• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.9
• /
• pp.944-949
• /
• 2008

Purpose : As modern society has became more open, interest in healthy internal and external growth has increased, including that pertaining to penile length in children. A micropenis is defined as one where penile length is more than 2 SD (standard deviation) below the mean, and it can be traced back to chromosome and endocrine disorders. The authors executed this study to suggest guidelines for the study of the micropenis and standard information for penile length in Korean newborns. Methods : The subjects of this study were 168 male infants between 37 and 42 weeks of gestational age, none of whom had any complications during pregnancy or birth; each had been born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February and June 2007. Penile length was measured using conventional stretched penile length measurement (CPLM) and syringe methods. Results : Penile length was $3.02{\pm}0.25cm$ (F=36.467, $R^2=0.180$, P<0.001) when measured with CPLM, and $3.29{\pm}0.26cm$ (F=9.149, $R^2=0.052$, P<0.001) with the syringe method. There was no statistically significant difference in the penile length of newborn infants as a result of taking measurements with the two methods, and both methods showed significance at 0.631 in terms of Pearson's correlation coefficient, at the level of P=0.01. Conclusion : In this study, penile length tended to be longer when gestational age was longer, and a micropenis can be assumed to be one less than 2.5 cm using CPLM and less than 2.8 cm using the syringe method. In the case of a concealed penis, the syringe method is helpful. When a micropenis is assumed, close observation by outpatient department personnel, and additional endocrine and chromosome studies should be undertaken after sufficiently consulting the parents.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.512-517
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Syncope is relatively common in children and adolescents. Among the etiologies of syncope, neurocardiogenical syncope is the most common, but it is often confounded with seizure. We investigated the clinical features of patients under the age of 15 with neurocardiogenical syncope, compared to patients with neurologic disorders including epilepsy. Methods : Among the children who visited the Department of Pediatrics at Cheongju St. Mary's Hospital and Chungbuk National University Hospital from March 2005 to February 2007, we retrospectively analyzed 69 patients whose chief complaint was syncope. We classified the patients by syncope etiology and made comparisons between the neurocardiogenical syncope (NCS) group and the neurological disorders (ND) group regarding to age; location; time and season in which syncope occurred; associated symptoms, including seizures, provocation factors; prodromes; duration of syncope; frequency of previous syncope; birth history; associated disease; past medical history; family history; neurological exam; physical exam; laboratory findings; electrocardiography; electroencephalography (EEG); head-up tilt test; brain CT; and MRI. Results : Among 69 syncope patients, 53 (76.8%) were in the NCS group and 11 (15.9%) were in the ND group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two study groups except for the presence of prodromes and EEG abnormalities. The presence of prodromes in the NCS group was more common than in the ND group [46.9% (23/49) vs. 9.1% (1/11), (P=0.038)]. The EEG abnormality in the ND group was more common than in the NCS group [90% (9/10) vs. 5.8% (3/52), (P<0.01)]. Conclusion : Our study suggests that detailed history-taking, including that concerning prodromes, is important for the accurate diagnosis of neurocardiogenical syncope, and EEG should be obtained if neurological disorders are suggested.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.9
• /
• pp.964-970
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) and propionic aciduria (PA) are inborn errors in the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids. The study was undertaken to investigate the genotypes and clinical features of Korean patients with MMA and PA. Methods : This study examined 12 patients with MMA and eight with PA. We analyzed various clinical features, laboratory findings, treatments, and neuro-developmental outcomes. Diagnoses were based on the presence of characteristic compounds detected by amino acid analysis in serum and organic acid analysis in urine. Mutation analysis was performed in the genes of MUT, MMAA, MMAB, and MMACHC for MMA and PCCA and PCCB for PA. Results : Among the 20 patients, six patients were diagnosed before one month of age and nine patients were diagnosed after the newborn period. Five patients were diagnosed via a neonatal screening test. Patients with early-onset forms had more severe illness at presentation and generally poor outcomes. A favorable outcome was obtained in 55% patients; most of them were of a late-onset type or diagnosed by neonatal mass screening test without symptoms. Genotypes were confirmed in all patients with MMA. We detected 11 different mutations by MUT gene analysis in 10 patients, and three different mutations in MMACHC genes in two patients. PCCA and PCCB gene mutations were identified in 14 of the 16 alleles, in eight patients with PA. Conclusion : Organic aciduria is a fatal disease; however, better outcomes are expected whenever early diagnosis and prompt management are made possible. Mutation analysis is useful for confirming diagnoses and planning management strategies.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.138-146
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Ischemic enterocolitis (IEC) is the total or partial infarction of the intestine in the absence of occlusion of a major mesenteric blood vessel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of IEC in children. Methods: A clinical analysis of 6 patients with IEC who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at Pusan National University Hospital, between 1996 and 2005 was conducted retrospectively. Patients were diagnosed with IEC based on clinical characteristics, including radiologic, endoscopic, histopathologic, and intraoperative findings. Results: Four boys and 2 girls between the age of 6 weeks and 6 years were included in this study. Most of the patients were born at term and had a birth weight that was appropriate for their gestational age. The major symptoms of IEC observed included hematochezia or hematemesis (5 cases), vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or irritability (4 cases), as well as abdominal distension and fever (3 cases). IEC occurred in thecolon in 5 cases (2 descending colon, 1 descending and sigmoid colon, 1 sigmoid colon, 1 whole colon) and the duodenal bulb and gastric antrum in 1 case each. The type of the lesions observed includedulcera, which were found in 3 cases, perforation, which was pbserved in 2 cases, necrotic patches, which were observed in 2 cases, stricture, which was observedin 1 cases, and massive membranous desquamation of the epithelium, which was observed in 1 case. Two of the patients received surgical treatment and the remaining four were treated conservatively. None of the patients died. Conclusion: The presentation of IEC varies, and the findings of this study will be helpful in managing patients with IEC.

• 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 Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.175-178
• /
• 2009

The 22q11.2 duplication syndrome is an extremely variable disorder with a phenotype ranging from normal to congenital defects and learning disabilities. Recently, the detection rate of 22q11.2 duplication has been increased by molecular techniques, such as array CGH. In this study, we report a familial case of 22q11.2 duplication detected prenatally. Her first pregnancy was terminated because of 22q11.2 duplication detected incidentally by BAC array CGH. The case was referred due to second pregnancy with same 22q11.2 duplication. We perfomed repeat amniocentesis for karyotype and FISH analysis. Karyotype analysis from amniocytes and parental lymphocytes were normal, while FISH analysis of interphase cells presented a duplication of 22q11.2 in the fetus and phenotypically normal mother. The fetal ultrasound showed grossly normal finding. After genetic counseling about variable phenotype with intrafamilial variability with 50% recurrence rate, the couple decided to continue the pregnancy. The newborn had no apparent congenital abnormalities until 2 weeks after birth. We recommend that family members of patients with a 22q11.2 duplication be tested by the interphase FISH analysis. Also, we point out the importance of genetic counseling and an evaluation of the clinical relevance of diagnostic test results.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 1985

To assess the childhood immunization level of urban and rural areas, 250 mothers of $6{\sim}23$ months old children residing in Namsan 1 Dong, Taegu, and 264 mothers of the same age children residing in five areas of Kyungsan Gun where community health practitioners are assigned were interviewed in March, 1984. Immunization rate for BCG was 98.0% in urban area and 95.8% in rural area. Among children who had BCG vaccination 91.4% of them were immunized within 1 month after birth in urban area and 88.1% in rural area. The percentage of children who received three doses of DPT vaccine was 83.2% in urban, and 87.5% in rural area ana that for the polio vaccine was 80.8% in urban and 87.9% in rural area. Only a few children have never been immunized with either BCG or DPT or polio vaccine. Overall immunization rate for measles was 64.4% in urban area while it was 55.3% in rural area and that for mumps and rubella was 50.4% in urban area as compared with 36.0% in rural area. However, among children of 15 months old and above the percentage of measles vaccination was 85.3% in urban area and 73.7% in rural area. Mumps and rubella vaccination rate was 77.6% in urban area and 62.4% in rural area. These differences in measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates between urban and rural areas were statistically significant (p<0.05). Such findings as improved immunization level, no significant differences in BCG, DPT and polio vaccination rate between urban and rural areas, and fewer mothers in rural area have not vaccinated their children than mothers in urban area because of their ignorance may be attributed to the general improvement of living standard and implementation of the maternal and child health services of the government. Nevertheless many of the mothers in rural as well as urban area have not immunized their children on time and measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates are substantially lower than other childhood immunizations. Future immunization activity should be geared to reinforcing these areas.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.217-223
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the validity of the Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire (K-ASQ) in premature infants. Methods: Infants with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks were assessed with K-ASQ and Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) at the outpatient clinic of Seoul National University Children's Hospital between October 30, 2006 and August 1, 2010. Less than 1 standard deviation of the ASQ was defined as positive, and the results were compared with those of BSID-III. Results: The mean gestational age of subjects in the study group was 28$\pm$2.87 weeks (median, 28.43 weeks; range, 23.57-35.86weeks), and the mean birth weight was 1,027$\pm$363 g (median, 950 g; range, 480-2,870 g). The sensitivity of K-ASQ at 8 month was 0.2, and the specificity was 0.93. The sensitivity of K-ASQ at 18 months was 0.72, and the specificity was 0.94. The validity of each of the 4 matched subunits was separately compared, and it also had a high specificity and a low sensitivity. In addition, KASQ showed a higher sensitivity at 18 months than at 8 months. Conclusion: ASQ was developed to screen the general population, and its specificity has been powered. The specificity was also proven in our study. The results of this study suggest that although screening use of K-ASQ in preterm infants may have some limitations, the specificities at 8 and 18 months can be clinically implicated. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.142-151
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of modified porcine (Curosurf$^{(R)}$) and bovine (Newfactan$^{(R)}$) surfactants in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Methods : Between April 2004 and December 2006, 65 neonates (birth weight ${\leq}$2,500 g and gestational age ${\leq}$35 weeks) with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were treated in our neonatal intensive care unit with surfactant. Thirty-one neonates received Curosurf$^{(R)}$ and 34 neonates received Newfactan$^{(R)}$. The neonates were not enrolled if they had major congenital anomalies or meconium aspiration syndrome. We compared the changes in respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation, the incidences of acute and chronic complications, and the mortality between the two treatment groups. Results : Neonatal and maternal demographic characteristics were not different between the groups. The patterns of change in the respiratory parameters after surfactant instillation were not statistically different between the groups. The incidences of surfactant reinstillation and acute complications, such as pneumothorax, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hemorrhage, and grade 3-4 intraventricular hemorrhage, were not different between the neonates who received Curosurf$^{(R)}$ and the neonates who received Newfactan$^{(R)}$. There were no statistically significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, hospitalization, prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and mortality between the groups. Conclusion : In the present comparative study, no significant differences in the clinical effects of Curosurf$^{(R)}$ and Newfactan$^{(R)}$ were observed.

• 모자간호학회지
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.21-33
• /
• 1992

This study was done to investigate how importantly midwives thought of Lamaze Method of Childbirth, how satisfactorily they performed their Lamaze Method of Childbirth and what inhibited their activities from being performed if not done satisfactorily. The subjects of this study were 76midwives at midwifery in Pusan, Deagu, Kyungnam and Kyungbok. Data were collected by using questionaire from Sep. 1 to Sep.30, 1991. The measurement tools was maded by the researcher based on Kim's scale for prenatal nursing activities. The statistical analysis was done with based statistical values likes frequencies, means, standard deviations and advanced methods such as Pearson's correlation coefficient, 1-test, F-test, F-test by using SPSS package program. The results of this study can be summarized as follows ; 1. The results of Investigating perception according to importance degree and performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbring showed that midwives were slightly below both perception according to importance(2.17) and performance(2.16) of Lamaze Method of Childbirth 2. Inhibiting factors of Lamaze Method of Childbirth were abscence of husband(3.08), lack of teaching room(2.71), and lack of books or literature of Lamaze Method (2.58). 3. There appears to be a positive relation between perception according to importance degree and performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth (r=0.69, P<0.01). There appears to be a negative relation between perception according to importance degree and inhibit factors of performance (r=-0.38, P<0.01). There appears to be a negative relation between performance and inhibit factors of performance (r=-0.22. P<0.01). 4. The item of highest perception defree in prenatal education is 1st, Consultation about sexual life (2.53), End, illustration of the importance of a bath and perinal cleanliness and Avoidance of excessive respiration method and also its comfortable application during uterine contractility(2.45). The item of lowest perception degree is about pregnant symptom sign and predicted date of birth (E.D.C.). On the other hand, The item of highest performance degree is education about nurtrition during pregnacy. 2nd, Illustration of the Importance of a bath and perineal cleanness(2.45). The lowest one is leaching the pregnant woman and her family about the role of husband and her family and also teaching the couple to learn exercise and respiration method (1.84). Though importance perception degree and performance degree is low. Midwives who wert subject in this research shoves that they perform general items concerning prenatal education well. 5. In the relationship between perception according to importance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth and the general characteristics of subjects, the differences in mean number of visiting pregnacies for 1 month. 6. In the relationship between performance degree of Lamaze Method of Childbirth and the general characteristics of subjects, the differences in age, marriage, and mean number of visiting pregnancies for 1 month. With the above information we see the importance of midwife prenatal care education and high correlation between performance degree and perception degree. When Lamaze prenatal education is well performed the number of pregnant woman who have follow-up, check-ups increase. Therefore in this research we can validity that there is a relation between Lamaze prenatal education and patient follow-up. This research showes in a situation where if one does not maximally perform a prenatal education there is a possibility that the popular use of midwife activities may encounter obstacles so the education to save new knowledge and training for prenatal education is needed as a function of Lamaze prenatal education, when a special Lamaze education is well performed for the pregnant woman, who follows-up at amidwife clinic. With the above conclusion we can suggest : 1. Continued research which minimized obstacles to Lamaze prenatal education is needed. 2. The official method of midwives is necessary.