• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2015

Purpose: In this study, a comparison was done of the extent of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for preterm and fullterm children during early childhood, and factors affecting HRQoL in the early childhood of premature children were analyzed. Methods: Eighty mothers of children born prematurely and 83 mothers of children born at fullterm listed on two Internet cafes were sampled for this study. The major instrument used for the study was the TNO-AZL Preschool Quality Of Life (TAPQOL) questionnaire. Results: Total score for HRQoL in the premature group was 80.5 (${\pm}9.9$) and for the full term group, 85.0 (${\pm}8.3$), on a 100-point scale. A comparison of the premature group and full term group showed that the domains which scored relatively lower with respect to HRQoL included the stomach, motor function, anxiety, liveliness and communication. Among the factors that have an impact on HRQoL were 'length of stay in neonatal intensive care unit (${\geq}7$ days)' and 'birth weight (<1,000 gm)'. The explanation power of the model was 17%, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a differentiated premature infant follow-up program for children who are hospitalized over 7 days in NICU or weighed under 1,000g at birth is urgently needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.954-958
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing premature infants who are small for their gestational ago. Methods : The medical records of 1,010 premature infants of 26 to 35 weeks of gestational age born at Il-Sin Christian Hospital, Busan from January 2000 to August 2006 were reviewed. We collected data on gestational age, birth weight, infant gender, birth order, maternal age and previous abortion history and analyzed the factors influencing premature infants who were small for their gestational ago at birth. Results : In our study more female than male (P=0.042) in premature infants who were small for their gestational ago were born from mothers aged younger than 20 or older than 35 (P=0.041). But association between smallness for gestational age and birth order or maternal previous abortion history was statistically insignificant (P=0.228, P=0.129). Conclusion : Considering the association of birth weight and the survival rate of premature infants, it is thought that maternal age had an influence on the survival rate of premature infants. Social and political support to lower the teenager pregnancy and older pregnancy is expected to increase the survival rate of premature infants and the birth of healthy normal neonates.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.746-752
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• 2007

Purpose : Total hydroperoxide (TH), free radical-mediated oxidation product can be used as a measure of free radical injury. The aim of the present study was to see if preterm newborns are at increased risk for oxidative stress compared with term newborns, and to determine whether oxidative stress during postnatal first 1 week is associated with clinical outcomes in preterm infants. Methods : Serum TH levels of preterm infants (n=39) were compared with those of term infants (n=24) on the postnatal day 1. Among the preterm infants, serum TH levels of uncomplicated group (n=23) were also compared with those of complicated group (n=16) who developed oxygen radical related diseases on the postnatal day 1 and 7. Retrospective analysis was performed to find out risk factors for oxygen radical injuries based on birth history, laboratory data, neuroimaging findings and clinical progress in two preterm groups. Results : Serum TH levels on postnatal day 1 were higher in the preterm infant group than the term infant group. Serum TH levels on postnatal day 1 in the complicated preterm infant group were significantly higher compared with uncomplicated group, but there was no significant difference in serum TH levels on postnatal day 7. Also, there was no significant difference in serum TH levels between uncomplicated preterm infants and term infants. Serum TH level on postnatal day 1 was independently associated with higher morbidity after adjusting for gestational age, Apgar score (5 min), arterial blood gas analysis. Conclusion : Complicated preterm newborns are at increased risk for oxidative stress compared with uncomplicated newborns and term newborns. Oxidative injury during the prenatal or postnatal day 1 is associated with adverse outcomes in preterm infants. Elevated TH levels on postnatal day 1 may have a value to predict clinical outcomes in preterm infants.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the neonatal statistics on a national basis, data for birth characteristics and neonatal mortality were collected and analyzed from 57 hospitals in Korea. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to determine the characteristics of neonatal births and mortality rates in 57 hospitals in Korea during 2007. We analyzed the characteristics of all inborn births and hospitalized neonates in the neonatal care units (NICUs) and compared the results with published Korean data from 1996 and 2002. Results: A total of 40,433 inborn live births were reported from the 57 hospitals during 2007. Pre-term, term, and post-term births comprised 24.2%, 75.6%, and 0.2% of the neonates, respectively. Low birth weight infants (LBWIs), very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs), and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) made up 22.0%, 4.6%, and 1.7% of the neonates, respectively. A total of 21,957 (collected by gestational period) and 21,356 (collected by birth weight) neonates were hospitalized in the 57 NICUs. Pre-term, term, and post-term neonates comprised 39.8%, 59.8%, and 0.4% of the neonates, respectively. LBWIs, VLBWIs, and ELBWIs made up 37.3%, 9.5%, and 3.3% of the neonates, respectively. Pre-term, term, and post-term neonates had mortality rates of 4.5%, 0.7%, and 3.7%, respectively, while the mortality rates of LBWIs, VLBWIs, and ELBWIs were 4.7%, 15.3%, and 32.2%, respectively. In comparison with prematurity data from 1996 and 2002, LBWIs, and ELBWIs had a marked increase in birth frequency and a decreased mortality rate in Korea during 2007. Conclusion: The number of live births and the survival rate of pre-term neonates, especially VLBWIs and ELBWIs, are increasing. Even though the outcomes of neonatal care are improving, further efforts to manage these premature infants are needed.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.101-110
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• 2002

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2008

Purpose : This study determined the prenatal and postnatal factors associated with complications and prognosis in premature infants with leukemoid reaction. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of premature infants with gestational ages <37 weeks and low birth weights (<2,500 g) who were admitted immediately after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital between June 2005 and July 2006. A leukemoid reaction was defined as an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >30,000/$mm^3$. The infants who had leukemoid reaction comprised the study group, while the remainder of infants made up the control group. The relationships between maternal and neonatal variables and ANC were studied. Results : Leukemoid reaction was detected in 3.1% of the study infants (8 of 252). Factors more frequently associated with infants with leukemoid reaction were as follows: maternal chorioamnionitis, high levels of maternal and infant C-reactive protein, gestational age <37 weeks, birth weight <2,500 g, low Apgar score, prolonged ventilator support, and a high incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). However, there were no significant differences with respect to the antenatal usage of steroids, the incidences of patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and mortality between the two groups. Conclusion : Leukemoid reaction in premature infants was associated with chorioamnionitis and high levels of serum C-reactive protein in mothers and infants, and BPD in infants. These findings suggest that leukemoid reaction is secondary to inflammation caused by infection.

• 가정의 벗
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• v.37 no.4 s.428
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• pp.8-9
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• 2004

엄마의 자궁 내에서 충분히 성장하지 못하고 출생한 아기는 전문적인 치료와 간호가 필요하다. 최근 10여 년 동안에 의학이 현저하게 발전하여 생존율이 점점 높아지고 있지만 여전히 인지도나 보호자들이 겪게 되는 정신$\cdot$경제적 어려움이 너무나도 크다. 생명의 소중함을 느끼게 하는 미숙아가 건강하게 자랄 수 있도록 더 많은 관심이 필요하다.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently in Korea, there have been significant improvements in neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR). This study aimed to investigate the proportion of the NMR among IMR, with the goal of discerning the influence of improved NMR on the reduction of IMR in the last 5 years in Korea. Methods: All data were from Statistics Korea. Changes in the NMR percentage among IMR and the percentage of the death by the distribution of the birth weight and gestational were investigated. Results: The total birth rate decreased, but the total number of preterm and low birth weight infants increased. These was a large decrease in NMR and IMR. The proportion of NMR among INR exceeded 50%. Early NMR was higher than late NMR. Among the total infant death, the mortality of preterm and low birth weight infants was high. Conclusion: Between 2005 and 2009, the total birth has declined in Korea, but the frequency of low birth weight infants is trending upward. The improvements in NMR and IMR, and the downtrend of the NMR percentage in IMR, are encouraging. It seems that the continued decrease of mortality of preterm and LBWI is required for better improvements NMR and IMR in Korea. This result is expected to be used for the basic data to improve the management of the newborns in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2012

미숙아는 단백질 대사 속도가 빠르기 때문에 성장이 충분히 이루어질 수 있도록 ASPEN 가이드라인에서는 아미노산 초기용량을 1-2 g/kg/day로 투여하도록 권장하고 있다. 또한 최근 여러 연구에서 출생초기 고용량 (1.5-4 g/kg/day) 아미노산 투여에 대해 보고하고 있다. 이를 근거로 하여 삼성서울병원 신생아 중환자실에서도 2009년 6월부터 아미노산 초기용량을 0.5 g/kg/day에서 1.5~2 g/kg/day으로 증량하여 투여하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 신생아 중환자실에서 정맥영양요법을 받은 미숙아를 대상으로 고용량 아미노산 공급 효과를 평가하고자 하였다. 2009년 6월 기준으로 출생 후 48시간 이내에 0.5 g/kg/day로 아미노산을 투여 받은 저용량 환아군(38명: 대조군)과 1.5~2 g/kg/day로 투여 받은 고용량 환아군(38명: 시험군)의 전자의무기록을 후향적으로 검토하였다. 고용량 아미노산 공급 효과를 체중증가량 및 총 정맥영양기간, 경구 및 경장 영양 시작 시기, 재원기간으로 평가하였고, 안전성 평가를 위해 혈액화학검사 및 합병증을 조사하였다. 또한 두 군의 인구학적 및 주산기 인자, 영양 공급량 등에 대해 조사하였다. 두 군의 인구학적 및 주산기 인자는 재태기간에서만 차이를 보였으며, 시험군에서 재태기간이 길었다(p < 0.05). 초기 아미노산 용량만이 생후 28일간 일평균 체중증가량에 영향을 미치는 인자였으며 시험군의 일평균 체중증가량이 대조군보다 유의하게 큰 것으로 나타났다($12.6{\pm}4.5$ g/day vs $9.8{\pm}4.5$ g/day, p < 0.05). 목표 체중증가량에 도달한 비율도 시험군이 높았다(65.8% vs 47.4%). 총 공급열량, 총 정맥영양 공급 기간과 경구 및 경장 영양 시작 시기는 두 군간 차이가 없었으나 시험군에서 목표열량 도달시간, 신생아 중환자실 재원기간이 단축되었다(p < 0.05). 혈액화학검사 결과 및 대사성 산증, 호흡곤란증후군, 괴사성장염 발생은 두 군간 차이가 없었으며 고혈당 및 감염, 기관지폐이형증, 뇌실내출혈 발생률은 대조군에서 유의하게 높았다(p < 0.05). 연구 결과, 미숙아에서 출생 초기 고용량 아미노산 공급은 혈액화학검사 이상이나 합병증 없이 체중증가와 재원기간 감소에 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 미숙아에 대한 출생초기 영양지원으로 1.5~2 g/kg/day 아미노산 공급은 안전하고 효과적이라고 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.176-180
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• 2009

Purpose : The objective of this study was to establish the serum IGF-1 level in newborn infants, and investigate its association with growth and diseases. Methods : In a retrospective study, serum IGF-1 levels were measured for newborn infants admitted to NICU at Kyungpook University Hospital from March 2007 to July 2007. Birth data, disease history, and hospital course were obtained from medical records. Results : Of 52 blood samples obtained at birth, serum IGF-l levels in 30 preterm infants ($31.6{\pm}27.3$ ng/mL) were lower than in 22 full-term infants ($53.4{\pm}40.0$ ng/mL; P<0.05). In sick full-term infants, serum IGF-1 levels ($46.0{\pm}40.2$ ng/mL) were lower than in healthy full-term infants ($64.1{\pm}39.5$ ng/mL; P<0.05). In preterm infants, there were no differences in IGF-1 levels between healthy ($33.2{\pm}23.3$ ng/mL) and sick infants ($30.6{\pm}30.4$ ng/mL); however, IGF-1 levels in both sick and healthy preterm infants were lower than in healthy full-term infants. Among infants admitted after 8 days of life, serum IGF-1 levels were higher in infants who gained weight ($70.8{\pm}36.2$ ng/mL) than in infants who lost weight ($13.3{\pm}19.9$ ng/mL; P<0.01); however IGF-1 levels showed no difference between gender or method of delivery. Conclusion : The study showed lower IGF-l levels in preterm infants than in full-term infants. Additionally, the IGF-l level in infants with weight loss was lower than in infants with weight gain. These results indicate that serum IGF-1 is associated with gestational age and postnatal growth.