PURPOSE: Although influenza is regarded as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer, the actual vaccine coverage remains poor. We conducted evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccine in children with cancer. METHODS: In this study, 25 children with cancer who received influenza vaccine (SK influenza IX vaccine(R)) at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital between October and December 2009 were analyzed. Blood samples of patients were collected twice (at the beginning of this study and at 30th day after vaccination) and their antibody titers were measured using the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay. Immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine was assessed by seroprotection rate on days 0 and 30, seroconversion rate on day 30, and mean fold increase (MFI) of geometric mean titer (GMT) of HI between days 0 and 30. RESULTS: Any of the subjects in our study did not experienced serious adverse events after influenza vaccination. Seroprotection rates were 68% for H1N1, 40% for H3N2, and 36% for B. Seroconversion rates were 12% for H1N1, 16% for H3N2, and 20% for B. MFIs were 0.9 for H1N1, 1.2 for H3N2, and 1.8 for B. CONCLUSION: In the study, we found a limited protective immune response to influenza vaccine, among subjects with cancer. However, some subjects showed seroconversion, and there were no severe adverse events among all subjects, supporting the recommendation of annual influenza vaccination in children with cancer.
Child ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: This study investigated various factors relatied to wandering behavior of Korean elders with dementia (KED). METHODS: A sample of 160 ambulatory residents with dementia from 14 long term care facilities was used to examine demographic, individual, cognitive, physical health, and environmental characteristics by comparing wanderers (N=108) to nonwanders (N=52). Subjects were evaluated by Korean versions of the Mini-mental State Exam (K-MMSE), the Physical and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-PIADL), and the Revised Algase Wandering Scale Nursing Home version (KRAWS-NH) along its six dimensions. Demographic and environmental data were also obtained. Independent sample ttests, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact tests, and ANCOVAs were used to examine differences between wanderers and nonwanders. RESULTS: Wanderers were significantly (p<.05) older and had more limitations in K-PADL and K-IADL. The degree of overall wandering and certain features of wandering were significantly different (p<.05) by total number of residents in the facility, type of bedroom (i.e., "Ondol"), and color of bedroom and living-room walls (i.e., sky blue). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding wandering behavior of KEDs and thus developing more culturally specific management strategies.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dementia/*psychology ; Demography ; Female ; Homes for the Aged ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Homes ; *Wandering Behavior

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Wandering is one of the most common behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and associated with some of the adverse outcomes in dementia, such as getting lost or even death. The etiology of wandering is not yet clearly known. As depression and wandering are both very common among the patients with dementia, this study examined the relationship between the depression and wandering among the community dwelling patients with dementia. METHODS: Fifty community dwelling patients diagnosed with dementia were included in this study if they had primary family caregiver, older than age 18 in Seoul, South Korea. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Korean Version (GDS-K), Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and Korean Version of Revised Algase Wandering Scale-Community Version (K-RAWS-CV) were used to measure the severity of depression, cognitive function and wandering. RESULTS: Thirty percents of the patients showed wandering. Mean score of GDS-K was significantly higher in wanderers than non-wanderers. Severity of depression was significantly correlated with the total score of K-RAWS-CV and subscales of persistent walking, repetitive walking, eloping behavior, and mealtime impulsivity in whole sample. K-MMSE score also was related to wandering behavior. The prevalence odds ratio for wandering in depressed patients compared with undepressed group was 8.386 (95% confidence interval: 1.978-35.561). CONCLUSIONS: This study implicates that not only cognitive impairment but also psychosocial aspects should be considered in wandering patients with dementia and suggests assessing the depression in patients would be helpful in identifying the causes of wandering.
Caregivers ; Dementia* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Korea ; Meals ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Walking ; Wandering Behavior

PURPOSE: This study attempted to identify influential variables on types of smoking in adult smokers, which have been derived from Q-study. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 328 adult smokers at community settings in Seoul, South Korea from April 2006 to July 2006. To identify the influential variables related to smoking, variables from the Trans-theoretical model(i.e., self-efficacy for smoking abstinence, smoking temptation, process of change, decisional balance(pros and cons)) and nicotine dependency were analysed by ANOVA. Post-comparison tests were also done. RESULTS: The scores of nicotine dependency and smoking temptation were higher in habitual craving types than any other types, while the scores of self-liberation and self-efficacy for smoking abstinence were higher in self control types than any other types. CONCLUSION: Specific smoking intervention methods for each of the smoking types needs to be developed, based on how different groups of individuals gets into a decisions to quit smoking within their contexts.
Adult ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Nicotine ; Republic of Korea ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics of eating behavior according to level of functional status of elders with dementia (EWD), and to examine feeding time, change in food intake and body mass index (BMI) according to eating behavior. METHODS: Participants were 149 EWD residing in long-term care facilities located in Seoul or Gyeonggi province and evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Exam-Korean version, Korean version-Activities of Daily Living, and Eating Behavior Scale (EBS). Feeding time, change in food intake, and BMI were also measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0, specifically descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Participants' mean EBS score was 10.43+/-6.01 and half of them (54.4%) needed moderate or total assistance while eating. The EBS score was significantly lower for elders with severe dementia compared to those with mild or moderate dementia; and elders with severe ADL dependence compared to those with mild or moderate ADL dependence. Lower EBS scores were related to longer feeding time, a greater the rate of participants with decreased food intake and 'underweight' BMI. CONCLUSION: Nursing intervention programs which are designed for EWD are needed to maintain functional eating skills and prevent negative consequences in this population.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Dementia/*psychology ; Eating ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Long-Term Care ; Male ; Nursing Homes ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify types of smoking decision making-temptation in adolescents and characteristics related to type among student smokers. METHOD: Data collection was done from March to July. 2006. A survey was administered to 275 students in 13 high schools and 15 middle schools in Seoul, South Korea. To identify types and characteristics smoking decision making-temptation in adolescents, cluster analysis using the K-mean method was employed. Characteristics of the influential variables according to the identified types of adolescent smokers were evaluated using ANOVA. RESULTS: Four types of smoking pattern in adolescents were identified: habitual craving (17.7%), nicotine dependence (35.8%), feeblemindedness (28.4%), and self control p=.001), while the score for self efficacy for smoking abstinence was higher in the self control type (F=23.06, p=.000). Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that effective interventions for smoking cessation in adolescents require not only active implementation of nicotine replacement therapy but also development of individualized approaches for each person targeting change in the social environment that may lead to positive smoking decisional balance.
Adolescent ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Nicotine ; Republic of Korea ; Self Efficacy ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Social Environment ; Tobacco Use Disorder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop video assisted education on bowel preparation for colonoscopy (VEBPC) and use a snartphone to evaluate effects of the VEBPC. METHODS: Adult patients who were scheduled for colonoscopy were recruited from a university general hospital and randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (n=30) watched the video using a computer set in the endoscope consulting room. Group 2 (n=29) watched it using a smartphone, and group 3, the control group (n=29) received education with existing instructions at the reservation- reception desk. Participants were evaluated on knowledge on taking bowel preparation agents and diet, compliance on taking bowel preparation agents and diet, satisfaction with education, and actual level of bowel preparation. RESULTS: Group 1 and 2 showed significantly (p<.001) higher scores for knowledge, compliance, and satisfaction compared to the control group. However, in post-hoc test analyses there were no significant differences in these variables between group 1 and 2. No significant difference was found in the actual level of bowel preparation among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study show that VEBPC using smartphone is a better option than existing educational methods. However, replication studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Adult ; Colonoscopy* ; Compliance ; Diet ; Education* ; Endoscopes ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Smartphone*

OBJECTIVES: Though gastric cancer is one of the most common cancer in Korea, there have been few studies to explore psychological distress in gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of psychological distress among patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: With consecutive sampling, a total of 274 patients with gastric cancer who admitted to a cancer center in a general hospital were recruited and assessed on psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS). Sociodemographic and cancer-related clinical variables were also evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three(55.8%) patients with gastric cancer showed psychological distress. Logistic regression models revealed that having alcohol drinking experience[odds ratio(OR)=2.10, p=0,034] and low performance status(OR=2.40 p=0.002) were significantly associated with psychological distress in patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that approximately half of patients with gastric cancer suffered from psychological distress and having alcohol drinking experience and low performance status would be associated risk factors, suggesting the need for distress screening and psychosocial supportive care in patients with gastric cancer.
Alcohol Drinking ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

Hypertriglyceridemia is a rare cause of pancreatitis in pregnancy. Pregnancy is related with hypertriglyceridemia especially in the 3rd trimester due to increase of estrogen. Diabetes is known as a common cause of secondary lipid metabolism disorder and is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Shock and sepsis related to pancreatitis in pregnancy result in a relatively high morbidity and mortality rate for both the mother and the fetus. Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis complicated in gestational diabetes has not previously been reported. We report a case of 26(+4) weeks gestational aged primigravida with acute pancreatitis induced by hypertriglyceridemia in gestational diabetes. We reviewed the clinical courses and treatments of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy with the literatures.
Aged ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Lipid Metabolism Disorders ; Mothers ; Pancreatitis ; Pregnancy ; Sepsis ; Shock

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fracture with miniplates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 134 patients who presented with 196 fractures were analyzed retrospectively. Complications were evaluated for factors such as age, the site of fracture, the severity of fracture, delayed operation, preoperative wound contamination, the site and disposition of teeth in the fracture line and midfacial fractures. Statistical analysis was used to compare complications to risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients, 20 patients had some form of postoperative complications and complication rate was 14.9%. These complications included infection, plate fracture, malocclusion, wound dehiscence, nerve injury and nonunion. There was a significant correlation between complication rate and the severity of fracture, preoperative wound contamination and the site of the fracture and disposition of teeth(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of postoperative complications in the treatment of mandibular fractures was related to the severity of fracture, preoperative wound contamination and the site of the fracture and disposition of teeth.
Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tooth ; Wounds and Injuries