Transmitral left ventricular diastolic inflow velocities determined by pulsed Doppler in 47 normotensives, 80 hypertensives and 44 age-matched hypertensives were measured to evaluate the effects of age and left ventricular hypertrophy on left ventricular diastolic fuction in normotensives and hypertensives. The results were as follows: 1) The peak E velocity in normotensives(77.82+/-13.53cm/sec) was significantly different from those of hyeprtensives(58.13+/-11.80cm, p<0.01) and age-matched hypertensives(59.31+/-10.94cm/sec, p<0.01). The peak E/A in normotensives(1.31+/-0.45) was significantly different from those of hypertensives(0.83+/-0.21,p<0.01) and age-matched hypertensives(0.83+/-0.20, p<0.01). 2)In normotensives, simple linear regression analysis revealed strong inverse correlations of peak E with age(r=-0.758, p<0.01), peak E/A with age(r=-0.748, p<0.01), but no significant correlation of peak E and peak E/A with LVMI(p>0.05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that age was the most important correlate of peak E and peak E/A in normotensives(peak E: R
Heart Diseases ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Linear Models

Premed education in the college of medicine at the Catholic University of Korea aims to promote student creativity and excellence in accordance with the mission of the college: to have a sense of calling, leadership, and competency. The Catholic Medical College premed curriculum includes 75 credits which are composed of 65 credits for required courses and 10 credits for elective courses. It consists of courses in basic science, medical science, liberal arts and humanities (premedical OMNIBUS). It also involves community programs in ‘Vision and Mission,’ ‘Leadership Training,’ and ‘Academic Conference.’ In addition, students are allowed self-directed choice of their courses and learning for one quarter.
Creativity ; Curriculum ; Education ; Education, Premedical ; Humanities ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Learning

Purpose: This study aimed to implement and evaluate the outcomes, perceptions, and satisfaction of the Capstone Program developed at the Catholic University of Korea, which integrates career exploration and medical humanities. Methods: This study was conducted with fourth-year medical students from 2017 to 2019. First, the study analyzed the trends in the results of Capstone Projects conducted by students as part of their career exploration, where they independently explored areas of interest and selected topics. Second, it qualitatively analyzed the content of individual reports in which students reflected on their experiences from a “medical humanities perspective” through the Capstone Program. Third, it examined students’ perceptions and satisfaction with the Capstone Program. Results: The analysis revealed that students chose research topics from a wide range of fields, including basic medicine, clinical medicine, global healthcare, and integrated healthcare systems and innovation. The students reported positive perceptions of their career exploration and research experiences through the Capstone Program, particularly valuing sessions like “Meetings with Seniors” within the conference framework. Students indicated that the Capstone Program enhanced their ability to think introspectively from a humanities perspective, deepening their understanding of their roles and responsibilities as medical professionals. Conclusion The Capstone Program provides a significant opportunity for medical students to explore their career paths and engage in introspective reflection from the viewpoint of medical humanities and social sciences. Thus, the integration of programs like capstone into the broader medical curriculum, focusing on career guidance and the reinforcement of medical humanities education, is imperative.

Purpose: This study aimed to implement and evaluate the outcomes, perceptions, and satisfaction of the Capstone Program developed at the Catholic University of Korea, which integrates career exploration and medical humanities. Methods: This study was conducted with fourth-year medical students from 2017 to 2019. First, the study analyzed the trends in the results of Capstone Projects conducted by students as part of their career exploration, where they independently explored areas of interest and selected topics. Second, it qualitatively analyzed the content of individual reports in which students reflected on their experiences from a “medical humanities perspective” through the Capstone Program. Third, it examined students’ perceptions and satisfaction with the Capstone Program. Results: The analysis revealed that students chose research topics from a wide range of fields, including basic medicine, clinical medicine, global healthcare, and integrated healthcare systems and innovation. The students reported positive perceptions of their career exploration and research experiences through the Capstone Program, particularly valuing sessions like “Meetings with Seniors” within the conference framework. Students indicated that the Capstone Program enhanced their ability to think introspectively from a humanities perspective, deepening their understanding of their roles and responsibilities as medical professionals. Conclusion The Capstone Program provides a significant opportunity for medical students to explore their career paths and engage in introspective reflection from the viewpoint of medical humanities and social sciences. Thus, the integration of programs like capstone into the broader medical curriculum, focusing on career guidance and the reinforcement of medical humanities education, is imperative.

Purpose: This study aimed to implement and evaluate the outcomes, perceptions, and satisfaction of the Capstone Program developed at the Catholic University of Korea, which integrates career exploration and medical humanities. Methods: This study was conducted with fourth-year medical students from 2017 to 2019. First, the study analyzed the trends in the results of Capstone Projects conducted by students as part of their career exploration, where they independently explored areas of interest and selected topics. Second, it qualitatively analyzed the content of individual reports in which students reflected on their experiences from a “medical humanities perspective” through the Capstone Program. Third, it examined students’ perceptions and satisfaction with the Capstone Program. Results: The analysis revealed that students chose research topics from a wide range of fields, including basic medicine, clinical medicine, global healthcare, and integrated healthcare systems and innovation. The students reported positive perceptions of their career exploration and research experiences through the Capstone Program, particularly valuing sessions like “Meetings with Seniors” within the conference framework. Students indicated that the Capstone Program enhanced their ability to think introspectively from a humanities perspective, deepening their understanding of their roles and responsibilities as medical professionals. Conclusion The Capstone Program provides a significant opportunity for medical students to explore their career paths and engage in introspective reflection from the viewpoint of medical humanities and social sciences. Thus, the integration of programs like capstone into the broader medical curriculum, focusing on career guidance and the reinforcement of medical humanities education, is imperative.

Purpose: This study aimed to implement and evaluate the outcomes, perceptions, and satisfaction of the Capstone Program developed at the Catholic University of Korea, which integrates career exploration and medical humanities. Methods: This study was conducted with fourth-year medical students from 2017 to 2019. First, the study analyzed the trends in the results of Capstone Projects conducted by students as part of their career exploration, where they independently explored areas of interest and selected topics. Second, it qualitatively analyzed the content of individual reports in which students reflected on their experiences from a “medical humanities perspective” through the Capstone Program. Third, it examined students’ perceptions and satisfaction with the Capstone Program. Results: The analysis revealed that students chose research topics from a wide range of fields, including basic medicine, clinical medicine, global healthcare, and integrated healthcare systems and innovation. The students reported positive perceptions of their career exploration and research experiences through the Capstone Program, particularly valuing sessions like “Meetings with Seniors” within the conference framework. Students indicated that the Capstone Program enhanced their ability to think introspectively from a humanities perspective, deepening their understanding of their roles and responsibilities as medical professionals. Conclusion The Capstone Program provides a significant opportunity for medical students to explore their career paths and engage in introspective reflection from the viewpoint of medical humanities and social sciences. Thus, the integration of programs like capstone into the broader medical curriculum, focusing on career guidance and the reinforcement of medical humanities education, is imperative.

This study examines a systematic and effective approach to career guidance in medical education, with a particular focus on the 6-year integrated career guidance education framework implemented at the College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. Based on the “New SLICE” educational development principles, this framework comprehensively addresses the needs of medical students in career planning and development. It is structured into three phases: understanding yourself, exploring options, and choosing a specialty. The first phase, understanding yourself, helps students to recognize their strengths, weaknesses, aptitudes, and potentials, thereby setting the direction for future career choices. This phase includes various psychological tests and Self-Development and Portfolio courses. The second phase, exploring options, enables students to engage in related activities such as research and practical training, providing direct and indirect experiences across various fields. This phase offers courses including Medical Field Experience, Career Guidance through the Learning Community & Advisory Professors, and Student Participation in Professor Research Projects. The final phase, choosing a specialty, involves students making decisions based on in-depth self-assessment and exploration of majors, with a capstone project being a significant component. Maximizing the efficiency of career decision-making requires integration between the basic medical curriculum and postgraduate education. Including the period up to residency entrance in the framework is necessary for effective career guidance education.

No abstract available.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Early Diagnosis* ; Pneumocystis carinii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis*

PURPOSE: Pubertal gonadotropin secretion shows circadian pattern and the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels tend to rise in later stages of puberty in girls. We studied the usefulness of basal LH in the evaluation of central precocious puberty with emphasis on the influence of sampling time. METHODS: Medical records of 334 girls that underwent gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test (GnRHST) were reviewed. Auxological and laboratory data were compared between those with early morning (EM, before 10 AM) and late morning/afternoon (LM/A, after 10 AM) basal samples. RESULTS: Among those in sexual maturity rating (SMR) 2, EM samples showed higher basal LH (P=0.004) compare to LM/A samples, whereas those in SMR 3 showed no difference in LH levels between EM and LM/A samples. Among girls with pubertal response, EM group showed higher basal LH (P=0.031) and follicular stimulating hormone (P=0.008) than LM/A group. The EM basal LH was more closely related with the peak stimulated LH than the LM/A basal LH did (rs=0.871 vs. rs=0.524). The optimal basal LH cutoffs to predict a pubertal response to GnRHST were 0.11 IU/L with a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 78.7% in EM group, and 0.07 IU/L with a sensitivity of 60.0% and a specificity of 78.9% in LM/A group, respectively. CONCLUSION: In girls with early stages of puberty, EM basal LH is a more sensitive screening tool than the LM/A basal LH. Diurnal variation should be considered in evaluating children with precocious puberty.
Adolescent ; Child ; Female* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Puberty* ; Puberty, Precocious ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio has recently been reported as a biomarker of cardiometabolic risk in obese children and adolescents. The purpose of this study is to describe the TG/HDL-C ratio and related factors in overweight and normal weight Korean children and to evaluate whether the high TG/HDL-C ratio is associated with insulin resistance in overweight children and adolescents. METHODS: Data from 255 overweight (aged 8.7±2.0 years) and 514 normal weight (aged 8.9±1.8 years) children and adolescents were evaluated. Glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and TG levels were measured after overnight fasting, and the TG/HDL-C ratio, non–HDL-C and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. RESULTS: The TG/HDL-C ratio was higher in overweight group compared to normal weight group (P < 0.001). Among overweight children and adolescents, alanine aminotransferase (P=0.018), non–HDL-C (P < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (P=0.004) were different between the TG/HDL-C ratio tertile groups. The prevalence of elevated HOMA-IR was increased with increasing TG/HDL-C ratio tertiles (P for trend=0.003). On regression analysis adjusted for age and sex, the BMI (β=0.402, P=0.001) and TG/HDL-C ratio (β=0.251, P=0.014) were independently associated with HOMA-IR (adjusted R2=0.324). The TG/HDL-C ratio of 2.0 or more showed higher sensitivity (55.6%) and specificity (72.9%), when compared to TC (≥200 mg/dL), non–HDL-C (≥145 mg/dL), and LDL-C (≥130 mg/dL) for identifying overweight children with elevated HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: The TG/HDL-C ratio is independently associated with insulin resistance in overweight children and adolescents, and it can be useful in identifying those at higher cardiometabolic risk.
Adolescent* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Child* ; Cholesterol* ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins* ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity