The purpose of this study was to find out the correlations between mother-adolescent communication and quality of life in the adolescents. The study subjects consisted of 171 adolescents who were going to middle school and high school. The data included general characteristics, health related characteristics, stress, mother-adolescent communication and quality of life. The data were analyzed by frequency, mean, percentage, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation using the SPSS statistical program. The result were as follows: 1. The mean score for the stress of adolescent was 2.48(maximum score: 5) and there were significant difference according to demographic variables that is sex, grade, father's being and health related variables that is health status, frequently ill, illness severity and illness of family. 2. The mean score for the mother-adolescent communication was 3.27(maximum score : 5) and there were significant difference according to demographic variables that is father's and mother's being. There were no significant difference according to any health related variables. 3. The mean score for the quality of life of adolescent was 3.97(maximum score : 7) and there were no significant difference according to demographic and health related variables. 4. There was a negative correlation between the stress and the quality of life. There was a positive correlation between the quality of life and the mother-adolescent communication. There was a no correlation between the mother-adolescent communication and the quality of life. Consequently, the implication for nursing of this study is that there is a need to develop relief strategy of stress for the female adolescents. And there is a need to develop a promoting program of quality of life for the adolescents considering the stress and the mother-adolescent communication.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Child Health

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was to investigate the quality of life in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from June 1 to October 13, 2007. METHOD: The survey was conducted in 6 different university hospitals which located in Seoul and Jellanamdo province using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-BMT Scale (FACT-BMT) version 4. We collected a total of 155 questionnaires and analyzed 149 among them. RESULTS: The average score of quality of life was 2.53 out of 5. Physical well being score was highest among sub-domains, followed by emotional well-being, additional concerns, social/family well-being, and functional well-being. Study subjects worried that their conditions would get worse. However study subjects didn't regret having been received HSCT. Age, duration from HSCT, age at diagnosis, income, readmission, HSCT type, educational background, marital status, and the level of activities of daily living were related to quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicates that the HSCT survivor's quality of life issue is still important and have to be investigated repeatedly in the future. That is necessary for generalizing QOL outcomes for clinical use. We also suggest to develop interventions to improve QOL.
Activities of Daily Living ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics and laboratory finding between adenoviral and group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed in the patients with adenovirus infection among those who were admitted for febrile respiratory disease from January 2011 to July 2013 and GAS pharyngitis among those who visited for symptoms of scarlet fever from August 2006 to July 2013. RESULTS: 179 patients (AV1 group) were diagnosed with adenoviral pharyngitis and 37 (AV2 group) of these patients had adenovirus single infection. 26 patients (GAS group) were diagnosed with scarlet fever. Adenoviral infection (AV2 group) developed in younger patients compared to GAS group (2.8+/-2.1 years vs. 5.4+/-1.8 years, P=0.000). Total durations of fever and admission were longer in AV2 (6.3+/-2.6 days vs. 3.3+/-1.9 days, P=0.000; 4.1+/-1.2 days vs. 1.9+/-1.8 days, P=0.000, respectively). WBC counts were higher in AV2 (11,449+/-5,680 cells/mm2 vs. 6,722+/-6,941 cells/mm2, P=0.000). CRP was not significantly different between AV2 and GAS group (3.8+/-3.2 mg/dL vs. 5.2+/-5.1 mg/dL, P=0.368). No difference was found between two groups in the percentage of antibiotics use (91.9% vs. 100%, P=0.261). CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics and measures of inflammation in the laboratory findings were similar between adenoviral and GAS pharyngitis group. It is necessary to conduct the test for respiratory virus and bacteria in early stage to differentiate in the pharyngitis patients with leukocytosis and elevation of CRP level.
Adenoviridae ; Adenoviridae Infections ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Child* ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytosis ; Medical Records ; Pharyngitis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Scarlet Fever

Three indole derivatives (1–3) and a diketopiperazine (4) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Chromobacterium violaceum. Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of NMR and HR-MS data and by comparing those in the previous literature. The antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria, including human pathogenic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, and Brevibacterium epidermidis. Compound 1 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against all the three strains with MIC values ranging from 8.58 to 34.3 μg/mL.

Background: This study examined the relationship of infant feeding with anthropometric indices of children during their first six years of life relative to the Korean National Growth Charts (KNGC) and the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS). Methods: The study population consisted of 547,669 Korean infants and children who were 6 months-old to 6 years-old (born in 2008–2009) and participated in the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. Data on height, weight, and type of feeding during the first 6 months (exclusively breastfed [BF] vs. mixed- or formula-fed [FF]) were analyzed. Results: BF boys and girls were significantly shorter and lighter than FF counterparts from the age of 6 months to 4 years, but these differences were not significant after the age of 4 years. BF boys and girls only had significantly lower body mass index at the age of 2 years. Under the age of 2 years 6 months, and especially under the age of 1 year, BF boys and girls were significantly taller and heavier than the 50th percentile values of the 50th percentile value of the WHO-CGS. Conclusion In this study using large-scaled national data, Korean breastfed children are shorter and lighter by 3 years 6 months–4 years 6 months, but afterward, there is no significant difference from those who had mixed- or formula-feeding. Substantial disparities in the anthropometric indices of Korean infants under the age of 1 compared to KNCG and WHO-CGS were found, regardless of their infantile feeding types. Our results emphasize the importance of constructing a nationwide reference chart based on actual measurements of BF Korean infants.

PURPOSE: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), often progresses to respiratory failure and its' serious complication, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a major cause of neonatal mortality. Early recognition of infants at the risk for respiratory failure in MAS patients is necessary for treatment. So we aimed to identify serum enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) as serum biologic marker for early detection of respiratory failure in MAS patients. METHODS: Infants admitted within 24 hours after birth to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital and diagnosed with MAS from August 2005 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Serum enzymes were measured on admission. RESULTS: Of the total 60 patients diagnosed with MAS, 28 were in the positive pressure ventilation (PPV) group and 32 were in the non-PPV group. Six patients progressed to PPHN. Only serum LDH was significantly higher in the PPV group than the non-PPV group (median 1,123 vs. 831, P =0.01). Using the ROC curves, the cut-off value of 964 U/L for LDH offered the best predictive value for PPV requirement (sensitivity 61% and specificity 81%). Serum LDH was significantly higher in MAS with PPHN group than MAS without PPHN group (median 1,791 vs. 904, P =0.013). But serum AST, ALT were not predicting factor for the requirement of respiratory support and development of PPHN among MAS patients. CONCLUSION: LDH might be a good predicting factor for the requirement of respiratory support and development of PPHN among MAS patients.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biomarkers ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Meconium* ; Parturition ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Perinatal asphyxia is a major factor correlated with diseases that cause respiratory distress in a neonate. So we aimed to investigate the relationship between respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) with plasma biological markers of perinatal asphyxia in full-term neonates. METHODS: Full-term neonates with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who were admitted within 24 hours after birth were enrolled in a study group. And control group are infants with premature rupture of amniotic membrane without significant findings. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin were measured at admission. RESULTS: Of the total 80 infants, 54 were of the study group and 26 were of the control group. The numbers of RDS and TTN groups were 27 and 27, and the numbers of RDS with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and RDS without HIE were 6 and 21 retrospectively. Serum AST, ALT, LDH and CK were significantly higher in the study group than the control group (P<0.05). When RDS group and TTN group were compared AST and LDH were significantly higher in RDS group than TTN group (P<0.05). Serum AST, ALT and LDH were significantly higher in RDS with HIE group than RDS without HIE group (P<0.05). A prediction of RDS by LDH analysis showed good correlation by receiver operating characteristic curve (P<0.05). A cut off level of 720 IU/L for LDH was the best predictor of RDS (sensitivity 63% and specificity 86%). CONCLUSION: LDH is an excellent predictor to differentiate RDS from TTN soon after birth in full-term neonates with respiratory distress.
Alanine Transaminase ; Amnion ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Asphyxia ; Biomarkers ; Creatine Kinase ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Myoglobin ; Parturition ; Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn*

PURPOSE: This study investigated whether the metabolic avidity of primary tumors and/or metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was related to survival after surgery in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight patients with AGC who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT and curative resection were included. The 18F-FDG avidity of the primary gastric tumor and LNs was determined quantitatively and qualitatively. The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT was calculated, and the prognostic significance of 18F-FDG avidity for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed. RESULTS: In all, 51 (30.4%) patients experienced recurrence, and 32 (19.0%) died during follow-up (median follow-up duration, 35 months; range, 3–81 months); 119 (70.8%) and 33 (19.6%) patients showed 18F-FDG-avid primary tumors and LNs, respectively. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed high sensitivity (73.8%) for the detection of advanced pathologic T (pT ≥3) stage and high specificity (92.2%) for the detection of advanced pN (≥2) stage. 18F-FDG avidity of LNs was significantly associated with RFS (P=0.012), whereas that of primary tumors did not show significance (P=0.532). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that 18F-FDG avidity of LNs was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio=2.068; P=0.029). CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG avidity of LNs is an independent prognostic factor for predicting RFS. Preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT can be used to determine the risk and prognosis of patients with AGC after curative resection.
Electrons ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms*

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a transcriptional regulator that binds to a complex DNA motif in various orientations and plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression, chromatin restructuring, and developmental processes. Mutations in the CTCF are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we report the first Korean case with a de novo heterozygous variant in the CTCF (c.1025G>A; p.Arg342His). She showed global developmental delay, failure to thrive, and dysmorphic face, which are phenotypes consistent with previous reports in the autosomal dominant intellectual developmental disorder 21 (MIM 615502). She also showed clinical features not previously reported, such as antral web and tracheobronchomalacia.Our case follows suit and expands understanding of this rare disorder by reporting common features and, on the other hand, unreported concomitant congenital anomalies.

PURPOSE: Following determination of the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the mediastinal lymph nodes (SUV-LN) and of the primary tumor (SUV-T) on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the aim of the study was to determine the value of the SUV-LN/SUV-T ratio in lymph node staging in comparison with that of SUV-LN.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 289 mediastinal lymph node stations from 98 patients with NSCLC who were examined preoperatively for staging and subsequently underwent pathologic studies of the mediastinal lymph nodes. We determined SUV-LN and SUV-R for each lymph node station on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and then classified each station into one of three groups based on SUV-T (low, medium and high SUV-T groups). Diagnostic performance was assessed based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the optimal cut-off values that would best discriminate metastatic from benign lymph nodes were determined for each method.RESULTS: The average of SUV-R of malignant lymph nodes was significantly higher than that of benign lymph nodes (0.79±0.45 vs. 0.36±0.23, P<0.0001). In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of SUV-R was significantly higher than that of SUV-LN in the low SUV-T group (0.885 vs. 0.810, P= 0.019). There were no significant differences between the AUCs of SUV-LN and of SUV-R in the medium and high SUV-T groups. The optimal cut-off value for SUV-R in the low SUV-T group was 0.71 (sensitivity 87.5 %, specificity 85.9 %).CONCLUSIONS: The SUV-R performed well in distinguishing between metastatic and benign lymph nodes. In particular, SUV-R was found to have a better diagnostic performance than SUV-LN in the low SUV-T group.
Area Under Curve ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Methods ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity