• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.248-256
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• 2011

Purpose: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is the term used to designate a fetus that has not reached its growth potential. However it is difficult to make a distinction between infants who are constitutionally small and growth restricted small. In the present study, we focused on the clinical characteristics and the hematologic value in small for gestational age (SGA) infants and discussed how to distinguish intrauterine growth restricted infants from constitutionally small infants. Methods: SGA infants that did not have any other risk factors for IUGR in the medical record except maternal hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and born at the Seoul St Mary's Hospital and Yeouido St Mary`s Hospital from January 2007 to July 2010 were included. The frequency of IUGR is higher in the pregnancy with medical problem, and in preterm infants. Therefore, the data was categorized by maternal disease and gestational age. We assessed the clinical data and the hematologic value. Results: The leukocyte count and the platelet count were lower in the SGA with maternal HTN group and the preterm SGA group. There was no difference in the clinical data and the prognosis resulted from maternal HTN and maternal DM. However, the hematologic difference was not found in the categorization of the preterm SGA group as maternal diasease. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that it is possible the low leukocyte count and the low platelet count are the characteristic hematologic features in growth restricted small for gestational age infants.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.288-292
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• 2011

Purpose: The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has increased in children and in neonates, and is particularly associated with frequent use of central venous catheter in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. It is known that the morbidity and mortality of MRSA infection are low in neonates, as compared with adults. The objective of this study was to examine the difference in clinical characteristics between VLBW infants that survived and those that did not, a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) of MRSA. Methods: Thirty-four VLBW infants had laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection with S. aureus. We examined the incidence, mortality and morbidity of CRBSI, and predictive factors associated with mortality. Results: Twenty-six infants had same pathogen (24 MRSA, 2 Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) in the blood and in the catheter tip. Eight infants (25.8%) died in the CRBSI and they all had MRSA blood infections. Sex ratio, gestational age, duration between blood collection and identification of pathogens, and WBC and platelet count were not significantly different between patients that died from and patients that survived CRBSI of MRSA. C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in VLBW infants that died. Mean age of onset and hospital day was earlier (9.1${\pm}$6.6 vs. 26.9${\pm}$20.2; P=0.005) and shorter for patients that died (10.1${\pm}$7.0 vs. 73.0${\pm}$32.4; P=0.000). Two survivors had complications of pyogenic arthritis of the lower extremities and soft tissue infection, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality of CRBSI was likely to be high in VLBW infants and might be anticipated by CRP and early onset of disease.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.310-319
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of perinatal risk factors on brain maturation and the relationship of brain maturation and neurodevelopmental outcomes with brain maturation scoring system in brain MRI. Methods: ELBWI infants born at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010 were included. A retrospective analysis was performed with their medical record and brain MR images acquired at near full term. We read brain MRI and measured maturity with total maturation score (TMS). TMS is a previously developed anatomic scoring system to assess brain maturity. The total maturation score was used to evaluate the four parameters of maturity: (1) myelination, (2) cortical infolding, (3) involution of glial cell migration bands, and (4) presence of germinal matrix tissue. Results: Images from 124 infants were evaluated. Their mean gestational age at birth was 27.1${\pm}$2.1 weeks, and mean birth weight was 781.5${\pm}$143.9 g. The mean TMS was 10.8${\pm}$2.0. TMS was significantly related to the postmenstrual age (PMA) of the infant, increasing with advancing postmenstrual age (P<0.001). TMS showed no significance with neurodevelopmental delay, and with brain injury, respectively. Conclusion: TMS was developed for evaluating brain maturation in conventional brain MRI. The results of this study suggest that TMS was not useful for predicting neurodevelopmental delay, but further studies are needed to make standard score for each PMA and to re-evaluate the relationship between brain maturation and neurodevelopmental delay.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2009

Purpose: To update the epidemiologic information of hepatobiliary diseases in pediatric inpatients using cross-sectional survey data throughout the Republic of Korea. Methods: Nationwide cross-sectional survey was obtained from the 85 residency training hospitals in Korea to gather the final diagnosis on discharge. The surveyed periods were from 2004 to 2006. All the reports regarding the diagnosis were based on ICD-10 system. In this study, we focused on hepatobiliary diseases. Results: A total of 826,896 cases with discharge data were collected, of which 4,151 (5.0%) hepatobiliary cases were identified; 2,385 cases (57.4%) of hepatobiliary disease were hepatitis, which was the most common hepatobiliary disease. Other diseases included congenital hepatobiliary diseases (524 cases [12.6%]) and biliary diseases (315 cases [7.6%]). The prevalence of hepatobiliary disease according to age differed. Biliary atresia was the most common hepatobiliary disease in the neonatal period, whereas the prevalence of hepatitis increased in adolescents. The total number of hepatobiliary operations was 416 cases. With the comparison of annual data, there was no definite difference in the total number of hepatobiliary cases. The average duration of hospital stay appeared to decrease gradually. Conclusion: In this study, we have summarized the recent epidemiology of hepatobiliary disorders in Korean children based on discharge data. Hepatobiliary disorders in pediatric inpatient units consisted of diverse disorders with a low prevalence, so multi-center approaches should be considered to enhance the clinical and public health outcomes. To improve this nationwide survey, a new data collecting system should be developed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2001

Purpose : Recently in Korea since 1998, 2TU has been used instead of 5TU, which caused a confusion in interpreting tuberculin skin tests. We compared the tuberculin skin reaction to PPD(purified protein derivatives) 1TU, 2TU and 5TU. Methods : We studied tuberculin skin reaction to PPD 1TU, 2TU and 5TU on 92 infants who were vaccinated with percutaneous multiple puncture BCG vaccine(Tokyo 172 strain, Japan BCG Laboratory Co.) in neonatal period. Diameters of indurations were measured in millimeters 48~72 hours after the intradermal injection of PPD 1TU, 2TU and 5TU. Results : Among 92 infants(male : 56, female : 36), 1TU was used on 31 infants, 2TU on 31 infants and 5TU on 30 infants for tuberculin skin test. The mean diameter of induration for PPD 1TU, 2TU and 5TU were $5.7{\pm}4.2mm$, $7.1{\pm}3.7mm$, and $9.2{\pm}4.2mm$, respectively. There was no statistical difference in mean diameter of induration between 1TU and 2TU. However, when tested with 5TU, the diameter of induration was significantly larger than those of PPD 1TU and 2TU(P<0.05). Six subjects(19.4%) tested with 1TU, 9 subjects(29%) tested with 2TU and 16 subjects(53.3%) tested with 5TU had diameter of 10 mm or more. There was no statistical difference between 1TU and 2TU but for 5TU, number of subjects with diameter of 10 mm or more was significantly higher than PPD 1TU and 2TU(P<0.05). Number of subjects with induration diameter of 5 mm or more for 1TU, 2TU and 5TU was 19(61.3%), 22(71.0%) and 26(86.7%), respectively. However, there was no statistical difference. Conclusion : A new standard criteria for interpreting the tuberculin skin test with PPD 2TU should be established for clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.70-81
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• 1988

To measure the birth registration rate and the validity of birth registration data in rural area, all of the 4,014 married women under 49 years of age who had not been sterilized in Gunwee county of Kyungpook province were followed by Myun health workers for 2 years from April 1, 1985 to March 31, 1987 and 766 births were detected. All of the birth registration records of Myun offices were reviewed on September 30, 1987 and 944 births which occurred within the above mentioned period were found. Actual birth date obtained by follow-up study were compared with the birth date on registration card. Among 766 births detected by follow-up study,576 births(75.2%) which were reported within 6 months after birth were ascertained on the official registration records and 96 births(12.5%) were not found on the records although mother stated that the birth was registered. The registration rate within legal due date was 61.3% among 576 births detected by follow-up study and also ascertained on the official records. The registration rate within legal due date was lower in mothers under 20 years of age and above 35 years and in mothers who had only primary education. It was decreased as the birth order increased. The registration rate was higher in births occurred from October to March than births occurred from April to September. All of the births of 7 neonatal deaths were not reported. The registered birth date was consistent with the actual birth date in 78.0%. Birth date on record was earlier than the actual birth date in 6.8% and later in 15.3%. The consistency rate was lower in mothers above 35 years of age(54.5%), and in infants of 4th birth order and above(56.3%). The rate was increased as the maternal education level increased. The rate of boys was higher than that of girls. A higher percentage(17.4%) of infants born in March was registered with earlier date than the actual birth date and most of these registered birth dates were lunar calendar date. This might be related with the age for entering the primary school. The study findings revealed that the birth registration rate within legal due date and accuracy of report have been increased in recent years, but the infant mortality rate derived from the birth registration seems to be very inaccurate. It is suggested to let the medical personnel who delivered the baby report the birth by mail directly to the current address of parent while infants delivered at home without professional attendant may comply with the present registration system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2009

Purpose: The automatic notification system for alarm values on blood tests conducted by this hospital is designed to immediately inform the attending physician of the result of a blood test, to help the relevant patient to promptly receive proper treatment, and furthermore, to reduce the likelihood of a fatal influence to the patient. From 2004, the clinical pathology department of this hospital has been operating an automatic notification system for blood tests, in relation to the items of WBC, Hb, Plt, PB cell morphology, Malaria, PT, aPTT, BT, fibrinogen, Ca, K, Na, Cl, Mg, Glucose, Ketone, Digoxin, PKU, Homocystinuria, 17-OHP, Neonatal TSH, and Galactosemia. Recently, the blood test room of the nuclear medicine department has been operating an automatic notification system for the alarm values of a blood test, in relation to three items of TSH, FT4, and 17-${\alpha}$-OH-PGR, and the details of its operation will be described here. Materials and Methods: The subjects were newborn babies that were receiving TSH, FT4, and $17{\alpha}$-OH-PGR prescriptions from February $19^{th}$ to May $11^{st}$, 2009, and who met with the following criteria: N2340 Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: >$10{\mu}IU/mL$ (Reference value: 0.4~5.0). N2360 Free-Thyroxine: <$0.8{\mu}g/dL$ (Reference value: 0.8~1.9), N2444 $17{\alpha}$-OH-Progesterone: >$30\;{\mu}g/mL$ (Reference value: Male (0.6~3.42), Female follicular phase (0.19~1.8). The automatic notification system was operated by entering test items, relevant treatment departments, and standard values for reporting alarm values into the OCS program, and then transmitting results that met with the input conditions to the PDAs of the prescription and the attending physician by SMS. Results: Reporting an alarm value of the nuclear medicine blood test, which can have a fatal influence on the lives of patients, will help cure patients, improve the quality of the test, and furthermore, will increase the patient's satisfaction with the prescription and treatment of the test.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1287-1295
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• 2006

Purpose : The importance of staphylococcal infections in NICU has been emphasized in terms of increased resistant strains and increased incidence of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we inrestignted the clinical characteristics and risk factors for staphylococcal infections, and looked into sensitivity trends of antibiotics in the era of a high rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in our society. Methods : This study included 240 neonates with positive blood, urine and other sites cultures for staphylococci who were admitted to NICU of Hanil General Hospital and Kyunghee University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2004. The analyses included clinical characteristics of staphylococcal infections and the relationship of incidence rate among various factors, including invasive procedures. Results : For 5 years, 3,593 patients were hospitalized in the NICU and 7,481 specimens were cultured from blood, urine, and other sites. During the study period, staphylococci were isolated from 240 patients, of whom 88 patients had MRSA, 41 patients methcillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), 63 patients S. epidermidis, 48 patients coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) except S. epidermidis infections. The risk factors associated with staphylococcal infections were less than 37 weeks of gestational age, less than 7 on a 5 minutes Apgar score, receiving TPN, applied mechanical ventilation, use of central venous catheters and other tubes. The sensitivity to vancomycin was 100 percent. A relatively high sensitivity against teicoplanin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and low sensitivity against gentamicin and erythromycin were shown. Conclusion : To reduce staphylococcal infections in NICU, we need to monitor and manage premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process and to avoid as many invasive procedures as possible in NICU. Considering MRSA, control of preceding factors and early use of appropriate antibiotics is expected to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by MRSA infections.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.500-506
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• 2006

Purpose : We evaluated an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in 24 neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Methods : From January to August, 2004 a nosocomial outbreak of S. marcescens occurred in our NICU. We describe the clinical characteristics of the outbreak and analyse the risk factors for infections with S. marcescens. After the outbreak stopped, 7 isolates from blood were typed using rapid amplified polymorphic DNA analysis(RAPD). Results : S. marcescens was isolated from 24 neonates, 19 infected and 5 colonized. Seven out of nineteen neonates had bacteremia, 4 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 4 had purulent conjunctivitis, 2 had UTI, 1 had meningitis and 1 had a wound infection. Three neonates died due to S. marcescens infection, 2 of 3 had ventilator associated pneumonia, 1 had meningitis complicated with abscess. The mortality rate of S. marcescens infection was 15.8%. Factors associated with S. marcescens infections were previous antibiotic therapy, indwelling catheter and use of ventilators. The isolated strains were resistant to most antibiotics, but frequently sensitive to imipenem, bactrim and amikacin. RAPD typing results show that at least 3 epidemic strains were related with this outbreak. But one genotype was predominant type in this outbreak. The control measures were instituted and the outbreak stopped within 2 months. Conclusion : S. marcescens can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks associated with fatal infections in neonates. If S. marcescens is isolated from clinical specimens, meticulous infection control measures and epidemiologic investigations should be done at an early stage of the outbreak.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1065-1070
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to determine whether early closure (within 7 d) of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ligation reduces neonatal morbidity when compared with delayed closure (after 7 d). Methods : Fifty-eight extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU of Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to May 2007 with PDA were studied retrospectively. Results : The mean gestational age (GA) was $26{\pm}2weeks$ (range, 23-32 wk), and the birth weight was $782{\pm}146g$ (range, 430-990 g). The delayed closure group was associated with early GA ($25.7{\pm}1.7wk$ vs $27.1{\pm}2.0wk$, P=0.013), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (55% vs 24%, P=0.017), and the absence of preeclampsia (5% vs. 34%, P=0.013). There was no difference in ductal size between the early closure and delayed closure groups. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% vs 65%, P=0.012) and intraventricular hemorrhage (70% vs. 39%, P=0.027) increased in the delayed closure group. Using regression analysis adjusted for gestational age, delayed closure correlated positively with the duration of ventilator support (P=0.008), hospitalization (P=0.020), time to full enteral feeding (P<0.001), and total parenteral nutrition (P=0.010). Conclusion : Delayed closure of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants is significantly related to the development of various morbidities. Thus, early closure of PDA is needed within the first week of life.