BACKGROUND: Previous observational epidemiological studies have shown inconsistent results on the relationship between hypnotics use and risk of cancer. To determine the association between hypnotics use and risk of cancer, we conducted a meta-analysis of available literature. METHODS: We searched databases PubMed, EMBASE, and the bibliographies of relevant articles to locate additional publications in February 2016. Three evaluators independently reviewed and selected eligible studies based on pre-determined selection criteria. RESULTS: A total of six observational epidemiological studies including three case-control studies and three cohort studies, which involved 1,830,434 participants (202,629 hypnotics users and 1,627,805 non-users), were included in the final analyses. In a random-effects meta-analysis, compared with non-use of hypnotics, the odds ratio for overall hypnotics use was 1.29 for various cancers (95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.53). Subgroup meta-analyses by various factors such as study design, type of case-control study, study region, and methodological quality of study revealed consistent findings. CONCLUSION: Our findings from a meta-analysis of low-biased epidemiological studies suggested evidence linking the use of hypnotics to an increased risk of cancers. The results should be cautiously interpreted because of considerable heterogeneity with a Higgins I2 value.
Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hypnotics and Sedatives* ; Observational Study ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Selection ; Population Characteristics

PURPOSE: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency disease because it can cause severe neurological complications. In order to avoid these complications, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is required in SE. Febrile SE is the most common form of SE in children. We investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with febrile SE is the first seizure of life. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with SE as the first presentation of fever related seizures who visited our hospital from July 1996 to January 2013. Clinicodemographic characteristics, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electro-encephalogram (EEG) findings, and anti-epileptic treatment were compared between two groups divided according to prognosis; fair vs. poor prognosis. RESULTS: Seventy-eight children were included in this study. The median age of the subjects was 20.0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12.0–42.8). Fifty-one subjects had a fair prognosis, while twenty-seven subjects had a poor prognosis. Statistically significant differences was observed in the duration of seizure (P=0.043), the number of antiepileptic drugs (P<0.001) and the presence of abnormal EEG findings (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Children with febrile SE as the first seizure of life are likely to reveal a poor prognosis in those whose seizure last longer or are controlled only through high step anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, in order to ensuring a better prognosis for such patients, appropriate treatment is needed to stop the seizure.
Anticonvulsants ; Brain ; Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Emergencies ; Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic ; Fever* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus*

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the clinical characteristics and risk factors of the severity of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection in pediatric patients in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do. METHODS: Cases of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in patients under the age of 18 years, confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, at Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital from the last week of August 2009 through the last week of February 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 3,777 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) 2009, 2,200 (58.2%) were male and 1,577 (41.8%) were female. The average age of the patients was 8.4+/-4.8 years. The total cases peaked during 44th to 46th week. Most of the patients were in the 5- to 9-year-old age group. Oseltamivir was administered to 2,959 (78.3%) of the patients. 221 patients (5.9%) were hospitalized, age an average of 6.7+/-4.5 years. The average duration of hospitalization was 7.4+/-5.6 days. One hundred cases (45.2%) had pneumonia. Risk factors for hospitalization included male gender, <2 years of age, and underlying disease. Children with asthma were at very high risk of hospitalization, over 20 times the non-asthmatic children (odds ratio [OR], 21.684; confidence interval [CI], 13.295~39.791). Likewise the children with neurologic deficits faced a 16 times higher risk (OR, 15.738; CI, 7.961~31.111). Ten of the patients (4.5%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and eight (3.6%) required mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: Of the pediatric patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009, most of the patients were in the 5- to 9-year-old age group. Risk factors for hospitalization included male gender, <2 years of age, and underlying disease. The most common complication was pneumonia. The very high risk of severe morbidity in children with asthma or neurologic disease shows the critical importance of targeted vaccine coverage, special awareness and swift care by both guardians and primary care providers.
Asthma ; Child ; Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Oseltamivir ; Pandemics ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Primary Health Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcription ; Risk Factors

This investigation involved 26 women who had sterilized at the Mother and Children Health Protection and Family Planing Center, Tay Ninh Province between February 1993 to February 1998. 86% of these clients aged from 25-39 years. Youngest clients were 21 years of age (2 women) and oldest were 45 years of age (3 women). Mean number of live births is 3.39+/-1.41 per one client, with more than 72% of the clients have had 3 live children or more. 81% of the clients are farmers and none of them are officials. Almost two thirds are illiteracy or have extremely low level of education. More than 37% of the clients reported that their income was less than 268,000 VND per month. 55% of the clients and 86% of their sex partners have not used any contraceptive method previously.
Epidemiologic Study Characteristics ; Sterilization ; female

The study was carried out in 217 persons (129 males, 88 females). The investigative parameters were: the hegu's location, the intensity, the area, the relation between the area of point and the dermal area. The results showed that the hegu in 30-34% persons was in the same location and 60-68% of them had different location (about 3-4.5mm) in comparison between two methods (traditional medicine's method and used Neurometer, RB-65 made in Japan). The intensity inside hegu was 111.1913.46A and the outside was 10.138.23A. There was significant difference between inside and outside of point (P<0.001). There was no difference of the intensity between the left and the right hand (P>0.05). Hegu is described as a round point, the mean area was 5.011.40mm2. There was no difference between males and females (P>0.05). There was no the correlation between the area of point and the dermal area in both hands and sex (r = 0.25 for males, r=0.15 for females).
Medicine, Traditional ; Epidemiologic Study Characteristics

A survey was performed by using a set of questionnaires and by holding systematic interviews addressed to leading authorities of the health system from village to district and province. Results were analyzed and synthesized to establish a model of health service network as manifested on the governmental Decree No 01/1998.
Community Networks ; Epidemiologic Study Characteristics