Purpose: Discharge readiness for parents of high-risk infants is an important predictor of successful transitions from hospital to home, however its assessments criteria require further refining in Korea. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the measures available for assessing the discharge readiness for parents of high-risk infant and to evaluate the measurement properties of each instrument. Methods: A literature search for discharge readiness for parents of high-risk infants was performed using 8 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, KoreaMED, RISS, KISS), using preferred reporting items as per the systematic reviews guidelines. For the quality evaluations of the articles, the COSMIN checklist including content validity, internal structure, and the remaining measurement properties was used. Results: Among the 23 studies selected, 8 studies were excluded due to lack of information on their instrument’s measurement properties while remaining 15 studies were evaluated for the quality of measurement attributes. Overall information on the properties of the instruments was lacking in all studies. Conclusion None of the instruments evaluated all the relevant measurement properties. The results of this review suggest that it is necessary to develop a discharge readiness instrument that considers the necessary and relevant characteristics required for successful hospital to home transition for parents of high-risk infants.

Norovirus (NV) has caused large outbreaks of gastroenteritis in schools. Studies of NV epidemiology in schools related to NV outbreaks have been frequently reported. However, reports of that in schools without outbreaks are not found. Presently, NV molecular epidemiology surveillance was carried out in asymptomatic food handlers working at nonoutbreak elementary schools in Incheon, Korea, in March, April and December, 2009. NV prevalence was examined by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and the positive products were re-evaluated by conventional RT-PCR for sequencing. Fecal samples (n = 776) were collected from 776 food handlers in 60 schools. NV was detected in 26 of them (3.4%). Of these, 17 (65%) were positive for NV GII and 10 (38%) were positive for NV GI. Of the 26 samples, 19 were positive by conventional RT-PCR. Sequencing of these 19 strains revealed GII/4 (n = 5), GI/6 (n = 3), GI/14 (n = 2), GII/8 (n = 2), GI/2 (n = 2), GI/10 (n = 1), GII/1 (n = 1), GII/3 (n = 1), GII/7 (n = 1), and GII/16 (n = 1). In this survey, the food handler population unrelated to NV outbreaks was found to normally contain asymptomatic carriers of NV. The excretion of NV from asymptomatic food handlers should be an infection source of NV outbreaks.
Adult ; Caliciviridae Infections/*epidemiology/genetics ; Feces/virology ; Female ; Food Handling ; Gastroenteritis/*epidemiology/genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Norovirus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schools ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between clinical and socio-demographic status and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in stroke survivors age 40 and older in the Korean population. METHODS: The relationship between stroke and HR-QoL was investigated using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), conducted from 2007–2012. The total number of respondents was 24,050 and 757 stroke survivors were included. Specifically, we investigated factors associated with the lowering of HR-QoL in a group of Korean adult stroke patients age 40 and older after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, and clinical comorbidities. Adjusted effects of covariates on EuroQol-visual analog scales (EQ-VAS) scores were estimated with a complex-samples general linear model and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of the lowest quintile versus highest quintile of the EQ-VAS scores in the stroke group were estimated with a complex-samples logistic regression model. RESULTS: Socio-demographic, anthropometric factors, and clinical comorbidities significantly differed between the stroke and non-stroke groups, except regarding gender and residential area. The EQ-VAS was significantly lower in the stroke than non-stroke group. Anxiety/depression problems significantly lowered EQ-VAS, as did low education level, smoking, mobility and usual activities problems. Also, aging in 1-year increments and cardiovascular disease had a significant effect on lower EQ-VAS in stroke survivors. CONCLUSION: People with a stroke have significantly lower HR-QoL than healthy subjects. Therefore, managing depression, smoking, or cardiovascular disease and maintenance of physical function may be priority goals in improving HR-QoL after a stroke.
Adult ; Aging ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Education ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Quality of Life* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Survivors* ; Visual Analog Scale ; Weights and Measures

A 61-year-old woman with a history of asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis was presented with purulent bloody sputum. She was treated as having lung abscess initially, but her signs and symptoms did not improve with traditional therapy. Finally, in the clinical course and laboratory data during hospitalization, she was diagnosed as ABPA with coexistent aspergilloma. Thereafter she was treated with itraconazole for aspergilloma, and corticosteroid for ABPA. The symptoms of hemoptysis and dyspnea were improved. A case of ABPA with coexistent aspergilloma and a brief review of the literature were presented.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary* ; Asthma ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Lung Abscess ; Middle Aged ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

This study was designed to identify expression of calcium-binding proteins and synaptic reorganizations of dentate mossy fibers in hippocampal sclerosis of human temporal lobe epilepsy. Hippocampal neuronal density was quantitively analyzed in temporal lobe epilepsy group (n=50) to investigate the degree of hippocampal sclerosis and it was compared with that of autopsy control (n=3). To verify the distribution of calcium-binding proteins in neurons of epileptic hippocampi, the parvalbumin (PV)-immunoreactive and calbindin-D28K (CB)-immunoreactive neurons were quantitively analyzed in each area of Ammon's horn by immunohistochemical stain. Also, to clarify synaptic reorganizations of the dentate mossy fibers, a part of each hippocampus was examined under light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy using Timm sulphide silver method. In epileptic hippocampi, severity of hippocampal sclerosis (HS) was graded four, which consisted of 3 cases with no HS, 6 mild HS, 12 moderate HS, and 29 severe HS. The hippocampal neuronal loss was most prominent in CA1, followed by CA4 and CA2. Expression of calcium-binding proteins was more prevalent in CA2 of all groups. The proportion of PV-immunoreactive neurons in CA1 and CA4 significantly increased in the moderate and severe HS group, whereas the proportion of CB-immunoreactive neurons did not correlated with the severity of HS. Timm granules were noted in inner molecular supragranular layer of dentate gyrus of epileptic hippocampi and they tended to increase in proportion along with the severity of hippocampal sclerosis. Transmission electron microscopy showed that supragranular Timm granules corresponded to synaptic terminals of mossy fibers. These results suggest that parvalbumin appears to have more protective effect against neuronal loss and that mossy fiber synaptic reorganization seems to play a major role in pathogenesis of hippocampal sclerosis of human temporal lobe epilepsy.
Autopsy ; Calbindin 1 ; Calcium* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins* ; Dentate Gyrus ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Neurons ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Sclerosis* ; Silver ; Temporal Lobe*

PURPOSE: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is caused by the deficiency of pulmonary surfactants in the newborn. We aim to determine and compare the physical and biological activities of the three surfactants currently on the market, namely Newfactan(R), Surfacten(R) and Exosurf(R). METHODS: For physical activities, we performed the stable microbubble test (SMR) and Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer (PBS). The minimum and maximum surface tensions measured at 1 and 5 minutes allowed us to create the surface-tension diagrams, from which the compressibility at a surface tension of 10 mN/m was calculated for all three products. The biological activities were compared using the pressure-volume curves measured from premature rabbit fetuses. RESULTS: For all three products, the concentration of surfactant and the number of stable microbubbles exhibited a proportional increase in relationship. For both Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), the minimal surface tensions were lower than 10 mN/m at 1 and 5 minutes. Hysteresis was evident at 1 and 5 minutes for both Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), and their surface tensions were reduced below 10 mN/m at 20% surface compression. As for Exosurf(R), all the hysteresis measurements were below expectations, and the reduction in surface tension during compression was also minimal. The compressibilities at a surface tension of 10 mN/m and measured at 1 and 5 minutes for Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R), were less than 0.020 cm/dyne at almost concentrations. The pulmonary surface areas of the fetal rabbits were, after aeration by a maximum of 30 cmH2O, adequately maintained after decompression to 5 cmH2O in the groups treated with Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R). However, the lung volume was not maintained upon decompression to 5 cmH2O in the groups treated with Exosurf(R). CONCLUSIONS: Newfactan(R) and Surfacten(R) were effective agents in prevention of pulmonary collapse in premature lungs.
Decompression ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Microbubbles ; Motor Activity ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Rabbits ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Surface Tension ; Surface-Active Agents

The neurofibromatoses are a rare group of hereditary diseases of autosomal dominant fashion with the overall incidence of one in 3,000~4,000 and with two distinct forms, type I (Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis) characterized by skin lesions including multiple cutaneous neurofibromas, axillary and groin freckling, and cafe-au-lait spots and type II by the presence of bilateral vestibular schwannomas. The neurofibromatosis type I is associated with the mutation of NF-I gene on chromosome 17q 11.2, which has a tumor suppressive role and with resultant development of the wide variety of tumors with the malignant incidence of about 2~16 %. Although the cases of malignant tumors in the neurofibromatosis type I have been reported in various tumors with the neural origin, lymphoma, pheochromocytoma and some cases of gastrointestinal tumors, the gastrointestinal tumors were found in only hepatobiliary system and large and small bowels and the cases of the malignant tumors of upper GI origin in duodenum and stomach have not been reported yet in Korea. We report a case of a 64-year-old man admitted with epigastric pain and diagnosed to adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell type, in 2nd portion of duodenum associated with neurofibromatosis type I.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Duodenum* ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Groin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Pheochromocytoma ; Skin ; Stomach

Supraaortic stenosis is a localized or diffuse congenital narrowing of the ascending aorta at the levels of superior margin of the sinus of Valsalva, just above coronary arteries. Hemodynamically, it is a usually manifestated as aortic stenosis especially when it combined with subaortic membrane. And there is no case report of supraaortic stenosis combined with subaortic membrane which has aortic valvular reurgitation due to secondary change of dilated sinus of Valsalva by supraaortic ridge. We have experienced a case of aortic regurgitation associated with supraaortic ridge combined with subvalvular aortic membrane.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels ; Membranes* ; Sinus of Valsalva

Pseudoterranova decipiens larva is a rare cause of anisakiasis. Indeed, prior to the present study, there had been only 12 reports of larval P. decipiens infection in the Republic of Korea. In June 2011, an anisakid larva, 32.1 mm in length and 0.88 mm in width, and finally identified as the third stage larva of P. decipiens owing to the presence of an intestinal cecum but lacking ventricular appendage, was discovered in a 61-year-old woman during the course of endoscopy executed as a part of routine physical examinations. The patient had eaten raw a rockfish 13 hr prior to the endoscopy, but showed no symptoms of anisakiasis. This paper is the 13th report of P. decipiens infection in Korea.
Animals ; Ascaridida Infections/*diagnosis/parasitology/*pathology ; Ascaridoidea/*isolation & purification ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Foodborne Diseases/diagnosis/parasitology/pathology ; Humans ; Larva ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rates of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses and compare the results obtained with graft materials, implant surfaces and timing of implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2005, 391 implants were placed in 161 patients who underwent sinus grafting treatment simultaneously or separately at Ewha Womans University Hospital. According to inclusion criteria, 272 implants were placed in 102 patients with 112 sinus grafts (30 females, 72 males), aged 26 to 88 years (mean age 49.0+/-9.7). The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 134 months (mean F/U 47+/-32). Survival rates were evaluated according to graft material, implant surface and timing of implant placement. The Kaplan-Meier procedure and the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test were used to estimate survival rates and test for equality of survival rates between different groups of patients. RESULTS: Ten-year cumulative survival rate for implants placed in the grafted sinuses was 90.1%. The survival rates for autogenous bone, combination and bone substitutes were 94.6%, 85.9% and 100%, respectively (p > 0.05). According to implant surface, survival rates were 84.8% in machined group and 97.5% in rough group (p < 0.05). The survival rates were 92.9% in delayed group and 86.0% in simultaneous group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ten-year cumulative survival rate for implants placed in the grafted sinuses was 90.1%. Rough-surfaced implants have a higher survival rate than machined-surfaced implants when placed in grafted sinuses (p < 0.05).
Aged ; Bone Substitutes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplants