No abstract available.
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Recycling* ; Spectrum Analysis ; Torque ; Sample Size ; Research Design ; Cortical Bone

Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid crisis) is a known cause of sudden death; however, only a few cases of death resulting from thyrotoxicosis have been reported. Histopathologic examination and postmortem thyroid function tests may be helpful in postmortem diagnosis, but their usefulness seems to be limited. We report three autopsy cases associated with thyrotoxicosis.
Autopsy ; Death, Sudden ; Thyroid Crisis ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotoxicosis

Pseudoaneurysm is uncommon but a life threatening complication of chronic pancreatitis. Angiography has been the standard definitive imaging modality in the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm. However, over the past 5 years duplux US and Dynamic CT have been proven to be valuable. The authors report a case of gastroduodenal pseudoaneurysm in chronic pancreatitis, which could be diagnosed by duplux US and Dynamic CT. Furthermore this case proved to be a pseudocyst which converted into a pseudoaneurysm by vessel rupture.
Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Diagnosis* ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Rupture

Due to an author error the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant Number was incorrectly listed in the original online publication of this article.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the nutrient intake of the elementary students participating in the School lunch program and to compare the amount of the plate waste generated in two school foodservice operations that were located in an urban(school A) and a rural area(school B), respectively. A plate waste analysis was conducted for each menu item to separate and quantify food waste discarded in service phases of each operation. The SPSS 10.0 for window was used for data analysis. Non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney) was adopted to determine if significant differences existed in amounts of food waste generated in school A and school B. An average of 415 meals, including 43 adult meals, were served daily in school A, while an average of 177 meals, including 24 adult meals, were served daily in school B. Throughout the study the percentage of plate waste in vegetable dishes was high in both school. The food served to the students in school A met most of the RDA set by Korean Nutrition Association except vitamin A, while that served to the students in school B satisfied RDA in all aspects. Between 10-20% of the nutrients served were discarded as plate waste(school A : 11-27%; school B : 5-14%). Students in school B took significantly more niacin than students in school A did. It should be noted, though, that the RDA was still met in both schools except the vitamin A in case of school A, even after considering the plate waste. The research results suggested that school foodservice dieticians should evaluate the acceptability of menu items based on food waste per meal, and help increase the students' awareness of the environmental impact of food waste. Further, teachers, parents and dieticians should be encouraged to provide environmental education to the students that focused on the reduction of food waste.
Adult ; Education ; Humans ; Lunch ; Meals ; Niacin ; Nutritionists ; Nutritive Value* ; Parents ; Statistics as Topic ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A

PURPOSE:Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common thyroid disease in children and adolescents, and also is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in children and adolescents. We studied the clinical manifestations and natural courses of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents. METHODS:We analyzed retrospectively twenty one children and adolescents who were diagnosed as chronic autoimmune thyroiditis before 15 years of age. The diagnoses were made from July 1997 to February 2004 at Ajou Univesity Hospital. We reviewed the clinical manifestations and thyroid functions of these patients. RESULTS:Nineteen patients were female and two were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 9.95+/-3.1 years, the mean duration of follow up was 23.52+/-22.98 months. At diagnosis, the most common chief complaint was goiter (15 patients/21 patients) and the others were short stature, easy fatigue, cardiac murmur and weight loss. Eighteen patients had goiters at diagnosis. Four had familial history of thyroid disease, Three of them had maternal history of thyroid disease and one had paternal history of thyroid disease. At diagnosis, Seven patients were euthyroid and four patients were hyperthyroid, eighteen patients had antithyroglobulin antibody, seventeen patients had antimicrosomal antibody, fourteen patients had both of them. At last follow-up, eight patients were euthyroid and ten patients were hypothyroid, three patients were hyperthyroid. CONCLUSION: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents can have the various important influences on the metabolism including the growth. The clinical manifestations and thyroid functions should be monitored in children and adolescents with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Fatigue ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Heart Murmurs ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Male ; Metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of distress and quality of life (QoL) in esophageal cancer patients, and to identify the factors influencing QoL METHODS: A sample of 103 patients who have esophageal cancer were included in a descriptive study. The instruments used were the Distress Thermometer and Problem List, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) version 4. RESULTS: The mean distress score of the subjects was 4.06±2.04 out of 10. The total mean score of quality of life was 66.39±12.86 out of 108, the highest category was physical well-being with a mean item score of 21.78±5.51, the lowest was emotional well-being with a mean item score of 14.69±3.68. The levels of distress and QoL were negatively correlated (r=−.61, p<.001). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the QoL of the patients was explained by type of treatment and distress. These variables explained 35% of the variance in QoL. CONCLUSION: The QoL of patients with esophageal cancer was relatively low, and the type of treatment and distress was the most important factor affecting quality of life. Thus, to improve the QoL of patients with esophageal cancer, it is important to assess their distress and to provide appropriate interventions.
Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Thermometers

PURPOSE: Childhood headache is different from adulthood headache and according to their age in clinical aspects. This study investigated the clinical differences of primary headache according to ages of children and adolescents. METHODS: A 300 children who did not show abnormalities on neurologic examination or brain CT or MRI were classified into two groups according to their ages. RESULTS: The percentage of those in the migraine group (24.2% vs. 35.9% in Groups 1 and 2 respectively) was higher in Group 2, but it was not statistically significant. In relation to the duration of headache, pain lasting for less than one hour accounted for 59.8% and 40% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.001). In relation to the location headaches developed, the frontal region (40.2%) and temporal region (48.1%) were the most common in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P<0.001). In relation to the nature of the headaches, tightening sensation accounted for the highest percentage in both groups; however, pulsating sensation were more common in Group 2 than in Group 1 (16.2% vs. 8.3%, P=0.038). In relation to the severity of headaches, severe to profound headaches accounted for 35.5% and 61.1% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P<0.001). In relation to laterality, unilateral headaches accounted for 12.4% and 26.7% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.002). In relation to accompanying symptoms, the incidence of photophobia was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P=0.047). CONCLUSION: Age factors should be considered in the diagnosis of childhood headaches. Also, we consider that there may be a need to establish diagnostic criteria specifically for childhood headaches separately from those for adulthood headaches.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Brain ; Child ; Headache ; Headache Disorders, Primary ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; Incidence ; Migraine Disorders ; Neurologic Examination ; Photophobia ; Sensation

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the pediatric sedation knowledge and performance of nurses in tertiary hospitals. Methods: Altogether 120 nurses working in the Pediatric Departments of 4 tertiary hospitals in Busan and Kyungnam participated in this descriptive survey. The questionnaire was developed based on domestic and international guidelines and consisted of 40 questions including 18 questions on knowledge and 22 on the performance level of sedation nursing. Results: The mean score regarding the knowledge of pediatric sedation care was 3.14 points and the mean performance level score was 3.44 points. Questions that received low scores in terms of pediatric sedation care knowledge included items regarding the latest policies, level of sedation, and fasting before sedation. Questions that received low scores in the performance level included items regarding psychological preparation before sedation, sedation education considering developmental level and disease, and items related to blood pressure measurement. Pediatric sedation knowledge scores were higher in the groups with higher age, longer clinical experience, higher educational experience, and awareness of sedation guidelines. Performance scores were significantly higher in the groups having educational experience in pediatric sedation and in those exhibiting awareness of sedation guidelines. Conclusion Sedation education was significantly associated with both knowledge and performance of sedation nursing, conducting educational programs on pediatric sedation nursing.