Utility of the APACHE II Score as a Neurologic Prognostic Factor for Glufosinate Intoxicated Patients

PURPOSE: The incidence of glufosinate poisoning is gradually increasing, and it can be fatal if severe poisoning occurs. However, factors useful for predicting the post-discharge neurological prognosis of patients who have ingested glufosinate have yet to be identified. Our objective was to evaluate the utility of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score measured in the emergency department for predicting the neurological prognosis. METHODS: From April 2012 to August 2014, we conducted a retrospective study of patients who had ingested glufosinate. The outcome of the patients at discharge was defined by the Cerebral Performance Category Score (CPC). The patients were divided into a good prognosis group (CPC 1, 2) and a poor prognosis group (CPC 3, 4, 5), after which the APACHE II scores were compared. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve from patients determined calibration and discrimination. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients were enrolled (good prognosis group: 67 vs poor prognosis group: 9). The cut-off value for the APACHE II score was 12 and the area under the curve value was 0.891. The Hosmer and Lemeshow C statistic χ2 was 7.414 (p=0.387), indicating good calibration for APACHE II. CONCLUSION: The APACHE II score is useful at predicting the neurological prognosis of patients who have ingested glufosinate.

Egg positive rate of Enterobius vermicularis of primary school children in Geoje island

The status of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) egg positive rate of primary school children in Geoje island was investigated by using adhesive cellotape anal swap method, in September, 2002. Total egg positive rates of E. vermicularis were 9.8% (74/754) and those of male and female were 10.8% and 8.7%, respectively. Among three schools examined, Myeongsa primary school showed the highest egg positive rate (12.6%) followed by Yeoncho [9.8% (26/266)] and Geoje [9.1% (35/385)]. As for the age groups, the 2nd grade had the highest egg positive rate (15.3%), whereas the 5th grade showed the lowest egg positive rate (2.6%). The above result led us to confirm that the egg positive rates of E. vermicularis in primary school children in Geoje island were not significantly different from the those in the whole country including urban and rural areas, showing more than 10%.

Factors that Affect Accidents from Riding on Inline Skates and/or Kick Boards among Students in the Elementary Schools / 아동간호학회지

This study examines the factors that are associated with accidents from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards among students in the elementary schools. Data were collected from 902 students in 3 elementary schools in Seoul. Data were analyzed based on descriptive statistics and chi-square test. The results were as follows: 1.Thirty-eight percent of the students investigated were found to have kick boards while sixty-one percent of the students had inline skates. 2.The age of mothers who answered the questionnaires showed a statistically significant association with injuries of their children on inline skates and/or kick boards. Children whose mothers are younger had a lower percentage of injuries on inline skates and/or kick boards. 3. Children with a lower score on K-CBCL had a higher chance of having an accident from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards. That is, children with lack of attention were more likely to be involved in an accident. First-born children were less likely to have an accident. 4. While mothers' attitudes toward the safety of inline skates and kick boards appeared not to be associated with accidents of their children, their preventive actions for the safety related to riding on inline skates and kick boards reduced the chance to be involved in an accident of their children. In conclusion, this study shows that mothers with children going to the elementary schools should be more action-oriented to prevent their children's accidents from riding on inline skates and/or kick boards than merely recognizing the safety of inline skates and/or kick boards on their own. Implication of these findings and major findings of this study were discussed.