PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships among mother's perception of her own newborn, her caring-confidence level, and her child-rearing attitude; and to provide data for developing effective nursing education programs on maternal newborn care. METHOD: Explorative survey questionnaires were completed by 159 married mothers of newborns from November 2003 to March 2004. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Win 10.0 by t-test and Pearson's Correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The mean scores of the mother's perception of her own newborn, her caring-confidence level, and her child-rearing attitude were .26, 3.13, and 3.43 respectively. There was a positive correlation between mother's perception of her own newborn and her child-rearing attitude. There was a significant correlation between mothers caring-confidence level and her child-rearing attitude. Score of caring-confidence was significantly different depending on the availability of helper and history of delivery. CONCLUSION: Availability of helper and history of delivery significantly affected mothers caring-confidence. This in turn, along with mothers perception of her own newborn, enhanced mothers child-rearing attitude. Thus, an effective education for mothers should include these factors.
Education ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers* ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Foreign body aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree is a common medical emergency in children and represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed to analyze the clinical spectrum of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children and to evaluate the causes of late diagnoses. METHODS: A total of 108 patients with foreign body aspiration were recruited in the last 10 years, who had a flexible or rigid bronchoscopic examination. The age, sex, symptoms, causes of aspiration, radiologic findings, and clinical courses were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the elapsed time from aspiration to a definite diagnosis as early (< or =24 hours after aspiration) and late diagnoses (>24 hours after aspiration). The two groups were compared for clinical courses, radiologic findings, and the duration of admission of early- and late-diagnosed foreign body aspiration. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of the patients were less than 24 months of age and the most common symptoms were the sudden onset of a cough. Hyperinflation or obstructive emphysema (52.8%) and normal chest radiographs (19.4%) were the most frequent radiologic findings. Plain chest radiographies revealed visible foreign bodies in 7.4% of all patients with foreign body aspiration. Nuts were the most common foreign bodies aspirated. Sudden onset of a persistent cough and fever were predominant in the late-diagnosed group.(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that clinical suspicion upon interviewing is enough to indicate bronchoscopy. The best way to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with foreign body aspiration is to promote public prevention polices.
Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Cough ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis* ; Emergencies ; Emphysema ; Fever ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nuts ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools as a predictor of intussusception. METHODS: We reviewed 159 cases retrospectively that had an ultrasound examination for diagnosis of intussusception from January 2001 to December 2003 at Ilsin Christian Hospital. We compared each symptom and assessed the diagnostic value of gross bloody stools in the patients with suspected intussusception. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 159 patients had intussusception. Of 36 patients with intussusception, 19 (52.8%) children were male and 28(77.8%) children were younger than two years. The most common symptom was intermittent abdominal pain or irritability. But its frequency among the intussusception (24.2%) was lower than frequency of gross bloody stools(50.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of gross bloody stools in patients with suspected intussusception were as follows; sensitivity=77.8%(95% CI 60.8-89.9), specificity=78.0%(95% CI 69.7-85.0), PPV=50.9%(95% CI 37.1-64.6), NPV=92.3%(95% CI 85.4-96.6)(Diagnostic accuracy 78.0 %; 95% CI 70.7-84.2). CONCLUSION: It is useful for diagnosis of intussusception to confirm the presence of gross blood in stools.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: In this study we tried to look at the spreading, duration of colonization, and acquisition of new streptococci which were obtained in one geographical area, as well as the bacteriologic and molecular epidemiology of normal school children carrying group A streptococci and their clonal relationship through the combined application of the serotype of T antigen and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis(PFGE). METHODS: A total of 88 strains of group A streptococci were isolated from 396 normal school children. All isolates were classified in groups by Streptex and serotyped by T. agglutination. Restriction enzyme digestion of DNA was taken using Sma I. DNA fragments were separated by PFGE. RESULTS: A total of 33 strains were allocated their epidemiologic characteristics. Four out of 33 strains were not restricted by enzyme(Sma I). Twenty nine strains out of 33 strains showed 12 subtypes with 8-12 fragments between 40kbp and 500kbp of DNA fragments on PFGE. Eight strains of NT and T6 war same fragment patterns on PFGE, respectively. Three strains out of 4 strains of T8/25 were not restricted and the other one showed different, unique patterns. One strain out of 8 stains of T12 was not restricted, and the others were classified as 5 different subtypes. Two strains of Tl were different patterns from each other, and 2 strains of T4 showed the samefragment pattern CONCLUSION: T serotypes with PFGE will be useful as a screening and molecular epidemiologic method in a country where anti-M antisera is not available, after recognizing the advantages and disadvantages of M and T serotyping.
Agglutination ; Antigens, Viral, Tumor ; Child* ; Colon ; Coloring Agents ; Digestion ; DNA ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Mass Screening ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Serotyping* ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many countries have reported sharp drops in the numbers of patients, especially children, seeking emergency care unrelated to the disease. The author investigated the patterns of febrile children’s visits to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital from 2017 through 2020. Methods: We compared the data of febrile children aged 15 years or younger who visited the ED in 2017-2019 and in 2020 (February through August, each year). Information on the children’s baseline characteristics, the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale 1-2 indicating a high severity, and ED disposition, such as hospitalization, were collected. In addition, we determined the number of children who underwent cancellation, defined as the leave of children without treatment, and the rates of respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction performance and its positivity. Results: In 2020, we noted decreases in the median monthly fever-related ED visits (2017-2019, 326 [interquartile range, 292-425] vs. 2020, 149 [132-182]; P < 0.001) with a shorter median fever duration (2017-2019, 11 [3-27] days vs. 2020, 9 [2-23] days; P < 0.001). However, in the same year, we noted increases in rates of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale 1-2 (2017-2019, 5.7% vs. 2020, 16.4%; P < 0.001) and hospitalization (2017-2019, 23.5% vs. 2020, 35.7%; P < 0.001). We also noted increases in the number of cancellation and the rate of respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction performance rate, along with a decrease in its positive rate in 2020. Conclusion During the pandemic, the febrile children’s visits to the ED decreased in number. However, the severity remarkably increased, requiring more medical attention.

Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many countries have reported sharp drops in the numbers of patients, especially children, seeking emergency care unrelated to the disease. The author investigated the patterns of febrile children’s visits to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital from 2017 through 2020. Methods: We compared the data of febrile children aged 15 years or younger who visited the ED in 2017-2019 and in 2020 (February through August, each year). Information on the children’s baseline characteristics, the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale 1-2 indicating a high severity, and ED disposition, such as hospitalization, were collected. In addition, we determined the number of children who underwent cancellation, defined as the leave of children without treatment, and the rates of respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction performance and its positivity. Results: In 2020, we noted decreases in the median monthly fever-related ED visits (2017-2019, 326 [interquartile range, 292-425] vs. 2020, 149 [132-182]; P < 0.001) with a shorter median fever duration (2017-2019, 11 [3-27] days vs. 2020, 9 [2-23] days; P < 0.001). However, in the same year, we noted increases in rates of the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale 1-2 (2017-2019, 5.7% vs. 2020, 16.4%; P < 0.001) and hospitalization (2017-2019, 23.5% vs. 2020, 35.7%; P < 0.001). We also noted increases in the number of cancellation and the rate of respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction performance rate, along with a decrease in its positive rate in 2020. Conclusion During the pandemic, the febrile children’s visits to the ED decreased in number. However, the severity remarkably increased, requiring more medical attention.

OBJECTIVES: Despite severe oligospermia, males with Y chromosome microdeletion can achieve conception through ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). However, ICSI may not only result in the transmission of microdeletions but also the expansion of deletion to the offspring. The purpose of this study was to screen vertical transmission, expansion of microdeletions and de novo deletion in male fetuses conceived by ICSI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 ICSI treated patients with their 33 (a case of twin) male fetuses conceived by ICSI were used to make this study group. Sequence-tagged sites (STSs)-based PCR analyses were performed on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of fathers and from the amniocytes of male fetuses. Ten primer pairs namely, sY134, sY138, MK5, sY152, sY147, sY254, sY255, SPGY1, sY269 and sY158 were used. The samples with deletions were verified at least three times. RESULTS: We detected a frequency of 12.5% (4 of the 32 patients) of microdeletions in ICSI patients. In 4 patients with detected deletions, two patients have proven deletions on single STS marker and their male fetuses have the identical deletion in this region. Another two patients have two and three deletions, but their male fetuses have more than 3 deletions which include deletions to their father's. Meanwhile, seven male fetuses, whose fathers were analyzed to have all 10 STS markers present, have deletions present in at least one or more of the markers. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of deletions on the Y chromosome are believed to arise de novo, in some cases a deletion has been transmitted from the fertile father to the infertile patient. In other cases the deletion was transmitted through ICSI treatment, it is likely that one sperm cell is injected through the oocyte's cytoplasm and fertilization can be obtained from spermatozoa. Our tests for deletion were determined by PCR and our results show that the ICSI treatment may lead to vertical transmission, expansion and de novo Y chromosome microdeletions in male fetuses. Because the sample group was relatively small, one should be cautious in analyzing these data. However, it is important to counsel infertile couples contemplating ICSI if the male carries Y chromosomal microdeletions.
Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Fertilization ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Male* ; Oligospermia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Tagged Sites ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spermatozoa ; Y Chromosome*

Primary aldosteronism is in most cases due either to a unilateral adrenal adenama or to a bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. But, a few of bilateral adrena1 tumors in primary aldosteronism also have been reported. In these cases, it is important to differentiate the bilateral aldosterone producing adenomas from the unilateral aldosteronoma in the presence of a contralateral nonhmctioning adenoma for marking a treatment plan. We report a case of primary aldosteronism due to a unilateral aldosteronoma in the presence of a contralateral nonfunctioning adenoma. Abdominal CT sean revealed bilateral adrenal tumors, of which the functioning one was successfully localized using adrenal scintigraphy and selective adrenal venous sampling.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Cortex ; Aldosterone* ; Hyperaldosteronism* ; Hyperplasia ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of major pathogens in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). In addition to intrinsic MRSA infection of the mastoid air cell system, nasal colonization of MRSA, a known predictor of postoperative surgical site infection, may pose increased risk of postoperative complications. The purpose of this study is to describe microbiology of preoperative nasal swab screening and localized middle ear specimens in patients undergoing otologic surgeries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients with CSOM who underwent middle ear surgery were included. Preoperative nasal swabs for MRSA, and preoperative and intraoperative middle ear swabs were collected and compared for pathogens. RESULTS: Preoperative nasal swab screening confirmed MRSA colonization in 3/49 patients (6.1%) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) in 9/49 patients (18.4%). Correlation with preoperative culture results and nasal swab screening results were compatible in 2/4 patients with positive nasal swab for MRSA and 1/9 patients with positive nasal swab for MRCNS. Postoperative conversion to MRSA was observed in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of nasal MRSA colonization among patients with CSOM was higher than among the general community. Preoperative MRSA colonization was associated with MRSA from middle ear specimens. Further studies are warranted to investigate the possible benefit of preoperative treatment of MRSA colonized patients undergoing middle ear surgeries.
Colon ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mastoid ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Postoperative Complications ; Staphylococcus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although acute low-tone hearing loss has been associated with cochlear hydrops or early stage Meniere's disease, its prognosis in the short-term has been reported to be better than sudden hearing loss. However, recurrence of hearing loss and possible progression to Meniere's disease remain important concerns in the clinical setting. This study aims to investigate the long-term audiological outcomes of acute low-tone hearing loss. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients presenting with a first attack of acute low-tone hearing loss was performed. Of the 77 patients, 33 were followed up for more than 3 months. Progression, recovery of hearing loss and recurrence of hearing loss were examined. Also, correlation between long-term outcomes and associated clinical factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (75.7%) had complete hearing recovery, five patients (15.1%) had partial recovery, two patients (6.0%) had no recovery, and one patient (3.0%) had progression of hearing loss 1 month after initial treatment. Thirty-three patients were followed up for more than 3 months (mean 22 months, range 3-79 months). Recurrences of acute low-tone hearing loss were observed in five patients (15.2%). All of the recurrences occurred during the first 12 months of follow-up. Long-term prognosis correlated with the initial therapy results (R2=0.693). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrences of hearing loss were documented in five patients (15.2%), and all of these cases occurred within one year of the first attack. Audiological outcomes after initial therapy may predict the recurrence of acute low-tone hearing loss.
Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies