A review of the designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea and the compatible systems in other countries

This article reviews the designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea and the compatible systems in other countries. The Korean system is ready to be commenced by a relevant law, which came into effect in July 2019. To find lessons for the designated hospital or professional system, we examined the designated institutions for rape victims, tuberculosis patients, and aftercare for emergency department-based suicide attempters. We also looked at safeguarding system of the United Kingdom, which comprises designated and named professionals, and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions guidelines and specialist system in the United States. The systems in the United States and the United Kingdom may offer insight to improving the planned designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea. This includes policy issues such as qualification control of professionals, role differentiation in accordance with the hospital classification, and assigning the title of the professional and health care institutions.

Alendronate-Anionic Clay Nanohybrid for Enhanced Osteogenic Proliferation and Differentiation

BACKGROUND: Alendronate (AL), a drug for inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone-resorption, was intercalated into an inorganic drug delivery nanovehicle, layered double hydroxide (LDH), to form a new nanohybrid, AL-LDH, with 1:1 heterostructure along the crystallographic C-axis. Based on the intercalation reaction strategy, the present AL-LDH drug delivery system (DDS) was realized with an enhanced drug efficacy of AL, which was confirmed by the improved proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (MG63). METHODS: The AL-LDH nanohybrid was synthesized by conventional ion-exchange reaction and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Additionally, in vitro efficacy tests, such as cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, were analyzed. RESULTS: The AL was successfully intercalated into LDH via ion-exchange reaction, and thus prepared AL-LDH DDS was X-ray single phasic and chemically well defined. The accumulated AL content in MG63 cells treated with the AL-LDH DDS nanoparticles was determined to be 10.6-fold higher than that within those treated with the intact AL after incubation for 1 hour, suggesting that intercellular permeation of AL was facilitated thanks to the hybridization with drug delivery vehicle, LDH. Furthermore, both in vitro proliferation level and ALP activity of MG63 treated with the present hybrid drug, AL-LDH, were found to be much more enhanced than those treated with the intact AL. This is surely due to the fact that LDH could deliver AL drug very efficiently, although LDH itself does not show any effect on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells. CONCLUSION: The present AL-LDH could be considered as a promising DDS for improving efficacy of AL.

Effects of a Novel Push-through Technique Using the Implantable Collamer Lens Injector System for Graft Delivery during Endothelial Keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To investigate effects of a new push-through insertion method for donor lenticules using an injector system on endothelial viability ex vivo and in a clinical case series of endothelial keratoplasty. METHODS: An ex vivo delivery model was used with porcine corneoscleral rims. We compared the endothelial viability in a new push-through insertion method using the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) injector versus that of standard forceps-assisted insertion for lenticule delivery. Twenty porcine corneal lenticules were divided into four groups by insertion method and wound size. Vital dye staining was performed and devitalized areas were semi-quantitatively assessed by digital imaging. In the clinical case series, Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) using the push-through method was performed in seven patients and endothelial outcome was determined six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean devitalized areas for the push-through method were significantly lower than for forceps-assisted insertion through 3.2 mm incision (23.99 +/- 2.17% vs. 50.48 +/- 5.07%, p = 0.009) in the ex vivo model. Average endothelial cell counts of donor tissues of patients who underwent DSEK were 26.4% lower six months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Push-through delivery of donor lenticules using the Visian ICL injector system appears to be less harmful to endothelial cells than conventional forceps-assisted delivery.

Effects of a Novel Push-through Technique Using the Implantable Collamer Lens Injector System for Graft Delivery during Endothelial Keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To investigate effects of a new push-through insertion method for donor lenticules using an injector system on endothelial viability ex vivo and in a clinical case series of endothelial keratoplasty. METHODS: An ex vivo delivery model was used with porcine corneoscleral rims. We compared the endothelial viability in a new push-through insertion method using the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) injector versus that of standard forceps-assisted insertion for lenticule delivery. Twenty porcine corneal lenticules were divided into four groups by insertion method and wound size. Vital dye staining was performed and devitalized areas were semi-quantitatively assessed by digital imaging. In the clinical case series, Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) using the push-through method was performed in seven patients and endothelial outcome was determined six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean devitalized areas for the push-through method were significantly lower than for forceps-assisted insertion through 3.2 mm incision (23.99 +/- 2.17% vs. 50.48 +/- 5.07%, p = 0.009) in the ex vivo model. Average endothelial cell counts of donor tissues of patients who underwent DSEK were 26.4% lower six months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Push-through delivery of donor lenticules using the Visian ICL injector system appears to be less harmful to endothelial cells than conventional forceps-assisted delivery.

Comparison of Dietary Patterns Between Glaucoma Patients and Normal Control Subjects

PURPOSE: To compare the dietary patterns between normal or high tension glaucoma patients and a normal control population. METHODS: A survey using the self-assessment food-frequency questionnaire was given to normal tension glaucoma (NTG) or high tension glaucoma (HTG) patients who visited a glaucoma clinic between June 2008 and September 2008. Healthy Korean subjects who had received routine health examinations at Samsung Medical Center between October 2007 and September 2008 were evaluated with the same questionnaire. Statistical analysis of variable factors including fatty fish, seaweeds, soy products and greasy meats, was performed to compare between groups. RESULTS: Sixty-two of NTG patients, 25 of HTG patients and 29,376 normal subjects were included in the present study. The mean age of each group was 51.3 +/- 13.4, 51.8 +/- 17.4 and 50.5 +/- 10.4 years, respectively. No significant difference in dietary pattern was found between the subjects with glaucoma and the normal controls (p > 0.2 in all factors). The dietary pattern of NTG and HTG patients showed no statistically significant difference in all factors (p > 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in a dietary pattern between glaucoma patients and normal subjects. In terms of glaucoma, no possible beneficial or harmful food was found.

Long-Term Efficacy and Rotational Stability of AcrySof Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation in Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and rotational stability of the AcrySof toric intraocular lens (IOL) in correcting preoperative astigmatism in cataract patients. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 30 eyes from 24 consecutive patients who underwent implantation of an AcrySof toric IOL with micro-coaxial cataract surgery between May 2008 and September 2008. Outcomes of visual acuity, refractive and keratometric astigmatism, and IOL rotation after 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and long-term (mean, 13.3+/-5.0 months) follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: At final follow-up, 73.3% of eyes showed an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 or better. The postoperative keratometric value was not different from the preoperative value; mean refractive astigmatism was reduced to -0.28+/-0.38 diopter (D) from -1.28+/-0.48 D. The mean rotation of the toric IOL was 3.45+/-3.39 degrees at final follow-up. One eye (3.3%) exhibited IOL rotation of 10.3 degrees, the remaining eyes (96.7%) had IOL rotation of less than 10 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Early postoperative and long-term follow-up showed that implantation of the AcrySof toric IOL is an effective, safe, and predictable method for managing corneal astigmatism in cataract patients.

Relations between Somatic Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety and cognitive function in the patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury(MTBI). METHODS: Thirty seven patients with MTBI were selected from those patients who had visited the Department of Neuropsychiatry of Wonkwang University Hospital from 2003 to 2007. To assess and quantify the somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety, Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) was used. Assessment of cognitive function was carried out by using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS), Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kims Executive Function Test. The effects of somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety on the cognitive function were evaluated by Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety, all showed inverse correlation to cognitive function. Specifically, 1) an increase in somatic symptoms was associated with a decrease in attention, verbal short term memory, verbal recall and recognition, and visual memory. 2) An increase in anxiety was associated with a decrease in verbal recall and recognition. 3) An increase in depression was associated with a decrease in cognitive function that requires high attention and verbal memory. CONCLUSION: The patients with MTBI displayed diverse symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment to somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Somatic and emotional symptoms were correlated with cognitive function(especially executive function). Importantly, this study raises the possibility of treating the cognitive impairment associated with MTBI by treating somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.