• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1179-1186
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• 2005

Purpose : A universal standard of the birth weight for gestational age cannot be made since girth weight distribution varies with race and other sociodemographic factors. This report aims to establish the birth weight distribution curve by gestational age, specific for Korean live births. Methods : We used the national birth certificate data of all live births in Korea from January 2001 to December 2003; for live births with gestational ages 24 weeks to 44 weeks(n=1,509,763), we obtained mean birth weigh, standard deviation and 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile values for each gestational age group by one week increment. Then, we investigated the birth weight distribution of each gestational age group by the normal Gaussian model. To establish final standard values of Korean birth weight distribution by gestational age, we used the finite mixture model to eliminate erroneous birth slights for respective gestational ages. Results : For gestational ages 28 weeks 32 weeks, birth weight distribution showed a biologically implausible skewed tail or bimodal distribution. Following correction of the erroneous distribution by using the finite mixture model, the constructed curve of birth weight distribution was compared to those of other studies. The Korean birth weight percentile values were generally lower than those for Norwegians and North Americans, particularly after 37 weeks of gestation. The Korean curve was similar to that of Lubchenco both 50th and 90th percentiles, but generally the Korean curve had higher 10th percentile values. Conclusion : This birth weight distribution curve by gestational age is based on the most recent and the national population data compared to previous studies in Korea. We hope that for Korean infants, this curve will help clinicians in defining and managing the large for gestational age infants and also for infants with intrauterine growth retardation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.1194-1199
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• 2007

Purpose : It was generally accepted now a days that the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), intrauterine growth retardation and fetal origin of adult diseases were related with a endothelial cell dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to know the relation of such diseases by assessing the level of endothelin-1. Methods : SGA babies, newborns of preeclampsia and normal control mother were included in this study. Isolated endothelial cells were centrifugated and mixed with media in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ to obtain confluent monolayer of cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cell (HUVEC). Endothelin-1 levels were determined by Endothelin-1 colorimetric (EIA) Kits. We examined the endothelin-1 level in the HUVEC supernatants from SGA baby, and newborns from preeclampsia as well as normal mother. Also, we compared the endothelin-1 level of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from cord blood of SGA, babies of preeclampsia or normal control mother. Results : The endothelin-1 levels in cultured HUVEC supernatants of three groups showed no significant difference but the endothelin-1 levels of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from preeclampsia mother or SGA mother was significantly higher than those from newborns of control mothers (P<0.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest that there may be the factor which affect the endothelin-1 level in serum of cord blood from SGA and preeclampsia.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.383-392
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• 1997

To study the differences of bone mineral density according to the gestational ages and the birth weight and get a reference data for the diagnosis of metabolic bone diseases in the newborn infants, bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae were measured in fifty-three newborn infants born at Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1, 1995 to February 28, 1997, whore gestational ages were between $28^{+3}$ and $41^{+3}$ weeks and who had no intrauterine growth retardation, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (X-R 26, Norland, USA) within seven days of life. 1. There was no sexual difference in bone mineral density. The bone density increased significantly as gestational age increased from $0.149{\pm}0.009g/cm^2$ at 28-30wks to $0.229{\pm}0.034g/cm^2$ at 39-41wks of gestational age (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between bone mineral densities at 33-34 wks and 35-36wks. There was positive linear correlation between gestational age and bone mineral density ($Y=7.5{\times}10^{-3}X-0.082$, r=0.7018, p<0.001). 2. The bone mineral density increased significantly as the birth weight increased from $0.158{\pm}0.020g/cm^2$ in 1,000-1,499 g to $0.251{\pm}0.021g/cm^2$ in 3,500-4,000 g of the birth weight (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between bone mineral densities in 1,000-1,499 g and 1,500-1,999 g of the birth weight. There was positive linear correlation between the birth weight and the bone mineral density ($Y=3.9{\times}10^{-5}X+0.093$, r=0.7296, p<0.001). There were positive correlations between the bone mineral density and gestational age, and between the bone mineral density and the birth weight. It can be used as a reference data for the further study on the bone mineral metabolism in the newborn infants including preterm babies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.732-739
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• 2007

Purpose : A universal standard of the birth weight for gestational age cannot be made since birth weight distribution varies with races, nations and eras. This report aims to establish the birth weight for gestational age patterns by sex, plurality, and parity, specific for Korean live births. Methods : The national birth certificate data of all live births in Korea from January 2000 to December 2004 were used: for live births with gestational age 24 weeks to 42 weeks (n=2,585,5160), mean birth weight, standard deviation and 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentile values were obtained for each gestational age group by one week increment. To establish final standard values of Korean birth weight distribution by gestational age, the finite mixture model to eliminated erroneous birth weights was used for respective gestational age. Same as above method the birth weight for gestational age standard by sex, plurality, and parity were completed. Results : The male newborns are more heavier than female during the entire gestational age. The singletons are more heavier than twin during the entire gestational age. The para 2 are more heavier than the para 1 during the entire gestational age. Korean standard was more heavier in 10th and 50th percentile than Lubchenco's standard. Alexander's standard was more heavier in 50th and 90th percentile than Korean standard. Conclusion : These birth weight for gestational age patterns by sex, plurality, and parity are similar to the other standards. I hope that for Korean infants, this curve will help clinicians in defining and managing the large for gestational age infants and also for infants with intrauterine growth retardation.