• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.790-795
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• 2005

The effects of liquid culture of Coriolus (C) versicolor on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipid concentrations were investigated in male rats fed the high cholesterol diets. Eight weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were given three different types of diet for six weeks, respectively: a control diet ($ 20\% fat +0.5 \% $ cholesterol), two kinds of C versicolor diet (control diet + $ 30\% or 40\%$C. versicozor in water) according to the levels of C. versicolor supplementation. The body weight gains of the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets were lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The food intake, food efficiency ratios, and liver, kidney, epididymal fat pad weights of the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\%$ C. versicoEer diets were similar to those of the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets were significantly lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly lower in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\%$ C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratios was significantly higher in the rats fed $ 30\% or 40\% $ C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The fecal excretion of total lipid and triglyceride in the rats fed $ 40\% $ C. versicolor diet was significantly higher than that of the rats fed the control diet. There were no significant difference found in the serum trigly-ceride, phospholipid and HDL-cholesterol concentrations among the experimental groups. These results showed that the C. versicolor feeding decreased the hepatic cholesterol, triglyceride, and the serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, and increased the serum HDL-cholesterol/ total-cholesterol ratio of the rats.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 2011

Purpose: Feeding intolerance is common in very low birth weight infants(VLBWI); however, research on the etiology is limited. We investigated the incidence of allergic enterocolitis (AEC) as a cause of feeding intolerance and present the clinical characteristics of VLBWIs. Methods: The medical records of VLBWIs admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Samsung Medical Center between January 2009 and July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. AEC was defined as patients who had feeding intolerance with eosinophila and who responded to hypoallergenic feeding intervention. Feeding intolerance symptoms included blood tinged stools, abdominal distension, residual feeding and regurgitation. Eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil count ${\geq}$700 cells/$mm^3$. Patients with feeding intolerance were divided into the AEC or non-AEC group. Results: Of the 181 patients, 161 (88.9%) had a feeding intolerance, and 119 (65.7%) had eosinophilia. Seventeen infants were diagnosed with AEC. No difference in mean gestational age, birth weight, antibiotics duration, TPN duration, hospitalization, or symptom onset day was observed between patients with AEC and non-AEC patients. The percentage of eosinophilia was significantly higher in patients with AEC than in non-AEC patients. Two patients (12%) improved with restricted breast milk, 10 patients (59%) with extensively hydrolyzed formula and five patients (29%) with free amino acid-based formula. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AEC should be considered in VLBWIs who have clinical features of feeding intolerance and eosinophilia. An aggressive increase in feeding would be possible through feeding intervention in VLBWIs with feeding intolerance.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1287-1295
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• 2006

Purpose : The importance of staphylococcal infections in NICU has been emphasized in terms of increased resistant strains and increased incidence of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we inrestignted the clinical characteristics and risk factors for staphylococcal infections, and looked into sensitivity trends of antibiotics in the era of a high rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in our society. Methods : This study included 240 neonates with positive blood, urine and other sites cultures for staphylococci who were admitted to NICU of Hanil General Hospital and Kyunghee University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2004. The analyses included clinical characteristics of staphylococcal infections and the relationship of incidence rate among various factors, including invasive procedures. Results : For 5 years, 3,593 patients were hospitalized in the NICU and 7,481 specimens were cultured from blood, urine, and other sites. During the study period, staphylococci were isolated from 240 patients, of whom 88 patients had MRSA, 41 patients methcillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), 63 patients S. epidermidis, 48 patients coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) except S. epidermidis infections. The risk factors associated with staphylococcal infections were less than 37 weeks of gestational age, less than 7 on a 5 minutes Apgar score, receiving TPN, applied mechanical ventilation, use of central venous catheters and other tubes. The sensitivity to vancomycin was 100 percent. A relatively high sensitivity against teicoplanin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and low sensitivity against gentamicin and erythromycin were shown. Conclusion : To reduce staphylococcal infections in NICU, we need to monitor and manage premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process and to avoid as many invasive procedures as possible in NICU. Considering MRSA, control of preceding factors and early use of appropriate antibiotics is expected to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by MRSA infections.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2009

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of hepatobiliary dysfunction (HD) at our hospital and determine the possible risk factors and complications associated with the development of HD in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) treated with parenteral nutrition (PN). Methods: A retrospective study of VLBWI (n=92) that required PN between 2004 and 2008 in the NICU at the Bucheon St. Marys Hospital of Catholic University was performed. HD was defined by a direct bilirubin (DB) >2 mg and a transaminase of 60 IU/L defined cholestasis and liver injury. Groups I, II, and III were limited to cases of cholestasis, liver injury without cholestasis, and no abnormalities, respectively. The VLBWI were compared to each other. Results: Thirty-six subjects (39.1%) had cholestasis and 51 (55.4%) had liver injury. In addition, 36 (39.1%), 19 (20.7%), and 37 (40.2%) subjects were classified as groups I, II, and III, respectively. The three groups showed significant differences in gestational age, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, use of surfactant, duration of parenteral nutrition, frequency of RBC transfusions, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (P<0.05). The multiple regression analysis with cholestasis as the dependent variable, showed a significant correlation with gestational age, use of surfactant, frequency of RBC transfusions, and PDA. Conclusion: Various factors, such as birth weight, gestational age, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, use of surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), frequency of RBC transfusions, BPD, and PDA may be related to hepatobiliary dysfunction in VLBWI treated with PN.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 2000

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate and to evaluate the present conditions of hospice programs in Korea for supplying data useful in making policy in hospice, which is not institutionalized yet. Method : For this purpose we surveyed 59 hospice programs regarding the general characteristics, manpower, patients, services, financial conditions, and facilities. Thirty-seven hospice programs answered the questionnaires. Result : They were 11 tertiary hospitals, 11 other hospitals, 3 clinics, 12 home care hospice, and 1 freestanding hospice. Only 9 hospice programs have all of the essential professionals: physicians, nurses, social workers, clergies, and volunteers. In some hospice programs, volunteers who had not been trained for hospice provided services to terminal patients. More than half of the hospice said they provided services to the patients who lost their consciousness and were not suitable for hospice care. 16% of the hospice said they did not keep the patients' record. Some hospitals including tertiary hospitals provided such intensive care as radiotherapy, TPN, injections to hospice patients. Many hospice programs other than hospitals didn't charge patients for hospice care. 60% of the hospice said they suffered from financial problems. Most of the hospice wards were not built for hospice use at first. So they did not have such supplementary facilities as dayroom, waiting room, special bathing facilities etc. Conclusion : For improving the quality of terminal patients and promoting the cost effective use of health care resources, it is necessary to consider the institutionalization of hospice. The institutionalization of hospice programs can improve the quality of hospice care and the standardization of the hospice program can hasten its institutionalization.