• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) are the three most common disorders that cause respiratory distress after birth. An understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders and the development of effective therapeutic strategies is required to control these conditions. Here, we review recent papers on the pathogenesis and treatment of neonatal respiratory disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.157-163
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• 2014

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) among preterm infants is typically due to a quantitative deficiency of pulmonary surfactant. Aside from the degree of prematurity, diverse environmental and genetic factors can affect the development of RDS. The variance of the risk of RDS in various races/ethnicities or monozygotic/dizygotic twins has suggested genetic influences on this disorder. So far, several specific mutations in genes encoding surfactant-associated molecules have confirmed this. Specific genetic variants contributing to the regulation of pulmonary development, its structure and function, or the inflammatory response could be candidate risk factors for the development of RDS. This review summarizes the background that suggests the genetic predisposition of RDS, the identified mutations, and candidate genetic polymorphisms of pulmonary surfactant proteins associated with RDS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.333-338
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• 2007

A preterm newborn affected by congenital syphilis, born to mother not treated during pregnancy is described. The clinical picture was characterized by respiratory distress, cutaneous manifestations, massive hepatosplenomegaly, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and hypoalbuminemia. The patient was treated with daily injections of 190,500 units of crystalline penicillin G for 14 days. Premature infants with these symptoms and signs should be evaluated for congenital syphilis.

• 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.62 no.5
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• pp.155-161
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• 2019

Following the first successful trial of surfactant replacement therapy for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) by Fujiwara in 1980, several animal-derived natural surfactants and synthetic surfactants have been developed. Synthetic surfactants were designed to overcome limitations of natural surfactants such as cost, immune reactions, and infections elicited by animal proteins contained in natural surfactants. However, first-generation synthetic surfactants that are protein-free have failed to prove their superiority over natural surfactants because they lack surfactant protein (SP). Lucinactant, a second-generation synthetic surfactant containing the SP-B analog, was better or at least as effective as the natural surfactant, suggesting that lucinactant could act an alternative to natural surfactants. Lucinactant was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2012 as the fifth surfactant to treat neonatal RDS. CHF5633, a second-generation synthetic surfactant containing SP-B and SP-C analogs, was effective and safe in a human multicenter cohort study for preterm infants. Many comparative studies of natural surfactants used worldwide have reported different efficacies for different preparations. However, these differences are believed to due to site variations, not actual differences. The more important thing than the composition of the surfactant in improving outcome is the timing and mode of administration of the surfactant. Novel synthetic surfactants containing synthetic phospholipid incorporated with SP-B and SP-C analogs will potentially represent alternatives to natural surfactants in the future, while improvement of treatment modalities with less-invasive or noninvasive methods of surfactant administration will be the most important task to be resolved.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.108-111
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• 2020

Short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) is a well-known causative gene for the short stature in Turner syndrome. The clinical manifestation of SHOX gene related disorders varies from SHOX haploinsufficiency, presenting with idiopathic short stature, disproportionate short stature, or Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) to recessive form of extreme dwarfism and limb deformity in Langer mesomelic dysplasia. LWD is usually diagnosed upon suspicion based on short stature and skeletal abnormalities, and it is rarely accompanied with respiratory failure in the neonatal period. Here, we report the case of a newborn infant with LWD presenting with severe micrognathia that caused respiratory distress, which was diagnosed using microarray testing. Even when the manifestation of Madelung deformity is not yet apparent, LWD should be considered as one of underlying diseases related to congenital micrognathia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 1982

Pneumomediastium in a newborn baby is a rare condition and is usually manifested by respiratory and circulatory distress syndrome. We recently have experienced a newborn baby of severe tension pneumomediastinum associated with bilateral pneumothorax. The patient in this report was a day old female and the mother of the baby a lot of difficulties during her delivery and the aid of vaccuum was necessary. This patient was received closed thoracotomy and followed by explothoracotomy and excision of tension multiple air bubbles. The post-op. course is not uneventful.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Respiratory morbidity is the most common problem among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Therefore, the aim of this study was to make a differential diagnosis between transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and pneumonia through comparison of clinical features and test results. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 86 infants with TTN, RDS, or pneumonia. These were infants who had respiratory distress, were born after ${\geq}34$ weeks of gestation, and transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kosin University Gospel Hospital between June 1, 2011 and June 30, 2016. Results: The numbers (percentage) of infants with TTN, RDS, and pneumonia were 51 (59.3%), 20 (23.3%), and 15 (17.4%), respectively. Late-preterm and early-term newborns accounted for 65.1% of the infants. Tachypnea was observed in 74.4% of the neonates. The median age at admission was 4 hours (0 to 116) after birth. The infants with RDS had significantly lower birth weights, pH levels, base excess and oxygen saturation levels at admission, longer duration of total ventilator therapy, and hospital stay than those in the other two groups. The infants with pneumonia showed significantly high initial high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and significant chest radiographic findings. Conclusion: Early differential diagnosis for TTN, RDS, and pneumonia is challenging because they show similar respiratory symptoms at an early stage. Clinical features and test results can be used to determine the etiology of respiratory distress and early antibiotic treatment.

• Perinatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.159-164
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• 2018

Objective: To compare neonatal respiratory morbidity of twins according to birth order related to gestational age and mode of delivery. Methods: We performed the retrospective research of the medical records of 3,224 neonates (1,612 twin pairs) born in a single center from January 2011 to December 2015. Subjects were classified into four gestational age groups: very (<32 weeks), moderate (32-33 weeks), late (34-36 weeks) preterm, and term (${\geq}37weeks$) groups. We investigated clinical characteristics and respiratory morbidity according to birth order related to gestational age group and mode of delivery. Results: We found increased risk of respiratory morbidity in second-born twin than first-born twin (P=0.039). Second-born twin was associated with increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in late preterm group (odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-5.95), and transient tachypnea of newborn in term group (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.03-1.81). In vaginal delivery mode, there was no difference of respiratory morbidity between first and second-born twin in each group, but in cases of Cesarean delivery, second-born twin was related with a greater risk of RDS in late preterm group (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.07-5.09). Birth order and Cesarean section independently increased the risk of RDS (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.54; aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.25-3.66, respectively). Conclusion: Second-born twin and Cesarean delivery are associated with increased risk of RDS, especially in late preterm twins.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.175-183
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• 1988

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia [CDH] is a surgical emergency in the newborn infant because it causes severe cardiorespiratory distress. Congenital diaphragmatic eventration [CDE] may also produce severe cardiorespiratory distress in the newborn infant. CDH is an anatomically simple defect that can be easily repaired by reduction of the displaced viscera from the pleural cavity and closure of the diaphragmatic defect. But these infants mortality has not been reduced and still remains very high. The barrier to survival is pulmonary parenchymal and vascular hypoplasia as well as the complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation. Between May, 1985 and Oct, 1987, 4 neonates with CDH and 1 neonate with CDE were seen in respiratory distress within 12 hrs of birth at St. Francisco general hospital. Each had severe acidosis and hypoxia. And was transferred from a local clinic. They were surgically repaired within 24 hrs of birth. Three neonates lived and two died. Two of the three neonates with CDH operated in the first 6 hrs died. The remaining two [one with CDH, the other with CDE] operated between 6hrs and 24 hrs lived. One case of mortality was combined with bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia and contralateral pneumothorax. The other one case of mortality was combined with complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation after honeymoon period.