On July 6, 2009, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among middle school students in Incheon. An investigation to identify the source and describe the extent of the outbreak was conducted. A retrospective cohort study among students, teachers, and food handlers exposed to canteen food in the middle school was performed. Using self-administered questionnaires, information was collected concerning on symptoms, days that canteen food was consumed, and food items consumed. Stool samples were collected from 66 patients and 11 food handlers. The catering kitchen was inspected and food samples were taken. Of the 791 people who ate canteen food, 92 cases became ill, representing an attack rate of 11.6%. Thirty-one (40.3%) of the 77 stool specimens were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Interviews with kitchen staff indicated the likelihood that undercooked chicken was provided. This is the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak associated with contaminated chicken documented in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Campylobacter Infections/*epidemiology ; *Campylobacter jejuni ; Chickens ; Cohort Studies ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Water Microbiology

Overnight fasting before elective surgery has been the routine to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration. Recently, several international guidelines for preoperative fasting recommend to intake carbohydrate-containing fluids up to 2 to 3 hours before the induction of anesthesia to improve postoperative recovery. Based on the recommendations, we developed a "preoperative carbohydrate diet" provided for the preoperative patients. The purpose of this case report is to share our experience of applying preoperative carbohydrate loading prior to surgery.
Anesthesia ; Fasting ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy*

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program aims to maximize the recovery of patients by minimizing pre- and postoperative complications and stress. The program recommends providing preoperative carbohydrate (CHO) supplements and starting an early postoperative diet to reduce the fasting duration. Based on these recommendations, we implemented preoperative CHO supplementation and initiated an early postoperative diet in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection. We observed 3 patients as follows: a non-ERAS case, preoperative ERAS case, and pre- and postoperative ERAS case. The preoperative well-being and compliance of patients improved after implementation of the ERAS program. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was reduced. Therefore, we consider that the ERAS program may be helpful for the recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.
Colorectal Surgery ; Compliance ; Diet* ; Fasting ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the current use of depression rating scales by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists in Korea. METHODS: The questionnaires from many psychiatrists and clinical psychologists were included in the analysis. The questionnaire was composed of items about examining the percentage of patients clinically using depression rating scales, reasons for not use of them, the degree of satisfaction, the perceived agreement rate between the result of depression rating scales and doctor's clinical interview in the evaluation of patients with depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed by chi-square and independent t-test. RESULTS: The clinical use of depression rating scales was more frequent in the psychologists than in the psychiatrists. The purposes for using depression rating scales were assessed into six areas, there was no significant difference in between two groups, and both groups pointed out their purpose as rating of severity and screening. The reasons for not using scales were that their interview may be sufficient for diagnosis and assessment of depressive patients and they are not familiar with the use of depression rating scales. The psychiatrists usually prefer the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-90-R) in order of frequency, and the clinical psychologists are more likely to use the BDI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and SCL-90-R. Overall rate of satisfaction in the use of the scales was 67.29+/-14.45% and overall perceived agreement rate was 70.89+/-16.45%. CONCLUSION: Currently used depression rating scales at the clinical practice were not various. Therefore, to heighten clinicians' utility of these depression rating scales measures, either educational efforts or advertisements, or both, will be necessary to spread them wildly.
Checklist ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mental Health ; MMPI ; Psychiatry ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To compare the abilities of radionuclide salivagrams (RS) and videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) to diagnose aspiration in children with aspiration pneumonia. METHODS: The records of children who were referred to the Asan Medical Center between April, 2006 and April, 2012 and who underwent both VFSS and RS to evaluate their recurrent aspiration pneumonia were reviewed (n=67). The aspiration positivity rates of the two tests were determined. The agreement between the tests was assessed by using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: VFSS was more frequently positive (n=26, 39%) than RS (n=23, 34%) (p=0.68). In the 11 children who repeat two test, Repeated examination increased positive rate in each tests (n=11), repeated RS (54%, p=1) is more frequent positive than repeated VFSS (46%, p=0.37). If a cumulative positive test had been defined as at least one positive result, the positive rate of two test was 56% (p<0.05). There was a fair agreement between RS and VFSS (kappa=0.26). CONCLUSION: The RS and VFSS positivity rates in children with aspiration pneumonia were similar but there was fair agreement between the two tests. This result suggests that these investigations to demonstrate aspiration are not interchangeable but complementary.
Child ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration

Patients with the nephrotic syndrome are at risk of developing thromboembolic complications. Much evidence suggests that a hypercoagulable state exists in the setting of the nephrotic syndrome, but the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. The nephrotic syndrome associated with portal vein thrombosis is relatively uncommon. We experienced a case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome presented as portal vein thrombosis and acute renal failure. On renal biopsy, electron microscopic examination reveals diffuse foot process effacement. Treatment with corticosteroid and anticoagulation resulted in complete remission of proteinuria.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Biopsy ; Electrons ; Foot ; Humans ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Portal Vein ; Proteinuria ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.