Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire

PURPOSE: The Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) was designed to measure post-traumatic symptoms related to childbirth and symptoms during postnatal period. The purpose of this study was to develop a translated Korean version of the PPQ and to evaluate reliability and validity of the Korean PPQ. METHODS: Participants were 196 mothers at one to 18 months after giving childbirth and data were collected through e-mails. The PPQ was translated into Korean using translation guideline from World Health Organization. For this study Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were used to evaluate the reliability of the PPQ. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and known-group validity were conducted to examine construct validity. Correlations of the PPQ with Impact of Event Scale (IES), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to test a criterion validity of the PPQ. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha and Spearman-Brown split-half correlation coefficient were 0.91 and 0.77, respectively. EFA identified a 3-factor solution including arousal, avoidance, and intrusion factors and CFA revealed the strongest support for the 3-factor model. The correlations of the PPQ with IES, BDI-II, and BAI were .99, .60, and .72, respectively, pointing to criterion validity of a high level. CONCLUSION: The Korean version PPQ is a useful tool for screening and assessing mothers' experiencing emotional distress related to child birth and during the postnatal period. The PPQ also reflects Post Traumatic Stress Disorder's diagnostic standards well.

Predicting Factors of Developmental Delay in Infant and Early Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with suspicious developmental delay in infants and early childhood. METHODS: Participants were 133 infants, aged from birth to 6 years old and their mothers, who were being seen at 16 Public health centers in B city. Korean Denver II was used to test infant development. chi2-test, Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression were used with SPSS 19.0 to analyze data. RESULTS: Of participant infants, 7.5% were below the 3rd percentile for the weight percentile, 8.4% is a weight curve that crosses more than 2 percentile lines on the growth charts after previous achievement, and 9.8% had suspicious developmental delay according to Korean Denver II. Further the predictive factors related to suspicious development delay in the children were decrease of weight percentile (Odds Ratio [OR]=6.69, Confidence Interval [CI])=1.22-36.45), low economic state (OR=6.26, CI=1.50-26.00), and developmental delay perceived by their mothers (OR=4.99, CI=1.24-20.06). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to build a government level system to follow management of development of infants and children from the time of birth. Especially, it is necessary to develop a program for children in low income families.

Factors associated with development of complications after endoscopic foreign body removal

We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients who underwent endoscopic foreign body removal and the risk factors of complications. The medical records of 415 patients treated from January 2000 to August 2011 for suspected foreign bodies were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, endoscopic findings, clinical outcomes, and risk factors of complications were analyzed. Foreign bodies were detected endoscopically in 315 patients. Fish bone fragment [36.9%] and coins [15.3%] were the most common type of foreign bodies in adults and children, respectively. Complications associated with endoscopic procedure occurred in 26 patients [8.3%]; 20 of the patients were treated conservatively and the other six patients underwent surgical treatment. Perforation [14%] was the most common complication. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the risk factors associated with complication after endoscopic foreign body removal were long duration from ingestion to endoscopy [P = 0.009] and existence of initial mucosal injury [P = 0.018]. Most foreign bodies were successfully removed by endoscopy without complication, but long duration from ingestion to endoscopy and mucosal injury were risk factors of complications of endoscopic foreign body removal. Patients with these risk factors could require more careful treatment

A Case of Systemic Sclerosis Developed after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the Patient with Multiple Sclerosis / 대한혈액학회지

Herein, the case of a 43-year-old woman, with a relapsing-remitting variant of multiple sclerosis (MS), which began when she was 34 years of age, and gave rise to severe neurological complications, including progressive paralysis in both legs and visual deterioration, is reported. Despite heavy immunomodulatory treatment, her condition relapsed and became aggravated. At this point, the decision was made to perform autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The enrichment of CD34+ cells was followed by depletion of the peripheral T cells. The post-transplantation course was uneventful, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia developed within 7 months of the HSCT. The patient was treated with cyclosporine (CsA) and oral prednisolone, but subsequently developed systemic sclerosis (SSc). The administration of CsA following the syngeneic/autologous HSCT caused a T lymphocyte-dependent autoimmune disease, which resembled graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). It is quite probable the auto-reactive lymphocytes, which were paradoxically elicited by the CsA during the reconstitution of the immune system, partly contributed to the occurrence of the other autoimmune disease, SSc. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a MS patient, having undergone CD34+-selected autologous HSCT followed by the administration of CsA, who subsequently developed SSc.

Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension with Percutaneous Stenting of Pulmonary Artery in Fibrosing Mediastinitis

Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare benign disorder caused by excessive proliferation of fibrous tissue within the mediastinum. Pulmonary artery stenosis is uncommon complication of fibrosing mediastinitis. We present a case of percutaneous stent deployment in a patient with severe pulmonary artery stenosis causing pulmonary hypertension secondary to fibrosing mediastinitis.

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction Caused by Coronary Thrombus Associated with a Myocardial Bridge and Slow Coronary Flow

Acute myocardial infarction is generally caused by the rupture or erosion of an atheromatous plaque and thrombosis. Acute myocardial infarction associated with a myocardial bridge or slow coronary flow is rare. We experienced a case of acute myocardial infarction, caused by a coronary thrombus in association with a myocardial bridge and slow coronary flow. A 33-year-old man presented with the sudden onset of chest pain. A diagnostic coronary angiography revealed an intraluminal contrast-filling defect, proximal to the myocardial bridge in the left anterior descending artery, with TIMI-2 flow. After an intracoronary injection of 150,000 units of urokinase and an intravenous injection of abciximab, the patient's chest pain subsided, with the follow-up coronary angiography showing the disappearance of the coronary thrombus.

A Case of Typhoid Fever Complicated with Massive Fatal Hemoptysis

We experienced a 25 year-old male patient with typhoid fever complicated with massive hemoptysis. Pulmonary complication in typhoid fever is very rare and to our knowledge, there has been no report of hemoptysis as a main cause of death with this disease. We herein report a rare case of typhoid fever.

A Case of Typhoid Fever Complicated with Massive Fatal Hemoptysis

We experienced a 25 year-old male patient with typhoid fever complicated with massive hemoptysis. Pulmonary complication in typhoid fever is very rare and to our knowledge, there has been no report of hemoptysis as a main cause of death with this disease. We herein report a rare case of typhoid fever.

Two Cases of Successful Use of Urokinase in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Relapsing Peritonitis / 대한신장학회잡지

Peritonitis is a frequent and serious complication in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Recently, due to educational promotion in general hygiene and development of laboratory technique for bacterial cultures and sensitivity test, proper use of antibiotics, the incidence of CAPD peritonitis has gradually decreased. However, CAPD peritonitis is still one of the most common causes of peritoneal dialysis failure and of removal peritoneal catheter. It has been suggested that the formation of biofilm on the inner surface of peritoneal catheter leads to relapsing peritonitis and removal of the peritoneal catheter in CAPD patients. The biofilm is a kind of protecting coat which consists of fibrin inhibiting the penetration of antibiotics. It surrounds and covers the bacteria, making them to survive from the attack of antibiotics. Therefore thrombolytic therapy, urokinase modifies the structure of biofilm, and helps the antibiotics penetrating the fibrin coat, eventually amplify the bacteriocidal effect. We experienced two cases of successful treatment with urokinase and antibiotics in CAPD peritonitis patients. The combination of thrombolytic agents and antibiotics might be one of the strategies for the treatment of CAPD patients who experienced it frequently.