BACKGROUND: The incidence of asthma exacerbation (AE) and the predictive value of spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in school children have not been evaluated.OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of spirometry measurement and FeNO monitoring for predicting AE in school children in the Cheongju area in Korea.METHODS: With parental agreement, we studied 170 students aged 7–12 years. Children were evaluated by an asthma specialist using baseline spirometry, skin prick test, seasonal FeNO measurement, and asthma control test. The study participants underwent a physical examination and their medical history was also evaluated by the specialist. They were assessed for asthma control status during regular doctor visits for 1 year.RESULTS: In total, 160 children (94.1%) completed follow-up and FeNO monitoring. Of which, 26 children (16.3%) had AE. AE was associated with male children and children with allergic rhinitis (p < 0.05). While, children with AE tended to have higher FeNO than those without AE, no significant difference was found. The maximum value of FeNO ≥35 ppb was associated with AE (p < 0.05). Children with AE had a significantly decreased baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC), %predicted, forced expiratory flow at 25%–75% of FVC (FEF(25%–75%)). FEV₁/FVC < 80% was associated with AE in children regardless of inhalant allergen sensitization (all p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Baseline spirometry had a predictive value of AE in school children. Sensitive spirometric parameters such as FEV₁/FVC and FEF(25%–75%) can be used as prognostic factors to predict future childhood AE. FeNO value ≥ 35 ppb during monitoring was associated with AE in school children.
Asthma ; Child ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Seasons ; Skin ; Specialization ; Spirometry ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the clinical characteristics of suicide attempters who exposed their suicidal intension to suggest an active intervention strategy for suicide prevention based on the regional emergency medical service system. METHODS: A prospective database of suicide attempters who visited the emergency department of Chungbuk National University Hospital between October 2013 and December 2017 was used. All of the adult patients who provided consent for the initial assessment for suicidal attempters were eligible, excluding cases with unknown exposure of suicidal intension. The primary and secondary endpoints were the risk factors affecting exposure to the suicidal intension and characteristics of the exposure group. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of exposure to suicidal attempts after adjusting for potential confounders was calculated. RESULTS: Of a total 1,035 suicidal attempters enrolled, 332 (32.1%) were included in the exposure group. The exposure group was more likely to have an educational level above high school and no religion, and have suicidal characteristics at night time (18:00–08:00), under the influence of alcohol, suicidal plan before 1 week, and suicidal method involving asphyxia (P<0.05). The exposure group was more likely to have no guardian (AORs, 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–2.12), use methods involving asphyxia (AORs, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.46–2.91), and attempt suicide at night (18:00 to 08:00) (AORs, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05–1.83) compared to the no exposure group. CONCLUSION: Models need to be established, where regional mental health welfare center, local government, fire headquarter, and tele-communication companies can participate in the implementation of an active intervention strategy.
Adult ; Asphyxia ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fires ; Humans ; Local Government ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the clinical effects of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) on suicide reattempts and clarified the risk factors related to DAMA. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the emergency department (ED) of Chungbuk National University Hospital from 2015 to 2017. The medical records of suicide attempters from the National Emergency Department Information System were reviewed. The primary outcome was the ED revisit rate. The characteristics of the patients associated with DAMA were also examined. RESULTS: Among 889 eligible suicide attempters, 328 patients (36.9%) were reported to have DAMA at least once during the study period. Patients who were discharged against medical advice were more likely to reattempt suicide compared to normal disposition patients (11.0% vs. 3.7%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–5.28). The independent risk factors for DAMA were age≤60 (AOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.20–2.59), female (AOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09–1.91), ED visit at night time (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.03–1.92), and ED discharge at night time (AOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06–1.85). CONCLUSION: Patients who were discharged against medical advice revisited the ED more after suicide attempts. Public efforts will be needed for patients who are discharged against medical advice considering those risk factors.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Medical Records ; Observational Study ; Odds Ratio ; Patient Discharge ; Risk Factors ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association of the sleep quality and patterns with the dietary behavior, including snack and beverage consumption, taste preferences, as well as lifestyle of university students. METHODS: The subjects were 406 university students in Cheongju, Korea, and the data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. They were divided into two groups according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): good-quality sleepers (PSQI score ≤ 5) and poor-quality sleepers (PSQI score > 5). The data were analyzed using a χ2-test, independent t-test, and analysis of covariance using the SPSS 25.0 program. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of university students were categorized as poor-quality sleepers by the PSQI. Students classified as poor-quality sleepers had delayed bedtimes, and a shorter duration in bed and total sleep hours than the good-quality sleepers did. Poor-quality sleepers were more prevalent among those who were female, having irregular mealtimes, or frequent late night meals. They also consumed fast food frequently, such as fried chicken and hamburgers, and noodles when adjusted for gender. In addition, drinks with caffeine over milk were dominant among poor-quality sleepers. Furthermore, the preferences for spicy and salty tastes and longer smartphone usage were more prevalent in those with poor-sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that more than 50% of university students reported disturbed sleep and poor quality sleep was associated with less desirable snack consumption and taste preference, more smartphone usage, and others. Therefore, nutrition education program along with lifestyle changes promoting sufficient sleep are encouraged to provide for university students, particularly those who have poor sleep quality.
Beverages ; Caffeine ; Chickens ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Education ; Fast Foods ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Meals ; Milk ; Smartphone ; Snacks

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: External auditory canal osteoma is an uncommon benign lesion and represents as unilateral solitary pedunculated mass. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical symptoms of osteoma and its treatment outcomes over a 10-year period in a tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eight patients underwent operation to remove an external auditory canal osteoma at Chungbuk National University Hospital from 2008 to 2017. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed with regard to clinical characteristics, size and location of osteoma, method of surgery and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 41.8 years with the male predominance of 6:2. All of the lesions in the osteoma were unilateral and solitary (average size 5.0 mm). All of the eight cases were pedunculated: in four cases, the stalks of the osteoma were found on the tympanomastoid suture line and in three cases, it was found on the tympanosquamous suture line. Four patients were asymptomatic, where the lesions were found incidentally during unrelated evaluations. No patients were found with conductive hearing loss in the pure tone audiometry. Transcanal and endaural approach were used in five and three cases, respectively. Most of the cases were removed by curettage only, except for the two who needed additional drilling. The average surgery time was 15.6 minutes. There was no postoperative complication or recurrence. CONCLUSION: The external auditory canal osteoma was mostly unilateral and solitary. The removal of osteoma in the early stage was relatively easy with no recurrence or complication.
Audiometry ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Curettage ; Ear Canal ; Exostoses ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Osteoma ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Tertiary Care Centers

A clonorchiasis case in a captive leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, was confirmed by ultrasonographic findings and egg morphologies found in the bile juice sample in the Korea. The leopard cat was introduced from the wild habitat of Gyeongsangnam-do, to Cheongju Zoo in Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea in August 2014. Physical examinations were basically performed for quarantine and check-up health. The cat was comparatively good in health except anorexia. The cyst-like bile duct dilation and the increased echogenicity of gall bladder wall and hepatic parenchyma were observed by ultrasonography. Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy was conducted for collecting bile juice and the specimens were observed under light microscope. The numerous small trematode eggs were detected in the bile juice sample of the light microscopy. The eggs were 25–33 (28±3) μm by 18–22 (20±1) μm in size and showed typical characteristics of Clonorchis sinensis egg, i.e., a dominantly developed operculum, shoulder rim and dust-like wrinkles in surface. To treat the liver fluke infection, 20 mg/kg of praziquantel was orally administered only once to the case. Follow-up studies including fecal examinations were conducted during 2 years after treatment. But no more eggs were detected from the case. In the present study, we described the first clonorchiasis case of leopard cat, which was confirmed by ultrasonographic findings and egg morphologies from the bile juice sample in Korea.
Animals ; Anorexia ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cats ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Ecosystem ; Eggs ; Fasciola hepatica ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Ovum ; Panthera ; Physical Examination ; Praziquantel ; Quarantine ; Republic of Korea ; Shoulder ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

Chungcheongbuk-do, a total of 29 participants took part in a 10-week Web-CoT program. The Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) Assessment Packet 2nd edition and short form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS) were evaluated before and after the program.RESULTS: Total SGDS scores have decreased and a significant increase in CERAD-K total scores was confirmed. Details including word list memory, word list recall, constructional praxis, trail making, and stroop tests, improved. Especially in the case of free recall test, the greater increase of scores in elderly with high risk of dementia was shown.CONCLUSION: Participation in this program has confirmed improvements in verbal memory registration and retrieval ability, attention and executive function. Since the improvement was especially prominent in memory retrieval ability in elderly with high risk of dementia, it can be said that early application of the program before the diagnosis of dementia is important.]]>
Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Dementia ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Program Development ; Stroop Test

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most serious microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and is one of the leading causes of end stage renal failure. In previous studies, the contribution of genetic susceptibility to DN showed inconsistent results. In this study, we investigated the association between the solute carrier family 2 facilitated glucose transporter member 1 (SLC2A1) HaeIII polymorphism and DN in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) according to disease duration. METHODS: A total of 846 patients with T2DM (mean age, 61.3 ± 12.3 years; mean duration of T2DM, 10.3 ± 7.9 years; 55.3% men) who visited the Chungbuk National University Hospital were investigated. The HaeIII polymorphism of the SLC2A1 gene was determined by the real time polymerase chain reaction method. Genotyping results were presented as GG, AG, or AA. A subgroup analysis was performed according to duration of T2DM (≤ 10 years, < 10 years). RESULTS: The AG + AA genotype showed a significantly higher risk of DN compared with the GG genotype in patients with a type 2 DM duration less than 10 years (12.4% vs. 4.2%; P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in terms of other diabetic complications, including retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease or peripheral artery disease, according to the genotypes of the SLC2A1 HaeIII polymorphism. CONCLUSION: The SLC2A1 HaeIII polymorphism was associated with DN in Korean patients with T2DM, particularly in the group with a relatively short disease duration.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; Humans ; Methods ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Renal Insufficiency

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of sleep quality, lifestyle and successful aging in the elderly. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 125 elderly people, aged 65 years and older, who attended a senior welfare center in Cheongju city, Korea. They completed a structured self-reported questionnaire comprising measures of quality of sleep, lifestyle, and successful aging. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé's test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 20.0. RESULTS: Lifestyle showed a positive correlation with the quality of sleep, and successful aging showed a significant positive correlation with quality of sleep and lifestyle. Pin money (β=.32), quality of sleep (β=.20) and lifestyle (β=.55) were strong influential factors in successful aging. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed the determinant variables account for 35.9% of the variation in successful aging (F=35.11, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Successful aging depends on controllable factors such as the willingness to change the lifestyle of choosing one's life and how one copes with applying appropriate sleep hygiene. These results suggest that improvement of the quality of sleep and lifestyle will be helpful to the successful aging process.
Aged* ; Aging* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Korea ; Life Style*

PURPOSE: This study identifies the effects of the educational leadership of nursing unit managers on team effectiveness and the mediating effects of organizational communication satisfaction; it highlights the importance of educational leadership and organizational communication and provides the data needed to enhance the education capacity of managers. METHODS: The participants were 216 nurses working at unit with nursing unit managers of staff nurses at a tertiary hospital located in Cheongju city, South Korea, and nurses who had worked for more than 6 months at the same unit. This study was conducted using questionnaires on educational leadership, team effectiveness, and organizational communication satisfaction. Data analysis was performed with a t test, analysis of variance, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and simple and multiple regression analyses using SPSS, version 23.0. Mediation analysis was tested using Baron and Kenny's regression analysis and a Sobel test. RESULTS: The mean score for the educational leadership of nursing unit managers was 3.74 (±0.68); for organizational communication satisfaction, 3.14 (±0.51); and for team effectiveness, 3.52 (±0.49). Educational leadership was significantly positively correlated with team effectiveness and organizational communication satisfaction. Organizational communication satisfaction demonstrated a complete mediating effect on the relationship between educational leadership and team effectiveness (β = .61, p < .001) and was significant (Sobel test; Z = 7.40, p < .001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the educational leadership of nursing unit managers increases communication satisfaction among nurses; this supports the idea that educational leadership can contribute to team effectiveness. This suggests that the educational leadership and communication capacity of nursing unit managers must be improved to enhance the performance of nursing organizations.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership* ; Negotiating* ; Nurse Administrators ; Nursing* ; Statistics as Topic ; Tertiary Care Centers