The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of nutrition education program and pamphlet for the lower grades elementary students focused on individual daily needed food exchange units using Food Exchange System. Program consisted of four lessons (40 min/lesson), "5 major nutrients & function", "6 food group and sources", "daily needed food exchange units for normal body weight", and "smart snack choice and exercise". Pamphlet as activity book was developed for the program. The subjects were 3rd grade elementary students (educated group, 31 vs. non-educated group, 31). Educated group were lessoned as group and/or individual. We examined the differences in nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, dietary intakes and satisfaction of the program and pamphlet. In educated group, there were positive improvements on nutrition knowledge score "function and foods of 5 nutrients" and on dietary attitudes "type of breakfast and snacks". In the evaluation of dietary intakes according to KDRI, there were positive improvements on intakes level of riboflavin, vit. C, folate, Ca, P, Fe and Zn in educated group. In satisfaction with the program and pamphlet, contents, font size, visual, figure, difficulty and program curriculum were over 2.90/3.0. It showed that the developed nutrition education program and pamphlet focused on individual daily needed food exchange units using Food Exchange System improved nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes and nutrients intake level in the lower grades elementary students.
Breakfast ; Curriculum ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Pamphlets ; Riboflavin ; Snacks

We experienced a case of arteriovenous hemangioma showing Dariers sign on the forehead of a 43-year-old man. He presented with a single, 1 * 1.5cm sized, violaceous, asymptomatic nodule with a history of an intermittent wheal at the lesional site. This skin lesion showed Dariers sign clinically and proliferation of mast cells histopathologically with the punch biopsy specirnen suggesting urticaria pig- mentosa. Howerer, we could diagnose it as a arteriovenous hemangioma on complete excision, as the specimen showed arteriovenous proliferation with increased mast cells in a perivascular pattern. This case showed confusing clinical signs and showed the importance of complete excision for the diagnosis of a small skin tumor especially when a vascular proliferating tumor is suspected.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Forehead ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Skin ; Urticaria

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the modified plaque score (MPS) for assessing the oral hygiene status of periodontitis patients. METHODS: A total of 116 patients were included in this study. After evaluation of the Löe and Silness gingival index (GI), Silness and Löe plaque index (PlI), O'Leary plaque control record (PCR), and MPS, patients were randomly assigned to either a conventional tooth brushing instruction (C-TBI) group (n=56) or a professional intraoral tooth brushing instruction (P-TBI) group (n=60). The MPS and clinical parameters were re-evaluated after scaling and a series of root planing. The convergent validity of MPS with the PlI and PCR was assessed. The measurement time for MPS and PCR was compared according to the proficiency of the examiner. RESULTS: After root planing, the GI, PlI, PCR, and MPS improved from their respective baseline values in both groups. Three different plaque indices including the MPS, showed significant differences between the C-TBI group and the P-TBI group after root planing. The MPS showed significant concurrence with the PCR and PlI. The mean time for PCR measurement was 2.76±0.71 times longer than that for MPS measurement after 2 weeks of training. CONCLUSIONS: MPS seems to be a practical plaque scoring system compared with the PlI and PCR. These findings suggest that repetitive plaque control combined with an easily applicable plaque index (MPS) may facilitate more effective oral hygiene education and improved periodontal health.
Dental Plaque Index ; Education ; Humans ; Oral Hygiene ; Peri-Implantitis ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Planing ; Tooth

Surgical treatment of congenital scoliosis is often frustrating due to its severity and rigidity. Many surgical methods were provided for these complex deformities and some instruments were used to achieve better correction. However, no surgical treatment was satisfactory to correct the deformities. Recently, pedicle screw fixation, enabling a powerful grip of individual vertebral segment, is becoming a promising method to enhance correction of these tenacious deformities. This study was to compare the correction, loss of correction and complications of the various surgical methods employed for congenital scoliosis in Seoul National University Hospital and to verify the advantages of pedicle screw fixation. Ninety-two congenital scoliosis subjected to surgery and followed up for more than 2 years(range 2-9 years) were analysed. Surgical methods were; anterior uninstrumented fusion, 5; posterior fusion, 50(14 without instrument, 15 with hooks, 21 with screws); combined anterior and posterior fusion, 37(7 without instrument, 11 with posterior hooks, 10 with posterior screws, 9 with anterior VDS and posterior screws). Mean preoperative magnitude of index curve was 58° with no significant difference between the groups except for the anterior VDS and posterior screw group which had a mean magnitude of 93°. Mean flexibility of index curve was 18.7% with no significant difference between groups. The correction of index curves were; anterior uninstrumented fusion, 23%; posterior uninstrumented fusion, 28%; posterior hook, 31%; posterior screw, 46%; combined anterior and posterior uninstrumented, 37%; anterior fusion and posterior hook, 30%; anterior fusion and posterior screw, 47%; anterior VDS and posterior screw, 48%. The correction of pedicle screws were significantly better(p < 0.01) with significantly smaller loss of correction(p < 0.01). Nonunion occurred in 4, 1 in posterior uninstrumented fusion, 2 in posterior hooks and 1 in posterior pedicle screws with concomitant instrument failures. However, there were no neurologic or visceral complications related to screw placement. Pedicle screw fixation offers an enhances correction of congenital scoliosis with low complication rate, and when combined with an anterior procedure, enables control of the most severe and rigid curves.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Hand Strength ; Methods ; Pedicle Screws ; Pliability ; Scoliosis ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Although several risk factors associated with reduced age at natural menopause (ANM) have been investigated, the results are inconsistent. Excessive stress, which leads to elevation of stress hormones, can also negatively affect reproductive ability, including by accelerating menopause. However, a direct association between stress level and ANM has not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, the object of this study was to investigate the association between stress level and ANM in Korean women. METHODS: Study participants were Korean women between 40 and 70 years old who were in natural menopause during the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=3,176). The level of stress in daily life was estimated based on data from the mental health topics of the survey. We used the t-test and one-way analysis of variance to analyze the correlation between stress level and ANM. Regression (beta) coefficients calculated by multiple regression analysis were used to estimate various factors affecting ANM. RESULTS: Women who experienced a high level of stress in daily life had a lower mean ANM than women with a low stress level (50.17+/-3.7 and 50.58+/-3.5 years, respectively), with a statistically significant correlation (P<0.05). This correlation was still observed after adjusting for age, body mass index, menstrual regularity, and personal income (P<0.05 for variables). CONCLUSION: In Korean women between 40 and 70 years of age who are in natural menopause, there is a statistically significant correlation between stress level and ANM. In particular, women who experience a high level of stress in daily life have reduced ANM.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Mental Health ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been presented as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases. Earlier studies had revealed risk factors for erectile dysfunction, but the results are variable. We conducted this study to evaluate the association between various factors and ED. METHODS: The subjects were 403 men, over 20 years old, who visited a university hospital health promotion center from February to May 2003. They responded to 'the Korean version of 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)'. The subjects were divided into ED group and normal group according to 'IIEF-5' score. We studied the association between ED and sociodemographic factors, smoking, exercise, depression, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and analysed stress and job stress in a subgroup who responded to the questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 45.6+/-8.9 and 34.2% of the subjects had ED. The risk of ED increased 1.09 times per year (P<0.01). Statistically significant association between ED and education level, income, occupation, smoking (P<0.01), DM, and exercise (P<0.05) was shown by univariate analysis, but not by multivariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, the risk of ED increased significantly in older age, lower educational group and severe depression (P<0.01). Among 251 subjects who completed the Psychiatric Wellbeing Inventory- Short form, high risk of stress group wsa associated with high risk of ED by univariate analysis (P<0.01) but this association did not exist in multivariate analysis. We could not find the association between ED and job stress. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ED was 34.2% among the subjects over 20 year-old and the risk of ED increased significantly in older age, lower educational group, and in subjects who had moderate to severe depression.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Depression ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Educational Status ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To analyze surgical outcomes of thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis treated with segmental pedicle screw fixation, and to determine the exact distal fusion level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven idiopathic thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis patients (6 thoracolumar and 1 lumbar scoliosis, 7 females with mean age of 15.9 years) subjected to segmental pedicle screw fixation with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were retrospectively analyzed for deformity correction, stable vertebra, lower instrumeted vertebral tilt (LIVT) and coronal balance using pre and post-operative standing radiographs. The bending stable vertebra and the rotational correction of L3 were measured in preoperative bending radiographs. The L3 rotation in the bending radiographs was less than Nash-Moe grade II in all patients. The bending stable vertebra was L3 in 4 patients and L4 in 3. An unsatisfactory result was defined as an LIVT of more than 10degrees or a coronal imbalance of more than 10 mm. RESULTS: Distal fusion went down to L3 in 6 patients and L4 in one patient whose bending stable vertebra had been L4 preoperatively. The preoperative average major curve of 52degrees was corrected to 10degrees (81% correction). The preoperative average thoracic curve of 27degrees and the average lumbosacral curve of 26degrees were corrected to 14degrees and 5degrees, respectively. Two patients with distal fusion to L3 showed unsatisfactory results; LIVT was more than 10degrees in both patients and coronal imbalance more than 10 mm in one. Both the patients had bending stable vertebra of L4 preoperatively. CONCLUSION: In the correction of thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis with segmental pedicle screw fixation, the curve could be fused to L3 when the L3 rotation in the bending radiograph was less than Nash-Moe grade II and the bending stable vertebra was L3.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis* ; Spine

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant global casualties. This study examines the postoperative impact of COVID-19 on patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery, considering their heightened vulnerability to infections and increased morbidity and mortality risk. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center and patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery between January 2022 and February 2023 were included. Postoperative COVID-19 infection was defined as the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA by RT-PCR within 14 days after surgery. Propensity score matching was performed including age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification, and emergency operation between the COVID-19-negative (–) and -positive (+) groups. Results: Following 1:2 propensity score matching, 21 COVID-19(+) and 42 COVID-19(–) patients were included in the study. In the COVID-19(+) group, the postoperative complication rate was significantly higher (52.4% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.023).Mechanical ventilator requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and readmission rate did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The median length of ICU (19 days vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 vs. 8 days, P = 0.015) were significantly longer in the COVID-19(+) group. Patients with COVID-19 had a 2.4 times higher relative risk (RR) of major complications than patients without COVID-19 (RR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.254–4.467; P = 0.015). Conclusion COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in gastrointestinal surgery may have adverse outcomes which may increase the risk of major complications. Preoperative COVID-19 screening and protocols for COVID-19 prevention in surgical patients should be maintained.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a problem constantly uppermost in the minds of all surgeons, although the actual rate of occurrence is only 1-5% in general surgery. In neurosurgical fields, there have been a few papers published about efficacy of post-operative antimicrobial prophylaxis (PAMP) to prevent SSI, compared to well known effectiveness of pre-operative antibiotics. Thus, infection rates of short-term PAMP groups and those of long-term PAMP groups were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of PAMP and the efficacy of short-term PAMP compared to long-term PAMP for prevention of SSI. METHODS: Between April 2010 and April 2012, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 35 patients in the aneurysmal neck clipping groups (short-term PAMP group: PAMP for 3 days and fewer, long-term PAMP group: PAMP for 10 days and more) and 79 patients in the microdiscectomy groups (short-term PAMP group: 3 days and fewer, long-term PAMP group: PAMP for 6 days and more). RESULTS: In aneurysmal neck clipping groups, SSI occurred 23.1% of short-term PAMP group and 9.1% of long-term PAMP group (p=0.3370). And in microdiscectomy groups, SSI occurred 6.7% of short-term PAMP group and 4.1% of long-term PAMP group (p=0.9840). CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference between the short-term PAMP group and the long-term PAMP group in terms of SSI, regardless of operation type. We therefore suggest that short-term PAMP usage could be an appropriate therapy for preventing SSI in clean neurosurgical operations.
Aneurysm ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Humans ; Neck ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Wound Infection