Physical Activity Measurements with a Pedometer in the Fun and Run Health Camp for Children

BACKGROUND: Obesity in children emerged as a serious problem, and an increase in exercise and a decrease in sedentary activity are important to preventing obesity in children. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in physical activity between the overweight and control groups and whether the activity difference is related to the program provided. METHODS: This study included one-hundred fifty five children who participated in the Fun and Run Health Champ from June 2013 to October 2015. The Health Camp program consisted of lectures in the morning and exercise in the afternoon in 2013 and 2014 (program 1). The morning program in 2015 was changed to Exercise (program 2). The participants were categorized according to their BMI z-score into either the overweight (BMI z-score ≥1) group or the control group (BMI z-score <1). Physical activity was measured with a pedometer. RESULTS: The overweight group had 83 children (53.6%) and the control group had 72 (46.4%). The mean height z-score, weight z-score, and BMI z-score were higher in the overweight group than in the control group. The number of steps per hour in the exercise program (1,561) was greater than for the lecture program (456) (P<0.0001). After the change from lecture to exercise, the number of steps per hour increased significantly (P<0.0001). A greater change in physical activity according to the provided program was observed in the overweight group (overweight-1,033, control-686, P<0.007). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a designed program considering physical activity could lead to a greater change in physical activity in overweight children. It is necessary to develop the program so that it is fun for children.

Identification of a Novel De Novo Mutation of the TAZ Gene in a Korean Patient with Barth Syndrome

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by various types of cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, failure to thrive, skeletal myopathy, and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. BTHS is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the tafazzin (TAZ) gene located on chromosome Xq28, leading to cardiolipin deficiency. We report a 13-month-old boy with BTHS who had a novel de novo mutation in the TAZ gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a BTHS patient with a de novo mutation in Korea. This report will contribute towards expanding the knowledge on the mutation spectrum of the TAZ gene in BTHS.

A Case of Rotavirus Infection Presenting with Direct Hyperbilirubinemia / 대한주산의학회잡지

Rotavirus is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis in infants and young children and estimated to cause more than 111 million cases of diarrhea annually. Most patients show no specific symptom or experience mild fever, vomiting, non-bloody diarrhea and symptoms often resolve within several days. However, some of patients suffer from severe complication such as necrotizing enterocolitis, intussusception, seizure, encephalitis, and cholestasis. We report a neonatal case of rotavirus infection presenting with reversible direct hyperbilirubinemia with a brief review of associated literatures.

A Case of Kerion Celsi Caused by Microsporum canis in Adult Man / 대한피부과학회지

Kerion celsi is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis. We report a case of Kerion celsi caused by Micropsporum canis in 51 year-old man. When he visited our hospital, he suffered from hair loss and erythematous scaly patched and pustules on the scalp and papules on the face with tenderness and itching sensation. Cultures from scalp lesion and infected hair on Sabouraud glucose agar media showed Microsporum canis. Histopathologic findings showed graunlomatous changes in dermis and many spores around the hair shaft. Treatment was done topically with antifungal ointment and systernically with antibiotics, steroid and antifungsl agents. It is uncommon in adults, especially in men, but this condition must be considered when clinicians are evaluating patients with hair loss and nonspecific scalp dermatitis.