PURPOSE: Many results have reported a correlation between the spot urine protein/creatinine ratio(P/C ratio) and 24-hour urinary protein(24UP) amount. This study was designed to evaluated correlation between 24UP amounts and P/C ratio in children and to find the factors that affect this correlation. METHODS: 210 patients who visited the Department of Pediatrics in Busan Paik Hospital from september 2003 to december 2007 were included in this study. All the patients were divided into I, II, III/A, B, C group[I:24UP(mg/m2/day)]<100, II: 100< or =24UP<1,000, III: 24UP> or =1,000, A: Cr excretion(mg/kg)<15, B: 15< or =Cr excretion<25, C: Cr excretion> or =25)]. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between 24UP and P/C ratio to evaluate the relationship. We defined fractional difference between 24UP and P/C ratio, and then performed multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a strong positive linear correlation between 24UP and P/C ratio in all patients, and the correlation was also good in each group. The factors affecting accurate quantitation of proteinuria using spot urine P/C ratio was creatinine excretion. CONCLUSION: Spot urine P/C ratio is a useful test to predict proteinuria roughly. Therefore, we expect that urine P/C ratio can be used as parameter instead of 24UP, if we set cutoff value of P/C ratio considered to creatinine excretion according to age and sex in large pediatric population.
Child ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; Proteinuria

PURPOSE: The present study is an investigation of the progression and prognosis of acute intrinsic renal failure in neonates and children with a diagnosis of acute renal failure or other diseases on admission. METHODS: This research is based on a retrospective analysis conducted on 59 patients(male: female=2.2:1) diagnosed with acute intrinsic renal failure between January 2000 and June 2006 at Busan Paik Hospital. The clinical diagnostic criteria of acute renal failure used was serum creatinine <1.2 mg/dL, oliguria with urine output< or =0.5 mL/kg/hr and anuria with urine output <50 mL per day. RESULTS: Among those placed under investigation, 7 patients were neonates, 10 patients were 2 months-2 years old, 12 patients were 3-6 years old, 21 patients were 7-12 years old and 9 patients were 13-16 years old. It took 3.1+/-2.8 days on average until the diagnosis was made. The urine output distribution was 21 persons for the oliguria group, and 36 persons for the non-oliguria group, and 2 persons for the anuria group. For the underlying causes, 30 persons were classified in the primary renal disease group, 14 persons in the infection group, 9 persons in the malignancy group, and 6 persons were categorized in another group. As for age distribution, the infected group was predominantly neonates, whereas the dominant age ranges for the primary renal disease and infection categories were 2 months to 2 years old. Also, the primary renal disease was dominant among older children, aged 3 and up. No difference was detected according to seasonal prevalence. However, there was a high morbidity rate among hemolytic uremic syndrome diagnosed in the summer. Peritoneal dialysis was used to treat 4 patients. It took 10.0+/-6.7 days until the patients improved. 18 patients died. The non-oliguria group's mortality rate was lower than other groups. There was a high mortality rate in the neonates and malignancy group. CONCLUSIONS: Acute renal failure in childhood seems to take a better clinical course than in adulthood when there is an early diagnosis and proper treatment of underlying diseases.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Anuria ; Child ; Creatinine ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Oliguria ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) on clinical features and neuropsychological profiles of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We divided the participants into three groups: the ADHD with ODD (ADHD/ODD) (n=36), ADHD without ODD (ADHDoODD) (n=307), and control groups (n=128). Parents of the participants completed the ADHD Rating Scale, Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Korean Personality Rating Scale for Children (K-PRC), and 10-item mania scale from the Parent General Behavior Inventory (P-GBI-10M). Neuropsychological profiles were assessed using the Advanced Test of Attention (ATA), Children’s Color Trails Test, and Stroop Color and Word Test. Results: The ADHD/ODD group had more ADHD symptoms and functional impairments in relationships with teachers and peers, and self-esteem than the ADHDoODD group. The ADHD/ODD group scored higher in Social Communication (p<0.001) and Autistic Mannerisms (p<0.001) subscales of SRS, P-GBI-10M (p<0.001), and Delinquency (p<0.001) and Psychosis (p<0.001) subscales of K-PRC than the ADHDoODD group. Commission Errors (p<0.001) and Response-Time Variability (p<0.001) in Visual ATA and Commission Errors (p<0.001) in Auditory ATA were significantly higher in the ADHD/ODD group than in the ADHDoODD group. Conclusion The present study suggests that patients with ADHD with ODD experience more ADHD symptoms and neuropsychological deficits than those with ADHD without ODD. These results also imply that comorbid ODD is associated with greater social impairment and emotional dysregulation.

Many patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience a range of sleep problems. Although some studies investigated the pathophysiology of sleep-wake cycle disturbances in TBI patients, it has not been clarified. This paper presents a middle aged female patient who showed sleep deprivation and sleep-wake cycle disturbances for approximately three months after TBI. The improvement in the subjective and objective sleep quality was shown by the sleep diary and actigraphy during this period. Moreover, the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) had been delayed before returning to the normal range in 3 months. In addition, the patient showed an improvement in the neurocognitive function, including attention, memory and language function, along with a consolidation of the sleep-wake cycle. This case showed that the sleep disturbance following a TBI was probably caused by the disrupted melatonin rhythm based on the abnormality of the DLMO. In addition, the cognitive dysfunction after TBI could be associated with sleep-wake cycle disturbances because its gradual improvement occurred as the sleep disturbance diminished. Further studies on the change in circadian rhythm after a brain injury related to neurocognitive impairment are required.
Actigraphy ; Brain Injuries ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Humans ; Melatonin ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sleep Deprivation

Purpose: High breast cancer incidence and dense breast prevalence among women in forties are specific to Asian. This study examined the natural history of breast cancer among Korean women. Materials and Methods: We applied a three-state Markov model (i.e., healthy, preclinical, and clinical state) to fit the natural history of breast cancer to data in the Korean National Cancer Screening Program. Breast cancer was ascertained by linkage to the Korean Central Cancer Registry. Disease-progression rates (i.e., transition rates between three states), mean sojourn time (MST) and mammographic sensitivity were estimated across 10-year age groups and levels of breast density determined by the Breast Imaging, Reporting and Data System. Results: Overall prevalence of dense breast was 53.9%. Transition rate from healthy to preclinical state, indicating the preclinical incidence of breast cancer, was higher among women in forties (0.0019; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0017 to 0.0021) and fifties (0.0020; 95% CI, 0.0017 to 0.0022), than women in sixties (0.0014; 95% CI, 0.0012 to 0.0017). The MSTs, in which the tumor is asymptomatic but detectable by screening, were also fastest among younger age groups, estimated as 1.98 years (95% CI, 1.67 to 2.33), 2.49 years (95% CI, 1.92 to 3.22), and 3.07 years (95% CI, 2.11 to 4.46) for women in forties, fifties, and sixties, respectively. Having dense breasts increased the likelihood of the preclinical cancer risk (1.96 to 2.35 times) and decreased the duration of MST (1.53 to 2.02 times). Conclusion This study estimated Korean-specific natural history parameters of breast cancer that would be utilized for establishing optimal screening strategies in countries with higher dense breast prevalence.

Objective: This study compared parenting stress in preschool children with developmental disabilities (DD) or typical development (TD). We also investigated children’s factors that affect parenting stress. Methods: A total of 196 preschool children participated in the study (aged 54.8±9.2 months). There were 79 children with DD (59 with autism spectrum disorder, 61 with intellectual disability, 12 with language disorder) and 117 with TD. The high parenting stress and the low parenting stress groups were divided based on the Total Stress of Korean Parenting Stress Index Fourth Edition (K-PSI-4) with an 85-percentile cutoff score. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to calculate the correlation between K-PSI-4 and the children’s or parents’ measures. Results: The difference in parenting stress between DD and TD was significant in the Total Stress of K-PSI-4 (p<0.001). The Total Stress scale of K-PSI-4 represented a modest to strong correlation with cognitive development, adaptive functioning, social communication, and behavioral problems in children with DD. Our results showed that caregivers of children with DD reported higher parenting stress than those with TD. Parenting stress was strongly associated with cognitive development, adaptive functioning, social communication, and behavioral problems in children with DD. Among the children’s factors, especially social communication, attention problems, and aggressive behavior had association with caregivers’ higher parenting stress. Conclusion These findings suggest the need for early intervention for parenting stress in caregivers by assessing child characteristics, including social cognition, awareness, communication, and inattention and hyperactivity, in the evaluation of children with DD.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing have been reported to negatively impact cardiovascular-related health behaviors. However, the effects of lifting social distancing restrictions on these health behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated public awareness and behavioral changes related to cardiovascular disease prevention after the end of social distancing. Methods: Between June 5 and June 12, 2023, 2,000 adults participated in the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey in Korea. The survey comprehensively addressed sociodemographic factors, cardiometabolic disease history, cardiovascular disease concern, prevention awareness, and behavioral changes after the end of social distancing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between behavioral changes and sociodemographic factors. Results: Cardiovascular disease ranked as the second most feared disease (most feared, 18.0%; second most feared, 26.3%) after cancer (most feared, 42.3%; second most feared, 21.7%). Among nine cardiovascular disease prevention recommendations, stress management, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet were perceived as the most challenging recommendations. After the end of social distancing, there were more positive changes than negative changes in smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, and healthcare service use, whereas stress management more frequently changed negatively (40.0%) than it changed positively (19.5%). Conclusions Positive changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors, except for stress management, were observed after the end of social distancing. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of discontinuing social distancing practices.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing have been reported to negatively impact cardiovascular-related health behaviors. However, the effects of lifting social distancing restrictions on these health behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated public awareness and behavioral changes related to cardiovascular disease prevention after the end of social distancing. Methods: Between June 5 and June 12, 2023, 2,000 adults participated in the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey in Korea. The survey comprehensively addressed sociodemographic factors, cardiometabolic disease history, cardiovascular disease concern, prevention awareness, and behavioral changes after the end of social distancing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between behavioral changes and sociodemographic factors. Results: Cardiovascular disease ranked as the second most feared disease (most feared, 18.0%; second most feared, 26.3%) after cancer (most feared, 42.3%; second most feared, 21.7%). Among nine cardiovascular disease prevention recommendations, stress management, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet were perceived as the most challenging recommendations. After the end of social distancing, there were more positive changes than negative changes in smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, and healthcare service use, whereas stress management more frequently changed negatively (40.0%) than it changed positively (19.5%). Conclusions Positive changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors, except for stress management, were observed after the end of social distancing. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of discontinuing social distancing practices.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing have been reported to negatively impact cardiovascular-related health behaviors. However, the effects of lifting social distancing restrictions on these health behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated public awareness and behavioral changes related to cardiovascular disease prevention after the end of social distancing. Methods: Between June 5 and June 12, 2023, 2,000 adults participated in the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey in Korea. The survey comprehensively addressed sociodemographic factors, cardiometabolic disease history, cardiovascular disease concern, prevention awareness, and behavioral changes after the end of social distancing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between behavioral changes and sociodemographic factors. Results: Cardiovascular disease ranked as the second most feared disease (most feared, 18.0%; second most feared, 26.3%) after cancer (most feared, 42.3%; second most feared, 21.7%). Among nine cardiovascular disease prevention recommendations, stress management, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet were perceived as the most challenging recommendations. After the end of social distancing, there were more positive changes than negative changes in smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, and healthcare service use, whereas stress management more frequently changed negatively (40.0%) than it changed positively (19.5%). Conclusions Positive changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors, except for stress management, were observed after the end of social distancing. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of discontinuing social distancing practices.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of social distancing have been reported to negatively impact cardiovascular-related health behaviors. However, the effects of lifting social distancing restrictions on these health behaviors remain unclear. This study investigated public awareness and behavioral changes related to cardiovascular disease prevention after the end of social distancing. Methods: Between June 5 and June 12, 2023, 2,000 adults participated in the 2023 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Awareness Survey in Korea. The survey comprehensively addressed sociodemographic factors, cardiometabolic disease history, cardiovascular disease concern, prevention awareness, and behavioral changes after the end of social distancing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between behavioral changes and sociodemographic factors. Results: Cardiovascular disease ranked as the second most feared disease (most feared, 18.0%; second most feared, 26.3%) after cancer (most feared, 42.3%; second most feared, 21.7%). Among nine cardiovascular disease prevention recommendations, stress management, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet were perceived as the most challenging recommendations. After the end of social distancing, there were more positive changes than negative changes in smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, and healthcare service use, whereas stress management more frequently changed negatively (40.0%) than it changed positively (19.5%). Conclusions Positive changes in cardiovascular-related health behaviors, except for stress management, were observed after the end of social distancing. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of discontinuing social distancing practices.