PURPOSE: Each ethnic group has a unique life style, including diets. Life style affects bowel movement. The aim of this study is to describe the results of colon transit time (CTT) tests in Korean children who had chronic functional constipation based on highly refined data. METHODS: One hundred ninety (86 males) out of 415 children who performed a CTT test under the diagnosis of chronic constipation according to Rome III criteria at Konkuk University Medical Center from January 2006 through March 2015 were enrolled in this study. Two hundreds twenty-five children were excluded on the basis of CTT test result, defecation diary, and clinical setting. Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The median value and interquartile range (IQR) of CTT was 54 (37.5) hours in Encopresis group, and those in non-encopresis group was 40.2 (27.9) hours (p<0.001). The frequency of subtype between non-encopresis group and encopresis was statistically significant (p=0.002). The non-encopresis group (n=154, 81.1%) was divided into normal transit subgroup (n=84, 54.5%; median value and IQR of CTT=26.4 [9.6] hours), outlet obstruction subgroup (n=18, 11.7%; 62.4 [15.6] hours), and slow transit subgroup (n=52, 33.8%; 54.6 [21.0] hours]. The encopresis group (n=36, 18.9%) was divided into normal transit subgroup (n=8, 22.2%; median value and IQR of CTT=32.4 [9.9] hours), outlet obstruction subgroup (n=8, 22.2%; 67.8 [34.8] hours), and slow transit subgroup (n=20, 55.6%; 59.4 [62.7]hours). CONCLUSION: This study provided the basic pattern and value of the CTT test in Korean children with chronic constipation.
Academic Medical Centers ; Child* ; Colon* ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Encopresis ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing parenting stress in primiparas. METHOD: The participants in this study were 198 primiparas of infants aged 1-6 months who visited well baby clinics in 5 hospitals. The data were collected from April 15 to June 15, 2003. RESULTS: The mean score for parenting stress was 2.4 of a possible 5 and thus considered average. The score for parenting stress was significantly correlated with the level of maternal perception of the infant and the level of social support. The score for parenting stress was significantly different according to the education level of the primiparas and prenatal management. For the primiparas, social support(20%) and maternal perception of the infant(9%) were significant predictors explaining parenting stress. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing interventions to improve maternal perception of the infant and increase social support should be provided for primiparas in order to reduce parenting stress.
Education ; Humans ; Infant ; Nursing ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Child Health

PURPOSE: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are currently increasing. Accordingly, the concept of "preventing diabetes" in high-risk groups has become more important in diabetic care, but the use of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a measure has limitations in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) in assessing prediabetes status in obese children. METHODS: The medical records of 74 subjects aged 6-19 years (of which 27 were overweight/obese and 47 had diabetes) who had 1,5-AG data were reviewed retrospectively. We compared 1,5-AG with HbA1c using the Pearson correlation test to assess the clinical utility of 1,5-AG. RESULTS: 1,5-AG levels were higher (31.1+/-10.1 microg/mL vs. 7.4+/-7.3 microg/mL) and HbA1c levels were lower (5.5%+/-0.3% vs. 8.9%+/-2.7%) in the overweight/obese group than in the diabetics group. The range of 1,5-AG levels in obese children was wide (16.8-59.3 microg/mL), and did not have significance with HbA1c. A negative correlation between 1,5-AG and HbA1c was significant in the entire subject (r=-0.822, P<0.001), and also in the HbA1c range of 5.5% to 8% (r=-0.736, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: 1,5-AG is a valuable index in the HbA1c range of 5.5%-8% and it might be considered an early glycemic control index in insulin-resistant obese children with an HbA1c level above 5.5%. Moreover, the 1,5-AG level assessment should be presented as a supplementary tool for better compliance, as well as being an improvement in diabetes management for the short-term glucose control in relatively well-controlled diabetes patients with an HbA1c level below 8%.
Child ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prediabetic State ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

To estimate the incidence of uterine cervix cancer among Korean women, we have conducted a study using the claim data on the beneficiaries of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). All medical records of the potential cases with diagnosis of ICD-9 180, 181, 182, 199, 219, 233 in the claims sent by medical care institutions in the whole country to the KMIC from January 1988 to December 1989, were abstracted and Gynecology specialist reviewed the records to identify the new cases of uterine cervix cancer among the potential cases during the corresponding period. Using these data, the incidence of uterine cervix cancer among Korean women was estimated as of July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1989. The crude rate was estimated to be 17.34(95% CI: 16.76~17.92) per 100,000 and the cumulative rates for the ages 0~64 and 0~74 were 1.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The age-adjusted rate for the world population was 19.93 per 100,000 which was higher than those of other Asian countries including China and Japan in 1983~1987. The truncated rate for ages 35~64 was 52.05 per 100,000 which was one of the highest in the world. With increasing age, the incidence rate increased to 78.11 per 100,000 in women aged 55~59 years, then it decreased in the older groups. This finding suggests that detecting rate of uterine cervix cancer may decrease in women aged 60 years or older due to detecting rate of uterine cervix cancer may decrease in women aged 60 years or older due to inadequate medical care seeking behavior. In the geographical area, the SIR of Jeju province was significantly low but it might be due to statistical unstability by small case numbers.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervix Uteri* ; China ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Insurance ; International Classification of Diseases ; Japan ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Specialization

A fecaloma refers to a mass of accumulated feces that is much harder than a mass associated with fecal impaction. Fecalomas are usually found in the rectosigmoid area. A 10-year-old male with chronic constipation was admitted because of increasing abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan and a simple abdominal x-ray revealed rapidly evolving mechanical obstruction in the small intestine. Most of the fecalomas are successfully treated by conservative methods such as laxatives, enemas and rectal evacuation. When conservative treatments have failed, surgical intervention may be needed. In this case, an emergency operation was performed and a 4x3x2.5 cm fecaloma was found in the distal ileum. We thus report a case of ileal fecaloma inducing small bowel obstruction in a patient with chronic constipation, who required surgical intervention. When symptoms of acute small intestinal obstruction develop in a patient with chronic constipation, a fecaloma should be considered in differential diagnosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Constipation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Fecal Impaction ; Feces ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Laxatives ; Male

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease most commonly presents with acute arthritis of the peripheral joints. Infrequently, a mass effect of this disease can cause axial symptoms, such as spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, or myelopathy. Herein, we report on the first Korean case of acute arthritis in the lumbar facet joint due to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. A 73-year-old female presented with acute fever, severe lumbago, and knee arthralgia, 11 days after partial parathyroidectomy. Plain radiographs showed multiple chondrocalcinosis, while a bone scan, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed right L5-S1 facet arthritis. In synovial fluid from the facet and knee joints, positively birefringent calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals were observed under polarized light microscopy. Under the diagnosis of acute calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal arthritis (formerly known as 'pseudogout') in the facet joint, an intra-articular triamcinolone injection was administered, which resulted in dramatic improvement of the symptoms within 24 hours.
Aged ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis* ; Calcium Pyrophosphate* ; Calcium* ; Chondrocalcinosis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microscopy, Polarization ; Parathyroidectomy ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Synovial Fluid ; Triamcinolone ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation often results in hypertension and tachycardia. Desflurane and nitrous oxide (N2O) are known to augment the sympathetic nervous activity. We examined whether N2O and desflurane affect the cardiovascular responses to the intubation. METHODS: One hundred-fifty patients were assigned randomly to receive one of six treatment regimens (n = 25 each): 2% sevoflurane (control), 6% desflurane or 12% desflurane with and without 75% N2O, respectively. General anesthesia was induced with intravenous thiopental (5-7 mg/kg), and tracheal intubation was facilitated with intravenous vecuronium (0.12 mg/kg). N2O was started 3 min before and desflurane soon after the intubation. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), and plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined. RESULTS: The intubation increased SAP and HR in all groups within 1 min. A second increase was noted with 12% desflurane at 3 to 5 min after the intubation. N2O did not affect the tachycardiac response, but attenuated the pressor response to both intubation and 12% desflurane. The plasma concentrations of norepinephrine increased significantly at 1 min after the intubation in all groups with more pronounced rise in N2O groups, and increased further at 5 min in the 12% desflurane groups. CONCLUSIONS: A biphasic increase of SAP and HR was noted with 12% desflurane. The first increase may be related with the mechanical stimulus of the tracheal intubation and the second with the desflurane itself. Although N2O did not affect the tachycardiac responses and augmented norepinephrine release, it suppressed the pressor responses.
Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma ; Tachycardia ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A colon transit time test using radio-opaque markers (CTTRM) is considered the gold standard for evaluating colon transit function. A 24-hour delayed film of barium enema (BE) has been used as a supplementary method in structural evaluations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a 24-hour delayed BE film for assessing colon transit function in young children with constipation. METHODS: In total, 93 children with constipation who performed both single-contrast BE and CTTRM were enrolled in this study. Of these, the data from 70 children were analyzed (males 33, females 37; mean age [range], 5.63 ± 2.94 [2-14] years). The basic principle of the study is "velocity = distance/time". Time values were identified in both studies, and the colon length and distance of barium movement were measured on the 24-hour delayed BE film. Thus, colon transit velocity values could be calculated using both methods. The correlation between colon transit velocity using a 24-hour delayed BE film versus CTTRM was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Median value (interquartile range) of colon transit velocity using CTTRM was 1.57 (1.07-2.89) cm/hr, and that using BE of that was 1.58 (0.94-2.07) cm/hr. The Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.438 (P < 0.001) for the overall group. The correlation was strongest in children younger than 4 years (r = 0.537, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Although the correlation between BE and CTTRM was not very strong, the 24-hour delayed BE film could provide broad information about colon transit function in young children, especially those under 4 years who usually cannot undergo CTTRM.
Barium* ; Child* ; Colon* ; Constipation* ; Enema* ; Female ; Humans ; Methods

Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is one of the most well-known and important infectious renal diseases resulting from a prior infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The typical clinical characteristics of the disease reflect acute onset with gross hematuria, edema, hypertension and moderate proteinuria after the antecedent streptococcal infection. In children, usually PSGN is healed spontaneously but if it combines with fast progressing glomerulonephritis, it would be developed to chronic renal failure. Therefore, it is important to make a fast diagnosis and treatment by simple tools to predict the course and the prognosis of disease. Sonography is a simple tool for diagnosis but there is no typical renal sonographic finding in PSGN, so it is difficult to predict the course and the prognosis of disease by sonographic findings. In comparison between two cases of renal sonographic findings in PSGN, a patient who showed more increased echogenicity in more extended area of renal sonography had the severe results of renal pathology, prolonged treatment period and low serum C3 level. Here, we report the different findings of renal sonography and pathology depending on the degree of severity between two patients. Thus, it is necessary to gather more information from further studies to make a consensus about the relationship between the renal sonography and the prognosis of disease in PSGN.
Child ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) are common, costly, and potentially lethal. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of maximal sterile barrier on CR-BSIs in intensive care units. METHODS: We monitored CR-BSIs in intensive care units of Sunlin Hospital in Pohang, before (September 2005 to May 2006) and after (June to December 2006) implementation of maximal sterile barrier. CR-BSIs were identified by using the definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: During the intervention period, the proportion of conducting maximal sterile barrier was 84%. In the pre-intervention period, 10 episodes of CR-BSIs were recorded out of a total of 1,749 catheter-days, compared to 1 episode of CR-BSI out of a total of 1,277 catheter-days in the post-intervention period. The rate of CR-BSIs was significantly reduced from 5.72 to 0.57 per 1,000 catheter-days (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Implementation of maximal sterile barrier resulted in a significant reduction in CR-BSIs.
Adult* ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care*