• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.338-346
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• 2018

Background: The most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnancy is preeclampsia. Serum cystatin C (CysC) is a potential biomarker of early kidney damage as its levels are not disturbed by volume status changes in pregnancy, and serum CysC levels could serve as a replacement for conventionally used creatinine. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of CysC in severe preeclampsia cases and the associations between CysC levels and poor obstetric outcomes. Methods: Our cohort included severe preeclampsia patients with a normal serum creatinine level. Creatinine was measured to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on the Cockcroft and Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations, while CysC was measured to calculated eGFR based on a CysC-based equation. We then evaluated the correlations between serum CysC level, eGFR, and obstetric outcomes. Results: Twenty-six patients were evaluated of which 38.5% delivered preterm and 30.8% had low-birth weight babies. Unlike creatinine-based eGFR and CysC-based eGFR, serum CysC demonstrate significant negative correlation with gestational age. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that serum CysC is a potential biomarker of preterm delivery with a cut-off serum level of 1.48 mg/L with 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Conclusion: GFR estimation using CysC is likely to be inaccurate in pregnancy. However, we found a significant correlation between preterm delivery and serum CysC level. Our results suggest that serum CysC level has the potential to predict preterm delivery in severe preeclampsia patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권7호
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• pp.704-712
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• 2008

목 적 : 최근 모유수유의 장점이 부각되고 있으나 모유가 미숙아 전용분유에 비해 열량을 포함한 영양소들이 미숙아들의 적절한 성장을 유도하기에는 낮아 이를 극복하기 위한 모유강화제가 개발되었다. 본원에서는 극소저체중출생아들을 대상으로 모유강화제를 첨가한 모유를 수유한 경우와 미숙아 전용분유를 수유한 경우를 비교하여 성장에 어떠한 효과를 미치는지 알아보기로 했다. 방 법 : 2005년 10월부터 2006년 12월까지 동아대학교의료원에서 출생하여 신생아 집중치료실에 입원한 출생체중 1,500 g 이하, 재태주령 33주 미만인 극소저체중출생아들을 대상으로 강화된 모유수유군과 미숙아 전용분유 수유군으로 나누어 전반적인 특징, 영양상태, 성장 추이 및 합병증의 발생 등을 전향적으로 비교 조사하였다. 대상 환자들 중 본원에서 추적관찰이 가능했던 환자들의 경우 외래에서 1, 3, 6개월에 걸쳐 체중, 신장, 두위를 측정하여 비교하였다. 결 과 : 두 군의 평균 재태주령 및 출생체중은 각각 $30^{+1}{\pm}2^{+1}$주과 $29^{+4}{\pm}2^{+1}$주, $1,281.30{\pm}178g$과 $1,234.32{\pm}193g$으로 통계학적으로 차이가 없었으며(P=0.26, P=0.38), 성비, 괴사성 대장염, 패혈증, 신생아호흡곤란증후군, 동맥관개존증, 뇌 내출혈 및 뇌실 내 출혈 등의 합병증의 비율, 평균 재원 기간에서도 유의한 차이는 없었다. 수유 시작 시기는 강화된 모유수유군과 미숙아 전용분유 수유군에서 각각 생후 $8.00{\pm}3.27$일 및 $8.86{\pm}5.37$일(P=0.99), 완전수유 도달 시기는 각각 수유시작 후 $41.78{\pm}20.47$일 및 $36.86{\pm}20.63$일로(P=0.55) 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 총정맥영양 기간 및 수유 곤란증상 횟수에도 유의한 차이는 없었다. 수유시작 시점부터의 체중, 신장, 두위의 성장 속도 및 절대치도 두 군 간에 유의한 차이가 없었으나 각 시점의 평균치를 비교하였을 때 수유 시작 후 7주째 체중은 강화된 모유수유군에서 더 빨리 증가하였다(P=0.03). 환자들의 초기 체중 감소 후 출생체중까지 회복되는데 걸리는 기간도 각각 $22.3{\pm}6.92$일 및 $24.32{\pm}10.68$일로 통계학적 차이는 없었으며(P=0.41), 체중 회복 후부터 퇴원까지의 체중 및 두위, 신장의 증가속도는 두 군에서 유의한 차이는 없었다. 퇴원 후 외래 추적 관찰을 한 각 군의 환자들의 체중, 신장, 두위의 평균치에도 유의한 차이는 없었다. 결 론 : 극소저체중출생아에서 모유강화제를 포함한 모유수유군과 미숙아 전용분유 수유군 간의 전반적인 성장 상태, 생화학적 검사 수치 및 합병증 발생에는 유의한 차이가 없어 모유 강화제는 고열량 수유를 필요로 하는 극소저체중출생아에서 부가적인 선택 사항이라고 하겠다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to study the maternal risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) with a special emphasis on assessing the proportions of maternal genitourinary and periodontal infections among Indian women and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A hospital-based prospective study comprising 790 pregnant women visiting the obstetrics clinic for a routine antenatal check-up was undertaken. Once recruited, all study participants underwent clinical and microbiological investigations for genitourinary infections followed by a dental check-up for the presence of periodontitis. The study participants were followed up until their delivery to record the pregnancy outcomes. Infectious and non-infectious risk factors for PTB and LBW were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Independent risk factors for PTB and LBW were reported in terms of adjusted relative risk (ARR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Rates of PTB and LBW in the study population were 7.6% and 11.4%, respectively. Previous preterm delivery (ARR, 5.37; 95% CI, 1.5 to 19.1), periodontitis (ARR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.9), Oligohydramnios (ARR, 5.23; 95% CI, 2.4 to 11.5), presence of Nugent's intermediate vaginal flora (ARR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.1), gestational diabetes mellitus (ARR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.0 to 8.3), and maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1) were risk factors for PTB, while periodontitis (ARR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9), gestational hypertension (ARR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.3 to 10.8), maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.1) and genital infection during later stages of pregnancy (ARR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.1) were independent risk factors for LBW. Conclusions: Our study findings underscore the need to consider screening for potential genitourinary and periodontal infections during routine antenatal care in developing countries.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2021

Treatment guidelines for postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection in preterm have not been established yet. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatitis, colitis, and sepsis-like disease are among the clinical manifestations, which range from moderate to serious. We present a case of autopsy diagnosed as pCMV infection in a premature infant delivered at gestational age of 24 weeks and 5 days. On the 7th and 14th days of birth, urinary CMV polymerase chain reaction samples were negative, ruling out congenital CMV infection. However, autopsy examination revealed that the patient had disseminated pCMV infection. CMV inclusion bodies were found in the majority of tissues, including the lung, liver, pancreas, breast, kidney, and adrenal gland, but not the placenta. The thymus exhibited significant cortical atrophy and T-cell immunodeficiency, possibly induced by dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or by pCMV infection itself. If dexamethasone treatment is extended or high doses are considered, it may be beneficial to test the CMV infection status to prevent aggravation of infection. This case demonstrates that, despite the low prevalence, pCMV infection should be considered a differential diagnosis in preterm if other conditions or etiology cannot justify clinical deterioration.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.121-130
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• 2009

Over the past 20 years, neonatal mortality rates for preterm infants, particularly those born extremely preterm and with a very low birth weight, have decreased steadily. As more very immature preterm infants survive, provision of enteral feeding has become a major focus of concern. According to many experts on neonatal nutrition, the goal for the nutrition of preterm infants should be to achieve a postnatal growth rate approximating that of a normal fetus of the same gestational age. Total parenteral nutrition for maintaining nutritional integrity is mandatory before successful transition to enteral feeding. Early initiation of trophic enteral feeding is vital for postnatal adaptation. Recently published randomized controlled trials provide no evidence to support the practice of postponing enteral feeding to reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Early trophic feeding yields demonstrable benefits and there is currently no evidence of any adverse effects following early feeding. Preterm milk from the infant's own mother is the milk of choice, which can always be supplemented with a human milk fortifier. Here we review over 50 randomized controlled trials and over seven systematic reviews published on neonatal parenteral and enteral feeding of preterm infants. Neonatologists must make use of the evidence from these studies as a reference for feeding protocols for preterm infants in their NICUs are to be based.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권10호
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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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.96-99
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• 2016

Survival rates of preterm infants have improved in the past few decades, and central venous catheters play an important role in the intensive medical treatment of these neonates. Unfortunately, these indwelling catheters increase the risk of intracardiac thrombosis, and they provide a nidus for microorganisms during the course of septicemia. Herein, we report a case of persistent bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant, along with vegetation observed on an echocardiogram, the findings which are compatible with a diagnosis of endocarditis. The endocarditis was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy, and the patient recovered without major complications. We suggest a surveillance echocardiogram for ELBW infants within a few days of birth, with regular follow-up studies when clinical signs of sepsis are observed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제66권3호
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• pp.298-307
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• 2023

Remarkable advances in neonatal care have significantly improved the survival of extremely low birth weight infants in recent years. However, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) continues to be a major complication in preterm infants, leading to a high incidence of cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. IVH is primarily caused by disruption of the fragile vascular network of the subependymal germinal matrix, and subsequent ventricular dilatation adversely affects the developing infant brain. Based on recent research, periventricular white matter injury is caused not only by ischemia and morphological distortion due to ventricular dilatation but also by free iron and inflammatory cytokines derived from hematoma and its lysates. The current guidelines for the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in preterm infants do not provide strong recommendations, but initiating treatment intervention based on ultrasound measurement values before the appearance of clinical symptoms of PHH has been proposed. Moreover, in the past decade, therapeutic interventions that actively remove hematomas and lysates have been introduced. The era is moving beyond cerebrospinal fluid shunt toward therapeutic goals aimed at improving neurodevelopmental outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제66권3호
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• pp.258-262
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• 2023

Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) is among the devastating neurological complications with mortality and neurodevelopmental disability rates ranging from 14.7% to 44.7% in preterm infants. The medical techniques have improved throughout the years, as the morbidity-free survival rate of very-low-birth-weight infants has increased; however, the neonatal and long-term morbidity rates have not significantly improved. To this date, there is no strong evidence on pharmacological management on GM-IVH, due to the limitation of well-designed randomized controlled studies. However, recombinant human erythropoietin administration in preterm infants seems to be the only effective pharmacological management in limited situations. Hence, further high-quality collaborative research studies are warranted in the future to ensure better outcomes among preterm infants with GM-IVH.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.70-75
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• 2011

목적: 한국에서는 최근 저 출산율의 지속과 더불어 미숙아 및 저체중출생아의 출생 빈도가 증가하는 경향을 보인다. 이러한 변화에도 불구하고 지속적으로 신생아중환자실의 병상수가 부족한 상태이다. 이 연구의 목적은 2009년 국가통계포털의 통계청 자료에 의거한 총 출생아 수, 미숙아, 저출생체중아 수 NICU 등록 병상 수를 행정지역별로 검토하여 보다 나은 NICU 운영 및 미숙아 신생아의 생존 향상에 도움을 주고자 하였다. 방법: 한국통계포탈에 공개된 2009년도 인구통계 중 미숙아수, LBWI, 출생통계부분, 총 출생 수, 미숙아 수, LBWI 수, VLBWI 수를 얻었고, 전국 및 지역별 NICU 병상 수의 자료는 한국 건강보험심사평가원에서 획득하였다. 한국의 행정구역 지역별, 미숙아 수, LBWI 수, VLBWI수에 따른 병상수의 비와 각 평균에 대한 부족 지역 등을 조사하였다. 결과: 2009년 전체 출생 수 444,849명 중 미숙아 25,374명(5.7%), LBWI 21,954명(4.9%) 이었으며 미숙아나 LBWI 의 빈도가 평균보다 높은 지역은 부산, 인천, 광주였다. 2009년 NICU 총 병상 수는 1,284병상 이었으며 1병상 당 미숙아나 LBWI의 비율이 평균보다 높은 지역은 인천, 대구, 울산 이었다. 2009년 조사된 NICU 병상보유율은 87.5% (1,284/1,486)로 2005년보다는 증가하였으나 12.5%인 184병상이 여전히 부족하다. 특히 경기도는 159병상이 부족하였다. 결론: 신생아는 환자의 특성상 출생 후 이동의 어려움이 있어 즉각적이고 지속적인 처치가 중요하다. 이를 위해 전국적으로 균형 잡힌 NICU의 지역화가 필수적이다. 본 연구를 통해 NICU의 현황 및 시도별 단위에 대한 부족 병상 수에 대한 기본 자료를 제시하는 바이다.