• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2009

Purpose: To assess the value of first-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), nuchal translucency (NT) and second-trimester alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin-A in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in 3,121 singleton pregnancies with integrated testing was performed at Kangnam CHA hospital between January 2005 and December 2006. Baseline characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and serum marker levels were obtained by review of the medical records. We analyzed the data to identify associations between the integrated screening markers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS program. Results: In preterm labor and preeclampsia, high AFP, hCG, and inhibin-A levels and low PAPP-A and NT levels were found to be significantly correlated (P<0.05). Elevated second-trimester inhibin-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 2.843), low birth weight (odds ratio 1.446), and preterm labor (odds ratio 1.287), and while decreased first-trimester PAPP-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.51) and preterm labor (odds ratio 0.75). Conclusion: First- and second-trimester maternal serum markers screening can be used for predicting high-risk pregnancies.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 1987

Neonatal and obstetrical problems related to the low birth weight infants were evaluated by a retrospective review of the medical records of the 186 low birth weight infants born at Yeungnam-University Hospital during 3 years and 8 months from May 1, 1983 to February 28, 1987. The results were as follows ; 1. The incidence of the low birth weight infants was 4.98% among 3803 live births. 2. Male to female ratio was 1.02:1. 3. The incidence of the low birth weight infants was lowest in mothers of 25 to 29 years, increased in mothers of 19 years of less and 30 to 39 years significantly. 4. There was no difference in the incidence of low birth weight infants between primiparous and multiparous mothers. 5. Common obstetrical complications associated with low weight infants were multiple pregnancy, toxemia and premature rupture of membrane in order of frequency. 6. Common neonatal problems in low birth weight infants were jaundice, idiopathic respiratory, distress syndrome, asphyxia and metabolic dfrangement such as hypocalcemia and hypoglycemia in order of frequency.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.395-400
• /
• 2002

Recently, the increasing use of antenatal high resolutional ultrasonographic studies, and the increasing expertise of sonographers have contributed to the more frequent prenatal detecton of fetal hepatic calcification. Fetal hepatic calcification can arise from peritoneal, ischemic, infectious, neoplastic, and idiopathic causes. There are many reports that the prognosis is good in isolated fetal hepatic calcification without chromosomal aberrations, associated congenital malfomations or other organ abnormalities. We report one case of fetal hepatic calcification diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography at gestational age of 27 weeks, without chromosomal abnormalities or other associated organ abnormalities, showing good prognosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.63-76
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare postpartum symptoms of 528 women by age groups and delivery method through health questionnaires of postpartum care center. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2018, we statistically compared the 528 women's postpartal symptoms who divided into 4 age groups using SPSS Statistics 21.0 program. Results: There were no differences in weight changes, gestational age and degree of subjective discomfort by age (p>.05). On the other hand, parity, fetal weight and delivery method were statistically associated with age (p<.05). Especially the rate of cesarean delivery was increased with age. Degree of feeling dyspepsia and edema was higher in cesarean section delivery group (p<.05). Also, as the weight increased by 1 kg during pregnancy, the degree of feeling postnatal edema increased by 0.204 (β=0.204, t=4.204, p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that age itself will not affect postpartum symptoms alone. Instead it is necessary to consider post-cesarean delivery symptoms for advanced maternal age.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.306-310
• /
• 2007

Restrictive dermopathy is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which rigidity or tautness of the skin from the second trimester causes a fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS) and early death. Characteristic features include taut skin with prominent subcutaneous vessels, widely open fontanelles and cranial sutures, distinctive facies, flexion contractures, pulmonary hypoplasia, sparse eyelashes and and eyebrows, thin dysplastic clavicles. The histologic abnormalities of the skin are located in a thin dermis, consisting of compactly arranged collagen fibers, scanty elastic fiber. The dermoepidermal junction is flat, and epidermal appendages are absent, miniaturized or immature. The presence of adipose tissue may be increased. We report on the first Korean case of restrictive dermopathy with typical clinical features and histological findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.507-512
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Early detection and intervention of hearing impairment is believed to improve speech and language development and behavior of children. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the prevalence of hearing impairments, and to identify the association of risk factors relating to refer response in high risk neonates who were screened using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). Methods : The subjects included 871 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Pediatric Department in Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from May, 2001 to December, 2004. They were screened using DPOAE. Based on DPOAE, we divided the neonates in two groups : 'Pass' and 'Refer'. The differences in risk factors between the pass group and the refer group were analyzed. Results : The incidence of the refer group was 12.1 percent(106 out of 871). The bilateral refer rate was 5.4 percent(47 out of 871). And the unilateral refer rate was 6.7 percent(59 out of 871). Gender, birth place, family history of hearing loss, small/large for gestational age, obstetrical factor, hyperbilirubinemia and use of gentamicin were not statistically related to the refer rate. Statistically related to refer rate were birth weight, resuscitated neonates, Apgar score, craniofacial anomaly, mechanical ventilator application, sepsis, using of vancomycin(P<0.05). The prevalence of hearing impairment (${\geq}60dB$) in this study was 2 percent(18 out of 871). Conclusion : This study showed a higher prevalence of hearing impairment in high-risk neonates. Thus neonatal hearing screening should be carried out in high-risk neonates.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess the natural history and perinatal outcomes of twin gestations according to chorionicity. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 99 monochorionic (MC) and 206 dichorionic (DC) twin gestations delivered at Il Sin Christian Hospital in Busan between January 2002 and December 2007. The incidences of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTS) and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality, were evaluated. Results : MC twins had a lower gestational age (35.7 vs. 36.6 weeks, P=0.03) at birth and a higher incidence of intrauterine fetal loss (10% vs. 1.5%, P<0.001) than DC twins. The incidence of intrauterine fetal loss was higher in MC sIUGR than in DC sIUGR (19% vs. 2.5%, P=0.025) twins. The number of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; 31% vs. 16%, P=0.042), and the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (7% vs. 0%, P=0.031), and respiratory distress syndrome with surfactant treatment (27% vs. 11%, P=0.049) were higher in MC than DC twins. The incidences of sIUGR and TTS were 21 and 9% among the MC twins. The incidences of intrauterine fetal loss were higher in MC twins with TTS [6 of 9 (67%)] or sIUGR [4 of 21 (19%)] than uncomplicated MC twins (P<0.001). The frequency of admission to the NICU (P=0.001), the length of hospital stay (P=0.033), the prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia (P=0.011), and intraventricular hemorrhage (P=0.007) were also higher in MC with TTS or sIUGR than in uncomplicated MC twins. Conclusion : The incidence of neonatal complications was higher in MC twins, especially those gestations complicated by TTS or sIUGR.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.240-256
• /
• 1997

Purpose: To evaluate the hepatitis B vaccination program which has been conducted since 1980, Korea. Methods: This study was carry out self reported questionnaire and serologic test covering 2,072 elementary school students who were born between 1980 and 1987, selected by cluster sampling. The HBV serologic markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HBc) were tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The contents of questionnaire include demographic data of students and parents, vaccination status, vaccination frequency, vaccination age, past history of mother's HBV test. Results: 1) The HBsAg positive rates by sex showed 3.7% for male and 2.7% for female, representing an average rate of 3.4%. The HBsAg positive rates by age group showed 5.6% for 13 years and l.5% for 6 years, representing a tendency of lowering rate as ages being younger. 2) The pre-natal HBV test rate was 10.2%, while post-natal HBV test rate was 42.5%. The test showed that the parents' educational level being higher than others, the pre- and post-natal HBV test showed higher rates. In case the fathers occupation being office worker, the post-natal HBV test showed a higher rate compared with other occupation. 3) Overall vaccination rate was 82.6%, complete vaccination rate 69.8%, booster injection rate 42.8%. The vaccination rate, complete vaccination rate and booster injection rate increased as the age being younger. If the educational level of parents were higher, the vaccination rate, complete vaccination rate and booster injection rate showed higher rates. Younger students showed younger vaccination age, and higher educational background of family showed younger vaccination ages. 4. With regard to positive rate of HBV markers by vaccination age, HBsAg and Anti-HBc positive rate showed higher degrees in the following order; preschool age (1-6 years), school age (6-13 years) and infancy (0-1 year). Anti-HBs positive rate was increased as the frequency of vaccination increased. Five years after initial complete vaccination, minimum protective rate was lowest, 69.6%.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.131-149
• /
• 2012

This study examined the effect of parental socioeconomic position on the association between birth outcomes and infant mortality in early and late 2000's. Linked Birth and Infant Death data sets from 2001 to 2003 (T1) and from 2006 to 2008 (T2), provided by the Korea National Statistical Office, were used for analysis. Birth outcomes were categorized into four groups: normal term, small-for-gestational age (SGA), large-for-gestational age (LGA) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Infant death was defined as the death of a live-born child under one year of age; indicators of parental socioeconomic position were limited to parental education and occupation. The results showed that T2 infant mortality hazard ratios of SGA and IUGR have increased compared to T1. Particularly, preterm and low birth weight babies with shorter gestational age and lighter birth weight than T1 have elevated in T2, possibly indicating that population quality might be continuously aggravated. Moreover, the effect of maternal age on infant mortality has disappeared, rather that of parents' socioeconomic position has increased during the periods, which entailed growing disparities in infant mortality by their social class. Further studies should be therefore done to estimate the effect of parental socioeconomic position on the relationship between birth outcomes and infant mortality in the near future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.8
• /
• pp.881-887
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The survival rate of very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) had increased as a result of advances in neonatal intensive care. We evaluated the changes in outcomes of VLBWI who admitted to the neonatal care unit of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. Methods : Retrospective review of 339 VLBWI who were born from 1st January 1997 to 31th December 2008 were performed. Outcomes including survival rate, birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), morbidities, and mortality between period I (1997- 2003) and period II (2004-2008) were compared. Results : Overall incidence of VLBWI was 2.3% and it was significantly higher in period II(3.3%). Mean BW and GA were significantly decreased in period II (P<0.001, P=0.01). The survival rate increased from period I (59.1%) to period II (74.2%). BW-specific survival rate increased in 1,000-1,249 gm and GA-specific survival rate significantly increased in 27-28 weeks and 29-30 weeks. The incidences of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, and necorotizing enterocolitis were same except patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusion : The survival rate of VLBWI was increased in period II, especially in less than 1,000 gm and below 27 weeks. This may be due to recent dramatic improvement of neonatal care. But more efforts are needed to improve outcome during initial phase and to reduce long term complication such as BPD and ROP.