• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 1999

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the antenatal ambroxol administration to mothers who were in danger of imminent preterm delivery in preventing the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Forty-two preterm newborn infants who were delivered at Yeungnam University Hospital from January 1996 to December 1997 were divided into two groups, 21 in ambroxol-treated group and 21 in control group. Six cases of the respiratory distress syndrome were developed from 21 ambroxol-treated infants, but 13 cases of RDS, from 21 control infants. This result indicated a significant reduction of the occurrence of RDS by antenatal administration o[ ambroxol (p<0.05). There were no differences in the occurrence of adverse effects of ambroxol in mothers between the two groups. There was also no difference between pre- and post-treatment hematologic and biochemical parameters in ambroxol-treated group. In conclusion, when premature delivery is expected, the administration of ambroxol before delivery enhances lung maturation in premature newborn infants and prevents the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome without significant adverse effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.512-518
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• 2002

Purpose : Cerebral palsies are the most common and severe motor disabilities in childhood. There is currently increased interest in their occurrence and patterns of likely cause for a variety of reasons. Therefore, a retrospective study was carried out to understand the clinical features of cerebral palsy. Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted of all children with cerebral palsy who were diagnosed at St. Benedict Hospital between March 1999 and March 2001. Results : Cerebral palsy patients were classified into 6 major groups. Of six groups, spastic diplegia is the most common type of cerebral palsy(55.3%). The risk factors of cerebral palsy were placenta previa(1 case), placenta abruption(1 case), cytomegalovirus infection(1 case), prematurity (53 cases), neonatal asphyxia(12 cases), dystocia(2 cases), breech delivery(1 case), multiple birth(5 cases), head trauma(3 cases), meningitis(2 cases) and unknown(26 cases). Among the 59 in the preterm group, 37 patients showed MR or CT images of periventricular leukomalacia. Among the 44 in the term group, 15 patients showed MR or CT images of atrophy. Among 103 patients, 29 patients(28.2%) had a seizure disorder. Conclusion : It is very importent to understand the clinical features and risk factors of cerebral palsy for physicians to diagnose and manage cerebral palsy patient.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2004

Background : To save out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases is a major concern for Korea. Cardiac arrest is a very common problem, with > 18,000 cases dying each year in Korea. Overall, survival to hospital discharge remains poor. Resuscitation has become an important multidisciplinary branch of medicine, demanding a spectrum of skills and attracting a plethora of specialities and organizations. Since the "Utstein Style" was advocated in 1991, many reports about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have been published based on this guideline. These differences prevent valid inter-hospital and international comparisons. However, we do not know the true effectiveness of resuscitation. There are no guideline for reviewing, reporting, conducting research on resuscitation in Korea. This study evaluated the out-of-hospital factor associated with survival discharge of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, was especially to provide basic data for the unified reporting guideline of resuscitation in Korea. Methods : From January 1990 to July 2004, we collected data about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at Wonju Christian Hospital(WCH-CAD), Ewha Women University Mokdong Hospital(Ewha-CAD), I used same record form based on the "Utstein Style". The "Utstein Style" is internationally recommended guidelines for reporting outcome data from resuscitation events. Results : Resuscitation was performed in 1443 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients at 2 hospitals. Five hundred eighty(40.25%) patients recovered the spontaneous circulation at least once and One hundred sixty eight(11.66%) patients discharged alive. Initial EKG showed Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation in One hundred thirty five(9.33%) patients, asystole in one thousand nine(69.73%) patients and other rhythms in one hundred thirty nine(20.94%) patients. Among one hundred two cardiogenic cardiac arrest patients, two(2.0%) patients was discharged alive. Conclusion : Overall survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients was 11.66% which was poorer than that of the western country. The proportion of the cardiogenic cause was 33.38% which was only half of the western country. VT/VF is relatively not common ac a initial EKG rhythm. These differences might be to due difference in the prevalence pattern of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as well as prematurity of the EMSS. It is needed that the best survival can be achieved if all following links have been optimized : rapid access, early CPR, early defibrillation, early ACLS.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.192-201
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• 2006

There are considerable controversies in the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. By 1997, early operation, routine chest tube on the ipsilateral side and maintainingrespiratory alkalosis by hyperventilation were our principles (period I). With a transition period from 1998 to 1999, delayed operation with sufficient resuscitation, without routine chest tube, and permissive hypercapnia were adopted as our practice. High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and nitric oxide (NO) were applied, if necessary, since year 2000(period II). Sixty-seven cases of neonatal Bochdalek hernia from 1989 to 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 33 and 34 cases in period I and II, respectively. The neonatal survival rates were 60.6 % and 73.5 %, respectively, but the difference was not significant. In period I, prematurity, low birth weight, prenatal diagnosis, inborn, and associated anomalies were considered as the significant poor prognostic factors, all of which were converted to nonsignificant in period II. In summary, improved survival was not observed in later period. The factors considered to be significant for poor prognosis were converted to be nonsignificant after change of the management principle. Therefore, we recommend delayed operation after sufficient period of stabilization and the avoidance of the routine insertion of chest tube. The validity of NO and HFOV needs further investigation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.276-286
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• 1999

In the present study, to understand how gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) affects ovarian functions in superovulated rats, we examined the effects of GnRH agonist on the ovulatory response, the morphological normality and nuclear maturation of ovulated oocytes, the ovarian weight, the ovarian histology, and the circulating steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in immature rats pretreated with 30IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and supplemented with 10IU human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG). GnRH agonist was intravenously injected via jugular vein catheter every 20min for 4hrs in early follicular phase (from 6hr after PMSG) of superovulated rats. In addition, GnRH antagonist, Antide, was intravenously injected in combination with GnRH agonist to verify the effects of GnRH agonist on ovarian functions. All animals were sacrificed at 72hr after PMSG administration. The administration with GnRH agonist in early follicular phase of superovulated rats caused inhibition of ovulatory response, increased the proportion of abnormal appearing oocytes(especially, in the rats of the group treated with 500ng GnRH agonist), decreased ovarian weight and promote follicular atresia, compared to those from the rats of control regimen that were not treated with GnRH agonist. In addition, the treatment with GnRH agonist in the superovulated rat distinctly decreased serum steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in preovulatory phase. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of GnRH agonist treatment in superovulation-pretreated rats on ovarian functions were totally reversed by the combination with GnRH antagonist, Antide. The nuclear maturation of oocytes recovered from the oviducts in immature rats treated with GnRH agonist and/or GnRH antagonist was characterized by prematurity and asynchronization in early follicular phase, which was similar to control group. The overall results of this study indicate that GnRH agonist disturbs directly ovarian function in early follicular phase of superovulated immature rats in terms of ovulatory response and morphological normality of ovulated oocytes. This concept has been further evidenced by the findings of a great decrease in ovarian weight, a marked increase in follicular and a distinct decrease circulating steroid hormone ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone) levels in GnRH agonist treatment regimen in early follicular phase.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2008

Recently, the survival rates of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants have improved with the development of neonatal intensive care. However, these infants were susceptible to intestinal perforation due to prematurity, fluid restriction, and injection of indomethacin, etc. Because of the risks of transportation, anesthesia and surgery itself, peritoneal drainage has been compared with laparotomy. Through our experience, we investigate the usefulness of peritoneal drainage retrospectively. From 1997 to 2007, six ELBW (M:F=5:1) underwent primary peritoneal drainage for intestinal perforation. Their median birth weight was 685g (405~870) and gestational age was $25^{+1}$ weeks ($24^{+3}{\sim}27^{+0}$). We noticed the intestinal perforation at median 10.5 days (8~18) after birth, and placed Penrose drain or Jackson-Pratt drain through right lower quadrant incision under local anesthesia. The cause of intestinal perforation was necrotizing enterocolitis in one patient, but that of the others was not clear. Three patients who showed normal platelet count and stable vital signs recovered uneventfully. Two patients (birth weight less than 500g) who showed unstable vital signs and low platelet count (12,000 / $mm^3$ to 30,000 / $mm^3$)expired despite aggressive resuscitation. One patient required laparotomy due to persistent intestinal obstruction after drain removal and survived. Our experience shows that peritoneal drainage was an acceptable treatment for ELBW infants and the prognosis was related to vital sign and platelet count at the time of intestinal perforation, and birth weight.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1337-1341
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• 2005

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of Korean Infant Development Screening Test in predicting delayed development in premature infants. Methods : A total of 74 children with histories of prematurity, who visited the pediatric neurology clinic of Korean University Ansan Hospital from August, 2002 to July, 2004, were examined, using the Korean Infant Development Screening Test. They were divided into two groups; a normal group and a patient(neurologically compromised) group. Results : At 7 months of conceptional age, the normal and patient groups differed significantly in the fine motor, cognitive-adaptive sections. At 12 months of conceptional age both group, differed significantly in the gross motor, fine motor, personal-social, language and cognitive-adaptive sections. At 18-24 months, the group, differed significantly in gross motor, fine motor, personal-social, language and cognitive-adaptive sections. Conclusion : The Korean Developmental Screening Test was useful in predicting developmental delay in premature infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.1228-1233
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• 2009

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate whether a shorter time from the arrival at a hospital to delivery is related to the occurrence of cerebral palsy in premature infants of less than 34 weeks of gestational age. Methods : We studied 142 newborns of less than 34 weeks of gestational age. The time from the arrival at the hospital to delivery was measured. The correlation between the time required for delivery and the occurrence of cerebral palsy was elucidated by diagnosing cerebral palsy in neonates using the Korean Infant Development Screening Test and neurological examination. Results : Preliminary result suggested that a shorter time from hospital arrival to delivery was related to a lower development score for gross motor activity and to a higher frequency of cerebral palsy occurrence. Moreover, it was responsible for a tendency of obtaining lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes. The shorter delivery time was associated with a higher probability of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurrence when the length of delivery time was less than 6 hours and there was a higher probability of a shorter gestation period. However, the multifactor analysis revealed that there was little impact of delivery time on the occurrence of cerebral palsy. Conclusions : The length of hospital arrival time to delivery did not significantly influence the occurrence of cerebral palsy in premature infants of less than 34 weeks of gestational age.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.847-854
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• 2002

Purpose : Long term hospitalized infants in neonatal intensive care units(NICUs) are prone to systemic infection. It is important to differentiate systemic candidiasis from systemic bacterial infection early in the course. Thus, in this study, we have compared clinical characteristics of systemic candidiasis and systemic bacterial infection, in premature low birth weight infants. Methods : Retrospective chart review of the medical records of 20 patients with systemic candidiasis and 23 patients with systemic bacterial infection was performed. Results : Among the risk factors of systemic candidiasis, total parenteral nutrition(TPN), the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, central catheter insertion, endotracheal intubation and the use of H2 blockers were more frequent in neonates with systemic candidiasis than neonates with systemic bacterial infection. Apnea with bradycardia developed more frequently in neonates with systemic candidiasis compared with systemic bacterial infection(75% vs 39%). In laboratory findings at symptom onset, seven cases(35%) of systemic candidal infections and two cases(9%) of systemic bacterial infections showed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia(P=0.03). Blood was the most frequent isolation site of candida and bacteria. Conclusion : In neonates with systemic candidiasis, apnea with bradycardia, pneumonia and thrombocytopenia were prone to develop more frequently. The use of TPN, antibiotics and central catheters was strongly associated with systemic candidiasis. Empirical treatment with antifungal agent should be considered in critically ill neonates with above findings.