The present study addressed the risk factors in early life for Korean preschool children that are associated with being overweight or obese.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the correlates of maternal perception (identification and satisfaction) of children's weight, maternal body shape satisfaction, and maternal feeding styles in Korean preschool-aged children. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized. Participants consisted of 287 pairs of preschool-aged children (3-6 years) and their mothers. Data were analyzed by chi2-test, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Among the 287 mothers, 47.7% underestimated their children's weight, while 15.7% overestimated it. 46.7% of the mothers wished their children weighed more, while 11.1% of them wished their children weighed less. The mean score of maternal body shape satisfaction was 83.75+/-28.77. The mean score of parent-centered feeding styles was 2.95+/-0.54, and the mean score of child-centered feeding styles was 3.33+/-0.42. There were statistically significant correlations between maternal identification of children's weight and children's body mass index (BMI) (r=-.366, p<.001). In addition, there were statistically significant correlations between maternal satisfaction of children's weight and children's BMI (r=-.484, p<.001), maternal BMI (r=-.126, p=.033), and maternal body shape satisfaction (r=-.127, p=.031). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that intervention programs for mothers to develop more accurate perception of their child's weight should be established.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Mothers

BACKGROUND: The focus of this study is the effects of thiopental sodium, etomidate and propofol on systemic vascular resistance and venous capacitance during cardiopulmonary bypass with constant pump flow. METHODS: Thirty patients (ASA III) scheduled for open heart surgery were randomly divided into three groups. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg, fentanyl 5 microgram/kg and vecuronium 1 mg/kg. CPB was conduced with a membrane oxygenator using non-pulsatile flow and moderate hypothermia. When rectal temperature and pump flow had been stable for 5 min, patients randomly received thiopental sodium 4 mg/kg, etomidate 0.3 mg/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg. Perfusion pressure and pump flow were measured 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min after administration. RESULTS: The systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) decreased to 84.3% of the control values after thiopental sodium 4 mg/kg, to 74.7% of the control after etomidate 0.3 mg/kg and to 79.8% of the control after propofol 2 mg/kg. SVRI returned to control value levels 3 min after the administration of thiopental sodium, 20 min after etomidate, and 5 min after propofol. Thiopental sodium, etomidate and propofol reduced venous reservoir volume 1 min after injection and the reduction was sustained throughout the all period of the cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that thiopental sodium, etomidate and propofol dilate both resistance and capacitance vessels, but there was no correlation between the two vessels.
Anesthesia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Etomidate* ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Oxygenators, Membrane ; Perfusion ; Propofol* ; Thiopental* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vascular Access Devices ; Vascular Resistance* ; Vecuronium Bromide

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether embryonic stem (ES) cells can be established from isolated blastomeres of mouse embryos. METHODS: Blastomeres were separated from mouse (C57Bl/6J) 2- or 4-cell embryos. Isolated blastomeres or whole 4-cell embryos were co-cultured with mitosis-arrested STO feeder cells in DMEM supplemented with recombinant murine leukemia inhibitory factor and ES-qualified fetal bovine serum. After the tentative ES cell lines were maintained from isolated blastomeres or whole embryos, some of them were frozen and the others were sub-cultured continually. Characteristics of tentative ES cell lines as were evaluated for specific gene expressions with immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: One ES cell line (3.0%) was established from isolated blastomere of 2-cell embryo and one cell line (4.0%) from isolated two blastomeres of 4-cell embryo. And five cell lines (16.7%) were established from whole 4-cell embryos. Both cell lines from isolated blastomere and whole embryo expressed mouse ES cells specific markers such as SSEA-1, Oct-4 and alkaline phosphatase. Marker genes of three germ layers were expressed from embryoid bodies of both cell lines. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mouse ES cells could be established from isolated blastomeres, although the efficiency is lower than whole embryos. This animal model could be applied to establishment of autologous human ES cells from biopsied blastomeres of preimplantation embryos in human IVF-ET program.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Antigens, CD15 ; Blastocyst* ; Blastomeres* ; Cell Line ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Feeder Cells ; Gene Expression ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; Mice* ; Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The human ES cells could be differentiated into specific cell types by treatments of growth factors and alterations of gene expressions. However, the efficacy of guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells are still low. In this study, we characterized isolated cells from differentiated human ES cells by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) system using specific antibodies to cell surface markers. METHODS: The undifferentiated hES cells (Miz-hESC4) were sub-cultured by mechanical isolation of colonies and embryoid bodies were spontaneously differentiated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for 2 weeks. The differentiated cells were isolated to positive and negative cells with MACS system using CD34, human epithelial antigen (HEA) and human fibroblast (HFB) antibodies, respectively. Observation of morphological changes and analysis of marker genes expression were performed during further culture of MACS isolated cells for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Morphology of the CD34 positive cells was firstly round, and then it was changed to small polygonal shape after further culture. The HEA positive cells showed large polygonal, and the HFB positive spindle shape. In RT-PCR analysis of marker genes, the CD34 and HFB positive cells expressed endodermal and mesodermal genes, and HEA positive cells expressed ectodermal genes such as NESTIN and NF68KD. The marker genes expression pattern of CD34 positive cells changed during the extension of culture time. CONCLUSION: Our results showed the possibility of successful isolation of specific cells by MACS system from undirected differentiated human ES cells. Thus, MACS system and marker antibodies for specific cell types might be useful for guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells from human ES cells.
Antibodies ; Ectoderm ; Embryoid Bodies ; Endoderm ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesoderm ; Nestin ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tissue Engineering

This study was performed to investigate the effect of vitamin C and E supplementation on blood pressure, plasma lipids, folate, and homocysteine levels in smokers and non-smokersof college male students in Gyeonggi Area. The nutrient intakes were determined by a 24hr-recall method. The subjects were divided into six groups: vitamin C supplementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), vitamin E supplementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), vitamin C and E supplementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), respectively. There were no significant differences between the smokers and nonsmokers in terms of anthropometric measurements. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers than that of non-smokers. There was no significant difference in energy and other nutrients intakes between smokers and non-smokers. In plasma lipids levels, smokers had higher plasma triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol concentration than that of non-smokers (p < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol level of smokers had a tendency to be lower than that of nonsmokers. In smokers, AI, TPH, LPH were significantly higher than that of non-smokers (p < 0.01). Plasma folate, homocysteine levels were not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. The effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation in smokers: In vitamin C supplementation group, HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (p < 0.01) and AI, TPH, LPH were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). In vitamin E supplementation group, HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (p < 0.05). In vitamin C and E supplementation group, LPH was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation in non-smokers: HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (p < 0.05) and AI, TPH, LPH were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by vitamin C supplementation group. Plasma homocysteine level was decreased by vitamin E supplementation group in non-smokers p < 0.01). The results of this study showed that smoking had a tendency to increase plasma lipids levels that factor into the risk of coronary heart disease. It is considered that antioxidant vitamin supplementation in smokers had a tendency to decrease cardiovascular disease than in nonsmokers.
Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Folic Acid* ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

We investigated the pulpal response to direct pulp capping in rat molar teeth using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (CH). A palatal cavity was prepared in rat maxillary molar teeth. Either MTA or CH was placed on the exposed pulp and all cavities were restored with composite. Rats were sacrificed for histological evaluation after 12 hours and at 2, 7, 14 and 21 days. In both the MTA and CH groups, reparative dentin formation was clearly observed on histology after 14 days. The MTA-capped pulps were found to be mostly free from inflammation, and hard tissue of a tubular consistent barrier was observed. In contrast, in CH-capped teeth, excessive formation of reparative dentin toward residual pulp was evident. The pulpal cell response beneath the reparative dentin layer was examined by immunofluorescence using antibodies against DSP. After 2 days, a few DSP immunopositive cells, most of which showed a cuboidal shape, appeared beneath the predentin layer. At 7 days, DSP-immunopositive cells with columnar odontoblast-like cells were seen beneath the newly formed hard tissues. At 14 and 21 days, DSP was more abundant in the vicinity of the odontoblastic process along the dentinal tubules than in the mineralized reparative dentin. The CH group showed strong expression patterns in terms of DSP immunoreactivity. Our results thus indicate that MTA may be a more effective pulp capping material as it induces the differentiation of odontoblast-like cells and the formation of reparative dentin without the loss of residual pulp functions.
Aluminum Compounds ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Calcium ; Calcium Compounds ; Calcium Hydroxide ; Dental Pulp Capping ; Dentin ; Drug Combinations ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glutamates ; Guanine ; Hydroxides ; Inflammation ; Molar ; Odontoblasts ; Oxides ; Pemetrexed ; Rats ; Silicates ; Tooth

Recently, we have experienced with various changes in the health insurance. Korean government is implementing the prospective payment system(PPS) as a pilot project to reduce medical expenditure. Case management is an effective way to reduce costs, while not sacrificing quality of service, under the PPS. In this study, the integrated decision support system(DSS) for case management was presented to support two case management activities ; utilization management and discharge planning. This system can be used in three ways ; prospective, concurrent, and retrospective management. By monitoring cases from medical record database, the DSS provides basic patient information, payment information, medical service information to the case manager. In the future, data warehouse should be introduced to integrate various databases related to case management and to improve quality of information produced by the DSS.
Case Management* ; Cesarean Section* ; Critical Pathways ; Diagnosis-Related Groups* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Medical Records ; Patient Discharge ; Pilot Projects ; Pregnancy

Renal agenesis is a disorder characterized by the congenital absence of one or both kidneys due to complete failure of the kidney to form. The syndrome of renal agenesis is severe oligohydramnios, amnion nodosum, flattened face, low-set and floppy ears, and bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia. Bilateral renal agenesis occurs in 0.1 to 0.3 per 1000 births and unilateral involvement occurs in 1 in 500 to 1 in 1300 live births.1,2 Bilateral renal agenesis is an invariably lethal condition, and is associated in more than half of the affected individuals with malformations of the genitourinary tract, cardiovascular system, vertebral bodies or imperforated anus.2 Accurate diagnosis in the mid-trimester permits the parents to allow elective termination. However, the nearly absent amniotic fluid makes an accurate assessment of fetal kidney difficult. We present a case of unilateral renal agenesis with contralateral renal hypoplasia, diagnosed by ultrasonography after amnioinfusion at 21 weeks gestation.
Amnion ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cardiovascular System ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Oligohydramnios ; Parents ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting the large intestine, and presents as abdominal pain and/or discomfort, bloating, gas retention, diarrhea, and constipation. IBS impairs quality-of-life and requires long-term management. In 2016, the Rome Foundation introduced new IBS diagnostic criteria (the Rome IV criteria), and also revised the diagnostic algorithms for, and the multidimensional clinical profile (MDCP) of, functional gastrointestinal disorders. The IBS MDCP includes clinical data, the extent to which normal daily activities are affected, and psychosocial and physiological measures. The criteria seek to aid physicians in choosing appropriate treatment for IBS patients. Herein, we seek to provide evidence- based practical information on IBS and functional diarrhea. We review the new Rome diagnostic IV criteria, the MDCP, and the various IBS treatment options. We suggest that, in clinical practice, combination therapies may be useful to treat patients with IBS of various grades.
Abdominal Pain ; Constipation ; Diarrhea* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome*