• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.147-161
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• 2004

This study was designed to explore developmental evaluation in healthy full-term, at risk preterm and full-term infants. Specifically the purposes of the study were to investigate Psychomotor Developmental Index(PDI) and Mental Developmental Index(MDI) based on Bayley Scales of Infant Development(1993). The subjects were 72 infants, 24 each for healthy full-term infants, 24 each for at risk preterm infants and 24 each for at risk full-term infants such as having neonatal asphyxia, hypoxic ischemic brain damage, respiratory distress syndrome. The data were analyzed through Kruskal-Wallis test and correlations to examine healthy full-term, at risk pre-term and at risk full-term infants. Results showed that there were significant differences among healthy full-term, at risk pre-term and at risk full-term infants in PDI and MDI. On the correlation with PDI and MDI, infants showed significant correlations. Early interventions for developmental improvement are required for functional outcome in these infants.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to first discriminate and assess those infants who appear healthy in appearance but who could face possible risk factors in the future and, secondly, to identify those infants who may have difficulties in their developmental stages. The subjects of this study consisted of 35 full-term infants (39-40 weeks) and 33 pre-term infants (34-35 weeks). The infants' voices were recorded for three minutes, for which EDIROL by Roland and a stand-type microphone made by SONY were used. This was done to discern the value of the Breath unit (B-unit) and the fundamental frequencies ($F_0$). It was found that there were significant differences in terms of F0 since the pre-term infants had higher F0 than the full-term infants, showing a result of 436.4 Hz for the full-term infants and 460 Hz for the pre-term infants (p<.05) There was an average rate of 4.01 for the full-term infants and 4.02 (SD=1.69) for the pre-term infants in shimmer. For NHR, it was observed .44 for the full-term infants and .50 for the pre-term infants, thus revealing no significant differences in these observations. This study shows that the crying of newborn babies is related to their physical conditions and it is a sensatory response to these conditions. Furthermore, this study could be helpful for the early detection and measurement of newborn babies who look clinically healthy but could be at risk through acoustic and physiological analyses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.62-73
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• 1985

The problems of growth & development due to maladjustment are gradually increasing while need for the treatment of children's diseases is decreasing. The level of developmental deficiency or delay correlates with neonatal birth weight and also with gestational age, i.e. degrees of prematurity. There-fore, developmental defects and potential risk factors' are more Common in premature infants than in full term infants. The purpose of this study is to define the difference in the growth at developmental status between premature and full term infants, and to define the relation between the developmental status and the physical growth during the first 3 years' Data were collected from January 10, 1985 to April 6, 1985 at 3 hospitals including St. Mary's Hospital, and through home visiting. The subjects of this study consisted of 79 Premature infants (G.A. <37wks. & B.W. <2.5kg) and 94 full term infants (G.A.≥37 wks. & B.W.≥2.5kg). The study method used was a questionnaire, anthropometric assessment and DDST for normative data of growth & development. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and t-test. The results of the study were as follows: Hypothesis: 1 : That the prematures will differ from the full term infants in the physical growth status during the first 3 years was partially supported (p＜0.02) : The prematures reached up the full term infants in the physical growth status in the first 6 months. And, the first hypothesis was supported (P<0.01) : There are more cases which is below‘the Korean children's physical. growth standards’in prematures than in full term infants. Hypothesis 2 : That the prematures will differ from the full term infants in the developmental status during the first 3 years was supported (P< 0.001)；‘Normal’developmental status due to DDST was less in prematures than in full term infants. And, the second hypothesis was Partially supported (P<0.02) : The developmental status of the pre-matures was different from that of the full term infants within the first 3 months by analysis of passed items in DDST, Hypothesis 3 : That the prematures' developmental status will relate to their physical growth during the first 3 years was supported (P<0.001) : If the prematures' developmental status is in delayed status, then, their physical growth status is also in delayed status. This study shows that the prematures differed significantly from the full term infants in the growth at developmental status during their infancy. This means that the nurse can foster the growth & development of the prematures by supportive care during their infancy. Further longitudinal study is needed to verify these findings for the environmental factors.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 2020

Purpose: The outcome predictors of Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) for biliary atresia (BA) are controversial. This study aimed to identify possible short-term outcome predictors of KPE for BA in infants. Methods: This retrospective study included infants with BA who underwent KPE between January 2015 and December 2017 and were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery at the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Pediatric Hospital, Egypt. The short-term outcome was jaundice clearance within 6 months following surgery. All data were compared between the jaundice free group and those with persistent jaundice to identify the predictors of jaundice clearance. Results: The study included 75 infants. The mean age at the time of surgery was 82.43±22.77 days (range, 37-150 days), and 28 (37.3%) infants cleared their jaundice within 6 months postoperative. Age at surgery did not significantly affect the outcome (p=0.518). Infants with persistent jaundice had significantly higher pre-operative levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than those who were jaundice free (p=0.041). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that preoperative AST ≤180 IU/L was predictive of a successful KPE, with sensitivity 74.5% and specificity 60.7%. Infants with bile plugs in liver biopsy had a 6-fold higher risk of persistent jaundice than those without bile plugs (95% confidence interval: 1.59-20.75, p=0.008). Conclusion: Jaundice clearance after KPE for BA can be predicted using preoperative AST and presence of bile plugs in liver biopsy.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.639-644
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• 2014

Congenital malaria is assumed to be a risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality in endemic areas like Maumere, Indonesia. Infected infants are susceptible to its impact such as premature labor, low birth weight, anemia, and other unspecified symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital malaria and the influence of mother-infant paired parasite densities on the clinical outcome of the newborns at TC Hillers Hospital, Maumere. An analytical cross sectional study was carried out in newborns which showed criteria associated with congenital malaria. A thick and thin blood smear confirmed by nested PCR was performed in both mothers and infants. The association of congenital malaria with the newborn's health status was then assessed. From 112 mother-infant pairs included in this study, 92 were evaluated further. Thirty-nine infants (42.4%) were found to be infected and half of them were asymptomatic. Infected newborns had a 4.7 times higher risk in developing anemia compared to uninfected newborns (95% CI, 1.3-17.1). The hemoglobin level, erythrocyte amount, and hematocrit level were affected by the infants' parasite densities (P<0.05). Focusing on newborns at risk of congenital malaria, the prevalence is almost 3 times higher than in an unselected collective. Low birth weight, anemia, and pre-term birth were the most common features. Anemia seems to be significantly influenced by infant parasite densities but not by maternal parasitemia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.430-438
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• 2002

It is known that low birth weight is a risk factor for poor outcome in cardiac surgery for many cardiac defects. We reviewed our recent surgical experiences on congenital heart defect (other than patent ductus arteriosus) in low birth weight babies. Material and Method: From September 1994 to February 2001, 31 consecutive infants weighing 2500 g or less underwent cardiac surgery with (OHS group n=12) or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CHS group n=19). A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate short-and intermediate-term outcome. Mean gestational age and age at operation were 36.9 weeks(range, 32.3-42weeks) and 32.1days (range, 0-87days) respectively. Mean body weight at birth and operation were 1972g (range, 1100-2500g) and 2105g (range, 1450-2500 g) respectively. There was no difference between the two groups in age and body weight. Defects included ventricular septal defect (VSD) (n=3), VSD with arch anomaly (n=2), total anomalous pulmonary venous return (n=2), transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (n=2), truncus arteriosus (n=2), and univentricular heart with cor triatriatum (n=1) in OHS group, and coarctation of aorta (n=7), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (n=3), TOF with pulmonary atresia (n=3), multiple muscular VSDs (n=1), double outlet right ventricle (n=1), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (n=2), tricuspid atresia (n=1), and TGA with multiple VSD (n=1) in CHS group. 13 patients (41.9%) were intubated pre-operatively. Result: There were 4 early deaths(＜30 days); 1 (8.3%) in OHS group and 3 (15.8%) in non-OHS group. All these early deaths were related to the pulmonary artery banding(PAB). There was no operative mortality in infants undergoing complete repair and palliative operations other than PAB. Delayed sternal closure was required in 3 patients. Prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation (>7 days) was required in 7 patients(58.3%) in OHS and 7(38.8%) in CHS group. Late mortality occurred in 3 patients, two of which were non-cardiac. A patient in OHS group was documented to have neurologic sequelae. All the survivors except two are in NYHA class 1. Conclusion: Complete repair and palliative operations other than PAB can be performed in low birth weight infants with low operative mortality and an acceptable intermediate-term result. However, about a half of the patients required long-term postoperative mechanical ventilation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.