No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant*

Purpose: This study was designed to identify the influence of stress and anxiety on depression in Central Asian Koreans living in Korea. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study design, to survey 159 Central Asian Koreans between July 2 and Dec 17, 2019. To analyze the data, we used descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with the Scheffétest, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: Multiple-regression analysis revealed that how long the subjects had been living in Korea (β=.07, p=.034), their active problem- solving skills (β=-.47, p=.031), and their anxiety levels (β=1.54, p<.001) were significant factors that explained approximately 44% of the variance in depression. Conclusion We concluded that long-term residence and the skills to face and cope with, anxiety and stress can help lower the rates of depression of Central Asians living in Korea.

PURPOSE: Among the many factors associated with acute intestinal mucosal infection, numerous studies have proposed the usefulness of fecal calprotectin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: We collected 154 stool samples from 16 very low birth weight and premature newborns at the Konyang University Hospital neonatal intensive care unit or neonatal nursery. The stool samples were collected using the Calprest device, and the fecal calprotectin level was measured with the BUHLMANN Calprotectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly higher in the NEC group than in the non-NEC group (P=0.02). There was a significant positive linear relationship between the fecal calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.00) in the gestational age <26 weeks group. There was a significant negative linear relationship between the calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.03) in the gestational age > or =26 weeks and <30 weeks group. There was no difference in the calprotectin levels according to the type and method of feeding between the NEC and non-NEC groups. CONCLUSION: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly increased in premature infants with NEC. The fecal calprotectin test is a noninvasive, easy, and useful tool for the diagnosis of NEC.
Diagnosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex* ; Nurseries ; Parturition

Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis is characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and disturbance of consciousness. It is similar to Miller Fisher syndrome, a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome, in that they share features such as ophthalmoplegia and ataxia. The difference is that patients with Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis have impaired consciousness, whereas patients with Miller Fisher syndrome have alert consciousness and areflexia. Here, we report the case of a 3-year-old child who was diagnosed with Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis presenting typical clinical features and interesting radiological findings. The patient showed ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and subsequent stuporous mentality. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed high signal intensity in the pons and cerebellum around the 4th ventricle on a T2-weighted image. He was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. Differentiation of Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis and Miller Fisher syndrome is often difficult because they possess many overlapping features. Brain magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in diagnosing Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis, especially when lesions are definitely found.
Ataxia ; Brain ; Brain Stem* ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Consciousness ; Encephalitis* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Miller Fisher Syndrome ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pons ; Stupor

PURPOSE: There has been no exact criteria established for when to discontinue antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in epileptic children who had been well controlled for a long period. This study was undertaken to evaluate the recurrence rate and predictive risk factors of relapse after discontinuation of AEDs in epileptic children who had been seizure-free. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 294 children whose discontinued AEDs therapy was after a long seizure-free period in Asan Medical Center. RESULTS: Seizure recurred in 59 patients(21.0%) after discontinuation of AEDs. The mean duration of follow-up after discontinuation was 4.0 years for the patients, the mean duration of the medication period was 3.5 years and the mean seizure-free period was 2.8 years. The factors associated with an increasing recurrence risk were old age at onset, long duration of seizure, old age at discontinuation of AEDs and abnormal radiologic findings in univariate analysis. From multivariate analysis, the factors related to higher recurrence rate were old age at onset, long duration of seizure and abnormal radiologic findings. CONCLUSION: The majority of epileptic children who are older than 10 years, who have developed seizures for longer than six years and who show abnormal radiologic findings will easily relapse. The patients who do not have the additional risk factors noted above may have an excellent chance to remain seizure-free after the discontinuation of AEDs, so patient in the latter group can consider the discontinuation of AEDs.
Anticonvulsants* ; Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seizures

We studied the prevalence, type and severity of vigabatrin (VGB)-attributed visual field defects (VFDs), and used these data to assess the associated risk factors in pediatric patients. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 67 pediatric patients who received VGB alone or in combination with other antiepileptic drugs, and who had undergone visual field examinations using a Humphrey visual field analyzer. Of the 67 patients, 15 had VGB-attributed VFDs: 13 had nasal arcuate type, 1 had nasal and temporal constricted type and 1 had nasal constricted type. In terms of severity, 7 patients had Grade I VGB-attributed VFDs, 5 had Grade II, 2 had Grade III, and 1 had Grade IV. Although there were no significant differences between the VFD and non-VFD groups with regards to all tested parameters, there were no cases of VGB-attributed VFDs in patients with total treatment durations <2 yr and cumulative doses <10 g/kg. In conclusion, the prevalence of VGB-attributed VFDs in VGB-treated pediatric epilepsy patients was 22%. The high frequency of VGB-attributed VFDs indicates that physicians should inform all patients of this risk prior to VGB treatment and perform periodic visual field examinations.
Visual Fields/drug effects ; Vision Disorders/*chemically induced ; Vigabatrin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Epilepsy/*drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drug Monitoring/statistics & numerical data ; Child ; Anticonvulsants/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pneumolabyrinth, the presence of air in the inner ear is an evidence of a pathological connection between the fluid-filled space of inner ear and the air-filled space of mastoid/middle ear cavity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of pneumolabyrinth combined with temporal bone fracture. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Among 51 patients with temporal bone fracture, those who visited a secondary referral center between January 2005 to March 2008, 6 patients (7 ears, one bilateral case) with pneumolabyrinth were selected for a retrospective review on their medical records and radiologic findings. RESULTS: All six patients were male, and had concomitant otic capsule-violating fracture in the affected side. All pneumolabyrinths were diagnosed in the CT images taken on the date of trauma, and in one case, the pneumolabyrinth disappeared in a follow-up CT which was taken after 5 days. Six affected ears out of 5 patients showed profound sensorineural hearing loss and one patient with down-sloping severe sensorineural hearing loss showed partial recovery of hearing threshold a month later. Vestibular function tests were performed in four cases and vestibular weaknesses were identified in all affected ears. CONCLUSION: Immediate high-resolution CT might improve the detection rate of pneumolabyrinth combined with temporal bone fracture. Otic capsule-disrupting fracture has been considered to be synonymous with irreversibly severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, but one case showed partial recovery in this study. Follow-up audiometric tests are needed to check the recovery of hearing threshold.
Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Fractures ; Temporal Bone ; Vestibular Function Tests

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of atomoxetine in Korean children and adolescents with epilepsy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 105 children and adolescents with epilepsy treated with atomoxetine. Effectiveness was measured with the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) and/or Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) scales at baseline, and after 4 and 12 weeks. We defined response to atomoxetine as a CGI-I score less than three at week 12. Safety was evaluated at each visit, based on clinical assessment by a child and adolescent psychiatrist and reports from participants or their caregivers. Results: In total participants (n=105), 33 (31.4%) showed a response to treatment: a significant decrease in CGI-S scale score was observed over 12 weeks of atomoxetine treatment. The most common adverse event (AE) was decreased appetite (n=16, 15.2%), and life-threatening AEs were not observed. Seizure aggravation due to atomoxetine was observed in 7.6% (n=8) of total participants, and one of them discontinued atomoxetine. Conclusion Our results provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness and safety of atomoxetine in children and adolescents with epilepsy.