• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.7
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• pp.329-332
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• 2014

3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (3MCC) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder in which leucine catabolism is hampered, leading to increased urinary excretion of 3-methylcrotonylglycine. In addition, 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine levels increase in the blood, and the elevated levels form the basis of neonatal screening. 3MCC deficiency symptoms are variable, ranging from neonatal onset with severe neurological abnormality to a normal, asymptomatic phenotype. Although 3MCC deficiency was previously considered to be rare, it has been found to be one of the most common metabolic disorders in newborns after the neonatal screening test using tandem mass spectrometry was introduced. Additionally, asymptomatic 3MCC deficient mothers have been identified due to abnormal results of unaffected baby's neonatal screening test. Some of the 3MCC-deficient mothers show symptoms such as fatigue, myopathy, or metabolic crisis with febrile illnesses. In the current study, we identified an asymptomatic 3MCC deficient mother when she showed abnormal results during a neonatal screening test of a healthy infant.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2006

Purpose : The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs adopted newborn screening for the low-income families in 1991 and expanded in 1997 to cover all newborns. At the beginning of the program 6 diseases were selected for screening but the number of screening items had been reduced to two (congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria) from the year 1995. Now, the government program has a fifteen year history. The purpose of this study was to analyze results of neonatal screening tests and prevalence at birth of phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism in Korea. Methods : The results of neonatal screening tests were collected from public health centers during 15 years from 1991 to 2005. These data were analyzed for number of tested newborns and prevalence at birth of the inborn errors of metabolism. Results : Neonatal screening test for inborn error of metabolism was performed for 3,707,773 newborns for 15 years. Among newborns who were screened 718 congenital hypothyroidisms and 86 phenylketonurias were detected, and these presented an prevalence at bith of congenital hypothyroidism 1/5,164 and that of phenylketonuria 1/43,114. The total prevalence of two diseases was 1/4,612. Conclusion : National screening program should be expanded to include all items of screening tests for whole newborns and established correct prevalence of other inherited metabolic diseases in Korea.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate the effects of neonatal hearing screening program (NHSP) information on parental satisfaction with the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire with Neonatal Hearing Screening Program (PSQ-NHSP) by Mazlan et al. (2006). The PSQ-NHSP consisted of four aspects including: information, personnel in charge of the hearing test, appointment activity, and overall satisfaction in the neonatal hearing screening program. A total of 106 parents (50 in the experimental group and 56 in the control group) participated in this study in one general hospital and two delivery clinics. The fifty parents in the experimental group received information and counseling with educational materials before filling out the PSQ-NHSP, but the fifty-six parents in the control group did not receive any counseling or education materials before completing the PSQ-NHSP. The PSQ-NHSP demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability (${\sigma}=0.914$). The results of the study were as follows. First, the overall satisfaction ($3.77{\pm}0.81$) and personnel in charge of hearing test ($3.52{\pm}0.79$) aspects showed higher rates of satisfaction than the appointment activity aspect ($3.51{\pm}0.80$) for total subjects. Second, the overall parental satisfaction rate of the experimental group ($4.15{\pm}0.50$) was significantly higher than that of the control group ($3.09{\pm}0.53$) in all items. Lastly, thirty-two participants (30%) made at least one comment in response to the open-set items. A total of 29 comments were related to satisfaction with participating in the NHSP and II comments were related to dissatisfaction. In conclusion, to improve parental satisfaction it is important to provide parents with education and information about the NHSP before the test. In addition, PSQ-NHSP was found to be a useful instrument for identifying the benefits and shortfalls of the NHSP.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.1125-1139
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• 2006

In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia & congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU & congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. Government decided to test PKU & hypothyroidism for all newborns from 1997. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government didn't decide laboratory center for a certain district and placed responsibility on free competition. Government are planning to test 573,000 newborns from 1998, Government decided to screen 6 items PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disese, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. 17 laboratores are participating now. The cost of screening test is supported by both the federal government and local government on a 40-60 basis. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. Interlaboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. According to the government project, 3,707,773 newborns were screened. 86 PKU, 718 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/43,114 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/4,612. Maeil dairy company produced new special formula for PKU, MMA and PA, MSUD, urea cycle disorder, homocystinuria, isovaleric acidemia from Oct. 1999. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass sereening & Wilson disease from 2008. Now it is a very important problem to decrease laboratory numbers of neonatal screening in Korea. So we are considering 4-5 central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Many inborn errors of metabolism can be completely cured with early detection and early treatment. This is why neonatal screening on inborn errors of metabolism is implemented worldwide. In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia and congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU and congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government decided to screen six items of PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. In 2014, thirteen laboratories are participating. Inter laboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. According to the government project, from 1997 to 2013, 7,080,569 newborns were screened. 144 PKU, 2.451 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/49,170 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/2,888. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. By January 2007, many European countries had expanded of their newborn screening programs by inclusion of Tandem mass spectrometry. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass spectrometry from 2016. We are considering four to five central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose. And I hope to expand test including Wilson disease screening test and lysosomal storage diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2010

Purpose : The neonatal screening test for homocystinuria primarily measures methionine by using a dried blood specimen. We investigated the incidence and clinical manifestations of homocystinuria, isolated hypermethioninemia, and transient hypermethioninemia among patients with hypermethioninemia on a neonatal screening test. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 58 patients transferred to Shoonchunhyang Hospital because of hypermethioninemia on a neonatal screening test between January 1996 and August 2009. We analyzed the level of amino acid from plasma and urine, as well as blood homocysteine.Results : Almost half of the 58 patients were identified as normal. Whereas only 3 (5.1%) patients were identified as having homocystinuria, about 20.7% (12 cases) of the patients had isolated hypermethioninemia. The ages of these two groups at initial detection of hypermethioninemia on plasma amino acid analysis were $50.0{\pm}22.5$ days and $34.9{\pm}13.5$ days, respectively. Both groups were put on diets, and they showed a normal developmental course as a result of early diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion : Hypermethioninemia without homocystinuria, referred to as isolated hypermethioninemia, was also detected. Thus, the impact of hypermethioninemia on a neonatal screening test should be carefully evaluated through analysis of amino acid levels from blood and urine, and we need to detect and treat an early stage of isolated hypermethioninemia as well as homocystinuria.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2013

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated individuals who hadbeen identified by neonatal screening as potential galactosemia patients to determine the etiology of galactosemia. Methods: One hundred fifty-three patients referred to Korea Genetics Research Center due to high galactose level detected by neonatal screening test between February 2005 and May 2013 were examined. Galactose and galactose-1-phosphate levels were measured by using a fluoro metric microplate reader. Lactose free diet was initiated immediately after confirmed by urine Clinitest. If reducing sugar was negative, we employed abdominal sonogram and echocardiogram to check for possible porto-systemic shunt. Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with galactosemia. One patient had galactokinase (GALK) deficiency; four had UDP galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) deficiency; two had citrin deficiency; and four had porto-systemic shunt. Two had unknown causes of galactosemia. Conclusion: In addition to genetic defects of GALT, GALK and GALE, citrin deficiency or porto-systemic shunt could also cause galactosemia. It is crucial to carry out differential diagnosis to determine the cause of galactosemia.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.370-373
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• 2011

Citrin deficiency caused by the SLC25A13 gene mutations is associated with both neonatal-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2), also known as neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency and adult-onset CTLN2. Neonatal-onset CTLN2 is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by poor growth, intrahepatic cholestasis, and increased serum citrulline. A 16-days old infant with hyperammonemia was referred for evaluation of increased plasma citrulline diagnosed using tandem mass spectrometry. Blood amino acid analysis showed significant elevation of citrulline. Mild elevation in serum galactose levels had been found. DNA analysis of the SLC25A13 gene in this patient showed two novel compound heterozygous mutations, c.221C>T in exon4 and c.1645C in exon16 (p.[Ser74Phe]+[Gln549X]). We suggest that infants with a high serum citrulline level on a tandem mass screening test are candidates for gene analysis and blood amino acid analysis for neonatal-onset CTLN2.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2008

Purpose: Neonatal screening tests are increasingly being used forearly diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in the hope of avoiding the severe developmental delay, acute illness, and death that may result from these diseases. In this study, a cost-benefit analysis was performed on the neonatal screening of maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia in Korea. Materials and Methods: This study included 1,259,220 Korean newborns born between January 2005 to December 2007, who were screened for maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. We calculated and compared the total costs in cases where these four screening tests were implemented, and those where they were not. Results: There were no benefits to screening for maple syrup urine disease or homocystinuria due to their low prevalence for these two tests, the costs exceeded the benefits at benefit:cost ratios of 0.5:1 and 0.6:1, respectively. In contrast, benefits far exceed costs at a ratio of 4.1:1 for galactosemia and 2.9:1 for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The average benefit:cost ratio for all four tests was 2.0:1. Conclusion: Neonatal screening tests for maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia are financially viable.