• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.96-106
• /
• 2003

Advances in neonatal care system and research have resulted in an increased survival rate among low birth weight infants in the industrialized countries. Recent Korean neonatal mortality and morbidity statistics, and current status of Korean neonatal intensive care facilities were reviewed here for the sake of future improvement and research. Morbidity statistics revealed that perinatal diseases accounted for 80％ of the death of premature infants implying the possibility of its reduction by the vigorous prenatal care service in future.On the basis of extensive studies of nutritional support and growth rate of premature infants, commercial formulas for premature infants have been developed and various aspects of feeding techniques are standardized. However, problem of growth deficit of premature infants remains unsolved as medical problem. NICU specialists are challenged with the tasks of prenatal education or provision of care that minimizes the neurodevelopmental problems seen in preterm infants, various short-term outcome researches have been reported and those are reviewed here to promote research interest in the field of neonatal nursing. Systemic long-term outcome studies are also awaited in Korea for the formulation of welfare policy in future. Nursing science has to embrace all these interdisciplinary studies as their own research field in collaboration with neonatologist, nutritionist, rehabilitation therapist, social workers and teachers.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.81-98
• /
• 1988

The purpose of this study was to fine out the general physical status of the neonates, and to identify the risk factors of the mothers and the neonates which were significantly related to the neonatal diseases during hospitalization. The data were obtained from clinical records of 1098 neonates born in Seoul Red cross Hospital between January 1st of 1984 and December 31th of 1986. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. General characteristics of the maternal group. 1) The average of maternal age was 26.6 years, the $91.7\%$ of the mothers de liveried at the age of 20-34 years old. 2) The distribution of the types of delivey were as follows : spontaneous delivery $39.9\%$, cesarean section $32.4\%$, vaccum extraction $25.7\%$, and breech delivery$2.0\%$. 3) The $40.3\%$ of the total de liveried mother had experienced abortion. 4) The $42.3\%$ of the total deliveried mother had one or more obstetric risk factors. 2. General characteristics of the neonatal group. 1) In the distribution of sex, male was $49.4\%$, female $50.6\%$. 2) The average of birth weights was 3,020gm. The distribution of birth weight were as follows; nomal weight $85.5\%$, low birth weight $12.7\%$ and high birth weight $2.5\%$. 3) The average of gestational age was 39.2 weeks. The distribution of gestational age were as follows; full term $77.4\%$, preterm $13.7\%$, and postterm $8.9\%$. 4) The average of Apgar Score was 9.0 at one minute and 9.6 at five minutes. 5) The $5.7\%$ of the neonates had one or more neonatal risk symptoms and signs at birth. 3. Apgar Score by the maternal and neonatal factors. In Apgar Score at one minute, normal group was higher than that of abnormal group. Apgar Score at five minutes was slightly higher than that at one minute. 4. The distribution of the maternal risk factors and the neonatal risk factors. 1) The total numbers of the maternal risk factors were 1376. The distribution of the maternal risk factors were as follows: obstetric factor $33.7\%$, abortion $32.2\%$, breech and cesarean section delivery $27.5\%$ and maternal age under 19 years and over 35 years $6.6\%$. 2) The total numbers of the neonatal risk factors were 517. The distribution of the neonatal risk factors were as follows: gestational age under 37 weeks and over 42 weeks $48.0\%$, birth weight under 2500gm and over 4000gm $12.2\%$, Apgar score under 4 at one munute $6.4\%$ and Apgar score at five munutes $2.7\%$. 3) The total numbers of the obstetric risk factors were 661. The types of the obstetric risk factors were meconium stained amniotic fluid $22.0\%$, premature rupture of membrane $17.5\%$. absence prenatal care $14.1\%$, unmarried pregnancy $10.3\%$, placenta problem $9.0\%$, toxemia $8.0\%$. 4) The total numbers of the neonatal risk symptoms and signs at birth were 83. The types of the neonatal risk symptoms and signs were respiratory distress $65.1\%$, neonatal apnea $14.4\%$, convulsion $13.3%$, meconium aspiration syndrome $4.8\%$, cyanosis $2.4\%$. 5. The relationship between the maternal risk factors and the neonatal risk factors. 1) Maternal age under 19 years or over 35 years was significantly related to Apgar Score under 4 at 5 minutes. 2) Breech delivery or cesarean section was significantly related to neonatal risk factor at birth such as birth weight, gestational age, Apgar Score at one minute and at five minutes. and neonatal risk symptoms and signs. 3) Obstetric risk factors were significantly related to the neonatal risk factors at birth. 4) Abortion was not related to the neonatal risk factors. 6. The relationship between neonatal diseases during hosptalization and the maternal or the neonatal risk factors. 1) The total numbers of neonatal diseases during hospitalization were 281. The distribution of neonatal diseases were as follows: birth trauma $38.1\%$, infectious disease $31.3\%$, hematologic disease $21.4\%$, respiratory disease $6.0\%$, neurologic disease $2.5\%$. cardiovascular disease $0.7\%$. 3) Most maternal risk factors except abortion were significantly related to neonatal diseases. 4) Most neonatal risk factors at birth were significantly related to neonatal diseases.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.561-570
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This was a cross sectional descriptive study to introduce the Infants Coma Scale (ICS), describe mental status of high risk infants using ICS and explore the relationships between ICS and clinical variables in infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Korea. Methods: After ICS was developed and tested by the authors, a research nurse evaluated the mental status of the infants using the English version of ICS and obtained clinical information on the infants from their medical records. Results: Data from 88 infants were analyzed. About 60% were male, 90% were preterm births, and 40% had pathologic abnormalities. Their mean gestational age was 32.4 (${\pm}3.50$) weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,842 (${\pm}728.6$) grams. The Cronbach's alpha for the ICS was .78. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between ICS total score and five clinical variables including gestational age, birth weight, 1 and 5 min Apgar scores and respiration status. Conclusion: Mental status is an important parameter in nursing assessment. ICS is a valid and reliable instrument, which clinicians can easily use to evaluate the mental status of high risk infants.

• Perinatology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study examines whether maternal group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae, GBS) infection was associated with preterm births and premature neonatal outcomes. Methods: Maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined among singleton pregnant women with preterm birth (from $24^{+0}weeks$ to $36^{+6}weeks$) who were tested for GBS (n=203) during the pregnancy. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of women who delivered at our hospital from January 2015 to February 2017. We compared obstetrical factors (causes of preterm birth) and neonatal (gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score 1 min/5 min, hospitalization period, duration of mechanical ventilation, neonatal C-reactive protein within three days, and other complication [respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal deaths]) outcomes between GBS-infected and non-infected pregnant women. Results: There were 203 singleton pregnant women included in the study, 25 of whom were confirmed to have a GBS infection during the pregnancy. There was no difference in neonatal outcomes by GBS status. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), as an obstetric factor, was associated with GBS infection (P=0.022). GBS infection raised the risk of pPROM by 3.6 times (odds ratio 3.648, 95% confidence interval 1.476-9.016, P=0.005). Conclusion: GBS infection in preterm birth was associated with pPROM but did not result in adverse neonatal outcomes. Continuous attention and evaluation of GBS infection, a major cause of neonatal sepsis and pneumonia, are needed.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2001

To understand the current status of neonatal surgery in Korea, a survey was made among the 36 members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons. The response rate was 75 % (26 surgeons in 20 hospitals). Five hundred fifty three neonatal surgical patients treated in 1999 were analyzed. Regional numbers of patients were closely related to the regional population in most areas. Ano-rectal malformations (17 %), pyloric stenosis (16 %), Hirschsprung's disease (13 %), atresia/stenosis of the gut (11 %), esophageal atresia (8 %) were the most common anomalies treated. The majority of operations were done within the first week of life. Seventy one per cent of cases were major life threatening or so-called neonatal index cases. Over-all mortality was 8 per cent. Higher mortality was observed in patients with diaphragmatic hernia (26 %), gastro-intestinal perforation (18 %), NEC (18 %), and esophageal atresia(14 %). Higher mortality was observed in patients with extremely low birth weight (33%) and low birth weight (18 %). Associated anomalies were observed in 20 %. Prenatal ultrasound was performed in 36 per cent with sensitivity of 20 %. Result of this study was compared to the previous report (1994) and that of Japan (1998).

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.98-112
• /
• 2003

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.225-231
• /
• 2008

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the laying stage which is a critical period for chick survival. We investigated the relationship of neonatal chick performance, brain antioxidant status and vitamin E supplementation level in hens. Starting at 17 weeks, hens were randomly divided into five groups. The control group received a basal diet without supplemental vitamin E (VE, dl-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate). Other groups received the same basal diet supplemented with vitamin E (40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg) through growth to egg production. Hens were artificially inseminated at 28 weeks of age and egg yolks were collected at day two. All remaining eggs were hatched. Yolk vitamin E content, hatchability and fertility of eggs were evaluated. Brains of the newly hatched chicks were further evaluated for their oxidative stress status, antioxidative status and vitamin E levels. Increased reproductive performance was observed in fertility and hatchability in the group supplemented at 40 mg/kg. Egg yolk and neonatal brain ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was highest in eggs from hens fed 120 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg supplemental vitamin E, respectively. Brain MDA, ROS and iron levels were significantly higher in unsupplemented hens (p<0.01). SOD activity was significantly higher in the group supplemented at 160 mg/kg than in all other groups. We concluded that maternal supplementation of vitamin E had beneficial effects on fertility, hatchability of eggs, neonatal brain oxidative status and SOD activity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.1022-1025
• /
• 2002

Effect of chemical stress of daily administration of glucocorticoid (dexamethasone @0.125 mg./calf/day) injections on plasma zinc levels, Zn status of body tissues and its distribution in sub cellular fractions, was studied in neonatal buffalo calves. Daily i/m injections of dexamethasone, starting at the completion of 1 week of age and continued till 8th week, led to a significant decline in plasma Zn concentration from 3rd week onwards, which then persisted throughout the rest of the experimental period. In control group, liver had the highest concentration of zinc, followed by heart, muscle, spleen, kidney and testis. In all these tissues, cytosolic fractions had the highest (>60%) zinc levels followed by nuclear, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. In dexamethasone treated calves, there was a significant increase in the Zn uptake by the tissues of liver and muscle. This increase in zinc concentration was observed in all the sub cellular fractions of liver and muscle, however about 80% of this increase was in cytosolic fraction. It was concluded that glucocorticoid-induced stress caused increase in Zn levels of liver/muscles and decrease in blood plasma zinc, thus indicating a redistribution of Zn in body.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.472-474
• /
• 2002

Till date the phenomenon of maternal transfer of photic information was reported to regulate the fetal/neonatal growth, however its influence on neonatal immune system is still an enigma. In the present study, we observed an increase in maternal plasma melatonin level under short day length (SOL) condition with a consequent decrease in TLC and LC in their respective neonates. However, a significant decrease in maternal plasma melatonin level was noted under constant darkness (DD) with an increase in TLC and LC of their neonates. The blastogenic response (BGR) to Con A of splenocytes exhibited a significant increase in neonates of SDL females and a significant decrease in the neonates of DD females. Hence, it appears that the increase in maternal plasma melatonin under SOL condition transmitted information to decrease the immune status. Continuous exposure of females to darkness (DD) negatively regulated the maternal pineal gland activity thereby decreasing their plasma melatonin level. This information was transmitted for elevation of immune status in neonates, so that they exhibit better growth and sexual maturation. Therefore, we may suggest that the maternal photic information transmitted either prenatally through placenta or postnatally via the milk regulate the hormonal profile of Melatonin to regulate the immune status of neonates in order to influence their growth and sexual maturation.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 1996

To understand the current status of neonatal surgery in Korea, a survey was made among the 27 members of Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons. Response rate among surgeons was 78 percent, eighteen hospitals participated in this study. Five hundred and three cases of neonatal surgical patients were analyzed. In Korea, about 50% of cases were treated at the hospital in the capital city area. Regional number of patients were closely related to the regional population. Imperforate anus(19%), atresia/stenosis of gut(12%), and Hirschsprung's diseases(12%) were sitting at the top in the list. Majority of operation was done within the first week of life, especially during the first 24 hour period. Eighty per cent was major or so called index cases. Mortality in so-called index cases was 17%. High mortality was observed in patients with diaphragmatic hernia(47%), gastrointestinal perforation(65%) and esophageal atresia(28%). Low birth weight babies showed higher mortality in gastrointestinal perforation, esophageal atresia and abdominal wall defect. These were compared to 1993 survey of Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons.