• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of preterm and low birth weight infants (LBWI) is increasing, even though the birth rate is continuously low in Korea. Despite that change, there continues to be a deficit of beds in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study is based on the 2009 Korean Statistical Information Service that examined the development of a Korean NICU service and the survival rate of preterm infants by regionally analyzing the rate of total live births, preterm infants, LBWI, and NICU beds in Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and Korean Statistical Information Service. We confirmed the regional total live birth rate, number of LBWI, and preterm infants and NICU numbers, and all of the results were compared to the average value to determine deficient areas of NICU beds. Results: There were 25,374 (5.7%) preterm infants and 21,954 (4.9%) LBWI in the total number of live births (444,849) in 2009, and regions of high proportion compared to the mean value were Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. Total NICU beds totaled 1,284, and regions of high rates preterm infants and LBWI per 1 NICU bed compared to the mean value were Incheon, Daegu, Ulsan, etc. The NICU holding rate was 87.5% (1,284/1,468), which was increased from 2005. However, there were still shortages of 184 NICU beds (12.5%), especially in Gyeonggi-do, which lacked 157 beds. Conclusion: High risk neonates difficult to transfer, and they need immediate and continuous treatment. As a result, a foundation of well-balanced, national NICU regionalization is necessary. This study suggested that more NICU facilities must be implemented, and clinicians should realize the continuing deficiency of NICU beds in cities and provinces.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1308-1314
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• 2006

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of auditory evoked potential (AEP) in clarifying neuronal development in premature small for gestational age (SGA), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Methods : A total of 183 premature infants who were born from August 2002 to July 2005, were examined with AEP. They were divided into three groups; AGA, symmetric-SGA and asymmetric-SGA group. Results : Statistically significant differences in the head circumference were observed in three groups. Among the risk factors, prevalence of hypoglycemia and hypoalbuminemia between AGA and asymmetric SGA infants were significantly different. V absolute peak latency (APL) in the right side of AGA infants was delayed were than that of asymmetric SGA infants. III-V interpeak latency (IPL) of asymmetric SGA infants was delayed more than that of symmetric SGA infants. Moreover, I-V IPL on both sides of symmetric SGA infants was shortened more than that of AGA infants. However, all the results of AEP were within the reference range, according to gestational age. Birth weight of, only asymmetric SGA, was related to the III APL on both sides and the III-V IPL on right side. Conclusion : This study shows that the values of APL and IPL of premature SGA infants are different than that of premature AGA infants. These data could be an indicator in evaluating the neurologic functions of small for gestational age infants.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.363-364
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• 2005

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.11 s.256
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• pp.773-775
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• 2005

Cardiac surgery in the neonate with congenital heart disease has progressed dramatically in the past three decades. However, low-birth-weight premie with congenital heart disease continue to challenge the intellectual and technical skills of those who care for them. We report a case of successful arterial switch operation in 1140g premie with TGA, IVS after 4 week care 1317gm.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2009

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a foodborne anaerobic gram-positive rod and the third most common pathogen for neonatal meningitis. Although the mortality and morbidity of L. monocytogenes infections are high, thus causing serious problems in Western populations, neonatal listeriosis is relatively rare in Eastern countries, including Korea. Possible routes for intrauterine infection or vertical transmission of L. monocytogenes include infected placentas and the reproductive tract. Intrauterine infections may cause chorioamnionitis, preterm labor, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal infection. A high index of suspicion and early empirical antibiotic treatment are critical to achieve a favorable prognosis for neonatal listeriosis. We managed a case of L. monocytogenes sepsis and pneumonia in a premature neonate born at 26 weeks of gestational age from an asymptomatic mother with culture-proven placental infection. The neonate was successively treated with ampicillin and gentamicin.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.191-203
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• 1999

A clinical study was made on 365 low birth weight infant and 406 normal birth weight infant who had been born at Kangnam St. mary's Hospital during past 3 years from Jan. 1, 1995 to Dec. 31, 1997. the data of this study were gathered through reviewing of medical records. 1. Comparison of general characteristic with of obstetric characteristic 1) Old maternal age, previous abortion and previous LBWI delivery in the group of low birth weight infant(LBWI) mother were more prevalent than those in the group of normal birth weight infant(NBWI)mother 2) Cesarean section, abnormal presentation and multiple pregnancy in the group of LBWI mother were prevalent than those in the group of NBWI mother. 3) regular antenartal care and visiting rate of tertiary hospital in the group of LBWI mother were more prevalent than those in the group of NBWI mother. 2. Frequency of low birth weight infant 1) Anmual average frequency of LBWI was 6.5% and monthly frequency was the highest in January and december. 2) The frequency of LBWI was the highest in 37-40wks of gestational age and was the highest in 2251-2500 gm of birth weight. 3) The frequency of congenital anomaly in the group of LBWI was more prevalent than that of NBWI. 3. Mortality rate of LBWI The mortality rate of LBWI was 9.2%. The highest mortality rate was noted before 27wks of gestational age, less than 1000gm of birth weight and within 12hrs of delivery. 4. The most common complication of pregnant women was pre-term labor, the most complication relating to placenta was premature rupture of membrane(PROM) and the most fetal complication was fetal distress in delivered LBWI. 5. Significant relating factors of low birth weight infant delivery were associated with maternal age, previous delivery, previous low birth weight delivery, pre-eclampsia, anemia, oligohydramnios, PROM, placenta previa, abruptio placenta, fetal sex, fetal distress and congenital anomaly.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.480-483
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• 2008

Even though some authors have reported on the advantages of early total correction of complex heart disease, for low birth weight premature neonates, most surgeons prefer a multi-step approach to early total correction due to the many problems, such as the technical problems, the cardiopulmonary bypass management and etc. We report here on a successful case of early one-stage total repair of coarctation of the aorta and a ventricular septal defect in a 1,250 gram premature neonate.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.131-149
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• 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
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2008

Purpose : Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder, caused by the deletion of the paternally derived 15q11-13 region or the maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 15 (mUPD(15)). In this study, we compared phenotypic differences between those patients whose disease was caused by microdeletion and those caused by mUPD(15). In addition, a comparison of the efficacy of growth hormone (GH) therapy between these two PWS genotypes was analyzed. Methods : Fifty-three patients were diagnosed as having PWS based on molecular and cytogenetic analyses and clinical features. Data that included maternal age, birth weight, a feeding problem in the neonatal period, cryptorchidism, developmental delay or mental retardation, short stature, hypopigmentation, changes in height, weight, and body mass indexes (BMI) before and after GH treatment were obtained by a retrospective review of medical records. The data from the patients with microdeletion were compared with those from the patients with mUPD(15). Results : Of the 53 patients with genetically confirmed PWS, 39 cases had microdeletion and 14 mUPD(15). Maternal ages were significantly higher in the mUPD(15) group, and hypopigmentation and a feeding problem in the neonatal period were more frequent in the microdeletion group. Growth hormone was administered to 20 patients [14 with microdeletion, 6 with mUPD(15)]. There were no differences between the two groups in height velocity, weight and height SDS, and BMI after GH therapy. Conclusion : Phenotype and genotype correlations were observed in Korean PWS patients, such as more advanced maternal ages in the mUPD(15) group and more feeding problems and hypopigmentations in the microdeletion group. Further long-term prospective studies are needed to correlate other aspects of the phenotypes.