Validation of the Broselow tape in Korean children using data from a nationwide anthropometric survey: a cross-sectional study

Purpose@#In Korea, the Broselow tape (BT) is widely used to estimate weight in resuscitation. Validation of BT in Korean children is essential because the tool was developed based on children’s weight and height in the United States. The validation was previously performed in a small-scale dataset. The authors aimed to validate BT using the 2005 Korean nationwide anthropometric survey data. @*Methods@#From the population used for the survey, we sampled children aged 0-12 years. The weights estimated by BT were compared with measured weights of the children using Bland-Altman analysis with results recorded as percentage differences. We measured the accuracy of BT, defined as within a 10% error of the measured weight, and the concordance of the color-coded zones derived from the estimated and measured weights. The accuracy and concordance were further assessed according to the age groups and body mass index-for-age Z-score ( 2, overweight or obese). @*Results@#A total of 108,128 children were enrolled. The mean age was 55.2 ± 37.5 months. The bias was –5.4% (P < 0.001), and the limits of agreement were –28.3% and 17.6%, respectively. The accuracy and concordance of BT were 64.4% and 67.2%, respectively. Differences of no more than 1 color-coded zone between estimated and measured weights accounted for 89.8% and 84.1% of the under- and overweight (or obese) children, respectively. @*Conclusion@#BT accurately estimates weight in approximately two-thirds of Korean children. In addition, adjustment of 1 color-coded zone may be considered in children with extreme weight.

Allograft reconstruction for large parosteal osteoma of the clavicle: a case report

A large parosteal osteoma arising on the surface of the right clavicle of a 39-year-old male patient was suspected preoperatively as a parosteal osteosarcoma. The lesion was treated with wide resection and allograft reconstruction. In this case report, we discuss the accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment for unusual clavicular tumors.

The Effect of Stress on Gastrointestinal Physiology in Irritable Bowel Syndrome / 대한내과학회지

Stress is an acute threat to the homeostasis of an organism by events in the outside world and evokes adaptive responses to preserve the stability of the internal environment. This adaptation can be carried out by means of alterations in HPA axis hormones, the autonomic nervous system, metabolic and immune systems. However, chronic stress can lead to changes in adaptation system and cause a functional disease such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In fact, stress plays an important role in the development and exacerbations of IBS symptoms and it has been postulated that stress have an effect on the pathophysiology of IBS, including an increase in visceral perception, alterations in gastrointestinal motility and increased intestinal permeability. Therefore, Therapeutic approaches targeting stress management could be of great benefit for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Estimation of Nursing Costs by a Patient Classification System(PCS) in ICU / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to figure out costs of nursing services in ICU based on the PCS in order to determine an appropriate nursing fee schedule. METHOD: Data was collected from 2 hospitals from April 15-16 to April 22-23, 2003. The costs of nursing services in the ICU were analyzed by nursing time based on the nursing intensity. The inpatients in the ICU were classified by a PCS tool developed by the Korean Clinical Nurses Association(2000). RESULTS: The distribution of patients by PCS in the ICU ranged from class IV to Class VI. The higher PCS in ICU consumed more nursing time. As a result, the higher nursing intensity, the more the daily average nursing costs in the ICU. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence to refine the current nursing fee schedule that does not differentiate from the volume of nursing services based on nursing time. We strongly recommend that the current reimbursement system for nursing services should be applied not only to the general nursing units but also to the ICU or other special nursing units.