PURPOSE: Poisoning represents one of the most common accidents encountered by young children. Recently, mortality due to poisoning has gradually decreased, but the incidence has not decreased. We performed this study to compare the following factors during 1980's and 1990's : sex distribution, urban and rural distribution, causative substances. METHODS: A clinical study was performed on 90 cases of acute poisoning who were admitted in the pediatric department of Cho Sun University Hospital from Jan. 1980 to Aug. 1995. RESULTS: 1) The poisoning occured more frequently in males than in females, and the highest incidence was observed in the 1 to 5 year age group(50.0%). 2) Seasonal incidence was more prevalent in summer(from June to August). 3) The frequency of poisoning in the country was higher than in urban, but no significant difference between urban and the country in 1990s. 4) The causative substances were agricultural chemicals(36.7%), drugs(23.3%), household inseticide(21.1%). 5) In 1990s, poisoning due to houshold insecticide was decreased, whereas poisoning due to drug increased. 6) The cause of poisoning was mainly accidental(82.2%). 7) Accident was the leading cause of poisoning in children up to 10 years old, whereas suicidal attempts happened at the 10 to 15 year age group. 8) Death in the hospital was one case(1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Urban incidence gradually increased and accidental poisoning due to medicine also increased. So, we conclude that prevention such as education and use of grip-tight cap or similar safety devices is important.
Child* ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Poisoning* ; Protective Devices ; Seasons ; Sex Distribution ; Solar System

Yerba Mate, derived from the leaves of the tree, Ilex paraguariensis, is widely-used as a tea or as an ingredient in formulated foods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Yerba Mate extract on weight loss, obesity-related biochemical parameters, and diabetes in high-fat diet-fed mice. To this end, by using in vivo animal models of dietary-induced obesity, we have made the interesting observations that Yerba Mate has the ability to decrease the differentiation of pre-adipocytes and to reduce the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes, both of which contribute to a lower growth rate of adipose tissue, lower body weight gain, and obesity. Our data from in vivo studies revealed that Yerba Mate treatment affects food intake, resulting in higher energy expenditure, likely as a result of higher basal metabolism in Yerba Mate-treated mice. Furthermore, in vivo effects of Yerba Mate on lipid metabolism included reductions in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and glucose concentrations in mice that were fed a high fat diet. In conclusion, Yerba Mate can potentially be used to treat obesity and diabetes.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Basal Metabolism ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet, High-Fat ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Food, Formulated ; Glucose ; Ilex paraguariensis ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; Tea ; Trees ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss

Although the fertilization rate exceeds to 80~90% with much progress in vitro fertilizaton and embyo transfer(IVF-ET) program, the prgnancy rate rmains at 20~30%, and the endometrial implantaion rate per embryo transferred at 10~15%. Recently, many attempts have been made to improve embrynic implantion after IVF-ET including serveral procedures of assisted hatching(AH) using micromanipulation, and pregnacies and births have been obtained after AH. This clinical study was performed to develop and estabilish AH as an effective procedure to improve embryonic implantioan in IVF-ET patients who had previous repeated failure of standard IVF-ET more than 2 times(Group R), were more than 37 years old(Group A), or had high basal serun FSH levels more than 15 mIU/ml(Group F). From January, 1995 to Februry, 1996, 132 cycles of AH using partial zona dissection(PZD) were performed in 104 infertile patients, and the outcomes of AH were analyzed according to pregnancy rate. The number of oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) was 9.9+/-7.1 in 71 cycles of 54 patients who had previous repeated failure more than two times(Group I: Group R,R+A,R+F, and R+A+F), 8.4+/-5.9 in 62 cycles of 46 patients whose age was more than 37 years old(Group II : Groups A, R+A, A+F, and R+A+F), and 8.7+/-6.5 in 49 cycles of 47 patients who had high basal serum FSH levels more than 15 mIU/ml(Group III:Groups F,R+F, A+F, and R+A+F). The number of embroys transferred after AH was 4.7 +/-1.8 in Group I, 4.2 +/-1.9 in Group II, and 4.2+/-2.0 in Froup III. The mean cumulative embryo score(CES) was 56.8+/-30.0 in Group I, 52.6+/-30.6 in Group II, and 52.6+/-29.9 in Group III. There were no significant differences in the numbers of oocytes rerieved and embryos transferred, and CES among 3 groups. The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 14.4%(19/132) per cycle and 18.3%(19/104) per patient. THe clinical pregnancy rate per cycle and per patient was 12.7%(9/71) and 16.7%(9/54) in Group I, 4.8% (3/62) and 6.5%(3/46) in Group II, and 26.5%(13/49) and 27.7%(13/47) in Group III, and there was a significant difference between Group II and Group III. In conclusion, AH of human embryos using micromanipulation might be promising for IVF-ET patients, especially with the past history of repeated failure, old age, and high basal serum FSH level and AH will provide a range of novel techiques which may dramatically improve the implanatation and pregnancy rates in IVF-ET program and contribute much to effective management of infertile couples.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Micromanipulation* ; Oocytes ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Rate

PURPOSE: To evaluate current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding. METHODS: Mothers of babies aged 9-15 months who visited pediatric clinics of 14 general hospitals between September and December 2008 were asked to fill questionnaires. Data from 1,078 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: Complementary food was introduced at 4-7 months in 89% of babies. Home-made rice gruel was the first complementary food in 93% cases. Spoons were used for initial feeding in 97% cases. At 6-7 months, <50% of babies were fed meat (beef, 43%). Less than 12-month-old babies were fed salty foods such as salted laver (35%) or bean-paste soup (51%) and cow's milk (11%). The following were the maternal sources of information on complementary feeding: books/magazines (58%), friends (30%), internet web sites (29%), relatives (14%), and hospitals (4%). Compared to the 1993 survey, the incidence of complementary food introduction before 4 months (0.4% vs. 21%) and initial use of commercial food (7% vs. 39%) had decreased. Moreover, spoons were increasingly used for initial feeding (97% vs. 57%). The average maternal nutritional knowledge score was 7.5/10. Less percentage of mothers agreed with the following suggestions: bottle formula weaning before 15-18 months (68%), no commercial baby drinks as complementary food (67%), considering formula (or cow's milk) better than soy milk (65%), and feeding minced meat from 6-7 months (57%). CONCLUSION: Complementary feeding practices have considerably improved since the last decade. Pediatricians should advise timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods and monitor diverse information sources on complementary feeding.
Aged ; Friends ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Internet ; Korea ; Meat ; Milk ; Mothers ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soy Milk ; Weaning

BACKGROUND: This study was to evaluate a nationwide nosocomial infection rate and antimicrobial resistance in intensive care units(ICUs) in Korea. METHODS: The study was carried out at 16 university-affiliated teaching hospitals from July through October 2004. We performed a prospective multicenter study to investigate nosocomial infection rates, device-associated infection rated, and causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: The urinary tract was the most commonly involved site. Nosocomial infection rate was 12.48 in medical. ICU (MICU), 9.59 in medical surgical ICU (MSICU), 14.76 in surgical ICU (MSICU), and 11.60 in other lCU. Device-associated infection rates were as follow: 1) rates of urinary catheter-associated urinary tract infection were 4.26 in MICU, 3.17 in SICU, 4.88 in MSICU, and 5.87 in other ICU; 2) rates of central line-associated bloodstream infection were 3.24 in MICU, 1.56 in SlCU, 2.36 in MSICU, and 1.78 in other ICU; 3) rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia were 3.61 in MlCU, 13.05 in SICU, 1.68 in MSICU, and 4.84 in other lCU. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently identified microorganism in this study; 93% of S. aurues were resistant to methicillin; 17% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated were resistant to imipenem; 11% of Enterococcus faecium and 18% of Enterococcus faecalis showed resistance to vancomycin. Over a half of Acinetobacter spp, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli showed resistant to fluoroquinolone. Conclusion: This study shows the seriousness of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of infection control in the lCU in Korea. This study should provide a theoretical strategy to enforce the infection control.
Acinetobacter ; Cross Infection* ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus faecium ; Escherichia coli ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Hospitals, University* ; Imipenem ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Korea* ; Methicillin ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vancomycin