BACKGROUND: As evidence-based medicine is getting popular recently, the importance of randomized controlled trial as a research methodology is also getting highlighted. This study was conducted in order to identify the status quo of randomized controlled trial research in major domestic journals and to provide baseline data for constructing Korean clinical trial database such CCTR (Cochrane Clinical Trial Registry). METHODS: Five journals issued by domestic publication industry were selected, out of which 127,560 original articles, equal to 253 volumes, were investigated. The author extracted the articles, which performed prospective clinical trial, targeting human beings. The selected papers were analyzed with experts to single out randomized controlled trial among them. Furthermore, the quality of the re-selected ones were assessed according to Jadad Quaility Assessment Scale. RESULTS: After analysis, it turned out that the number of papers adopting prospective clinical trial were 406 volumes (3.2%) of 12,760 and that they increased from 157 in 1980s to 224 in 1990s. However, the percentage of prospective clinical trial monographs, introduced during 1980s and 1990s, remained 2.0 to 4.0. The number of randomized controlled trial-based papers were 115, accounting for 0.9% of total articles. The number of RCT increased to approximately two fold from 1980s to 1990s. Quality analysis showed that among a total of 115 RCT papers, those of scoring 1 and 3 were 16 (13.9%), 82 articles obtained score 2 (72.2%). There was no papers, which won the marks of 4 and 5. CONCLUSION: It was found that domestic randomized controlled trial research was weak both in number and quality. Therefore, it is necessary to activate clinical medicine study with good quality to upgrade the amount and quality of monographs.
Clinical Medicine ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Publications ; Research Design

PURPOSE: This prospective study was conducted to evaulate the effect of nebulized steroid (budesonide) and parenteral steroid (dexamethasone) on chidren with croup. METHODS: Twenty nine infants and children (6months-5years of age) admitted to hospital with croup were randomly assigned to receive either 1mg (4ml) of nebulized budesonide (17 patients) or 0.6mg/kg intramuscular injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (12 patients). Total croup score, heart rate and respiratory rate of patients were assessed on admission, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: 1) In total cases, total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.01) but at 2 hours after treatmetn in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 2) In mild cases (total croup score<5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the both group (p<0.05). 3) In moderate to severe cases (total croup score> or =5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.05). But in group treated with dexamethasone, there were no statistical significance because of small cases. 4) Respiratory rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 5) Heart rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 6) There were no significant side effects in the both group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that both nebulized budesonide and parenteral dexamethasone were effective in treatment of croup, and that nebulized budesonide leads to more rapid clinical improvement in children with croup, especially moderate to severe one.
Budesonide ; Child* ; Croup* ; Dexamethasone ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Rate ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: Obesity is not anly one of the risk factors that affects the prevalence and aggravation of chronic diseases, but is also the cause of social unfitness because slimness has become a standard of beauty. We surveyed on the satisfaction about self body image, the factors which are related to it and weight control behavior of the adolescents in a local area of Korea. METHODS: The survey was performed in a high school of Pocheon on August, 1996. Five classes out of 14 classes in 1st and 2nd grade were selected. The body mass index(BMI) was calculated from the measured height and weight. The satisfaction about body image which was estimated by the difference between present body image and wanted body image in 9 graded figures of body image was obtained from the questionnaire. The information about sex, religion, history of being teased about body image, body image of their parents, mean duration of watching TV in a day, body esteem, and binge-eating was obtained from the questiannaire and we evaluated the relationship between all of the above with BMI and body image satisfaction. We also investigated on the interest in education about weight control and efforts made by adolescents from the questionnaire on weight control behavior. RESULTS: Total of 224 students participated in this study and only 14.7% of them were satisfied with their body image. 58.9% wanted weight reduction and 26.4% wanted weight gain. They were more dissatisfied with their body image when they were girls(p<0.01), had the experience of being teased about their body image(p<0.01), had low body esteem(p<0.01), and had high BMl(p<0.01). We could not find statistically significant relationship between body image satisfaction and other factors such as religion, the duration of watching TV in a day, the body image of their parents and binge eating. 64.3% of the subjects tried to control their weight and most(87.5%) tried to lose weight. The selected methods were diet control(65.3%) and exercise(52.1%) and the most preferred method of diet control was skipping meah(45.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Most of adolescents were not satisfied with their body image and this dissatisfaction was related to gender, history of being teased about their body image, BMI, and body esteem. Many of them had tried to lose weight and among the methods of weight reduction, there were behaviors that were injurous to their health and growth
Adolescent* ; Beauty ; Body Image* ; Bulimia ; Chronic Disease ; Diet ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential method for diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatobiliary diseases and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the gateway to complete ERCP. Although techniques and instruments for EST have improved, bleeding is still the most common complication. Treatment of immediate post-EST bleeding is important because blood can interfere with subsequent procedures. Additionally, endoscopists should be cautious about delayed bleeding may cause hemobilia, cholangitis, and hemodynamic shock. Most cases of post-EST bleedings will stop spontaneously, however, endoscopic management is necessary in case of clinically significant and persistent bleeding. Various endoscopic methods including epinephrine or fibrin glue injection, electrocoagulation, hemoclipping and band ligation et al can be used through a sideviewing or forward-viewing endoscope similar to those used in hemostasis of peptic ulcer bleeding. Endoscopists who perform ERCP should use various methods of endoscopic hemostasis strategically.
Arm* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Electrocoagulation ; Endoscopes ; Epinephrine ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Hemobilia ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Ligation ; Methods ; Peptic Ulcer ; Shock ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential method for diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatobiliary diseases and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the gateway to complete ERCP. Although techniques and instruments for EST have improved, bleeding is still the most common complication. Treatment of immediate post-EST bleeding is important because blood can interfere with subsequent procedures. Additionally, endoscopists should be cautious about delayed bleeding may cause hemobilia, cholangitis, and hemodynamic shock. Most cases of post-EST bleedings will stop spontaneously, however, endoscopic management is necessary in case of clinically significant and persistent bleeding. Various endoscopic methods including epinephrine or fibrin glue injection, electrocoagulation, hemoclipping and band ligation et al can be used through a sideviewing or forward-viewing endoscope similar to those used in hemostasis of peptic ulcer bleeding. Endoscopists who perform ERCP should use various methods of endoscopic hemostasis strategically.
Arm* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Electrocoagulation ; Endoscopes ; Epinephrine ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Hemobilia ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Ligation ; Methods ; Peptic Ulcer ; Shock ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

BACKGROUND: A curriculum in medical school should help doctors achieve professional attitude, ethics and values by socialization process. However, existing knowledge-based curriculum has lots of shortcomings to reach these ideal goals. This study was operated to investigate the effect of a 'service-learning program' for premedical students in medical college of Korea University. METHODS: The survey was conducted from July 3 2006 to 5 at Chungbuk Eumsung Kkottongnae. A total of 99 students completed surveys; before and after the intervention. The questionnaire was consisting of necessity and goal of the program and it also include assessment of students' attitude and contents of the program. Each item was assessed by using 5-Likert scale. For comparing the items, we practiced paired t-test. RESULTS: 97 (response rate 97.9%) students completed survey. 53 students (54.6%) agreed 'the program is really needed.' About the questions: 'self-development from program', 'the program will be helpful for medical activity in the future.' students gave positive answers. The participants' attitude, interest was significantly increased. Also 'the motivation', 'appropriation of the program and time allocation', 'general satisfaction' were all increased. CONCLUSION: 54.6% of participants thought a service-learning program was necessary for a medical curriculum and this program would be helpful to get self-development and professionalism. Active attending for a service-learning program increased interest and motivation. It will be needed further study about the long-term effect of a service-learning program.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Motivation ; Schools, Medical ; Socialization ; Students, Premedical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This paper reports on the development a program to foster 'good doctors' who care for their patients with humanism and self-directed learning ability. METHODS: In order to develop the program, Korea University College of Medicine established educational committees. In collaboration, these committees discussed the direction for curriculum reorganization, performed a needs analysis of specified programs, and built realistic strategies for program management. Based upon the needs analyses, through literature review and survey studies, committee discussions and benchmarking of other medical schools, three programs were developed for rearing humanism and self-directed learning ability in medical students were developed: Service learning by experiential learning; Doctoring by small group activities; and Communication skills program by various small group activities. RESULTS: The evaluation by the pre-medical students who participated in the service learning program for one week reveals that through service learning, pre-medical students had an opportunity to obtain the attitudes that encompass the sanctity and dignity of human life and an understanding of cultural, social and religious customs and beliefs that differ from his or her own. In addition, the pre-medical students came to realize that patients' most difficult problems might be caused by non-medical factors as well as medical factors. CONCLUSION: It is needed to grope for the way that leads the active participation of students in the continuous linkage of substantial post-work evaluation and next learning of volunteering in order to make the program of educating the public spirit more than self-learning of experience.
Benchmarking ; Cooperative Behavior ; Curriculum* ; Education, Medical ; Humanism ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning* ; Problem-Based Learning ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

BACKGROUND: Thiopental has a profound impact on the cardiovascular system. The effects of hemody namics after intravenous thiopental on the balance of cerebral metabolism with cerebral blood flow is unknown. The purpose of this study was to monitor hemodynamic change, cerebral arterial-jugular venous oxygen content difference (AVDO2) and jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjVO2) after a thiopental injection for brain protection during cerebral aneurysm surgery. METHODS: Twenty patients received a standard anesthetic consisting of isoflurane, vecuronium and fentanyl with a PaCO2 of 30 35 mmHg. Hemodynamics, arterial and jugular venous blood gases were measured at 3 time points:I; Just before thiopental injection; II; Electroencephalographic (EEG) burst suppression after a 4 5 mg/kg intravenous thiopental injection; and III; EEG recovery. RESULTS: Intravenous thiopental (4 5 mg/kg) induced an EEG burst suppression for 6.5 +/- 1.7 minutes. Hemodynamics and arterial blood gas analysis were not significantly different among the different time points, but mean arterial pressure (68.4 +/- 7.2 mmHg) and systemic vascular resistance (1027.0 +/- 300.9 dynes sec/cm5) in II were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared with I (84.3 +/- 9.6, 1169.1 +/- 304.5) and III (89.1 +/- 10.6, 1288.6 +/- 426.1). SjVO2 (71.6 +/- 11.8%) was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased within the normal value compared with I (75.1 +/- 5.6) and III (76.1 +/- 10.1), but AVDO2 was not significantly different among the 3 time points. There was no evidence of cerebral ischemia or infarction in computed tomographic (CT) findings of the 20 patients after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamics after 4 5 mg/kg intravenous thiopental do not modify the balance ofcerebral oxygen metabolism with cerebral blood flow in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm surgery.
Arterial Pressure ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cardiovascular System ; Electroencephalography ; Fentanyl ; Gases ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Isoflurane ; Metabolism ; Oxygen* ; Reference Values ; Thiopental* ; Vascular Resistance ; Vecuronium Bromide

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate sarcopenia and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors in a community-based elderly cohort in Korea. METHODS: We recruited 287 men and 278 women aged 65 years or older and without physical disability. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. We used two definitions for sarcopenia-ASM divided by height2 (kg/m2) or by weight (%) <1 SD below the sex-specific mean for young adults. We compared RBP-4, adiponectin, hsCRP, lipid profiles, and insulin resistance between the sarcopenic and normal groups using ASM/Ht2 and ASM/Wt. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 35.3% in men and 13.4% in women with sarcopenia defined by ASM/Ht2. However, it was 38.3% in men and 62.6% in women by ASM/Wt. In correlation analysis, body mass index was positively correlated with ASM/Ht2 and negatively correlated with ASM/Wt. The sarcopenic group, when defined as ASM/Ht2, showed lower RBP4, fasting plasma glucose, and HOMA-IR and higher adiponectin than the normal group but not significantly different lipid profiles. The sarcopenic group defined by ASM/Wt had higher RBP4, fasting plasma glucose, and HOMA-IR, and lower adiponectin than the normal group in both sexes. Only in the males did the sarcopenic group defined by ASM/Wt reveal higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, and lower HDL cholesterol than the normal group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the sarcopenic group defined by ASM/Wt was more closely associated with cardiometabolic risk factors than the normal group in a community-based elderly cohort.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adiponectin ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cohort Studies ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sarcopenia ; Triglycerides ; Young Adult

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection causes acute pancreatitis and myocarditis. However, its pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated how lipid metabolism is associated with exacerbation of CVB3 pathology using high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 1×10 6 pfu/mouse of CVB3 after being fed a control or HFD to induce obesity. Mice were treated with mitoquinone (MitoQ) to reduce the level of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS). In obese mice, lipotoxicity of white adipose tissue-induced inflammation caused increased replication of CVB3 and mortality.The coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor increased under obese conditions, facilitating CVB3 replication in vitro. However, lipid-treated cells with receptor-specific inhibitors did not reduce CVB3 replication. In addition, lipid treatment increased mitochondria-derived vesicle formation and the number of multivesicular bodies. Alternatively, we found that inhibition of lipid-induced mtROS decreased viral replication. Notably, HFD-fed mice were more susceptible to CVB3-induced mortality in association with increased levels of CVB3 replication in adipose tissue, which was ameliorated by administration of the mtROS inhibitor, MitoQ. These results suggest that mtROS inhibitors can be used as potential treatments for CVB3 infection.