• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the health concerns of parents regarding their premature infants and to identify changes in these concerns during perinatal period and after discharge. Methods: This was a retrospective study performed at a single tertiary center that enrolled 119 premature infants who were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and visited the outpatient pediatrics department between December 2018 and October 2021. Data on the concerns of 176 parents regarding enrolled premature infants' health from before birth to 1 week after NICU discharge were obtained from outpatient records. The t test and with the chi-squared test were used to analyze the data for this study. Results: The consistently greatest focus of parents' health concerns was the respiratory system. The second focus of parents' health concerns before discharge was the central nervous system. However, during the first week after NICU discharge, the gastrointestinal system was the second-most frequent focus of parents' health concerns among parents of infants without diseases related to prematurity and infants with older gestational ages. Conclusion: The results of this study offer insights into the health concerns among parents of premature infants. Parental health concerns about premature infants vary over time, from before birth to post-discharge, necessitating supportive interventions to enhance parental understanding of their child's health status.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Purpose: Gastroesophageal reflux in infant is a physiological process. However, surgery is performed in high risk infants with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when medical management fails. This study focuses on efficacy and safety of Nissen fundoplication for GERD in infants under age 12 months. Methods: This study was a retrospective case analysis of 11 neonates and infants under 12 months of age who underwent Nissen fundoplication following a failure of medical treatment between June 2010 and June 2013 at Pusan National University Children's Hospital. The records were reviewed to determine the effect of fundoplication on symptoms and post-operative complications. Results: A total of 11 infants consist of four males and seven females. Mean birth weight was $2,305.5{\pm}558.6g$ (1,390-3,130 g). They had some underlying disease, which are not related with GERD such as congenital heart disease (54.5%), prematurity (45.5%), neurologic disease (18.2%), respiratory disease (18.2%), and other gastrointestinal disease. Mean body weight at surgery was $3,803.6{\pm}1,864.9g$ (1,938.7-5,668.5 g). Mean age at operation was $99.9{\pm}107.6days$ (17-276 days). Duration from operation to full enteral feeding was 10.9 days. Symptoms related GERD disappeared in all patients including one who got reoperation. One infant died of congenital heart disease unrelated to surgery. There were no complications related to fundoplication. Conclusion: Fundoplication is effective and safe treatment in the neonates and infants with severe GERD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.10
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• pp.386-394
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• 2019

Background: Preterm infants have difficulty maintaining body temperature after birth. However, clinical guidelines advocate that neonatal body temperature should be maintained at 36.5℃-37.5℃. Purpose: We aimed to investigate the incidence of admission hypothermia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to determine the association of admission temperature with in-hospital mortality and morbidities. Methods: A cohort study using prospectively collected data involving 70 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that participate in the Korean Neonatal Network. From registered infants born between January 2013 and December 2015, 5,343 VLBW infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation were reviewed. Results: The mean admission temperature was 36.1℃±0.6℃, with a range of 31.9℃ to 38.4℃. Approximately 74.1% of infants had an admission hypothermia of <36.5℃. Lower birth weight, intubation in the delivery room and Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes were significantly related to admission hypothermia. The mortality was the lowest at 36.5℃-37.5℃ and adjusted odd ratios for all deaths increased to 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.83), 1.44 (95% CI, 1.05-1.97) and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.22-2.82) for infants with admission temperatures of 36.0℃-36.4℃, 35.0℃-35.9℃, and <35.0℃, respectively. Admission hypothermia was also associated with high likelihoods of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, proven sepsis, pulmonary hemorrhage, air-leak, seizure, grade 3 or higher intraventricular hemorrhage and advanced retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser therapy. Conclusion: A large portion of preterm infants in Korea had hypothermia at NICU admission, which was associated with high mortality and several important morbidities. More aggressive interventions aimed at reducing hypothermia are required in this high-risk population.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.95-107
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• 2004

The prosthodontic treatment of Class II division 2 malocclusions is challenging. Ideally, these malocclusions should be identified at an early age and corrected with orthodontic treatment; otherwise, the individual develops a habitual position characterized by deep overbite and significant retruded position of mandibular condyle at the TMjoint fossa. This article describes a clinical protocol for the occlusal rehabilitation of patients with Class II div.2 malocclusions. Within this protocol, an occlusal splint was used to locate the most suitable maxillary-mandibular relationship for function and range of motion. The splint increased the vertical dimension and reduced pain on TMjoints. After transfer this relationship to an articulator for fabrication of provisional restorations, the CR position and centric prematurity contact between maxilla and mandible was used to determine the tentative vertical dimension of occlusion(VDO). The amount of elevation of VDO was decided on the articulated model. The provisional restorations were accurately transfered to a patient's mouth in clinical procedures using tattoo points. The final restoration was delivered after some trial periods with provisional restorations. The theory behind this protocol and its associated clinical procedures is presented along with a discussion.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome after changes in the treatment strategies for very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) in a single neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) center. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 300 VLBWI born from 1st January 2010 to 31th December 2016. We compared the outcomes including survival rate, birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), and morbidities between period I (2010-2013, P-I) and period II (2014-2016, P-II). Results: The average survival rate was not different between P-I and P-II. However, the survival rate of ${\leq}24$ weeks' GA, 25 weeks' GA, 26 weeks' GA were 57%, 69%, 93% respectively in P-II and 31%, 59%, 87% in P-I respectively. The survival rate of infants with birth weight <500 g, 500-749 g, 750-999 g were 100%, 55%, 90% respectively in P- II and 50%, 24%, 80%, respectively in P-I. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was higher in P-II than in P-I (P=0.012) and moderate-to-severe BPD was also higher in P-II (P=0.004). Incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with treatment, necrotizing enterocolitis (stage ${\geq}2$), and abnormal brain sonography were significantly lower in P-II (P=0.027, P=0.032, P=0.005). Incidences of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with laser treatment and early sepsis were not different. Conclusion: The survival rate and complications of VLBWI were improved in period II, especially in less than 750 g and below 26 weeks, except incidence of BPD. Changes of NICU strategies were effective to improve mortality and morbidity in VLBWI.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the respiratory illness-related hospital visits (out-patient clinics, emergency room, and re-admission) of preterm infants, and compare them according to corrected age and prematurity. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of preterm infants born at <37 weeks of gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Inha University Hospital between January 2012 and June 2015. Infant follow-up appointments in both neonatology and pulmonology out-patient clinics occurred for at least 2 years after NICU discharge. Results: The proportion of infants who visited the hospital due to any respiratory illness was as high as 50% until 12 months of corrected age, and subsequently decreased over time. Hospital admission was significantly higher in early preterm infants (<34 weeks of gestation) compared to late preterm infants (${\geq}34$ and <37 weeks of gestation). The proportion of infants who were re-admitted due to lower respiratory tract illness was significantly higher until 6 months of corrected age compared to the later, and did not differ between early and late preterm infants. Conclusion: The proportion of hospital visits of preterm infants due to respiratory disease was high until 12 months of corrected age. Most notably, the re-admission proportion from lower respiratory tract illness was high under 6 months in both early and late preterm infants. Preterm infants within this age that are visiting the hospital with respiratory symptoms should be carefully observed and followed up.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2018

Purpose: The pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. However, studies on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are rare. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI on VLBW infants. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated singleton VLBW infants born at the CHA Gangnam Medical Center from 2006 to 2016. The neonates were classified into three groups according to the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI: underweight (<$18.5kg/m^2$), normal weight (${\geq}18.5$ to <$23kg/m^2$), and overweight or obese (${\geq}23kg/m^2$). Clinical characteristics and morbidities of mothers and infants were analyzed. Results: A total of 181 infants belonging to underweight (16.6%), normal weight (58.6%), and overweight or obese (24.8%) groups were enrolled. The pre-pregnancy BMI had a significant negative correlation with gestational age (r=-0.198, P=0.001) and a significant positive correlation with the z-score of the birth weight (r=0.078, P=0.001) and body length (r=0.067, P=0.008). The number of extremely preterm infants was significantly higher in the overweight or obese group. The proportion of risk of small for gestational age infants was higher in the underweight group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.958; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.113 to 7.864), whereas that of infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity was higher in the overweight or obese group (adjusted OR, 9.546; 95% CI, 1.230 to 74.109). Conclusion: In our population of VLBW infants, the pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with gestational age, intrauterine growth, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Therefore, proper weight control before pregnancy is important.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2015

Purpose: We investigated the iron status of very low birth weight infants receiving multiple erythrocyte transfusions during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: We enrolled 46 very low birth weight infants who were admitted to the Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2013. Serum ferritin was measured on their first day of life and weekly thereafter. We collected individual data of the frequency and volume of erythrocyte transfusion and the amount of iron intake. Results: A total of 38 (82.6%) of very low birth weight infants received a mean volume of $99.3{\pm}93.5mL$ of erythrocyte transfusions in NICU. The minimum and maximum serum ferritin levels during hospitalization were $146.2{\pm}114.9ng/mL$ and $456.7{\pm}361.9ng/mL$, respectively. The total volume of erythrocyte transfusion was not correlated to maximum serum ferritin concentrations after controlling for the amount of iron intake (r=0.012, p=0.945). Non-transfused infants took significantly higher iron intake compared to infants receiving ${\geq}100mL/kg$ erythrocyte transfusion (p<0.001). Minimum and maximum serum ferritin levels of non-transfused infants were higher than those of infants receiving <100 mL/kg erythrocyte transfusions (p=0.026 and p=0.022, respectively). Infants with morbidity including bronchopulmonary dysplasia or retinopathy of prematurity received a significantly higher volume of erythrocyte transfusions compared to infants without morbidity (p<0.001). Conclusion: Very low birth weight infants undergoing multiply erythrocyte transfusions had excessive iron stores and non-transfused infants also might had a risk of iron overload during hospitalization in the NICU.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.236-240
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• 1997

The management of neonate with long gap atresia without a fistula(type A) is complex and controversial. Various esophageal reconstruction include use of native esophagus or replacement with colon, stomach and small bowel. A severe premature male, at 28 weeks gestation weighing 1.2kg, was born with type A esophageal atresia in Chonnam University Hospital. Initial treatment consisted of gastrostomy under the local anesthesia and suctioning of proximal pouch, and than underwent delayed esophageal end to end anastomosis. A minimal leakage and mediastinitis ocurred postoperatively, but was treated by adequate drainage and negative suction from the leakage site through the gastrostomy. The patient was discharged in good general condition and normal weight of 5.4kg after 4 months after the surgery.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 1988

Neonatal sepsis is a frequent and important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. This study was undertaken to observe the 55 cases of proven neonatal sepsis among 6,717 newborn infants under 4 weeks of age, admitted to the nursery of Yeungnam University Hospital from May 1, 1983 to April 30, 1988. We observed following results : 1. The morbidity rate of male(1.12%) was higher than that of female(0.44%) significantly (p<0.05). 2. The morbidity rate of prematurity(2.65%) was higher than that of full term(0.76%) significantly (p<0.05). 3. The incidence of perinatal obstetric complications in early onset neonatal sepsis was higher than that of late onset neonatal sepsis (38.5% vs 10.3%, p<0.05). 4. The common clinical manifestations were poor feeding(52.7%), jaundice(45.5%), diarrhea(30.9%) and irritability (30.9%). 5. Among the causative organisms, gram positive organisms were predominated and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism. There was no difference in the causative organisms between early onset and late onset sepsis.