• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.1253-1259
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• 2003

Backgroud : Seizures in the neonate are relatively common and their clinical features are different from those in children and adults. The study aimed to provide the clinical profiles of neonatal seizure in our hospital. Methods : A total of 41 newborns with seizures were enrolled in this study over a period of three years. They were evaluated with special reference to risk factors, neurologic examinations, laboratory data, neuroimaging studies, EEG findings, seizure types, response to treatment, and prognosis, etc. Results : The average age at onset of seizures was $6.1{\pm}4.6days$ and the majority of patients(42%) had multifocal clonic seizure and 24% had subtle seizure. Factors that are known to increase risk of neonatal seizures include abnormal delivery history, birth asphyxia, and electrolyte imbalance, etc. However, they remain obscure in about 20% of cases. More than 50 percent showed abnormal lesions on neuroimaging studies such as brain hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, brain infarction, cortical dysplasia, hydrocephalus, etc. and 17 out of 32 patients showed abnormal electroencephalographic patterns. Phenobarbital was tried as a first line antiepileptic drug and phenytoin was added if it failed to control seizures. The treatments were terminated in the majority of patients during the hospital stay. The overall prognosis was relatively good except for those with abnormal EEG background or congenital central nervous system malformations. Conclusion : Neonatal seizures may permanently disrupt brain development. Better understanding of their clinical profiles and appropriate management may lead to a reduction in neurological disability in later childhood.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1119-1126
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• 2009

Purpose:This study compares the maternal characteristics and birth outcomes of infants of Asian immigrant mothers from developing countries with those of the infants of Korean mothers. Methods:In this multicenter and retrospective study, Asian immigrant women who had delivered between January 2005 and June 2008 were enrolled from9 Medical Centers. In all, 333 births to Asian immigrant women from developing countries (Asian-Korean infants) were included in this study. In addition, sex-, birth year-, and gestational age-matched 333 neonates born to Korean mothers were selected as the control group (Korean infants). On the basis of the hospital data, we investigated the nationality, age, and medical history of the mothers and compared the incidence of congenital infection, Apgar score, weight, height, and head circumference of Asian-Korean infants with those of the Korean infants. Results:The average maternal age of Asian women from developing countries at birth term was 26.7 years, which was significantly lower than that of Korean women (30.8 years, P<0.05). The birth weight of Asian-Korean infants (2,869 g) was significantly smaller than that of Korean infants (2,995 g, P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the incidence of congenital syphilis infection between the Asian-Korean infants and Korean infants (5 cases vs. 0 case, P<0.05). Conclusion:There were significant differences in the perinatal outcomes between the Korean and Asian-Korean infants. A multicenter large-scaled study should be performed to analyze the perinatal outcomes of Asian-Korean infants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.510-517
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• 1999

Background: Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is still one of the more challenging congenital heart defects in newborns and young infants. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the early and midterm results of the surgical corrections for patients in early infancy with isolated TAPVC. Material and Method: Hospital records of 15 consecutive patients in early infancy (January 1993 to August 1998) were retrospectively reviewed. There were 8 boys and 7 girls whose ages ranged from 4 days to 3.5 months (median age 22 days). Their body weight ranged from 1.75 kg to 4.9 kg (mean 3.54 kg). The abnormal anatomical connections were supracardiac in 11, cardiac in 3, and infracardiac in 1. In 6 patients (40%), the pulmonary venous drainage was obstructive. Total circulatory arrest was used in 13 patients. Anastomosis between the common pulmonary vein and the left atrium was performed with a continuous suture technique using a fine nonabsorbable polypropylene suture through a lateral approach behind the right atrium. Result: There was one hospital death (6.5%) caused by a sepsis 17 days after the operation in a neonate who had supracardiac drainage and was dependent on a ventilator preoperatively. There were 2 late deaths. One died sudde`nly of an unknown cause at home 2.5 years after the operation and the other died of a recurrent pulmonary hypertension 3 months after the reoperation due to pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). Two patients required reoperations because of PVO 5 months and 10 months respectively after the initial operation. Of these patients, one patient is alive at the present time with persistent pulmonary hypertension. All survivors without postoperative PVO (78.6%) were in NYHA functional class I at mean follow-up of 25.8 months (0.5∼67 months). Conclusion: Surgical correction of TAPVC in early infancy can be performed at low risk. However, there were 2 postoperative PVOs (14.3%) which had bad results. The survivors without postoperative PVO had excellent functional status.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.3
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• pp.53-66
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• 1996

Home Health Care is one part of the total health care system. It includes health care services that link the hospital to the community. While it is important for early discharge patients, home care is also important for people with chronic illnesses or handicapping conditions. In 1989 the Korean government passed a law that opened the way for formal development of home health care services beginning with education programs to certify nurses for home care, and then demonstration home care services. Part of the mandate of the demonstration projects was evaluation of home care services. This study was done in order to provide basic data that would contribute to the development of records that could be used for evaluation through a retrospective audit and to examine the care that had been given in Home Care at Wonju Christian Hospital over a twenty year period from 1974 to 1994. The purposes of the study were : to identify to characteristics of the clients who had received home care, to identify the reasons for client referrals, to identify the nursing problems of these clients, to identify the nursing care provided to these clients, and to identify differences in these areas over the twenty year period. The study was a descriptive study involving a retrospective audit of the client records. Demographic data on all clients were included : 4,171 clients from 2,564 families. Data on referrals, nursing diagnosis and nursing interventions were from even numbered records which had a patient problem list included in the record, 2,801 clients, Frequencies and ANOVA were used in the analysis. The results of the study showed that the majority of the clients were from Wonju city /county. There were more women than men related to the high number of postpartum clients(1,300). The high number of postparttum clients and newborns was also evident in the age distribution. An the number of maternal-child clients decreased over the 20 years, the mean age of the clients increased significantly. Other factors also contributed to this change ; as increasing number of clients with brain injuries or with cancer, and fewer children with burns, osteomyelitis and tuberculosis. There was a decrease in the mean number of visits and mean length of coverage, reflecting a movement towards a short term acute care model. The number of new clents dropped sharply after 1985. The reasons for this are : the development of other treatment alternatives for clients, the establishment of an active wellbaby clinic, many more options plus a decreasing number of new cases of Hansen's Disase, and insurance that allows people with burns to be kept in hospital until skin grafts are healed. Socioeconomic changes have resulted in an increase in the number of cases of cancer, stroke, head injuries following car accidents, and of diabetes. Of the 2,801 client records, 2,541(60.9%) contained a written referral but for 1,802 it contained only the medical diagnosis. The number of records with a referral requesting specific nursing care was 739(29.1%). Many family members who were identified as in need of nursing care had no written referral. Analysis of the patient problem list showed that 41.9% of the enteries were nursing diagnoses. Others incuded medical diagnosis, symptoms, and plans. The most frequently used diagnoses were alteration in nutrition, less than body requirements(115 entries), alteration in skin integrity(114), knowledge deficit(111), pain(78), self-care deficit(66), and alteration in pattern of urinary elimination(50). These are reflected in the NANDA categories for which the highest number of diagnosis was in the Exchanging pattern(446), followed by Moving(178), Feeling(136) and Knowing (115). Analysis of the frequency of interventions showed that exercise and teaching about exercise was the most frequent intervention, followed by teaching concering the need for follow-up care, checking vital signs, managing nutritional problems, managing catheters, giving emotional support, changing dressings, teaching about medication, teaching (subject not specified), teaching about diet, IM and IV medications or fluid, and skin care, in that order. Recommendations included: development of a record that would allow for efficient recording of frequently used nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions: expansion of the catchment area for Home Care at Wonju Christian Hospital ; expansion of the service to provide complication prevention, rehabilitation services, and support to increase the health maintenance /health promotion of the people being served as well as providing client dentered care ; and development of a clinical record that will allow efficient data collection from records, even though the recording is done by a variety of health care providers.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.70-85
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• 2006

A nationwide survey on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was undertaken among members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons. The members were required to complete a questionnaire and the case registration form for each patient during the three-year period from July 2001 to June 2004. Eighty one patients were included in the questionnaire, but only 71 patients were registered from 22 members in 16 hospitals. At the same time survey on focal intestinal perforation (FIP) was undertaken and 17 patients were registered from 11 members in 10 hospitals. Total 19,041 newborns were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit during the study period. Eighty one patients (17.27 %) were underwent surgery among 469 babies who were managed under the impression of NEC. The male to female ratio was 2.1:1. The premature were 60.6 %. The most common site of involvement was ileum. Overall and operation survival of NEC were 72 % and 79 %, respectively. The survival was lower in smaller babies, multiple segments involvement and involvement of both the small and large intestine. But there was no difference in survival according to sex or prematurity. The FIP showed very similarity with NEC in terms of incidence, and the age of diagnosis and operation. But the survival was much better and 100 %. The results showed the clinical characteristics of NEC and the trend of management in NEC in Korea. In the future we hope we can discuss about this topic in prospective manner.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.845-850
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• 2006

Purpose : To assess the incidence of neonatal hearing loss in a neonatal intensive care unit and the relative importance of risk factors for hearing imparement in a neonatal intensive care unit which the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing(JCIH) had recommended. Methods : One thousand, two hundred and one newborns admitted to the Good Moonhwa Intensive Care Unit from May 2003 to December 2005 were assesed using the automated auditory brainstem response(AABR). The screening was performed on those aged more than 36 weeks and weighing more than 2,200 g. We divided the infants into two groups, 'pass' and 'refer'. The 'refer' group were retested one month later, and if classified as 'refer' during the retest, were referred to a hearing impairment clinic. Results : From the 1,201 neonates, 1,187(98.8 percent) passed the test and 14(1.2 percent) failed. 293(24.4 percent) of the 1,201 neonates had a risk factor for hearing impairment; 282(96.2 percent) passed the test and 11(3.8 percent) failed. The group with risk factors were shown to have a higher incidence of hearing loss(P<0.001). The neonates in the refer group were shown to have a higher incidence of ototoxic drugs(P<0.001), low birth weight(<1,500 g)(P<0.001) and craniofacial anomalies(P=0.007). On the other hand, there were no statistical differences between the pass and refer groups in congenital infection, hyperbilirubinemia, bacterial meningitis, low Apgar scores, prolonged mechanical ventilation and syndromes known to include hearing loss. Conclusion : In order to identify hearing-impaired infants within an appropriate period, neonatal hearing screening tests and identification of the risk factors for neonatal hearing loss are important.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1330-1336
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• 2005

Purpose : It has been suggested that changes in cerebral blood flow by ventilator care could be a risk factor in periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) and severe periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage(PV-IVH). The study aims to assess the relationship between perinatal clinical events, including ventilator care, and the development of PVL and severe PV-IVH; especially, whether ventilator care could be causers of PVL and severe PV-IVH as an individual risk factor. Methods : Among 255 very low birth weight infants who survived in the Fatima neonatal intensive care unit from January 1999 to December 2003, 15 infants with PVL and eight infants with severe PV-IVH were classified as a study group, while 231 infants were enrolled as a control group. The analysis was performed retrospectively with medical records. Results : Twenty four infants were diagnosed with PVL or severe PV-IVH. Asphyxia, recurrent apnea, sepsis, acidosis and ventilator care were significantly increased in the PVL goup. Asphyxia, recurrent apnea, RDS, acidosis and ventilator care were significantly increased in the severe PV-IVH group. Conclusion : Infants with PVL or severe PV-IVH may have multiple perinatal risk factors including asphyxia, recurrent apnea, sepsis, acidosis, RDS and ventilator care. Because most patients with ventilator care have multiple perinatal risk factors, ventilator care does not cause PVL and severe PV-IVH independently. Therefore, incidences of PVL and severe PV-IVH can be decreased by not only gentle ventilation, but also more professional antenatal care.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.1315-1319
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• 2008

Purpose : We aimed to examine the effect of rooming-in care on newborn infants emotional stability by comparing them with those cared for in a nursery. Methods : Forty-eight full-term newborn infants born at Cheil General Hospital between July 1 and October 31, 2007, were enrolled. Twenty-four newborn infants were roomed-in in their mothers rooms (rooming-in group), and 24 newborns were cared for in the hospital nursery (the nursery group) for the first 3 days of their lives. Those with perinatal problems that required medical treatment were excluded. By using Brazeltons neonatal behavior assessment scale, we measured irritability and self-quieting as well as the duration of crying after heel-stick puncture for the newborn metabolic screening test. Results : The rooming-in group had a higher irritability score than the nursery group ($6.8{\pm}1.7$ vs. $4.2{\pm}2.1$, P<0.001), thereby suggesting stable behavior against external irritation; the former also had a higher self-quieting activity score ($5.9{\pm}0.3$ vs. $4.5{\pm}1.8$, P=0.001), thereby suggesting that stability was reached quickly from the irritated state. Time taken to stop crying after the heel-stick puncture was significantly shorter in the rooming-in group than in the nursery group ($17{\pm}15.1$ seconds vs. $115.3{\pm}98.5$ seconds, P<0.001). Conclusion : These results show that newborn infants in the rooming-in group exhibit more stable behavior against external irritation and can be stabilized from an irritated state more quickly than infants cared for in the nursery, even after a few days of rooming-in care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.531-548
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• 1991

To assess the adequacy of medical manpower and medical fee for the newborn nursery care, the author visited 20 out of 24 hospitals with the pediatric training program in Youngnam area between July 29 and August 14, 1991. Total number of newborn, both normal and sick, admission and discharge in 1-30 June 1991 was obtained from the logbook of nursery. Head nurse and staff pediatrician of the nursery were interviewed to get the current staffing for the nursery and their subjective opinion on the adequacy of nursery manpower and the difficulties in recruiting manpower. Average medical fee charged for the maternity and normal newborn nursery care was obtained from the division of self-audit of medical insurance claim of each hospital. Average minimum requirement of nursing care time for one normal newborn per day was 179.5 (${\pm}58.6$) minutes; 202.3(${\pm}50.7$) minutes for the university hospitals and 164.2(${\pm}60.5$) minutes for the general hospitals. The ratio of minimum requirement of nursing care time and available nursing time was 1.42 on the average. Taking the additional requirement of nursing care for the sick newborns into consideration, the ratio was 2.06. The numbers of R. N. and A. N. in the nurserys of study hospitals were 31%, and 17%, respectively, of the nursing manpower for the nursery recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These findings indicate that the nursing manpower in newborn nursery is in severe shortage. Ninety percent of the head nurses and 85% of the staff pediatrician stated that the newborn nursery is short of R.N. and 75% of them said that the nurse's aide is also short. Major reason for not recruiting R.N. was the financial constraint of hospital. For the recruitment of nurse's aide, short supply was the second most important reason next to the financial constraint. However, limit of quarter in T.O. was the mar reason for the national university hospitals. Average total medical fee for the maternity and newborn nursery cares of a normal vaginal delivery who stayed two nights and three days at hospital was 219,430won. Out of the total medical fee, 20,323won(9.3%) was for the newborn nursery care. In case of C-section delivery who stayed six nights and seven days, total medical fee was 732,578won and out of the total fee 76,937won (12.0%) was for the newborn care. Cost for a newborn care per day by cost accounting was 16,141won for the tertiary care hospitals and 14,576won for the all other hopitals. The ratio of cost and the fee schedule of the medical insurance for a newborn care per day was 5.0 for the tertiary care hospitals and 4.9 for the all other hospitals. Considering the current wage level of the medical personnel, capital investment for the hospital facilities and equipments, and the cost for hospital maintenance, it is hard to expect adequate quality care in the newborn nursery under the current medical insurance fee schedule.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2007

Hearing loss is a common congenital disorder that is frequently associated with mutations in the Cx26 gene (GJB2). Recently, the mutation analysis of GJB2 has been used in a newborn screening test for the detection of hearing impairment. Population-based studies should be performed before the application of genetic testing for the identification of deaf newborns. In this study, 8 positions of GJB2 mutations-including 35delG, 167delT, 235delC, V27I, V37I, M34T, E114G, and I203T-were analyzed using PCR-direct sequencing in a total of 437 healthy Korean neonates. DNAs from dried blood spots were extracted using a commercial DNA extraction kit. The PCR-amplified products (783 bps) of the GJB2 gene were detected using 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and subjected to direct sequencing. The sequences were compared with those in the GenBank database by using the BLAST program. In this study, 5 GJB2 mutations -including V27I (79G>A), V37I (109G>A), E114G (341A>G), I203T (608T>C), and 235delC- were found. Of the 437 neonate samples, 301 subjects showed GJB2 mutations (68.9%, 301/437). The V27I mutation was found in 271 subjects and was the most frequent (62.0%, 271/437). The E114G, I203T and V37I mutations were shown in 146, 17 and 14 subjects, respectively. The 235delC mutation was found in 1 subject. The E114G mutation was frequently accompanied by the V27I mutation. V27I/E114G (97.2%, 143/147) was the most common double mutation and 3 subjects had the double mutation V27I/I203T. A triple mutation, V27I/E114G/I203T, was found in 1 subject. In conclusion, PCR-direct sequencing is a convenient tool for the rapid detection of GJB2 mutations and this data might provide information for the genetic counseling of the GJB2 gene.