Screening and Assessment Tools for Measuring Delirium in Patients with Cancer in Hospice and Palliative Care: A Systematic Review / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

Purpose@#This study reviewed screening and assessment tools that are used to measure delirium in patients with cancer in hospice and palliative care settings and examined their psychometric properties. @*Methods@#Four databases were searched for studies using related search terms (delirium, tools, palliative care, cancer, and others). The inclusion criteria were a) studies that included screening/assessment tools for measuring delirium in cancer patients receiving hospice/palliative care, and b) studies published in English or Korean. The exclusion criteria were a) studies that were conducted in an intensive care setting, and b) case studies, qualitative studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. @*Results@#Out of the 81 studies identified, only 10 examined the psychometric properties of tools for measuring delirium, and 8 tools were ultimately identified. The psychometric properties of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) were the most frequently examined (n=5), and the MDAS showed good reliability, concurrent validity, and diagnostic accuracy. The Delirium Rating Scale had good reliability and diagnostic accuracy. The Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98 also showed good reliability and structural validity, but its diagnostic performance was not examined in hospice/palliative care settings. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale showed relatively low diagnostic accuracy. @*Conclusion@#The MDAS showed evidence of being a valid assessment tool for assessing delirium in patients with cancer in palliative care. Few studies examined the diagnostic performance of delirium tools. Therefore, further studies are needed to examine the diagnostic performance of screening/assessment tools for the optimal detection of delirium in patients with cancer in hospice/palliative care.

The Association between Excessive Internet Gaming Behavior and Immersive Tendency, Mediated by Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, in Korean Male University Students

Objective@#Problematic online gaming (POG) and problematic Internet use (PIU) have become a serious public mental health problem, with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) included in “Conditions for further study” section of DSM-5. Although higher immersive tendency is observed in people affected by POG, little is known about the simultaneous effect of immersive tendency and its highly comorbid mental disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to assess the relationship between immersive tendency, ADHD, and IGD. @*Methods@#Cross-sectional interview study was conducted in Seoul, Korea with 51 male undergraduate students; 23 active gamers and 28 controls. @*Results@#Current ADHD symptoms showed partial mediation effect on the path of immersive tendency on POG and PIU. The mediation model with inattention explained variance in both POG and PIU better than other current ADHD symptom models (R2=69.2 in POG; 69.3 in PIU). Childhood ADHD symptoms models demonstrated mediation effect on both POG and PIU which explained less variance than current ADHD symptom models (R2=53.7 in POG; 52.1 in PIU). Current ADHD symptoms, especially inattention, appear to mediate the effect of immersive tendency on POG/PIU. @*Conclusion@#Immersive tendencies may entail greater susceptibility to IGD, and comorbidity with ADHD may mediate the effect of immersive tendency on IGD.

The reality in the follow-up of breast cancer survivors: survey of Korean Breast Cancer Society

PURPOSE: Follow-up after primary treatment for breast cancer is an important component of survivor care and various international guidelines exist for the surveillance. However, little is known about current actual practice patterns of physicians whether they adhere to or deviate from recommended guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine how physicians follow-up their patients after primary treatment for breast cancer in Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire survey with 34 questions in 4 categories was e-mailed to the members of Korean Breast Cancer Society from November to December 2013. Respondents were asked how they use follow-up modalities after primary treatment of breast cancer and we compared the survey results with present guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 129 respondents, 123 (95.3%) were breast surgeons. The most important consideration in follow-up was tumor stage. History taking, physical examinations, and mammography were conducted in similar frequency recommended by other guidelines while breast ultrasonography was performed more often. The advanced imaging studies such as CT, MRI, and bone scan, which had been recommended to be conducted only if necessary, were also examined more frequently. Regular screenings for secondary malignancy were performed in 38 respondents (29.5%). Five years later after primary treatment, almost the whole respondents (94.6%) themselves monitored their patients. CONCLUSION: A majority of respondents have been performed more intensive follow-up modalities in comparison with present guidelines and less frequently screenings for secondary malignancy. For optimal follow-up of breast cancer survivors, tailored delivery system should be considered.

Factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To find out the factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: The clinical data of 125 patients with OAB symptoms who had taken antimuscarinics and behavioral therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Antimuscarinics related outcomes were evaluated by an independent observer with telephone interview. All patients were asked about duration of medication and reason of continuation or discontinuation of antimuscarinics. To determine pre-treatment factors predicting self-report discontinuation of antimuscarinics, variables of only those with P-values <0.25 on the univariate analysis were included in the Cox proportional hazard modeling. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 39.6 months and the proportion of discontinuation of antimuscarinics was 60.0% (75/125). The mean duration of medication was 21.2 months in the continuation group and 3.3 months in the discontinuation group. The reasons of discontinuation of antimuscarinics were improved OAB symptoms (46.7%), tolerable OAB symptoms (33.3%), no change of OAB symptoms (1.3%), side-effects (8.0%) and no desire to take long-term medication (10.7%). The variables affecting remaining cumulative probability of antimuscarinics were age, history of anti-incontinence surgery or vaginal surgery, and having stress predominant urinary incontinence on urodynamic study. CONCLUSION: The lower rate of cumulative continuation of antimuscarinics encourages us to give a more detailed counseling and education to the patients with OAB symptoms before prescription. And explorations about newer agent and non-pharmacologic treatment with good efficacy and lower side-effects are needed.

A Review of Breast Cancer Survivorship Issues from Survivors' Perspectives / 한국유방암학회지

Despite the fact that more breast cancer survivors are currently enjoying longer lifespans, there remains limited knowledge about the factors and issues that are of greatest significance for these survivors, particularly from their perspectives. This review was based on the concept that the topics addressed should focus on the perspectives of current survivors and should be extended to future modalities, which physicians will be able to use to gain a better understanding of the hidden needs of these patients. We intended to choose and review dimensions other than the pathology and the disease process that could have been overlooked during treatment. The eight topics upon which we focused included: delay of treatment and survival outcome; sexual well-being; concerns about childbearing; tailored follow-up; presence of a family history of breast cancer; diet and physical activity for survivors and their families; qualitative approach toward understanding of breast cancer survivorship, and; mobile health care for breast cancer survivors. Through this review, we aimed to examine the present clinical basis of the central issues noted from the survivors' perspectives and suggest a direction for future survivorship-related research.

Comparison of Curosurf(R) versus Surfacten(R) in the Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to compare the effects of treatment of newborn babies with two different surfactants, Curosurf(R) and Surfacten(R). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from 2007 to 2009 and divided the patients into two groups: those who received Curosurf(R) (n=20) and those who received Surfacten(R) (n=21). We compared the groups for sex, gestational age (GA), birth weight, type of delivery, apgar score, maternal history, age at treatment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), administration indomethacin for patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leucomalacia (PVL), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), pulmonary hemorrhage (PH), pneumothorax (PTX), duration of ventilation, need for oxygen, and administration. RESULTS: The demographic and clinical variables were similar in both groups. The gestational age for Curosurf(R) and Surfacten(R) were 32.7+/-3.1 and, 30.5+/-4.3 weeks, respectively (P=0.08). Six newborns in the Curosurf(R) group and 8 in the Surfacten(R) group developed BPD (P=0.59). No significant differences were noted for NEC, IVH, PVL, ROP, PH, PTX between the two groups (IVH, P=0.14; PVL, P=0.94; ROP P=0.94; PTX P=0.34). The mean duration of ventilation was 16.8 days with Curosurf(R) and 23.7 days with Surfacten(R), but these differences were not statistically significant (P=0.43). The differences in duration of need for oxygen and administration were also not statistically significant (P=0.92, 0.91, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study indicated no significant differences between Curosurf(R) and Surfacten(R). However, because of its convenience and the merit of minimal touching of the babies, the use of Curosurf(R) is recommended.

Erratum: Comparison of Curosurf(R) versus Surfacten(R) in the Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

We have corrected the conclusion in abstract.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Assay for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Measurement of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been reported to be a useful bedside screening tool for the presence of hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) in neonates. This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of a BNP assay as a biochemical marker for the diagnosis of hsPDA and predictive biomarker of the response to indomethacin in preterm infants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Preterm infants born at <37 weeks' gestational age were prospectively enrolled within 24 hours of birth. Plasma BNP levels were measured on days 1, 4, and 7. Significant PDA was diagnosed by large ductal flow with left to right shunt on color Doppler echocardiography, along with clinical features of PDA. Following that, hsPDA was treated with indomethacin. RESULTS: A total of 28 preterm infants were prospectively enrolled in this study. Seven infants with PDA had higher on day 4 plasma BNP values (median 654.68 pg/mL; range 428.29-1280.00) compared to the control group (median 124.52 pg/mL; range 37.21-290.49). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the detection of hsPDA was high: 0.998 (95% confidence interval: 0.995-1.002). The cutoff of BNP concentration for the diagnosis of hsPDA was determined to be 412 pg/mL (sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 95%). CONCLUSION: B-type natriuretic peptide can be a useful biomarker for the screening and diagnosis of PDA in preterm infants. Serial BNP measurements are valuable for assessing the clinical course and indomethacin responsiveness of PDA.

Relationship between Psychosocial Factor and Positive Health Behavior Change after Diagnosis in Breast Cancer Patients / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: With the increase in cancer prevalence, the health behavior of cancer survivors has become an important issue. This study was conducted to examine the psychosocial correlates of behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. METHODS: 95 patients completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress symptoms, social constraints, personal beliefs about cancer cause and health-related behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: In the multiple logistic regression analysis, insomnia was the only significant predictor of positive change in physical behavior : normal sleep group(Odds ratio=9.462, 95% CI 1.738-51.509) and subthreshold insomnia group(Odds ratio=10.529, 95% CI 1.701-65.161) showed a larger increase compared to the insomnia group. In psychosocial behavior, low age, religion and causal belief in hormonal factors were independent factors that predicted increase in positive change. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a difference between predictors of physical and psychosocial health behavior change after breast cancer diagnosis. Multi-faceted approaches are required to promote positive change in health behavior in cancer patients.

Congenital Adrenal Agenesis Presented with Adrenal Insufficiency

We report a very rare case of congenital adrenal agenesis presented with adrenal insufficiency in a 4-day-old female newborn. She was admitted with darkish skin color and seizure. Her external genitalia was normal. Elevated serum level of adrenocorticotropic hormone and increased plasma renin activity were observed. Plasma cortisol level and aldosterone level were decreased. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed bilateral agenesis of adrenal glands. Six exons of the steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, NR5A1) gene and their intronic flanking sequences were normal. Now, she is continuously receiving replacement doses of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids under adrenal insufficiency. Her growth and development are completely normal. We propose that when a patient presents with 46, XY disorder of sex development or normal female genitalia with adrenal insufficiency, SF-1 gene mutation study should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Successful Pamidronate Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type III Infant with Multiple Fractures

Osteogenesis imperfect (OI) is a generalized connective tissue disorder. We report the female neonate case with OI type III who showed severe bone deformities and fractures in utero. At birth, she showed multiple fractures in the clavicle, rib, femur, and wormian bone in the skull X-ray. We initiated pamidronate disodium infusion 30 mg/m2 in cycles of 3 consecutive days from when she was 4 days old, monthly for the first 3 months and every 2 months thereafter without adverse effects.

Successful Pamidronate Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type III Infant with Multiple Fractures

Osteogenesis imperfect (OI) is a generalized connective tissue disorder. We report the female neonate case with OI type III who showed severe bone deformities and fractures in utero. At birth, she showed multiple fractures in the clavicle, rib, femur, and wormian bone in the skull X-ray. We initiated pamidronate disodium infusion 30 mg/m2 in cycles of 3 consecutive days from when she was 4 days old, monthly for the first 3 months and every 2 months thereafter without adverse effects.

Intermediate and Long-Term Results of Transcatheter Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale Using the Amplatzer Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder: One Case of Pulmonary Embolism Irrespective of Patent Foramen Ovale Closure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) due to paradoxical embolism, and in the pathogenesis of migraine. This paper reports the intermediate and long-term results of transcatheter closure of PFO associated with cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), TIAs and migraine, using the Amplatzer PFO occluder. This paper also reports a case of pulmonary embolism which developed in one patient after PFO closure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January 2003 to May 2010, 16 patients with PFO (seven males and nine females) with a history of at least one episode of cryptogenic stroke/TIA, CVA, or migraine and who underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure of PFO using the Amplatzer occluder. All the procedures were performed under general anesthesia and were assisted by transesophageal echocardiography. RESULTS: The device was implanted without any significant complications in all the patients, and the PFOs were effectively closed. At an average follow-up period of 54 months, the 15 patients with TIA/CVA had no recurrence of any thromboembolic event. The symptoms in one patient with migraine subsided after occlusion of the PFO. In this study, pulmonary embolism occurred five months after PFO closure in one patient, but the cause of pulmonary embolism was not identified. However, it is believed that the pulmonary embolism occurred without stroke recurrence because occlusion of the PFO was performed when the patient had a stroke event. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that according to the intermediate and long-term follow-up results, transcatheter PFO closure is an effective and safe therapeutic modality in the prevention of thromboembolic events, especially in the patients with cryptogenic stroke/TIA, and PFO closure is helpful in the treatment of migraine. However, this study involved a small number of patients and also the follow-up period was not long enough. Hence, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to determine if this approach is preferable to medical therapy for the prevention of recurrent stroke or as primary treatment for patients with migraine headache.

A Case of Preterm Newborn with Hydranencephaly, from an Adolescent, Unmarried Woman who had No Antenatal Care / 대한주산의학회잡지

Hydranencephaly is a term used to describe a group of brain malformations in regard to developing any brain remnants. With most of the cerebral cortex absent, the cerebral hemispheres are replaced by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), covered with leptomeninges and dura. Hydranencephaly is a rare isolated abnormality occurring in less than 1 per 10,000 births. With the cutting edged sonography, most of the hydranencephalies are screened in antenatal care. Therefore, it is very rare to observe a living preterm with hydranencephaly. From a history of a young, 19-year-old pregnant woman who did not look for the antenatal care, we found out that it was her first pregnancy, she was unmarried and intermittently had alcohol during the pregnancy. After home delivery, a preterm newborn assumed to be 28 weeks of gestational age was placed under surfactant therapy because of respiratory distress syndrome, and then received a mechanical ventilation. Brain sonography showed that most of the cerebral parenchyma, cortical tissue was absent at the 5th day after the birth. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of brain showed that almost complete absence of cerebrum which was replaced by CSF, hydranencephaly at 81th days from birth. In summary, we report a preterm newborn with hydranencephaly from an adolescent, unmarried woman who had no antenatal care.

A Case of Neonatal Gastric Ulcer with Large Hematoma Presenting as Gastric Outlet Obstruction / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) results from obstructing lesions in the region of the pyloric channel. In neonates, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is the most common cause while peptic ulcer is a rare cause. Neonatal gastric ulcer is relatively frequent in preterm newborn babies or in neonates treated in intensive care units. In healthy neonates, mucosal ulcers are associated with stressful conditions. In gastric ulcer diseases, gastric outlet obstruction is usually caused by a combination of edema, spasm, fibrotic stenosis and gastric atony. We experienced a case of neonatal gastric ulcer with a large hematoma in a 3-day-old infant presenting with repeated vomiting, poor oral intake, and abdominal distension. For the differential diagnosis, we did abdominal ultrasonography. Hematoma was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. Endoscopic examination confirmed the hematoma and the presence of gastric ulcerations. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.

Clinical Review of the of Seizures among Children / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate childhood seizures to provide appropriate medical services. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 221 chidren under 18 years of age with seizures (excluding febrile convulsion), who were admitted to the pediatric department of Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University from 2007 to 2009. RESULTS: The male to female was 1.3:1 and the peak age was 6 years or less, accounting for 63%. The most common causes of seizures according to age were listed as follows; hypocalcemia (41%) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathies (41%) in the neonatal period, benign convulsion with mild gastroenteritis (BCwMG, 47%) in preschool children (1month and 5 years), and unprovoked seizure (80%) more than 6 years. Electroencephalogram and neuroimaging abnormalities were found in the ratio from 20% and 14% respectively. CONCLUSION: Seizure is the most common neurologic disease in the childhood. The above results reveal that the causes of childhood seizures in the different age group are different. Therefore, the exact diagnosis of disease according to age is needed. We hope that further clinical studies on this topic will be performed.

Microbiological spectrum and antibiotic susceptibility pattern in more than 24-month-old children with urinary tract infection: A6-year retrospective, single center experience / 소아과

PURPOSE: To characterize the pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibilities in more than 24-month-old children with urinary tract infection (UTI) and to study the Escherichia coli antimicrobial susceptibility trend. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the record of more than 24-month-old children with UTI between January 2003 and December 2008. Positive results for 1 bacterial species with a colony count of > or =10(5) CFU/mL was considered statistically significant. We analyzed uropathogens and their antibiotic susceptibilities. To investigate E. coli antibiotic susceptibility trend, we compared 2 study periods (group A: 2003-2005 versus group B: 2006-2008) using the chi-square test for trend. RESULTS: In all, 63 bacterial isolates were identified in children with febrile UTI. The most common pathogen was E. coli (77.8%). There was no difference in the resistance patterns of uropathogens during the 2 study periods (P>0.05). Antibiotic susceptibility of the E. coli isolates to aztreonam, cefotetan, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, amikacin, and imipenem was >90% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol, 49% and to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam, 20-25%. Over the 2 study period, the E. coli susceptibilities to most antibiotics did not change: the susceptibility to cefuroxime increased from 74.1% to 95.5% (P=0.046) and that to ciprofloxacin increased from 59.3% to 86.4% (P=0.039). CONCLUSION: Empirical treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and ampicillin/sulbactam alone appeared to be insufficient in childhood UTI because of the high resistance of E. coli and other gram-negative uropathogens. Antibiotics for empirical therapy should be selected based on the sensitivity and resistance pattern of uropathogens found in a particular region.

Clinical features of transient small bowel intussusception in children / 소아과

Purpose: We analyzed the clinical features, management and outcome of small bowel intussusception in children compared with ileocolic intussusception. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 210 children with documented intussusception, in whom intussusception was initially diagnosed by ultrasonography during the four-year period of 2002 to 2005. Results: A total of 191 children were diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception and 19 were diagnosed with small bowel intussusception. Children with small bowel intussusception were older than children with ileocolic intussusception (P<0.05). In comparison to patients with ileocolic intussusception the characteristic presenting symptoms-such as currant jelly stool and palpable mass-were rarely observed in patients with small bowel intussusception. In ileocolic intussusception, air reduction (92.2%), or surgical reduction (7.3%) was performed; however, in small bowel intussusception, spontaneous reduction (78.9%) was observed and no surgical reduction was required in our study. Conclusion: Conservative management with close observation and follow-up sonographic evaluation rather than an immediate operation is recommended for children with small bowel intussusception.

Two cases of central nervous system complications caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection / 소아과

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection causes a wide variety of clinical manifestations in children and young adults, the main one being pneumonia. M. pneumoniae is transmitted from person to person by infected respiratory droplets. Symptoms caused by M. pneumoniae infection can be divided into those involving the respiratory tract, and those caused by extrapulmonary disease. M. pneumoniae infections may cause central nervous system (CNS) complications-with encephalitis being the most frequent-and stroke being a rare complication. The pathogenesis of the CNS disease is unclear; possibilities include direct infection and an immune-mediated reaction. We present two cases of CNS complications subsequent to infection with M. pneumoniae; both cases had convincing evidence of preceding M. pneumoniae respiratory disease with no evidence of viable M. pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid. We report cases of encephalitis and stroke following a recent M. pneumoniae infection.

Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen change in low birth weight infants during their first days of life / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in serum creatinine and correlation between gestational age or birth weight and serum creatinine in low birth weight infants in the immediate postnatal period. METHODS: Medical records of all premature infants, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Hallym University Hospital between January 2003 and December 2007, were reviewed. 162 infants met our inclusion criteria. Medical records were reviewed for : birth weight, gestational age, length, gender, APGAR scores, use of medications, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) during the first days of life. Premature infants were separated into three groups according to their birth weight: 500 to 999 g; 1,000 to 1,499 g; and 1,500 to 2,000 g. RESULTS: Scr was found to decrease postnatally, however there was a delay in the decrease of Scr in the subgroup of infants<1,000 g BW, Scr was also found to decrease with increasing birth weight at 1 week after birth (Pearson test, p=0.01). Serum BUN was found to decrease with increasing birth weight at 1 week after birth (Pearson test, p=0.00). CONCLUSION: In low birth weight infants Scr decrease during the first days of life. However, in infants smaller than 1,000 g birth weight there is a delay in the decrease of their Scr that extends beyond the first days of life. Our findings indicate progression of renal function is directly correlated to birth weight.