Prediction of hepatic fibrosis using the aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index in children and adolescents with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background: Aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) is an easy and useful predictor of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatic disease, and it significantly correlates with the degree of hepatic fibrosis in adult patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aimed to evaluate the use of APRI in assessing the severity of MASLD in children and adolescents.

Methods: Medical records of 115 patients (males: 78; females: 37) with MASLD were retrospectively reviewed.

Triglyceride Glucose Index is Associated with Ultrasonographic Fatty Liver Indicator in Children and Adolescents with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as chronic hepatic steatosis and is becoming prevalent, along with the increasing trend for obesity in children and adolescents. A non-invasive and reliable tool is needed to differentiate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis from simple steatosis. This study evaluated the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the ultrasonographic fatty liver indicator (US-FLI), and the possibility of using the TyG index for prediction of severity of pediatric NAFLD.

The effectiveness of nature-based therapy for community psychological distress and well-being during COVID-19: a multi-site trial.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world population faced various mental health challenges, highlighting a need for new community-based psychosocial interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of Nature-Based Therapy (NBT) for the community experiencing psychological distress during the pandemic. A multi-site trial comparing NBT and control groups was conducted in Korea with 291 participants exhibiting mild to severe depression or anxiety.

Characteristics and clinical course of thyroid abnormalities arisen in long term survivors of childhood cancer.

Background: Thyroid abnormality is a common late effect seen in childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). We analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of thyroid abnormalities based on diagnoses and treatment modalities in CCSs.

Methods: The medical records of 257 CCSs who were diagnosed with cancer less than 20 year of age were retrospectively reviewed.

Gonadal Function in Female Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Purpose: Childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) are at risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). The aim of this study is to evaluate ovarian function and associated health outcomes in female adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-nine female CCSs were enrolled.

The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being.

Although many people affected by COVID-19 suffer from some form of psychological distress, access to proper treatment or psychosocial interventions has been limited. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a therapeutic gardening program conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program consisted of 30 sessions and was conducted at 10 nationwide sites in Korea from June to November 2021.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome Components in Childhood Cancer Survivors.

It is crucial for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) to manage metabolic syndrome. The prevalence and predictive factors of metabolic syndrome components in CCSs were investigated. This study included CCSs who were diagnosed with cancer under the age of 20 and completed therapy more than 1 year ago.

Osteosarcoma in Adolescents and Young Adults.

The epidemiology of osteosarcoma in adolescents and young adults (AYA) remains unclear. We aimed to assess and compare the clinical features of osteosarcoma between AYA and other age groups. We retrieved osteosarcoma cases diagnosed between 1999 and 2017 from the Korea Central Cancer Registry.

Incidence Patterns and Outcomes of Ewing Sarcoma in South Korea (1999-2017): A Retrospective Analysis Using Korea Central Cancer Registry Data.

Purpose: Due to low incidence, epidemiologic data of Ewing sarcoma in the Asian population are scarce. We aimed to examine the incidence pattern and outcome of patients with Ewing sarcoma in the Republic of Korea.

Materials And Methods: Data of patients with Ewing sarcoma diagnosed between 1999 and 2017 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR).

Growth, puberty, and bone health in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Endocrine complications such as impaired growth, delayed puberty, and low bone mineral density (BMD) can be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents. This study was performed to investigate the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of endocrine complications of IBD in children and adolescents.

Methods: This study included 127 patients with IBD diagnosed before 18 years of age [117 with Crohn disease (CD) and 10 with ulcerative colitis (UC)].

Low bone mineral density in children and adolescents with cancer.

Maximizing accumulation of bone mass during childhood and adolescence is essential to attaining optimal peak bone mass. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than the general population. Chemotherapeutic agents including steroids and radiotherapy can affect BMD.

Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy Mimicking Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency in Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Successful Treatment with Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration and Ammonia Scavengers.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare liver cancer affecting adolescents and young adults without any pre existing liver disease. Hyperammonemic encephalopathy (HAE) is a serious paraneoplastic syndrome, and several cases of HAE have been reported in patients with FLHCC. This condition is rare; hence, there are currently no management guidelines for cancer-related HAE.

Diagnostic Odyssey and Application of Targeted Exome Sequencing in the Investigation of Recurrent Infant Deaths in a Syrian Consanguineous Family: a Case of Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1.

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in the immunoglobulin mu binding protein 2 () gene, leading to motor neuron degeneration. We identified an infant with SMARD1 by targeted exome sequencing from a consanguineous Syrian family having a history of recurrent infant deaths. The patient initially presented intrauterine growth retardation, poor sucking, failure to thrive, and respiratory failure at the age of two months, and an inborn error of metabolism was suspected at first.

Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in obese children or adolescents and association between thyroid hormone and the components of metabolic syndrome.

Aim: Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with the normal concentrations of thyroxine (T4) or free thyroxine (fT4), and its clinical significance is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in children and adolescents and determine the relationship between lipid profiles, insulin resistance and thyroid hormones.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed using data from a subset of the KNHANES VI.

Clinical description of a neonate carrying the largest reported deletion involving the 10p15.3p13 region.

Chromosome 10p deletion is a rare disorder. This is the largest deletion in chromosome 10p reported to date and the first to be diagnosed in the early neonatal period because of severe clinical manifestations. This rare case might help to understand the genotype-phenotype spectrum in infants with 10p deletion.

Thyroxine binding globulin excess detected by neonatal screening.

Inherited thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) disorder can be identified incidentally or through neonatal screening test. TBG excess is characterized by high levels of thyroxine (T4) but normal level of free T4 (fT4), while TBG deficiency presents with low T4 levels and normal fT4 levels. A 27-day-old newborn was brought to the hospital because of hyperthyroxinemia detected by neonatal screening.

Feasibility of an Early Discontinuation of Thyroid Hormone Treatment in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants at Risk for Transient or Permanent Congenital Hypothyroidism.

Background/aims: This prospective study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of an early discontinuation of thyroid hormone treatment in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH).

Methods: We enrolled VLBW infants between January 2011 and December 2012. The infants were divided into the hypothyroid and normal thyroid function groups according to the results of a thyroid function test.

Qualitative content analysis of psychologic discomfort and coping process after needlestick injuries among health care workers.

Background: This study was designed to survey psychologic discomfort and coping processes of health care workers that suffered needlestick injuries (NSIs).

Methods: This qualitative analysis was performed with 15 health care workers who experienced NSIs. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews.

High frequency of DUOX2 mutations in transient or permanent congenital hypothyroidism with eutopic thyroid glands.

Background/aims: This study aimed to clarify the frequency, phenotypes, and molecular spectrum of DUOX2, TPO, TSHR, and TG mutations in patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with enlarged or normal-sized eutopic thyroid glands.

Methods: The study cohort included 43 subjects from 41 unrelated families who had CH with eutopic thyroid glands. Mutation analyses of DUOX2, TPO, and TSHR were performed.

Comparative proteomic analysis in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) before and after short-term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy.

This study was undertaken to identify growth hormone (GH) responsive proteins and protein expression patterns by short-term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) using proteomic analysis. Seventeen children (14 males and three females) with ISS were included. They were treated with rhGH at a dose of 0.

Differences in the risk factors for surgical site infection between total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS).

Objective: To compare the characteristics and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a nationwide survey, using shared case detection and recording systems.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Twenty-six hospitals participating in the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS).

Response to growth hormone therapy in children with Noonan syndrome: correlation with or without PTPN11 gene mutation.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy and the influence of genotype on the response to rhGH therapy in children with Noonan syndrome (NS).

Methods: 14 male and 4 female subjects with NS with short stature, whose height was < 3rd percentile, were included. The rhGH was subcutaneously administered at a dose of 66 μg/kg/day.