On the 10th Anniversary of the Korean Neonatal Network

The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, currently has more than 100 staff and researchers from >70 neonatal intensive care units nationwide in Korea. More than 85% to 90% of the population of very low birth weight infants in Korea are registered yearly, and more than half are followed up for up to 3 years at the KNN. A total of >19,000 cases have been accumulated through a strict data quality management process of the KNN. Based on this, >100 research projects have been proposed, >70 peer-reviewed papers have been published in leading international journals, and the cornerstone of the quality improvement project has been launched. In addition, we recently expanded the number of subjects for registration to very premature infants <32 weeks of age and continue to provide essential evidence data for establishing national health policies, such as linking with government policy projects of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for preterm infants. In such manner, the KNN is confident to be successfully and actively moving toward reaching the ultimate goal of standardizing neonatal intensive care and management of preterm infants in Korea by providing essential data for national health policy establishment along with quality improvement through evidence-based interactive data.

Effects of the Variables related to the Health Action Process Approach Model on Physical Activity: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify effects of the variables of Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) Model on physical activity. METHODS: This study has conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Sixteen articles were searched through electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of science, Science Direct, RISS, KMBASE, KoreaMed, KISS, DBpia) and additional journals from 2000 to July, 2017. To estimate the effect size (ES), the meta-analysis of the studies was performed by using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis programs. RESULTS: The overall effect size of the variables of HAPA on physical activity was median (ES=.28). Of the core variables of HAPA model, action control (ES=.43) showed the largest effect size, followed by coping self-efficacy (ES=.31) and planning (ES=.31).Additional variables were identified as preparatory behavior (ES=.39) and past physical activity (ES=.24). Through the moderator effect analysis, the effect size was higher in the volitional phase than in the motivational phase, and higher in the healthy group than in the patient group. The higher the proportion of males and the lower the age, the larger the effect size. CONCLUSION: This finding shows empirical evidence that all core variables of the HAPA model are useful for predicting physical activity. We propose the use of the HAPA model to develop physical activity promotion intervention.

BCR-ABL₁ transcripts (MR(4.5)) at post-transplant 3 months as an early predictor for long-term outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify the role of BCR-ABL1 transcript level as a predictor for post-transplant relapse and outcome in patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). METHODS: Of 101 patients receiving allograft in CML CP, 85 had available quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction data at post-transplant 3 months. These patients were divided into two groups according to molecular response (MR(4.5)), defined as a BCR-ABL₁ transcript level ≤ 0.0032% on the international scale, at 3 months based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of relapse. RESULTS: The 4-year overall survival and event-free survival (EFS) were 80.6% and 57.3%, respectively, and the cumulative incidence of relapse at 4 years was 29.6% after a median follow-up of 126.4 months. We performed multivariate analyses including potential variables to evaluate the early predictive role of MR(4.5) at 3 months and found that MR(4.5) at 3 months was associated with a higher EFS (p = 0.028) and showed a trend for a lower relapse rate (p = 0.089). CONCLUSIONS: our results imply that frequent molecular monitoring and immune suppressive therapy modulation are required for patients without reduction of BCR-ABL1 transcripts to this level after SCT.

Paleoparasitological Surveys for Detection of Helminth Eggs in Archaeological Sites of Jeolla-do and Jeju-do

A paleoparasitological survey to detect helminth eggs was performed in archaeological sites of Jeolla-do and Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea. Total 593 soil samples were collected in 12 sites of Jeolla-do and 5 sites of Jeju-do from April to November 2011, and examined by the methods of Pike and coworkers. A total of 4 helminth eggs, 2 eggs each for Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris sp., were found in soil samples from 1 site, in Hyangyang-ri, Jangheung-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. The egg-recovery layer was presumed to represent a 19th century farm, which fact suggested the use of human manures. This is the third archaeological discovery of parasite eggs in Jeolla-do. Additionally, no helminth eggs in archaeological sites of Jeju-do is an interesting problem to be solved in the further investigations.

Analysis of Use of Government Support for Palliative Care Units in Korea / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: Since 2005, the Ministry of Health & Welfare has provided financial support to promote palliative care for terminal cancer patients. We analyzed how palliative care facilities used the funding between 2006 and 2010. METHODS: Frequency analysis was conducted by the item of expenditure based on fiscal reports of the palliative care facilities. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine a trend over time. Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare expenditure items, the number of provision of financial support and type of palliative care units. RESULTS: About a half of the fund was spent to pay care givers salary, improve facilities and purchase equipment regardless of the year, the number of financial support provided or facility type. By year, the operation cost for palliative care program and the education cost for health care workers have significantly increased in linear regression analysis (P<0.01). However, the amount of financial support for the low income group has decreased over years (P=0.024). This trend was affected by evaluation criteria and weight. CONCLUSION: The government aid for palliative care units has been used to improve facilities and equipment. Moreover, desirable changes were noted such as a higher portion of expenses for program operation and care giver training to enhance the quality of care. However, the evaluation criteria need to be adjusted to prevent any further decrease in the support provided to the low income group.