showed that 23 % of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand. Conclusions : The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e. g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in preterm infants is a major problem in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and it has been related to long-term growth deficit and neurodevelopmental issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of and risk factors for EUGR. Methods : The study subjects consisted of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with a gestational age $\leq$32 weeks that were born at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between November 2005 and April 2009. EUGR was defined as weight for gestation, lower than the 10th percentile on discharge. Results : The frequency of EUGR was 67% (n=111/166). By multiple logistic regression, the presence of small for gestational age (SGA) was the greatest predictor of EUGR, birth weight and daily weight gain during the first 28 days were independent predictors of EUGR. Risk factors for EUGR in non-SGA infants were evaluated because 56% (64/114) of non-SGA infants developed EUGR at discharge. Daily weight gain in the first 28 days was also decreased in EUGR group and independently predicted the risk of EUGR in the non-SGA group. Conclusion : EUGR was a common problem in the NICU. SGA was the most significant predictive factor of the EUGR. Half of the non-SGA infants also developed EUGR, revealing poor weight gain in the early days was as an important predictor. These results support the importance of early nutritional intervention for weight gain which have lagged behind other modern therapeutic interventions when the infant is clinically unstable.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.401-408
• /
• 2001

Background : Perfusion scans are accurate predictors of postoperative lung function. There are few previous studies aimed at predicting the postoperative exercise capacity using the perfusion scanning and those that did reported contradictory results. Method : We prospectively studied the preoperative spirometric, exercise tests and perfusion scans from in 49 consecutive patients who were admitted to Inha University Hospital with surgically resectable lung cancer from Jan. 1998 to Jun. 1999 29 patients who had any condition affecting the lung function and exercise capacity, or refused a surgical resection or a follow-up study were excluded. Spirometric and exercise tests were performed 6 months after operation in 20 patients. Results : The predicted postoperative $FEV_1$, FVC and TLC correlated well with the following corresponding postoperative values : $r_s$ and p value, 0.809 and 0.000 for the $FEV_1$ 0.895 and 0.000 for the FVC ; 0.741 and 0.006 for the TLC, respectively. The measured postoperative exercise values were slightly higher than the postoperative exercise values predicted, $VO_{2max}$ and $Wr_{max}$, were as 112% of $VO_{2max}$ predicted and 119% of $WR_{max}$ predicted. The change in $FEV_1$, FVC and TLC had a weak correlation with the change in $VO_{2max}$ and $WR_{max}$. Conclusion : The perfusion scan was a useful tool for predicting the postoperative exercise capacity. However, they had a tendency to underestimate the exercise capacity, especially in the patients who had a pneumonectomy. A weak correlation between the change in lung function and exercise capacity was observed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.39-43
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to provide fundamental data for an examination of a health promotion program by determining the influence of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile on the quality of life of female dental hygienists. The sample was selected from the population of 1,148 who were registered in the Association of Seoul Dental Hygienists. 800 subjects were randomly selected from 25 districts in Seoul. The data was collected by calling the dental hygienists to, explaining the contents and objective of our study, and sending them a questionnaire by post. The questionnaire consists of the total number of 97 questions: 62 questions on the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, 26 questions on the quality of life and 9 general characteristics questions. The data was collected from August 16 to October 15, 2004. Out of 800 subjects, 481(60.1%) completed the questionnaires. For statistical analysis, the frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis, were analyzed using the SAS 8.1 Analysis program. The significance level was set to 0.05. The results of this study were as follows: First, The average score of the subjects' quality of life was 3.1. For the sub-categories, it was shown that the degree of satisfaction on the condition of society was the highest at 3.2, and the degree of satisfaction on the condition of the individuals was the lowest at 3.1. The average score of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile variable was 2.5. For the sub-categories, it was shown that the degree of sanitary life was at 3.2, and degree of the professional health maintenance was the lowest at 1.7. Second, There were significant differences in the Quality of Life benefits of action with the general characteristics. There were significant differences in age, educational level, income, marital status, career, and Perceived Health Status. There were significant difference in Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile benefits of action with the general characteristics. There were significant differences in terms of age, educational level, income, marital status, career, and the Perceived Health Status. Finally, The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the powerful predictors were Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, income and the Perceived Health Status. These factors accounted for 37.6% of the variance in the Quality of Life patterns. As the subjects were limited to dental hygienists in Seoul, care should be taken when applying these results to all dental hygienists in Korea. In order to generalize the study, a large number of subjects selected from all regions in Korea will be needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.213-221
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The objective of this retrospective study was to identify predictive factors for the complete pathologic response and tumor downstaging after preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Between the years 2000 and 2008, 39 patients with newly diagnosed rectal cancer without prior evidence of distant metastasis received preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, $45{\sim}59.4\;Gy$)). Thirty-eight patients received concurrent infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, while one patient received oral capecitabine twice daily during radiotherapy. Results: A complete pathologic response (CR) was demonstrated in 12 of 39 patients (31%), while T-downstaging was observed in 24 of 39 patients (63%). N-downstaging was observed in 18 of 28 patients (64%), with a positive node in the CT scan or ultrasound. Two patients with clinical negative nodes were observed in surgical specimens. The results from a univariate analysis indicated that the tumor circumferential extent was less than 50% (p=0.031). Moreover, the length of the tumor was less than 5 cm (p=0.004), while the post-treatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were less than or equal to 3.0 ng/mL (p=0.015) and were significantly associated with high pathologic CR rates. The univariate analysis also indicated that the adenocarcinoma (p=0.045) and radiation dose greater than or equal to 50 Gy (p=0.021) were significantly associated with high T-downstaging, while a radiotherapy duration of less than or equal to 42 days (p=0.018) was significantly associated with N-downstaging. The results from the multivariate analysis indicated that the lesser circumferential extent of the tumor (hazard ratio [HR] 0.150; p=0.028) and shorter tumor length (HR, 0.084; p=0.005) independently predicted a higher pathologic CR. The multivariate analysis also indicated that a higher radiation dose was significantly associated with higher T-downstaging (HR, 0.115; p=0.025), while the shorter duration of radiotherapy was significantly associated with higher N-downstaging (HR, 0.028; p=0.010). Conclusion: The circumferential extent of the tumor and its length was a predictor for the pathologic CR, while radiation dose and duration of radiotherapy were predictors for tumor downstaging. Hence, these factors may be used to predict outcomes for patients and to develop further treatment guidelines for high-risk patients.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.34 no.2 s.103
• /
• pp.177-188
• /
• 2004

This study is aimed at providing the variables associated with adolescent compliance In orthodontic treatment, and identifies the salient predictors of cooperative behaviors over the course of treatment. Orthodontic attitude scale, orthodontic locus of control scale and demographics data were obtained for 60 adolescent orthodontic patients who had been in treatment a minimum of 10 months. This data was then analyzed in relation to their sex, school age and treatment compliance. The following results were obtained. 1. The scoring of external-powerful others-parents, subscale of the Orthodontic Locus of Control scale, found a statistically significant difference between sex differences (p<0.05). The score of boys was higher than that of girls. 2. The external-powerful others-parents score from the Orthodontic Locus of Control scale showed a significantly positive correlation (p<0.05) with the level of compliance. 3. The salient factors associated with compliance were the adolescent patients' own cognition and decisions. 4. There was a statistically significant correlation between the length of treatment and patient compliance (p<0.05). Thus, there was a substantial decrease in the cooperation of orthodontic patients over time. 5. Other independent variables including age, sex, family environment, religion, academic standing, parents' occupation and education, and brushing frequency were investigated and did not yield any significant relationships. Patient compliance is a critical factor in the efficacy of orthodontic treatment. Individuals vary greatly in their perceptions and attitudes of orthodontic treatment, sociodemographic environments and personality characteristics. In assessing the level of compliance attainable by each individual patient it is advisable To pay sufficient attention not only to the technical matters but also to the psychologic aspects of the treatment progress.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.445-455
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify the structural relationship among students' grit, interest, self-regulation ability, task-commitment and achievement within science learning. Our concern is understanding how grit is related to the other non-cognitive variables, i.e., interest, self-regulation ability, and task-commitment, which are widely known as significant predictors of science achievement. Based on literature review, we evaluated two hypothetical models in the frame of structural equation modeling as follows: first, grit was assumed to mediate relations of interest and self-regulation ability, and interest and task-commitment. Second, grit was assumed to have a direct effect on self-regulation ability and task-commitment independent of interest. In both models, grit was assumed to be indirectly associated with science achievement. A total number of 180 high school students (77 boys, 103 girls) participated in surveys on grit, interest, self-regulation ability, and task-commitment and reported their science test scores on mid-term/final exams. Results revealed that students' grit and interest were indirectly associated with their science achievement with the mediation of their self-regulation and task-commitment. We also found that task-commitment was highly correlated with interest and self-regulation. Furthermore, we found different patterns of correlations within the five variables between female and male students. From these results, we suggested that researchers need to investigate whether students' grit and task-commitment can explain their interest decreasing as they move to higher grade levels, how teachers can help students to maintain their interest in learning science from early childhood, and relationships of these non-cognitive variables and science achievement.