No abstract available.
Cholera*

Objective: To investigate the effects of customized biomechanical foot orthosis (BFO) on kinematic data during gait in patients with hallux valgus (HV) deformities and compare the results with those of a normal control group. Methods: Ten patients with HV deformities and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. HV deformity was diagnosed using biomechanical and radiological assessments by a rehabilitation physician. Patients received the customized BFO manufactured at a commercial orthosis laboratory (Biomechanics, Goyang, South Korea) according to the strictly defined procedure by a single experienced technician. The spatiotemporal and kinematic data acquired by the Vicon 3D motion capture system (Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK) were compared between the intervention groups (control vs. HV without orthosis) and between the HV groups (with vs. without orthosis). Results: The temporal-spatial and kinematic parameters of the HV group were significantly different from those of the control group. After applying BFO to the HV group, significantly increased ranges of plantar flexion motion and hindfoot inversion were observed. Furthermore, the HV group with BFO showed improved gait cadence, walking speed, and stride length, although the results were not statistically significant. Conclusion Our results suggest that it is imperative to understand the pathophysiology of HV, and the application of customized BFO can be useful for improving kinematics in HV deformities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and management of functional constipation at pediatric gastroenterology clinics. A prospective survey using the Rome III criteria was distributed to a group of parents of children with a constipation history and its control group in May 2008. The mean prevalence of constipation was 6.4%, which was similar to those in other countries. Statistically significant variables for children without constipation were that more children had a body mass index of below the 10th percentile even though they received more mother's care and ate balanced meals compared to the constipation group. Meanwhile, the constipation group frequently showed a history of constipation in infancy, picky-eating, lack of exercise, and retentive posturing. When analyzed with the Rome III criteria, the children showed greater than 60% rate of hard stools, painful stools, a history of large fecal mass in rectum, and its disappearance of constipation symptoms after passing a large stool. Our study found different approaches amongst pediatric gastroenterologists like rectal examinations, disimpaction, or drug treatment. Several factors addressed in our study can provide better guidelines for clinicians treating constipation and its future research.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Constipation/*diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Infant ; Laxatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Rectum/physiopathology ; Severity of Illness Index

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery*

A 15q25-qter partial trisomy characterized by pre or postnatal overgrowth, tall stature, macrocephaly and craniosynostosis has rarely been reported. The cause of overgrowth has been thought to be the triplication of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) gene located on the 15q26.3. We report a patient with partial trisomy 15q25.3-qter showing mental retardation, developmental delay, macrocephaly, long narrow face, ptosis, high palate arch, scoliosis, clinodactyly and overgrowth. Additional material located on terminal 2q was found in karyotyping analysis. In bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone-based-array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis, a gain of 31 clones on 15q25.3-qter and a loss of 2 clones on 2q37.3 were observed. An extra copy of IGF1R gene was observed on derivative chromosome 2 in FISH analysis. In conclusion, the patient was diagnosed to have de novo 46,XX,der(2)t(2;15)(q37.3;q25.3) chromosome complement. Adequate genetic counseling and regular follow-ups would be needed for the patient.
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics ; Child, Preschool ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Receptor, IGF Type 1/*genetics ; Translocation, Genetic ; *Trisomy

Background: Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, not only medical personnel but also paramedics or emergency medical technicians (EMT) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while performing their duties. The current study aimed to evaluate the psychological effects of managing patients with COVID-19 on the paramedics and EMT. Materials and Methods: A survey targeting paramedics and EMT in Korea was conducted in December 2020. An official letter requesting participation and with the link to an onlinebased survey was sent to the Public Emergency Medical Services. Only one response was accepted from each participant. Results: A total of 326 paramedics and EMT responded to the survey. Among them, 66.3% (216/326) had experience in managing patients with COVID-19. No differences in the distribution of sex, age, working area, duration of working experience, and underlying comorbidities were observed between those who did (COVID-19 group) and did not (nonCOVID-19 group) experience managing patients with COVID-19. The percentage of participants who showed severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was significantly higher in the COVID group than in the non-COVID group (11.1% vs. 3.6%P = 0.029). The participants in the COVID group had a significantly higher mean Global Assessment of Recent Stress Scale score than those in the non-COVID group (18.7 ± 11.1 vs. 16.1 ± 9.9, P = 0.042). The proportion of paramedics and EMT willing to leave their job if given a chance was higher in the COVID group than the non-COVID group (24.1% vs. 9.1%, P = 0.001). Additionally, paramedics and EMT in the COVID group tended to show concern regarding exposure to COVID-19 infection. Conclusion The experience of managing patients with COVID-19 resulted in psychological distress among paramedics and EMT in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Combined modality therapy is standard treatment of unresectable, locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal chemotherapy regimen and duration of chemotherapy remain a matter of debate. We evaluated the efficacy and feasibility of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC. METHODS: PS 0-2 patients with histologically proven inoperable stage III NSCLC were eligible for this trial. The patients received paclitaxel (60mg/m2) on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36 with a concurrent radiotherapy (5days/week, 1.8Gy/day) starting day 1 with a total dose of 63 Gy. After CCRT, four cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with paclitaxel (140mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC 5) was administered to patients with a partial, complete remission or stable disease. RESULTS: Twenty eight patients with locally advanced NSCLC enrolled in this study. The median age of the patients was 60 years. Of the 28 patients, 19 received scheduled CCRT. Overall response rate was 71.4% including 5 complete responses and 15 partial responses. Grade 3 or 4 pulmonary complication was observed in 7 patients and 3 patients died of pneumonitis. The median overall survival was 17.5 months (95% CI, 12.5-22.5). The median progression free survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 4.1-11.9). CONCLUSIONS: CCRT including paclitaxel in patients with locally advanced NSCLC led to an encouraging response rate and survival, but resulted in high incidence of severe pulmonary complication.
Carboplatin ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Paclitaxel* ; Pneumonia ; Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: UFT/oral leucovorin (LV) provided a safer, more convenient oral alternative to bolus i.v. 5-Fluorouracil/LV regimen for advanced colorectal cancer while producing equivalent survival. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a combination of oxaliplatin and UFT/LV in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. METHODS: From January 1999 to December 2001, a total 28 patient with metastatic or relapsed colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. Treatment was consisted of oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 i.v. for 2 hours on day 1, and UFT 300 mg/m2 p.o. and LV 30 mg p.o. on day 1-21. Chemotherapy repeated every three weeks until disease progression. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients, 1 complete response and 10 partial responses were observed. The overall response rate was 39.3%. The estimated median time to progression and survival were 6.0 months and 18.2 months, respectively. Peripheral neuropathy was the most common adverse effect. But, peripheral neuropathy was mild (grade 1, 2) and reversible. From the 129 cycles analyzed, grade 3, 4 adverse effects were observed only 3% included neutropenia (1.5%), and thrombocytopenia (1.5%). There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: This combination of oxaliplatin and UFT/oral leucovorin is active and feasible in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The regimen deserve further evaluation in a phase III prospective study.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Neutropenia ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Tegafur ; Thrombocytopenia ; Uracil

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children at admission and during hospitalization in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This first cross-sectional nationwide “Pediatric Nutrition Day (pNday)” survey was conducted among 872 hospitalized children (504 boys, 368 girls; 686 medical, 186 surgical) from 23 hospitals in South Korea. Malnutrition risk was screened using the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and the Screening Tool Risk on Nutritional status and Growth. Nutritional status was assessed by z-scores of weight-for-age for underweight, weight-for-height for wasting, and height-for-age for stunting as well as laboratory tests. RESULTS: At admission, of the 872 hospitalized children, 17.2% were underweight, and the prevalence of wasting and stunting was 20.2% and 17.3%, respectively. During hospitalization till pNday, 10.8% and 19.6% experienced weight loss and decreased oral intake, respectively.During the aforementioned period, fasting was more prevalent in surgical patients (7.5%) than in medical patients (1.6%) (P < 0.001). According to the PYMS, 34.3% and 30% of the children at admission and on pNday, respectively, had a high-risk of malnutrition, requiring consultation with the nutritional support team (NST). However, only 4% were actually referred to the NST during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Malnutrition was prevalent at admission and during hospitalization in pediatric patients, with many children experiencing weight loss and poor oral intake. To improve the nutritional status of hospitalized children, it is important to screen and identify all children at risk of malnutrition and refer malnourished patients to the multidisciplinary NST for proper nutritional interventions.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the nutritional status and prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children at admission and during hospitalization in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This first cross-sectional nationwide “Pediatric Nutrition Day (pNday)” survey was conducted among 872 hospitalized children (504 boys, 368 girls; 686 medical, 186 surgical) from 23 hospitals in South Korea. Malnutrition risk was screened using the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS) and the Screening Tool Risk on Nutritional status and Growth. Nutritional status was assessed by z-scores of weight-for-age for underweight, weight-for-height for wasting, and height-for-age for stunting as well as laboratory tests. RESULTS: At admission, of the 872 hospitalized children, 17.2% were underweight, and the prevalence of wasting and stunting was 20.2% and 17.3%, respectively. During hospitalization till pNday, 10.8% and 19.6% experienced weight loss and decreased oral intake, respectively.During the aforementioned period, fasting was more prevalent in surgical patients (7.5%) than in medical patients (1.6%) (P < 0.001). According to the PYMS, 34.3% and 30% of the children at admission and on pNday, respectively, had a high-risk of malnutrition, requiring consultation with the nutritional support team (NST). However, only 4% were actually referred to the NST during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Malnutrition was prevalent at admission and during hospitalization in pediatric patients, with many children experiencing weight loss and poor oral intake. To improve the nutritional status of hospitalized children, it is important to screen and identify all children at risk of malnutrition and refer malnourished patients to the multidisciplinary NST for proper nutritional interventions.