• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2004

Purpose: Besides interferencence of esophageal motor function by the nasogastric tube, a decline of the positive gastro-esophageal pressure gradient caused by intermittent positive pressure ventilation seems to have a major role in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of GER and associated risk factors in mechanically ventilated preterm infants. Methods: Twenty four hour esophageal pH monitorings were performed using a antimony electrode on 11 mechanically ventilated preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Pusan National University Hospital. We evaluated the following reflux parameters; reflux index, reflux episodes/hour, reflux episodes ${\geq}5min/hour$, duration of longest episode, and percent episodes ${\geq}5min$. Patients were considered to have significant GER if more than 2 among 5 parameters were satisfied. Results: The mean gestational age of the patients was 30.9 weeks, mean birth weight was 1,568 g, and mean age at the time of pH monitoring was 2.8 days. Significant GER was detected in 4 patients (36.4%). There was no relationship between the incidence of GER and gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age, or the ventilator settings. Conclusion: The incidence of GER in mechanically ventilated preterm infants was similar, compared with other previous studies. Associated risk factors of GER in these patients were not detected. Therefore, mechanical ventilation in preterm infants does not seem to be the high risk factor of GER.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.572-586
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• 2022

Purpose: This study examined the factors that may affect the growth status of preterm infants. Methods: This study included 91 preterm infants born at <37 weeks of gestation (22.9-36.9 weeks of gestation), including 48 (52.7%) males and 43 (47.3%) females. Diet-related data were collected through parental questionnaires, and growth-related data, such as height and weight, were collected through the hospital medical records. Results: No significant difference in weight and growth was observed between early and late preterm infants. On the other hand, smaller averages of all weight z-score (recent weight at 40 weeks of gestation) included lower birth weight, height, and head circumference. On the other hand, infants' birth weight, height, and head circumference in the weight z-score of <0 (<50% in the age-weight growth chart) was smaller than those in the weight z-score of ≥0. Furthermore, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization period and NICU discharge were shorter with growth cessation age in weight z-score of <0. The weight growth velocity was associated with gestational age, birth weight, and medical treatment in the NICU. Thus, parents of preterm infants with low growth rates prefer more community care services for their children. Conclusion: Birth weight, age of preterm infants, and medical treatment in the NICU were factors related to early birth weight growth. Following NICU discharge, poor intake and intake issues were associated with poor growth after 40 weeks of gestation. Therefore, monitoring the growth of preterm infants requires continuous active involvement and supports for growth-promoting factors after NICU discharge.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the effects of an infant massage on physical growth and stress response in preterm babies. Method: A nonequivalent control group with pre-posttest design was used with 56 preterm babies in the NICU of E medical center at Daejeon. Data were collected from July 2004 to May 2005. The intervention was given for 15 minutes, once a day for 7 days. Physical growth was measured by weight, length, head circumference, and stress response was measured by serum cortisol level. Mean, %, paired-test, t-test with the SPSS/W in 16.0 program were used to analyze the data. Results: After the intervention, physical growth variables (weight, length, head circumference) in experimental group were higher than that of the control group. Also, the serum cortisol level in the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. But none of these results were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a 7-day intervention period may not be long enough to confirm the effects of infant massage on physical growth and stress reaction. Therefore it is suggested that a longer period of infant massage should be tested to determine if it is effective in improving the physical growth and stress reduction in preterm babies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.233-236
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• 2008

In recent years, Korea has experienced a steadily declining birth rate, which is a serious social problem in the country. Although living conditions have improved, the birth rates for low birth weight infants and preterm babies has increased because more and more women choose to give birth later in life and the social environment has changed. The rise in low birth weight infants may increase infant mortality rates and morbidity rates. However, the recent improvements in neonatal care has elevated the survival rate of low birth weight infants up to 90 percent and lowered the weight of the very low birth weight infants that can now be saved. In this study, we used dynamic population statistics from the Korea National Statistical Office, which represents the current trend of social stratification and the population of this period. We analyzed birth records for a seven-year period and studied the changes in the delivery rate of preterm and low birth weight infants and the problems related to those changes. The results show that the rate of low birth weight infants has increased from 3.79% to 4.35% for the past seven years. The rate of preterm babies rose from 3.79% to 4.89%. The number of babies born from mothers aged 35 or more went up from 6.69% to 11.83% of the total number of the babies born. As maternal age has risen, the risks of delivering a preterm or low birth weight infant have also increased.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 2002

While the survival rate of preterm infants and employment rates of mothers with infants have been dramatically increasing, little is known about the impact of maternal employment and having premature infants on maternal health recovery after delivery. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine differences in postpartum health by mother's employment and infant's prematurity over time during the first 3 months postpartum. The study used a longitudinal design and was secondary data analysis from a large study. A convenience sample of 132 mothers was recruited with mothers who had fullterm or preterm infants through the postpartum unit. They were followed up for 3 times (at 1-2 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months) during the first 3 months postpartum period. Level of fatigue and hysical symptoms were indicators for postpartum physical health; Positive affect and negative affect were assessed for postpartum mental health, and role functional status after childbirth was for role performance. Finding indicated that health indicators changed significantly over time but there was no main or interaction effect for maternal employment status. There were main effects of infant's prematurity on positive affect, negative affect, and role functional status (self-care and social and community activities). This study enhanced the understanding of postpartum health of mothers with preterm infants as well as those with fullterm infants during the postpartum period.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the effects of massage on the level of stress hormone in the urine in preterm infants. Method: The design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design quasi experimental study. Fifty-eight preterm infants were assigned to the experimental(31) or control group(27). The data were collected from March 2002 to August 2003. The massage stimulation was provided to infants in the experimental group for 15-minutes twice a day for 10 days. On day 1 and day 10 of the study, a 24 hour-urine sample was collected for norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol assays. In data analysis, SPSSWIN 10.0 program was utilized for descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test. Results: General characteristics of the two groups showed no significant differences, thus the two groups were found to be homogenous. The 24 hour-urine cortisol of the massage group (t=4.61, p=.000) was significantly reduced compared to the control group after 10 days. Conclusions: The results suggest that the massage stimulation can be used to reduce 24 hour-urine cortisol in preterm infants. Therefore, massage provided in the incubator is recommended for reduction of stress in preterm infants who are hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.321-330
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• 1995

Concentrations of total vitamin B-6 in human milk as well as individual, B-6 vitamers have important implications for the nutritional management of breast-fed(BF) infants. Vitamin B-6 status was assessed in 3 groups of infants : two groups preterm (PT) BF infants whose mothers were supplemented with 2 or 27mg pyridoxine(PN)-HCI ; a sub group of formula-fed (FF) PT infants. Mothers and infants were assessed weekly during the 28-day post feeding. Throughout the neonatal period, levels of total vitamin B-6 and percentages of pyridoxal(PL) in breast milk were lower in PT than T mothers, even in mothers supplemented with 27mg PN-HCI. Total vitamin B-6 levels in PT milk paralleled maternal supplementation but percentage distributions of B-6 vitamers did not change. Vitamin B-6 intakes of BF preterm infants paralleled their mothers' level of infants in the 2mg group was suggested by vitamin status parameters. Vitamin B-6 inadequacy of infants correlated with their plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate(PLP) levels and erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase(E-ALAT) activity; all parameters such as plasma PLP, PL/PLP ratio and stimulation % of E-ALAT were highest for FF PT infants. The positive correlation of vitamin B-6 levels in breast milk gestational age may contraindicate its adequacy for some PT infants.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.459-473
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify to identify the nursing needs and stress levels among spouses of women hospitalized with preterm labor, and to determine factors influencing spousal stress. Methods: Data were collected from 95 spouses of hospitalized pregnant women due to preterm labor at a hospital in Gyeonggi province from June to December of 2016. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean score of spouses' nursing needs was 3.06±0.42 and stress was 1.85±0.44 out of 4.00. The highest score of nursing needs was 3.37±0.51 in assurance and the highest score for stress was 2.26±0.72 for patient's illness and prognosis. There was a significant positive correlation between stress in spouse and nursing needs (p=.004). Stress was explained by nursing needs (β=.28) and hospitalization days (β=.21). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that appropriate nursing interventions are required to address the nursing needs at the beginning of hospitalization and to reduce the stress among spouses of hospitalized pregnant women diagnosed with preterm labor.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2021

Background: Evidence shows that fluconazole prophylaxis is an effective treatment against invasive fungal infections in preterm neonates, however, the most efficient schedule of fluconazole prophylaxis for the colonization and mortality of invasive candidiasis (IC) is unknown. Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficiency of different prophylactic fluconazole schedules in controlling IC colonization, infection, and mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in neonatal intensive care units. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases using the keywords "candida," "invasive candidiasis," "IC," "fluconazole prophylaxis," "preterm infants," "very low birth weight infants," "VLBW," "extremely low birth weight," and "ELBW." Results: Mortality was significantly decreased in a meta-analysis of studies using different fluconazole prophylaxis regimens. The meta-analysis also indicated a significant decrease in the incidence of IC-associated mortality in ELBW infants using the same fluconazole prophylaxis schedules. Conclusion: Future studies should explore the effectiveness of other different fluconazole prophylaxis schedules on IC colonization, infection, and mortality.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of breast milk olfactory stimulation on physiological responses, oral feeding progression, and body weight in preterm infants. Methods: A repeated measures design with nonequivalent control group was used. The participants were healthy, preterm infants born at a gestational age of 28~32 weeks; 12 in the experimental group and 16 in the control group. Data were collected prospectively in the experimental group, and retrospectively in the control group, by the same methods. Breast milk olfactory stimulation was provided 12 times over 15 days. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and linear mixed models using SPSS 19. Results: The gastric residual volume (GRV) of the experimental group was significantly less than that of the control group. The heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, transition time to oral feeding, and body weight were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings indicate that breast milk olfactory stimulation reduces GRV and improves digestive function in preterm infants without inducing distress.