BACKGROUND: Adolescent obesity has rapidly increased in recent years in South Korea due to westernized life style. Family is one of the most important factors to affect body weight in children through the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, whichs poorly understood in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the parent-offspring relationship and familial aggregation of obesity-related phenotypes and nutrient intake in Korean adolescent families. METHODS: A cross-sectional observation study was conducted in 134 biologic families including adolescents aged 11~19 years, parents, and siblings. Anthropometric measurements, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist & hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and % body fat by BIA were measured. The nutrient intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Intraclass correlations for each variable between family members were calculated after adjustments to correct for the effect of age and sex. RESULTS: The risks for obesity in offsprings increased according to parental obesity. Mothers rather than fathers, and daughters rather than sons had higher significant intrafamilial correlations for almost all of anthropometric variables, and nutrient intake. For height, fathers had higher significant correlations with offspring. However, for total fatness and fat distribution, mothers had higher significant correlations with offspring. The significant correlations for anthropometric variables and nutrition intake existed between the spouses and all offsprings. CONCLUSION: Korean adolescents exhibited significant parent-offspring relationship and familial aggregation for obesity-related phenotypes and nutrient intake. Understanding the relative contributions of shared genes and environmental factors to the familial relationship and aggregation could give insights into the origins of adolescence obesity in the high risk group of family.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent* ; Body Weight ; Child ; Fathers ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Obesity ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity ; Phenotype* ; Siblings ; Spouses ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The family value is expected to play a crucial role in adjusting a new environment for the family, especially in the critical situation as having a child with cancer in the family. The purpose of the study was to analyze the family values of the family with cancer children in order to offer descriptive data, which will facilitate family adjustment with cancer children. The survey was conducted from July 18, 2000 to August 30, 2000 and the analysis included 309 parents of the children who have been diagnosed as cancer, 18 years of age or less, and treated either hospitalized or at the outpatient clinics. Two instruments were used to measure family value. The modified form of General family value scale was 18 items with a 5 points of Likert response format (Cronbach alpha= .78) and Family value scale was developed for the study with 12 items on a 5 points of Likert response format(Cronbach alpha= .73). The data analysis utilized SAS 6.12 for percentage, frequency, Mean, and t-test of demographic characteristics and mean, F score, ANOVA, and Duncan follow-up test of variable relationships. The study findings were as follows. 1) In General family value, the fathers gave the higher scores to 'The children should live with their parents'(M=4.01), and 'A parents and their children are like one body' (M=3.91). The item with lowest score was 'Its not impossible for man to have extramarital relationship'(M=1.92). The mothers thought the most important items were 'A parents and their children are like one body'(M=3.79), and 'A wife needs to be patient to keep harmony of the family' (M=3.56), and the item with lowest score was 'Its not impossible for man to have extramarital relationship'(M=1.44). 2) The mean scores of the mothers were higher than the fathers for all items in family value with cancer children, while fathers gave more points for items in general family value. Both of parents gave the highest score to 'The health of the family is most important to me'(M=4.85 for fathers, M=4.97 for mothers), and followed by 'The husband and wife need to be patient and understand each other to overcome the difficulties'. The item with lowest scores was 'The parents can have conflicts in making decisions since their child was sick'(M=3.34 for fathers, M=3.37 for mothers). 3) There were significant differences between fathers and mothers in items of General family value; fathers gave more points to the items of 'The children should live with their parents', 'Its essential to hold the ceremony to respect their forefathers', 'Its not impossible for man to have extramarital relationship', 'A woman with two daughters should have one more baby to succeed the generation', 'The husbands are responsible for the household economy', and 'When his mother and wife dont get along, the man should be on his mothers side'. However, there was no significant difference between fathers and mothers in items of Family value with cancer children. 4) The general family value was significantly different by the birth order of cancer children, mothers age, mothers education level, and types of payment. On the other hand, the family value with cancer children was significantly different by the age of cancer children, period of illness, period after completing treatment, family type, the number of family members, and the number of total children.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Birth Order ; Child* ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parents ; Spouses ; Statistics as Topic ; Child Health

Authors experienced two unusual cases of marginal blepharoconjunctivitis caused by infestion of pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) which were confirmed by slit lamp and light microscopic examination. The patients were forty-three year old Korean female who was infected from her husband and her six year old daughter who had used a same room with her father and mother. We could find pubic lice and ova on the cilia, pubic and axillar regions of female mother patient and cilia, eyeblow and head of her daughter and we could also find the pubic lice and ova on the pubic region of her husband. The prompt improvement of marginal blepharoconjunctivitis of both eyes of them were achieved by cutting of cilia and the use of topical antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cilia ; Fathers ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Ovum ; Phthiraptera* ; Spouses

The authors have experienced 3 Rho(D) negative siblings from Rho(D) positive parents. ABO grouping and typing were carried out because the parents wanted their and children's blood types. On the five major Rh antigen(D, C, c, E, e) testing, the phenotypes of the both parents were CcDe, and those of their 3 siblings were cde. We can suspect the possible genotypes on the basis of the frequencies in Korean, both parents are CDe/cde and their 2 daughters and one son are cde/cde.
Genotype ; Humans ; Nuclear Family ; Parents* ; Phenotype ; Siblings*

BACKGROUND: This study was intended to look into the characteristics and problems when FACES III are used as tools to evaluate family function of adolescents. METHODS: From May to June 1996, self-reported questionnaires for FACES III were conducted on 2,430 middle school and high school students (males:1,190, females:1,240) in Seoul and Yangpyung, Kyunggi-Do. There were eight schools (four middle schools, four high schools) in Seoul and two schools (one middle school, one high school) in Yangpyung, Kyunggi-Do in this study. Also, educational level of parents, occupational status of parents, family types (extended/nuclear), number of family member and numbers of siblings were assessed. RESULTS: The mean values of adaptability were significantly higher in Seoul students, in females, and in nuclear families. The mean values were higher in single sibling than two or more and in parents with higher education. The mean values of cohesion were significantly higher in Seoul students, in middle school students and in family members of 5 and under. The mean values were higher in those without a sibling and in those with above college education. In stepwise regression analysis, educational level of parents, gender, area, occupational status of mother and grade were associated significantly with the mean values of adaptability and educational level of parents, grade and numbers of siblings were significantly associated with the mean values of cohesion. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that there are problems in deciding the cut-off point and in the questionnaires of survey when the FACES III is used as a tool for evaluating family function of adolescents. Trials of combining other tools of family function or consideration of lower concepts are needed in other to be applicable to the individual conversation and the clinical surroundings.
Adolescent* ; Education ; Employment ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parents ; Seoul ; Siblings ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the parenting image of modern Korean society through modern novels published during in the stage of modern change in Korea. METHOD: The data were analyzed through latent content analysis. Modern Korean novels (N=138) written during the Korean modernization stage were chosen for analysis. Five categories and seventeen meaningful sub-categories were drawn out from 636 significant sentences. RESULTS: The parenting images expressed in modern Korean society were as follows: From the category of [Devotional love], 5 sub-categories were drawn: Hedgehog's love, Lavish love, Sacrificial care, Exertion of the mind, and Prayer for the future of their children. From the category of [Stern father and affectionate mother], 3 sub-categories were drawn: Stern and Strict father, Tender and loving mother, and Strong maternal love. From the category of [Enthusiasm for their children's education], 3 sub-categories were drawn: Sense of duty to provide good education for their children, Zeal for their children's education, and Satisfaction with their hard-working children. From the category of [The head of family], 3 sub-categories were drawn: Person who has the right to make decisions, Reliable protector, and Object of filial devotion. From the category of [sexual discrimination], 3 sub-categories were drawn: Preference and favoritism to sons, Attaching importance to education of sons, Regarding daughters as those who help support the family. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will help to improve the basic understanding the parenting image and parent-child relationship in present day Korea.
Child ; Education ; Fathers ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Love ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parenting* ; Parents* ; Religion ; Social Change ; Child Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this micro-ethnography is to examine whether science and societal changes impact family communication patterns among a convenience sample of 16 Korean women. METHODS: The authors observed family communication in the context of a new breast cancer genetic screening and diagnostic testing program to detect BRCA gene mutations in Korean women at highest risk. RESULTS: Analysis of in-depth interviews and field notes taken during participant observation illustrated that communication patterns in families vary according to a woman's position in the family. If a grandmother tests positive for a gene mutation, her daughters make decisions on her behalf; they open and maintain the communication channel among family members. If a housewife is diagnosed with cancer and a genetic mutation, she immediately consults her husband and her sisters. The husband creates an open communication channel between his wife, his parents and his siblings. As a result, a woman's cancer is a concern for the whole family not merely a woman's secret or crisis. CONCLUSION: Cultural differences are important to consider when designing new genetic service programs in different countries.
Anthropology, Cultural ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Female ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Services ; Genetic Testing ; Health Communication ; Humans ; Nuclear Family ; Parents ; Siblings ; Spouses

Aniridia or irideremia is characterized by reduction of iris or absence of total iris, but a rudimentary iris is always present in most cases. This congenital anomaly is familial and the transmission is strongly dominant by an autosomal gene. It demonstrates high penetrance and variable expression. Aniridia is mainly due to a primary defect in development of the neural ectoderm and an aberrant development of the mesoderm. Glaucoma and cataract in the eye is frequently complicated with other deformities of the body and the treatment is not satisfactory. The author have experienced a case of aniridic family which is composed of 7 persons. Of these, the father, one son and 3 daughters are affected with aniridia, cataract, nystagmus and amblyopia and the mother and one son are healthy. The author reports this cases with the review of literature.
Amblyopia ; Aniridia* ; Cataract ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ectoderm ; Fathers ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Iris ; Mesoderm ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Penetrance

BACKGROUND: Atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) which are characteristics of asthma, are strongly correlated but independently inherited traits. The relative contribution of maternal and paternal condition to the risk of offspring's condition is not certain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal or paternal contribution to childhood atopy and BHR in a population-based sample of 140 Korean nuclear families. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 486 subjects (133 mothers, 132 fathers and 221 offsprings) participated in this study. All subjects provided questionnaire data and 483 subjects underwent allergy skin prick test with 13 inhalant allergens. Total serum IgE levels were determined in 444 subjects and methacholine bronchial provocation test were performed in 483 subjects. RESULTS: Serum total IgE level in the offspring was correlated with both maternal and paternal total IgE (mother: R=0.273, p<0.01; father: R=0.200, p<0.01). Bronchial hyperres ponsiveness was associated with parental atopy index (mother: R=0.175, p<0.01; father: R=0.205, p<0.01) and maternal BHR(R=0.201, p<0.01). The development of wheezing in the offspring was significantly associated with maternal BHR, but not paternal. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that maternal BHR does confer more risk than paternal BHR to risk of offspring's BHR.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Fathers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parents* ; Respiratory Sounds ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Blau syndrome (BS) is a rare autosomal dominant, inflammatory syndrome that is characterized by the clinical triad of granulomatous dermatitis, symmetric arthritis, and recurrent uveitis. Mutations in the nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) gene are responsible for causing BS. To date, up to 30 Blau-associated genetic mutations have been identified within this gene. We report a novel NOD2 genetic mutation that causes BS. A girl, aged 8 years, and her brother, aged 10 years, developed erythematous skin rashes and uveitis. The computed tomography angiogram of the younger sister showed features of midaortic dysplastic syndrome. The brother had more prominent joint involvement than the sister. Their father (38 years) was also affected by uveitis; however, only minimal skin involvement was observed in his case. The paternal aunt (39 years) and her daughter (13 years) were previously diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Mutational analysis revealed a novel c.1439 A>G mutation in the NOD2 gene in both siblings. The novel c.1439 A>G mutation in the NOD2 gene was found in a familial case of BS. Although BS is rare, it should always be considered in patients presenting with sarcoidosis-like features at a young age. Early diagnosis of BS and prompt multisystem workup including the eyes and joints can improve the patient's outcome.
Arthritis ; Dermatitis ; Early Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Nuclear Family ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sarcoidosis ; Siblings ; Skin ; Uveitis