OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyse clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in childhood patients with polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: Eleven cases of polyarticular JRA who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from June 1988 to May 1995 were investigated for clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. RESULTS: 1) There were 6 males and 5 females and their ages of onset were 4 years to 15.1 years(mean 10.9 years). 2) Systemic manifestations were not observed, but low-grade fever was noted in 5 patients. 3) The involvement of joints was symmetric in 9 patients and asymmetric in 2 patients. 4) The most commonly affected joints were knees and ankles, followed by proximal interphalangeal joints of hand, shoulder, elbow, temporomandibular joint, and other joints. 5) Roentgenographic changes of joints were detected in 6 patients and bone scan in 7 patients showed increased uptake in the involved joints. 6) The main laboratory findings observed were microcytic and hypochromic anemia (64%), thrombocytosis (82%), elevated eryhtrocyte sedimentation rate (100%), positive or increased C-reactive protein(100%), positive rheumatoid factor(RF) (18%), positive antinuclear antibody(ANA) (27%). RF was positive in 2 girls with later age of onset and the pattern of immunofluorescent ANA were all homogeneous. 7) Nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used most frequently and steroid with or without sulfasalazine was tried in 4 patients unresponsive to NSAIDs. 8) At last follow-up, 6 cases(55%) were classified as functional class I, 4 cases(36%) as class II, and 1 case(9%) as class III. CONCLUSION: These data showed the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of polyarticularonset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Korean children.
Age of Onset ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; Ankle ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Child ; Elbow ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Seoul ; Shoulder ; Sulfasalazine ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Thrombocytosis

PURPOSE: This prospective cohort study was done to investigate recall bias to antepartum variables measured at postpartum periods and predictors of postpartum depression. METHODS: Participants were 215 women who answered a self-administered questionnaire which included demographics, Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised and Korean version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at antepartum 36-40 weeks and postpartum 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using kappa, and hierarchical multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Agreement between antepartum variables at both antepartum and two postpartum periods was relatively high (kappa=.55-.95). Postpartum depression rates were 36.3% and 36.7% at two follow-up points. In hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, prenatal depression (OR=4.32, 95% CI: 1.41-13.19; OR=5.19, 95% CI: 1.41-19.08), social support (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.66; OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53) and maternity blues (OR=4.75, 95% CI: 1.89-11.98; OR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.60-11.12) were commonly associated with postpartum depression at two follow-up points. Child care stress (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.01-3.37) was only associated with postpartum depression at 2 weeks postpartum and pregnancy intendedness (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.09-2.27) was only associated with postpartum depression at 6 weeks postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a need to apply nursing interventions such as prenatal education and counseling with families from antenatal period.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Depression, Postpartum/*psychology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the predictive validity of three versions of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R) in Korea. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design with a self-administered questionnaire, including 43 items of the PDPI-R, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale as the gold standard was used. Data were collected from 316 women within 6 weeks after childbirth in Busan, Korea, from August to November 2010. RESULTS: The postpartum depression and postpartum depressive symptom (PDS) rate was 22.5%. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was .882 for the prenatal version of the PDPI-R and .927 for the full version. The sensitivity and specificity were 87.3% and 85.1%, respectively, at a cutoff point of 9.5 for the full version, and 91.5% and 66.1%, respectively, at a cutoff point of 5.5 for the prenatal version. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistics was 3.554 (p = .829) for the prenatal version and 8.305 (p = .404) for the full version; this showed a good degree of correspondence between the estimated and observed probabilities of PDS. By age, education, and socioeconomic groups, the discrimination and calibration were generally good for both the prenatal and full versions. CONCLUSION: The PDPI-R showed good predictive validity among women in Korea. It is recommended that the prenatal version of the PDPI-R be used to predict PDS for pregnant women and the full version of the PDPI-R be used for women during the postpartum period.
Calibration ; Depression ; Depression, Postpartum ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnant Women ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Two strains of vancomycin-resistant Leuconostoc species were isolated from blood cultures in two compromised patients. The isolates produced gas from Lactobacillus MRS booth, hydrolysed esculin, and produced no ammonia from arginine, thus fulfilling the major criteria as Leucorostoc spp. We recommend that clinical laboratories should perform susceptibility test to vancomycin for clinical isolates (especially from cerebrospinal fluid and blood) which resemble streptococci so as not to confuse Leuconostoc spp. with more commonly isolated pathogens such as streptococci.
Ammonia ; Arginine ; Bacteremia* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Esculin ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Leuconostoc* ; Vancomycin

Purpose: This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of cataract in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) using data from Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Methods: Data from a total of 329 patients with type 2 DM without cataract who participated in Ansan cohort of the KoGES from baseline survey (2001–2002) to fifth follow-up visit (2011–2012) were examined.The characteristics of the subjects were analyzed with frequency and percentage, and mean and standard deviation. Cataract incidence was measured as incidence proportion (%). For risk factors of cataract, hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The cataract incidence over a 10-year follow-up period was 19.1% (15.1 in males and 25.8 in females), and mean age at the incidence of cataract was 63.48 years (61.58 years in males and 65.31 years in females). Age (HR=1.09, 95% CI=1.05–1.13) and HbA1c (HR=1.21, 95% CI=1.07–1.37) or the duration of DM (HR=1.05, 95% CI=1.00–1.09) were found to be independently associated with cataract development. Conclusion Cataract development in people with DM is common, and its likelihood increases with age, HbA1c, and the duration of DM. Considering negative effect of cataract on their quality of life and economic burden, nurses should identify people with DM at a higher risk of cataract development, and plan individual eye examination programs to detect cataract development as early as possible.

Since the first description of the trisomy 9p in 1970, over one hundred cases have been described with the advanced chromosomal banding technique. Clinical findings include growth and mental retardation and facial dysmorphism. Crucial determinants of the classical features of this syndrome lie within the distal half of the chromosome 9 short arm. But this syndrome has not been reported in Korea, we are reporting a boy diagnosed by clinical features and chromosomal study that is trisomic for a partial short arm of a chromosome 9. A brief review of the literature is included.
Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Korea ; Male ; Trisomy

PURPOSE:We assessed the relationship of indoor aeroallergen specific IgE levels with total IgE level, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and lung function in children with atopic asthma. METHODS:Two hundred twenty-eight children with atopic asthma in Cheongju area were studied. Sera were assayed for total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to important indoor allergens including Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Alternaria, cats, dogs, and cockroaches. One hundred eighty children sensitized to house dust mites (HDMs) were evaluated for %FEV1 and methacholine PC20. RESULTS:Serum specific IgE to HDMs presented the highest prevalence (90.0% for Der p and 92.7% for Der f), followed by specific IgE to Alternaria (21.6%). A contribution of > 10% of the total was only common for IgE antibody to Der p or Der f. The level of specific IgE to Der p (r=0.677, P<00.001) or Der f (r=0.657, P<00.001) was significantly correlated with total IgE level. Higher level of Der f-specific IgE was associated with higher incidence of AHR and FEV1 decline. CONCLUSION:Concentration of specific IgE antibody produced to HDMs provides an explanation for the higher total IgE levels found in a major portion of children with atopic asthma and has a close relationship with AHR and lung function.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Asthma ; Cats ; Child ; Cockroaches ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to prove the effects of topical anesthetics (EMLA) to control pain in preterm infants during invasive procedure (percutaneous central venous catheterization, PCVC). METHODS: A total of 18 preterm infants of birth weight <2,000 g and gestational age <36 weeks born at EulJi University Hospital, at Daejeon in 2010 were randomly included in this study. EMLA was applied in nine preterm infants 40 minutes before starting PCVC and placebo was applied in another nine preterm infants. Based on PIPP (preterm infant pain profile), we evaluated their heart rate, oxygen saturation before, 15 seconds during and 30 seconds after procedure. Behavioral responses were also recorded for 2 minutes after procedure. RESULTS: Experimental group showed significantly less behavioral response during procedure (P=0.005) and 2 min after procedure (P=0.001). Also, experimental group showed less increase in heart rate (P=0.033) and reduction of behavioral state (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: Despite limitation of small size in this study, experimental group showed lower pain score compared with placebo control group during catheterization. In neonatal care unit (NICU), we recommend the use of topical anesthetics such as EMLA to control pain during invasive procedures.
Anesthetics ; Birth Weight ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Gestational Age ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lidocaine ; Oxygen ; Prilocaine

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is known to have a low incidence among the pediatric population, but it can result in serious complications, such as gastric outlet obstruction. In previously published EGE cases with the obstruction in adults, surgeries were often performed. In this report, we present a 14-year-old girl who came to our facility with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. On the initial abdominal physical examination, diffuse tenderness and severe epigastric pain were noted. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed the findings of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. However, she had no history of recent weight loss, and the medical history was inconsistent with SMA syndrome. We planned upper gastrointestinal series with barium, and then verified gastric outlet obstruction. We performed esophagogastroduodenoscopy and obtained a final diagnosis of EGE through mucosal biopsy specimen. Corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medications were administered. Dietary modification and education were done as well. The symptoms resolved, and the follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ultrasonography showed improvements in the obstruction. Our case emphasizes that gastric outlet obstruction due to EGE must be carefully differentiated from SMA syndrome because of their similarities in clinical features and radiologic images. In doing so, we can avoid surgical intervention and perform medical/dietary treatment for gastric outlet obstruction.

Purpose: This study was aimed at investigating the incidence and risk factors of dyslipidemia in menopausal women using a Korean community-based longitudinal study. Methods: The subjects were 245 postmenopausal women without dyslipidemia who had participated in the Ansan-Ansung cohort study from 2001~2002 (baseline) to 2015~2016 (seventh follow-up visit). The dyslipidemia incidence was measured as incidence proportion (%) and incidence rate per 100 person-years. The predictors of developing dyslipidemia were analyzed with Cox’s proportional hazard model. Results: The incidence of new dyslipidemia during the follow-up period was 78.4% (192 patients), and 11.9 per 100 person-years. Mean duration from menopause to developing dyslipidemia was 5.3 years in new dyslipidemia cases. The triglyceride/high density lipoprotein (TG/HDL-C) ratio at baseline (hazard ratio = 2.20; 95% confidence interval = 1.39~3.48) was independently associated with developing dyslipidemia. Conclusion Dyslipidemia occurs frequently in postmenopausal women, principally within five years after menopause. Therefore, steps must be taken to prevent dyslipidemia immediately after menopause, particularly in women with a high TG/HDL-C ratio at the start of menopause.