Increasing prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia in adolescents aged 10–18 years and its relationship with metabolic indicators: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (KNHANES), 2007–2018

Purpose@#Pediatric diabetes is a common health burden worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia in Korean youth aged 10–18 years and to evaluate its association with metabolic indicators. @*Methods@#To assess the risk of diabetes in domestic children and adolescents, the prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia was calculated, a trend was evaluated using multi-year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between hyperglycemia and metabolic factors. @*Results@#The prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia, defined as impaired fasting glucose (fasting glucose level > 100 mg/dL and < 125 mg/dL), or diabetes mellitus (fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL) was estimated in Korean teenagers. The prevalence increased from the fourth (2007–2009) to the fifth (2010–2012), sixth (2013–2015), and seventh (2016–2018) KNHANES surveys, from 5.39 to 4.79, 10.03, and 11.66 per 100 persons, respectively. In multivariate analysis, systolic blood pressure and serum triglycerides were higher in the fasting hyperglycemia group; systolic blood pressures were 109.83 mmHg and 112.64 mmHg and serum triglycerides were 81.59 mg/dL and 89.60 mg/dL in the normal blood glucose and fasting hyperglycemia groups, respectively. @*Conclusion@#The prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia among children and adolescents has increased over the past decade, and this increase is potentially associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia. Effort is urgently required to reduce this chronic medical burden in adolescence.

International Classification of Diseases 10th edition-based disability adjusted life years for measuring of burden of specific injury

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th edition injury code-based disability-adjusted life year (DALY) to measure the burden of specific injuries. METHODS: Three independent panels used novel methods to score disability weights (DWs) of 130 indicator codes sampled from 1,284 ICD injury codes. The DWs were interpolated into the remaining injury codes (n=1,154) to estimate DWs for all ICD injury codes. The reliability of the estimated DWs was evaluated using the test-retest method. We calculated ICD-DALYs for individual injury episodes using the DWs from the Korean National Hospital Discharge Injury Survey (HDIS, n=23,160 of 2004) database and compared them with DALY based on a global burden of disease study (GBD-DALY) regarding validation, correlation, and agreement for 32 injury categories. RESULTS: Using 130 ICD 10th edition injury indicator codes, three panels determined the DWs using the highest reliability (person trade-off 1, Spearman r=0.724, 0.788, and 0.875 for the three panel groups). The test-retest results for the reliability were excellent (Spearman r=0.932) (P<0.001). The HDIS database revealed injury burden (years) as follows: GBD-DALY (138,548), GBD-years of life disabled (130,481), and GBD-years of life lost (8,117) versus ICD-DALY (262,246), ICD-years of life disabled (255,710), and ICD-years of life lost (6,537), respectively. Spearman’s correlation coefficient of the DALYs between the two methods was 0.759 (P<0.001), and the Bland-Altman test displayed an acceptable agreement, with exception of two categories among 32 injury groups. CONCLUSION: The ICD-DALY was developed to calculate the burden of injury for all injury codes and was validated with the GBD-DALY. The ICD-DALY was higher than the GBD-DALY but showed acceptable agreement.

Long working hours and overweight and obesity in working adults

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified a link between gender and the various risk factors associated with obesity. We examined obesity risk factors in working adults to identify the effects of differences in body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (PBF) between women and men. METHODS: A total of 1,120 adults agreed to participate in the study. Data from 711 participants, including 411 women and 300 men, were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of risk factors on obesity and being overweight. In addition, the least-squares (LS) means of both BMI and PBF were estimated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in a generalized linear model.  RESULTS: Increases in BMI and PBF were significantly related to an age > 50 years and long working hours in women after compensating for confounding factors. Using the PBF criterion, the odds ratio (OR) of being overweight or obese in women > 50 years of age who worked for > 9 h a day was 3.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–11.00). For BMI, women who were > 50 years of age and worked for > 9 h a day were 3.82 times (95% CI, 1.31–11.14) more likely to be overweight or obese than those who were 50 years of age and long working hours in women. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implications for the prevention and management of excess weight and obesity.

A Concept Analysis of Cultural Nursing Competence

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct a concept analysis of cultural nursing competence. METHODS: Cultural nursing competence was analyzed using Rodgers' evolutionary concept development method. A literature search using the keywords "cultural nursing competence", "intercultural nursing competence", "cultural nursing", "cultural health nursing", and "cultural competence" was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, and RISS on material published before 2015. Database and bibliographic searches yielded 35 records. RESULTS: Cultural nursing competence comprised cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains. The critical attributes of the concept were sensitivity, equality, and activity. The analysis identified the following dimensions: awareness, openness, and coherence. The consequences of cultural nursing competence were personal satisfaction and social justice. The definition contained competence on both an individual and social level. CONCLUSION: Cultural competency enhances quality of care by narrowing health disparities and increasing client satisfaction. The concept analysis of cultural nursing competence may offer an acceptable framework which can be used to develop psychometric tools of this concept and provide guidelines in nursing practice.

Stress, Yangsaeng and Subjective Happiness Among Female Undergraduate Nursing Students in the Republic of Korea / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study investigates the relationship among stress, Yangsaeng and subjective happiness in female undergraduate nursing students in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 283 female undergraduate nursing students in Korea. Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Stepwise multiple regression and Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Yangsaeng negatively correlated with stress (r=-.299, p<.001) but positively correlated with subjective happiness (r=.440, p<.001). Stress negatively correlated with subjective happiness (r=-.238, p<.001). Stepwise multiple regression revealed that Yangsaeng and satisfaction with the field of nursing explained 25.4% of subjective happiness. CONCLUSION: The Yangsaeng oriental health care regimen could lower stress and heighten subjective happiness. Therefore, Yangsaeng could be recommended as a feasible means of promoting health and subjective happiness.

Comparison of Prenatal Health Management State and Educational Needs for Pregnant Women with Advanced Maternal Age and Under the Age of 35

PURPOSE: This study was done to confirm prenatal health management and educational needs for pregnant women with advanced maternal age (AMA) and pregnant women under 35 years of age. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research in which self-report questionnaires were used. Participants were 279 pregnant women (83 AMA and 196 less than 35). RESULTS: Only 32.5% of AMA women had received prenatal education and 51.8% reported wanting internet education. AMA women, compared to the under 35 women, had higher levels of self-awareness of health problems and possibility of health problems but lower levels of alcohol experience before pregnancy. For prenatal health management, scores were low for prenatal exercise, prenatal education and nutrition. For prenatal health management education, AMA women reported high levels of need for education on health problems. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that prenatal health management education must be given considering differences in age-related requirements by emphasizing health care and obstetric complications during pregnancy for AMA womenand anemia and information on substance use during pregnancy for women under 35. Reliable internet-based education programs need to be developed using available information and communication technology for the increasing number of employed pregnant women.

Urinary nephrin: A new predictive marker for pregnancies with preeclampsia and small-for-gestational age infants

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the differences in urinary nephrin among controls, gravidas with preeclampsia (PE), and small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants. We also determined whether or not maternal urinary concentrations of nephrin are associated with the subsequent development of PE and SGA infants. METHODS: We analyzed maternal urinary levels of nephrin in women who were normal controls (n=50), women who were delivered SGA infants (n=40), and gravidas with PE (n=33) in the first, second and third trimesters. Urinary nephrin concentrations were measured with nephrin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The levels of urinary nephrin were higher in gravida developing preeclampsia or SGA than in controls after adjusting serum creatinine (P<0.05 for both). Maternal urine concentrations of nephrin were higher in pregnancies complicated by SGA and PE in the third trimester (P<0.05), and also higher in pregnancies complicated by SGA in the first trimester (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of nephrin in predicting SGA from normal pregnancies were 67% and 89% in the first trimester, 60% and 79% in the second trimester, and 80% and 84% in the third trimester, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of nephrin in predicting PE from normal pregnancies were 67% and 83% in the first trimester and 73% and 79% in the third trimester, respectively. CONCLUSION: We suggest that urinary nephrin can be used as an early marker in pregnancies at risk for developing PE and SGA infants.

Cord Blood Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 and Placental Growth Factor in Preterm Infants with Maternal Preeclampsia / 이화의대지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of cord blood levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in preterm infants with maternal preeclampsia. METHODS: Thirty six preterm infants born at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from January 2006 to August 2006 were studied after prior parental consent at mid-pregnancy. sFlt-1, PlGF, and VEGF levels in the cord blood of preterm neonate, with or without maternal preeclampsia, were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There was no difference in sFlt-1 between infants with and without maternal preeclampsia. Infants with maternal preeclampsia had significantly lower PlGF levels (P=0.035) and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (P=0.080) with borderline significance. Cord blood VEGF levels were not related to maternal preeclampsia. Infants with maternal preeclampsia had lower birth weight (P=0.030), lower neonatal platelet count without statistical significance (P=0.064) and more likely to be small for gestational age (P=0.057). Neonatal platelet count was significantly correlated with cord blood PlGF levels (r=0.674, P=0.032). CONCLUSION: Increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and decreased PlGF may not only be related to the pathophysiology of maternal preeclampsia but also affect the neonatal platelet count and birth weight.

Characteristics of Alcohol-related Injuries in Adolescents Visiting the Emergency Department

Alcohol is frequently a factor affecting emergency department patients, and alcohol consumption is more common among those who are injured. In Korea, the socioeconomic impact of alcohol has been enormous because of traditional permissive attitudes toward alcohol. Juvenile drinking has increased recently; consequently, an increase in alcohol-related injuries is likely in this population. Therefore, we compared the characteristics and severity of alcohol-related injuries in adolescents and adults. All injured patients seen at six EDs throughout 2007 were included. We obtained data from the 'Development of a model for an in-depth injury surveillance system based on the emergency department' surveillance. The proportion of adolescents who drank was 5.0%. No significant alcohol-related difference in injuries was found between male and female adolescents (P = 0.14), whereas in adults, being male was strongly related to alcohol consumption (P < 0.001). Among traffic accidents, motorcycle-related injuries were strongly associated with alcohol use in adolescents (odds ratio [OR] 2.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-5.83). Results also indicated that alcohol-related injuries in adolescents showed poor outcomes (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.47-3.81) as compared with those in adults (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.26-1.59). Preventive strategy on alcohol-related injuries in adolescents should focus on reducing motorcycle accidents.

Joys and Sorrows in Mothers of Children with Mucopolysaccharidosis

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore the meaning of joys and sorrows in mothers of children with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). METHODS: The participants were 9 mothers who each had a child with MPS. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi method. RESULTS: The significant results from analyzing the interviews can be grouped into 12 concept descriptions, and 5 theme clusters. The essential theme clusters for the experience of the mothers were 'hopelessness about this rare disease', 'guilt because of the disease being hereditary', 'endless courses of treatment', 'wounds in the relationship', and 'relative composure of mind'. CONCLUSION: The finding of this study offer profound information on joys and sorrows experienced by mothers of children with MPS and provide basic data for developing nursing intervention strategies for the mothers of children with rare diseases.

Effect of Probiotic Lactobacillus (Lacidofil(R) Cap) for the Prevention of Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter Study

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication of antibiotic use. There is growing interest in probiotics for the treatment of AAD and Clostridium difficile infection because of the wide availability of probiotics. The aim of this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was to assess the efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus (Lacidofil(R) cap) for the prevention of AAD in adults. From September 2008 to November 2009, a total of 214 patients with respiratory tract infection who had begun receiving antibiotics were randomized to receive Lactobacillus (Lacidofil(R) cap) or placebo for 14 days. Patients recorded bowel frequency and stool consistency daily for 14 days. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed AAD within 14 days of enrollment. AAD developed in 4 (3.9%) of 103 patients in the Lactobacillus group and in 8 (7.2%) of 111 patients in the placebo group (P=0.44). However, the Lactobacillus group showed lower change in bowel frequency and consistency (50/103, 48.5%) than the placebo group (35/111, 31.5%) (P=0.01). Although the Lacidofil(R) cap does not reduce the rate of occurrence of AAD in adult patients with respiratory tract infection who have taken antibiotics, the Lactobacillus group maintains their bowel habits to a greater extent than the placebo group.

Adaptation to Menopause and Use of Yangsaeng in Middle-aged Korean Women / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The study addressed the adaption of middle-aged Korean women to menopause, including the use of Yangsaeng, a traditional health care regimen that incorporates specific principles and methods to promote health and prevent illness, with the aim of improving health and longevity of life. METHODS: Middle-aged women (40~59 years, n=171) residing in Seoul and Gyeong-Gi Province. Data was collected by using a self-reported questionnaire. Menopausal period adaptation was measured by 29 items in four categories (physical, self-concept, role function, and inter-dependent). Yangsaeng was measured by 31 questionnaire items in eight categories (morality, mind, diet, activity and rest, exercise, sleep, seasonal, and sexuality). RESULTS: Significant differences in menopausal adaptation were evident on the basis of participant education and income. There were significant differences in Yangsaeng in terms of participant education, nature of employment, and income. Menopausal adaptation positively correlated to use of Yangsaeng. Physical adaptation, self-concept adaptation, role function adaptation, and inter-dependent adaptation positively correlated to morality Yangsaeng, mind Yangsaeng, and activity and rest Yangsaeng. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged Korean women who practice Yangsaeng may be better positioned to adapt to menopause. Yangsaeng may be an advantageous nursing intervention in this population.

A Survey on Health Management of during Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Postpartum of Immigrant Women in a Multi-cultural Family / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate health management state during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum of immigrant women. METHODS: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 182 immigrant women who lived in four provinces and D city. Subjects were completed the following questionnaires: demographic, medical service use, pregnancy and childbirth, and health management during the ante-postpartum. RESULTS: The average age of subjects was 28.96 and 83 subjects (45.6%) were coming from Vietnam. 55 Subjects (30.2%) were within the low-income group with less than 4 million won per month. So, 62 subjects were uninsured women because of the expensive costs. Subjects mainly visited a health care center with their husband. On the using a health care center, subjects complained about communication difficulties and transportation problems. 42 Subjects were pregnant but 21.4% of pregnant subjects did not receive antenatal care. Subjects got information about pregnancy and childbirth through their husbands and husband's family. CONCLUSION: Nursing intervention to manage the pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum of immigrant women need to be developed and should include strategies to take care of themselves after delivery and provide knowledge and information about ante-postpartum.

Association between Maternal and Cord Blood Interleukin-10 (-819T/C and -592A/C) Gene Polymorphisms and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Korean Infants

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the genotype frequencies of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms and to investigate their association with the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm Korean infants. METHODS: Two hundred fourteen preterm infants born at Ewha Womans University Mok Dong Hospital between November 2003 and July 2008 were studied. The cord blood of preterm neonates and the corresponding maternal blood were analyzed by PCR for IL-10 gene (IL-10 -1082A/G, -819T/C, and -592A/C) polymorphisms. The clinical data of patients were collected retrospectively by chart review. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of IL-10 genes in Korean mothers with preterm infants differ from other reports. The prevalence of two promoter SNPs of the IL-10 cytokine gene was similar but none had the IL-10-1082GG homozygote. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated the risk of RDS to be significantly lower in the infants of the mothers with an IL-10-592AC/CC genotype than in those with an AA genotype (P= 0.033). The risk of RDS was significantly lower in the mother with an IL-10-819TC/CC genotype than in those with a TT genotype (P=0.030). However, IL-10 polymorphisms in the cord blood were not significantly different in preterm infants with RDS compared with the preterm infants without RDS. When we compared the incidence of RDS and each IL-10 A-1082G/T-819C/A-592C haplotype, the ACC haplotype had a protective effect on RDS (P=0.007). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the maternal IL-10-592A/C and IL-10-819T/C polymorphisms may have a role in the development of the RDS in preterm infants.

Detection of Virulence Genes of Staphyloccus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolated from Suprapubic Urine from Infants with Fever

While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) has recently increased in elderly adult urology patients, it has been only rarely reported in infants. Therefore, in this study to understand whether MRSA may be involved in UTI of infants who run fever without other apparent causes, we identified and counted S. aureus and S. epidermidis in suprapubic urine from 750 febrile infants via microbiological methods, and confirmed the counts via multiplex PCR. And we also detected four virulence genes, mecA, PVL, bbp and icaA genes for S. aureus and S. epidermidis via multiplex PCR in the same specimens. S. aureus (28 cases) counts were as follows: >10(4) CFU/ml (3/28), 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (1/28) and 10(4) CFU/ml (2/26), 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (4/26) and 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (20/26). S. aureus virulence genes were detected in 26 cases as mecA (16/26, 59.3%), PVL (17/26, 63.0%), bbp (7/26, 26.9%) and icaA (20/26, 76.9%). S. epidermidis virulence genes were detected in 22 cases as mecA (17/22, 81.0%), PVL (15/22, 71.4%), bbp (3/22, 13.6%) and icaA (13/22, 50.1%). Therefore, mecA, PVL and icaA genes of MRSA and MRSE were detected with high positivity in urines from infants with fever. The results demonstrate that community-acquired MRSA or MRSE may be responsible for UTI incidence in febrile infants.

Analysis of risk factors associated with male lower urinary tract symptoms in the metabolic syndrome

PUROPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the metabolic syndrome in the elderly male. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The metabolic syndrome group of 348 patients (64.4+/-8.6 years old) and the control group of 150 patients (66.0+/-7.0 years old) were included in the study. The voiding factors, such as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score, prostate volume, maximal urine flow rate, residual urine volume, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were investigated. Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride were measured for the evaluation of the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Waist circumference (beta=0.025, p<0.001), systolic (beta=0.004, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (beta=0.006, p<0.05) were positively correlated with prostate volume. In the logistic regression analysis of voiding factors according to metabolic syndrome factors, the patients who have central obesity (Odds ratio [OR]=2.931), central obesity and hypertension (OR=3.598), central obesity and diabetes (OR=2.508), hypertension and low HDL-cholesterolemia (OR=2.326), central obesity, hypertension and diabetes (OR=3.083), central obesity, hypertension and low HDL cholesterolemia (OR=3.440) represented a significantly increased age-adjusted risk of benign prostatic enlargement (25g or more). OR of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was 3.178 in the patients with cental obesity, and 2.381 in the patients with both central obesity and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: In male elderly, the metabolic syndrome was closely related with LUTS and its main risk factor was central obesity, represented as waist circumference.

Assessment of modifiable lifestyle factors for obese children and adolescents through questionnaires / 소아과

PURPOSE: The identification of specific behaviors conducive to overeating or inactivity is the cornerstone of obesity management. The Committee on Nutrition of the Korean Pediatric Society developed parent and self-reporting questionnaires about eating behavior and physical activity in 2006. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the questionnaires in assessing modifiable lifestyle factors related to obesity. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for 177 children (6-11 years old) and 134 adolescents (12-16 years old) from 10 hospitals between May 2006 and January 2007 who had completed parent or self-reporting questionnaires. Cases were divided into normal and overweight groups at or above the age-gender-specific 85th percentile based on 2007 Korean national growth charts. RESULTS: Compared to children, the adolescents tended to have a significantly more sedentary lifestvle and inappropriate dietary behaviors significantly (P<.05). Overweight mothers were significantly associated with overweight children and adolescents (P<.05). Being overweight was significantly associated with a family history of adult diseases for children and adolescents (P<.05). Inappropriate eating behaviors (strong appetite, eating fast, eating until they were full, binge eating, favoring greasy foods) were associated with being overweight in children and adolescents. Sedentary activity such as TV viewing and using a computer were significantly associated with overweight in children and adolescents (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Intervention to modify obesity-related lifestyle factors is needed before adolescence. These questionnaires are useful in identifying modifiable lifestyle factors and in individual counseling for overweight children and adolescents in pediatric clinics.

Relationship between cord blood level of IL-12 in preterm newborns and development of wheezing / 소아과

PURPOSE: Abnormal activation patterns of Th1/Th2-cells have been suggested to increase the prevalence of allergic diseases. Prevention is regarded as an important corner stone in the management of allergic diseases. In this study, we have investigated the relationship between cord blood levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 in preterm newborns and the development of allergic respiratory diseases in infancy METHODS: Forty-six preterm newborns born at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and July 2005, were enrolled for this study, and consent was obtained to test their cord blood samples. Clinical history was obtained from the hospital records. Cord blood was obtained at birth and kept frozen until it was tested. The levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: All infants were followed-up for a median of 16.0 months+/-13.2 d (range, 12.0 to 36.0 months). Eighteen infants who developed wheezing showed lower cord blood levels of IL-12 (366.60+/-140.40 vs 435.09+/-91.20 pg/mL, P=0.009). Cord blood levels of IL-4 and IL-10 showed no significant difference between the two groups. Four newborns who later developed asthma, and infants with asthma showed lower IL-12 level in the cord blood than other groups. CONCLUSION: Lower concentration of cord blood levels of IL-12 in newborns who later developed wheezing and asthma suggested that they had abnormal activation patterns of Th1/Th2-cells at the time of birth, and cord blood IL-12 level can be used as a predictor of allergic respiratory diseases.

Correlation of Cord Serum Adiponectin and IGF-I with Fetal Growth in Healthy Term Neonates

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cord serum adiponectin (APN) and IGF-I concentrations and fetal growth. METHODS: Umbilical cord serum APN and IGF-I concentrations were measured in healthy term singleton deliveries (n=72). The association of cord serum APN and IGF-I concentrations was evaluated in relation to birth weight, height, head circumference, gender, ponderal index, placental weight, feto-placental (F/P) weight ratio, maternal weight gain, and maternal body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The mean cord serum APN was 29.2+/-10.46 microgram/mL. The cord serum APN and birth weight demonstrated a bell-shape relationship. The cord serum APN concentration was higher in females than males (P=0.001). The cord serum APN was negatively correlated with maternal BMI (r=-0.301, P=0.027), but the mean cord serum APN concentration was not correlated with birth height, birth head circumference, ponderal index, placental weight, F/P ratio, or maternal weight gain. The mean cord serum concentrations of IGF-I was 51.26+/-21.54 ng/mL. The cord serum IGF-I concentration was positively correlated with birth weight (r=0.312, P=0.009), but not birth height, ponderal index, placental weight, F/P weight ratio, or maternal BMI. CONCLUSION: APN demonstrated a bell-shaped relationship with birth weight in healthy term infants. IGF-I was highly correlated with fetal growth, especially birth weight.

Overview of Poisoning Admission in Korea: based on the hospital discharge injury surveillance data

Purpose: There has been no nationwide surveillance survey of poisoning cases in Korea. This study examined the clinical characteristics of poisoning admissions in order to obtain preliminary data for future planning. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the data on poisoning admissions of 150 hospitals based on the hospital discharge injury surveillance data of Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Korea from January to December in 2004. The demographic data, poisons used, causes of poisoning, reasons for attempted suicide and mortality rate was investigated according to the age group. The factors associated with mortality were also evaluated. Results: A total 836 patients admitted for poisoning were analyzed. Their mean age was 46.5+/-19.5 years (male 415, female 421). The most frequent age group was the 4th and 5th decades. The most common poisons involved were pesticides (45%) and medications (23%). The majority (64%) involved intentional poisoning except for those in the 1st decade. The most common reason for the attempted suicide was family problems. However, individual disease was the most common reason in those over 60 years. The overall mortality rate was 8.7% (73/836). Pesticides and being elderly (over 65 years old) were strongly correlated with fatality. Conclusion: The incidence of intentional poisoning increases from the 2nd decade making it a preventable injury. "Overall, the incidence of intentional poisoning increases from the 2nd decade". Therefore, there is a need to frame a prevention policy corresponding to each factor related to fatality, such as an elderly population and pesticides.