Diagnostic stool multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has attracted considerable interest, because of its high sensitivity, short turnaround time, and ability to detect multiple organisms simultaneously. This study investigates the clinical usefulness of a stool multiplex bacterial PCR in patients with acute diarrhea. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the stool multiplex bacterial PCR results, clinical parameters, and clinical courses of patients hospitalized because of acute diarrhea between August 2014 and November 2016. Results: A total of 725 patients (male, 372; mean age, 30.9 ± 29.3 years) underwent stool multiplex bacterial PCR. A total of 243 pathogens were detected in 226 patients. The detection rate of multiplex PCR testing was higher than that of stool culture (32.7% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.01). Severe symptoms of acute diarrhea (bloody diarrhea, frequent diarrhea) and prescribed empirical antibiotics were significantly more common in the positive multiplex PCR group (p = 0.02, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). However, mean durations of hospital stay were similar in the 2 groups according to the multiplex PCR results (p = 0.32). In addition, Campylobacter spp., which was the most commonly detected pathogen (97/243, 39.9%), was significantly associated with frequent diarrhea and prescribed empirical antibiotics (p < 0.01), but not with duration of hospital stay (p = 0.09). Conclusions: We concluded that stool multiplex bacterial PCR might be a useful tool for identifying bacterial etiology in patients with acute diarrhea, especially in those with Campylobacter spp. infection.

This article provides an overview of the developmental history and rationale of medical ethics to establish the code of ethics and professional conduct of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (KACAP). Most medical professional organizations have their own codes of ethics and conduct because they have continuous responsibility to regulate professional activities and conducts for their members. The Ethics and Award Committee of the KACAP appointed a Task-Force to establish the code of ethics and conduct in 2012. Because bioethics has become global, the Ethics Task Force examined global standards. Global standards in medical ethics and professional conduct adopted by the World Medical Association and the World Psychiatric Association have provided the basic framework for our KACAP's code of ethics and professional conduct. The Code of Ethics of the Americal Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has provided us additional specific clarifications required for child and adolescent patients. The code of ethics and professional conduct of the KACAP will be helpful to us in ethical clinical practice and will ensure our competence in recognizing ethical violations.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Psychiatry* ; Adolescent* ; Advisory Committees ; Awards and Prizes ; Bioethics ; Child* ; Codes of Ethics ; Ethics ; Ethics, Medical* ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Societies

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of people interested in health in South Korea has increased, and the rate of dietary supplement use is rising. Researchers have hypothesized that the rate of practicing healthy habits is higher among those who use dietary supplements than those who do not. Therefore, this study aimed to discover the association between taking dietary supplements and practicing various healthy habits in the Korean, adult population. METHODS: The sample included 15,789 adults over 19 years old who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The user group was defined as those taking dietary supplements for more than 2 weeks during the previous year or once during the past month. Measures for the seven healthy habits were based on those included in the Alameda study and were analyzed accounting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: The rate of taking dietary supplements was significantly higher in women, middle aged participants, urban residents, those with a higher income, those with a higher education level, and nonsmokers as well as among women with a moderate subjective health status, women who limited their alcohol content, and women with dyslipidemia. In the adjusted analysis, the rate of performing three of the 'Alameda 7' habits-eating breakfast regularly, restricting snacking, and limiting drinking-was higher in the female dietary supplement user group than in the other groups. Women practiced more healthy habits and had a higher dietary supplement intake rate than men. CONCLUSION: We found that taking dietary supplements in Korean adults is highly associated with demographic and social factors. Taking dietary supplements had a relationship with dietary habits, and there was no significant association between dietary supplement and other healthy habits. Thus in the health clinic, we suggest that taking dietary supplements complements a patient's healthy habits, with the exception of dietary habits, for health promotion.
Adult* ; Breakfast ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Dietary Supplements* ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Snacks

Aged ; Contrast Media ; adverse effects ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Arrest ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to investigate the influences of school violence on the mental health of student victims and their parents. METHODS: A total of 56 (aged 7-18) student victims and their parents were selected to participate in a survey. The students had experienced school violence from June 2012 to October 2013. They completed a set of self-report questionnaires, including socio-demographic characteristics, family relationship, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Beck Depression Inventory, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Parental Bonding Instrument to evaluate psychiatric complications and to understand the emotional bonding between them. RESULTS: The student's level of impact of event was significantly related to the parent's level of impact of event (p<.001). The student's high CDI score showed positive correlation with high level of impact of event (p<.001). In addition, higher level of the student's perceived emotional support and understandability of family showed association with lower level of impact of event (p<.01, p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the psychiatric sequelae of school violence is seriously affected by family support and parent's level of impact of event. Therefore, more active intervention is needed for both students and their parents.
Child ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Manifest Anxiety Scale ; Mental Health ; Object Attachment ; Parents* ; Violence*

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an essential role in the regulation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and triglyceride levels, which have been closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. Genetic studies in European have shown that LPL single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with lipid levels. However, studies about the influence of interactions between LPL SNPs and lifestyle factors have not been sufficiently performed. Here, we examine if LPL polymorphisms, as well as their interaction with lifestyle factors, influence lipid concentrations in a Korean population. A two-stage association study was performed using genotype data for SNPs on the LPL gene, including the 3' flanking region from 7,536 (stage 1) and 3,703 (stage 2) individuals. The association study showed that 15 SNPs and 4 haplotypes were strongly associated with HDLC (lowest p = 2.86 x 10(-22)) and triglyceride levels (lowest p = 3.0 x 10(-15)). Interactions between LPL polymorphisms and lifestyle factors (lowest p = 9.6 x 10(-4)) were also observed on lipid concentrations. These findings suggest that there are interaction effects of LPL polymorphisms with lifestyle variables, including energy intake, fat intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as effects of LPL polymorphisms themselves, on lipid concentrations in a Korean population.
3' Flanking Region ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Energy Intake ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Life Style ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; Lipoproteins ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Smoke ; Smoking

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an essential role in the regulation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and triglyceride levels, which have been closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. Genetic studies in European have shown that LPL single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with lipid levels. However, studies about the influence of interactions between LPL SNPs and lifestyle factors have not been sufficiently performed. Here, we examine if LPL polymorphisms, as well as their interaction with lifestyle factors, influence lipid concentrations in a Korean population. A two-stage association study was performed using genotype data for SNPs on the LPL gene, including the 3' flanking region from 7,536 (stage 1) and 3,703 (stage 2) individuals. The association study showed that 15 SNPs and 4 haplotypes were strongly associated with HDLC (lowest p = 2.86 x 10(-22)) and triglyceride levels (lowest p = 3.0 x 10(-15)). Interactions between LPL polymorphisms and lifestyle factors (lowest p = 9.6 x 10(-4)) were also observed on lipid concentrations. These findings suggest that there are interaction effects of LPL polymorphisms with lifestyle variables, including energy intake, fat intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as effects of LPL polymorphisms themselves, on lipid concentrations in a Korean population.
3' Flanking Region ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Energy Intake ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Life Style ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; Lipoproteins ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Smoke ; Smoking

Anxiety and mood disorders are frequently comorbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this report, the characteristics of anxiety and mood disorder [major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder] were investigated in an attempt to identify differences that could potentially advance our understanding of treatment options for these comorbidities with ADHD. We reviewed studies which examined stimulant response in children diagnosed with ADHD/anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Recent research suggests that stimulants can be safely used in children with anxiety/depressive disorder comorbid with ADHD. Antidepressants may be used in conjunction with stimulants to treat MDD and anxiety, while mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics are often required to treat manic symptoms. After resolution of the comorbid manic episode, stimulant treatment of ADHD may be safely undertaken. Clinicians should be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional problems beyond the core symptoms of ADHD.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety ; Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders

Anxiety and mood disorders are frequently comorbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this report, the characteristics of anxiety and mood disorder [major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder] were investigated in an attempt to identify differences that could potentially advance our understanding of treatment options for these comorbidities with ADHD. We reviewed studies which examined stimulant response in children diagnosed with ADHD/anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Recent research suggests that stimulants can be safely used in children with anxiety/depressive disorder comorbid with ADHD. Antidepressants may be used in conjunction with stimulants to treat MDD and anxiety, while mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics are often required to treat manic symptoms. After resolution of the comorbid manic episode, stimulant treatment of ADHD may be safely undertaken. Clinicians should be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional problems beyond the core symptoms of ADHD.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety ; Bipolar Disorder ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders

OBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by abnormalities of social functioning, communication and behavior. The association of the 7q21-34 region with ASD has been reported. The DLX6 gene, which is located at the 7q22 region, is one of the positional and functional candidate genes for ASD. We found that there is no association between DLX6 polymorphisms and ASD in the Korean male population. METHODS: We selected three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that might be implicated in the change of the DLX6 gene expression. The genomic DNA was collected from the venous blood of 147 male controls and 179 male patients with ASD. The genotypes of the selected SNPs were determined using the Illumina GoldenGate assay, and the statistical analyses were performed using HapAnalyzer software and SAS Enterprise. RESULTS: We found no association of the three SNPs in the DLX6 gene with ASD in the Korean male population. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the three SNPs in the DLX6 gene are not associated with ASD, and we need to analyze the previously reported regions for their associations with ASD.
Autistic Disorder ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; DNA ; Gene Expression ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Phenothiazines ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide