The purpose of this study was to classify risk groups according to Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) and to investigate the effect of caries prevention program after 1 year of caries prevention intervention program in 6-year-old infants with high caries risk. The subjects were selected based on responses to CRA questionnaires. At the first visit, oral examination, Cariview, bacteria and saliva flow test were performed. The caries risk group was classified accordingly. The subjects were given fluoride application and oral health education every four months and evaluated the same as the first visit after 1 year. As a result of classifying the risk level according to CRA, more than 80% of the subjects were in the high or extreme high risk. The dft index was increased in all risk groups after the intervention. There was a significant difference between the before and after intervention (p < 0.05). The Cariview score showed a slight decrease after the intervention in the moderate and high risk groups. As a result of the evaluation of bacteria test, Streptococcus mutans were decreased to ≥10⁵ CFU/ml saliva after intervention in all groups. Lactobacilli were decreased after intervention in high risk and extreme high risk groups. As a result of saliva flow, there was significant difference between caries risk groups before and after intervention (p < 0.05). In conclusion, regular caries management has been shown to influence caries risk factors in high-caries risk children. Also, it is necessary to find out periodical dental risk management system which is suitable for domestic situation through the related studies.
Bacteria ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Education ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Infant ; Oral Health ; Risk Assessment* ; Risk Factors ; Risk Management ; Saliva ; Streptococcus mutans

Intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a highly malignant tumor of uncertain histogenesis. Here we report a case of DSRCT involving the stomach, initially misdiagnosed as gastric cancer. A 12-year-old boy presented with upper abdominal pain developed 1 month prior. On gastroscopy, a 7-cm mass was noted involving the esophago-gastric junction to the fundus, and positron emission tomography showed multiple hot uptakes suggesting distant metastasis. Gastroscopic biopsy showed poorly differentiated malignant cells. We diagnosed as stage IV gastric cancer and treated with 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Laparotomy revealed a huge gastric mass along with peritoneal disseminations. Palliative proximal gastrectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed transmural involvement of DSRCT, and t(11;22)(p12;q12) was demonstrated on fluorescence in situ hybridization test. The chemotherapeutic regimen was changed and the patient underwent 8 additional cycles of post-operative chemotherapy. The patient is now alive and the residual tumor shows no significant changes after chemotherapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Child ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor ; Fluorescence ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Laparotomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Epilepsy is associated with an increased risk of premature death. Epilepsy-related premature mortality imposes a significant burden on public health. This review aims to update the previous assessments of mortality among people with epilepsy and to identify associated factors, causes of death, and preventable causes of death in epilepsy patients. We also reviewed the mortality of epilepsy patients who had undergone epilepsy surgery. Finally, we suggest a further direction of studies about the mortality of people with epilepsy.

Neuroblastoma is the most common intraabdominal malignant tumor of childhood, with 40% arising from the adrenal gland. Bilateral adrenal involvement from synchronous development or metastatic spread of tumor is rarely seen in children with neuroblastoma. The patient was born with a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Birth weight was 3,200 g. Fetal ultrasonography showed a left adrenal cystic mass. At two weeks of age, she was admitted due to a massive abdominal distension and tachypnea. Percutaneous ultrasonography guided biopsy of the left adrenal mass was performed. The result of the biopsy was neuroblastoma. Vincristine and cyclophosphamide were administerd intravenously and 450 cGy of irradiation was added. Left adrenalectomy was accomplished and postoperative course was uneventful. The patient received cancer chemotherapy with a combination of carboplatin, ifosfamide and VP-16 and is now being followed up for three months. We have experienced a case of congenital bilateral neuroblastoma and report the case with brief review of related literatures.
Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Biopsy ; Birth Weight ; Carboplatin ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Neuroblastoma* ; Tachypnea ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Vincristine

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection offers the potential care in patients with carcinoma of the lung whose tumors are amenable to resection, those with infections destroyed lung discase or congenital lung disease prediction of risk factors to influencing outcome after thoracic operations offers important benefits. Physicians anticipating those patients most prone to complications can provide special attention aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We have retrospectively reviewed hospital records of 153 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for neoplastic and inflammatory destroyed lung disease between 1994 and 1998 to identify predictors of outcome. The mean age was 54.3+/-10.6years. Ninety-six patients(62%) had malignant lung disease and 47 patients(30%) had destroyed lung desease and 10(7%) had congenital or other lung desease. RESULT: Of the 153 resections performed 118 were lobectomies, 29 were pneumonectomies, 6 were segmentectomies, Seven of the 153 patients died during their hospital stay(4.5%). The most significant predietors of in-hospital mortality were presence of concomittent medical disease (P<0.001) and patients age 70 years or over(P<0.003). There were 67 postoperative complication occurring in 57 patients. Operation related complications were in 50 patients (32%), respiration related were in 14(9.1%) and cardiovascular related were in 1(0.6%) and other complications were in 2 patients(1.3%). The most significant predictors of postoperative morbidity was patients age 70 years or over(P<0.004). CONCLUSION: concomitant medical disease and patients age 70 years or over were very predictive value of postoperative mortality, also the patients age 70 years or over was significant preoperative value of postoperative morbidity.
Chymopapain ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mortality* ; Pneumonectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

Purpose: This study aimed to identify levels of perception and performance of end-oflife care among nurses and to investigate correlations between perception and performance. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive survey included 321 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The participants had at least 6 months of work experience and had been involved in end-of-life care at least once, in either ward or intensive care unit settings.A structured questionnaire was utilized to assess their perception and performance of endof-life care. Results: The mean score for perception of end-of-life care was 3.23±0.34, while the score for performance of end-of-life care was 3.08±0.34. There was a significant positive correlation between nurses’ perception of end-of-life care and their performance in this area (r=0.78, P＜0.001). Conclusion It is necessary to change perceptions regarding end-of-life care and to develop systematic and standardized education programs including content such as assessing the hydration status of dying patients, evaluating mental aspects such as suicidal ideation, and providing spiritual care for nurses working in end-of-life departments.

Malaria is caused by four species of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium vivax malaria is the most common malarial infection in Korea and usually has benign clinical course. However, serious complications such as severe anemia, pulmonary edema, acute renal failure are reported in Plasmodium vivax malaria. We report a case of Plasmodium vivax malaria complicated with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia. A 56-year-old male was transferred to our hospital with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia. 10 days before admission, he had intermittent fever, chill, myalgia, and was treated with some medications under the impression of URI. Laboratory findings showed that hemoglobin was 11.5 g/dL, platelet 44,000/mm3, blood urea nitrogen 73 mg/dL, creatinine 4.0 mg/dL, total bilirubin 5.2 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 4.0 mg/dL. Serologic tests for leptospirosis, rickettsia, EB virus and CMV were negative. Ring form trophozoites were found in red blood cells, suggesting Plasmodium vivax malaria. Following anti-malarial therapy, acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia were recovered to normal. From this case, malarial infection should be included as a differential diagnosis in a febrile patient with acute renal failure, jaundice and thrombocytopenia.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anemia ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythrocytes ; Fever ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Leptospirosis ; Malaria ; Malaria, Vivax ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium vivax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Rickettsia ; Serologic Tests ; Thrombocytopenia ; Trophozoites ; Viruses

Neuroblastomas originating from different sites might have different clinical and biological characteristics. In the present study, the clinical (age, sex and stage) and biological (N-myc amplification, Shimada pathology and levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and neuron-specific enolase) characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma were compared according to the site of tumor origin (extra-abdominal versus abdominal). The event-free survival rate (EFS) was also compared between the two groups. Among 143 neuroblastomas, 115 tumors originated from the abdomen, 26 from extra-abdominal sites and 2 from unknown primary sites. Frequencies of stage 4 tumor and N-myc amplified tumor were lower in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group (34.6% vs. 60.0%, P=0.019 and 4.2% vs. 45.0%, P<0.001, respectively). Levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and neuron-specific enolase were significantly lower in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group. The probability of 5-yr EFS (+/-95% confidence interval) was higher in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group (94.4+/-10.6% vs. 69.4+/-9.4%, P=0.026). Taken together, neuroblastomas originating from extra-abdominal sites might be associated with more favorable clinical and biological characteristics and a better outcome than neuroblastomas originating from abdomen.
Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Ferritins/blood ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood ; Male ; Neuroblastoma/*diagnosis/therapy ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/blood ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Vanilmandelic Acid/urine

Neuroblastomas originating from different sites might have different clinical and biological characteristics. In the present study, the clinical (age, sex and stage) and biological (N-myc amplification, Shimada pathology and levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and neuron-specific enolase) characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma were compared according to the site of tumor origin (extra-abdominal versus abdominal). The event-free survival rate (EFS) was also compared between the two groups. Among 143 neuroblastomas, 115 tumors originated from the abdomen, 26 from extra-abdominal sites and 2 from unknown primary sites. Frequencies of stage 4 tumor and N-myc amplified tumor were lower in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group (34.6% vs. 60.0%, P=0.019 and 4.2% vs. 45.0%, P<0.001, respectively). Levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and neuron-specific enolase were significantly lower in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group. The probability of 5-yr EFS (+/-95% confidence interval) was higher in the extra-abdominal group than in the abdominal group (94.4+/-10.6% vs. 69.4+/-9.4%, P=0.026). Taken together, neuroblastomas originating from extra-abdominal sites might be associated with more favorable clinical and biological characteristics and a better outcome than neuroblastomas originating from abdomen.
Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Ferritins/blood ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood ; Male ; Neuroblastoma/*diagnosis/therapy ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/blood ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Vanilmandelic Acid/urine

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) born at a single neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 97 patients with confirmed TEF and EA who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 1990 and 2007. RESULTS: The rate of prenatal diagnosis was 12%. The average gestational age and birth weight were 37(+2) weeks and 2.5+/-0.7 kg, respectively. Thirty-one infants were born prematurely (32%). Type C was the most common. The mean gap between the proximal and distal esophagus was 2 cm. Esophago-esophagostomy was performed in 72 patients at a mean age of 4 days after birth; gastrostomy or duodenostomy were performed in 8 patients. Forty patients exhibited vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, limb (VACTERL) association with at least 2 combined anomalies, and cardiac anomaly was the most common. The most common post-operative complications were esophageal stricture followed by gastroesophageal reflux. Balloon dilatation was performed for 1.3 times in 26 patients at a mean age of 3 months. The mortality and morbidity rates were 24% and 67%, respectively, and the most common cause of death was sepsis. The weight of approximately 40% patients was below the 10th percentile at 2 years of age. CONCLUSION: Mortality and morbidity rates of patients with TEF and EA are high as compared to those of infants with other neonatal surgical diseases. Further efforts must be taken to reduce mortality and morbidity and improve growth retardation.
Anal Canal ; Birth Weight ; Cause of Death ; Dilatation ; Duodenostomy ; Esophageal Atresia ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagus ; Extremities ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gastrostomy ; Gestational Age ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Kidney ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Spine ; Trachea ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula