• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2009

Purpose : To identify the short-term clinical outcomes of late preterm infants and to test the hypothesis that late preterm infants have more clinical problems during the early postnatal period than term infants. Methods : One hundred late preterm infants [gestational age (GA) $34^{+0}$-$36^{+6}$ weeks] and the same number of term infants (GA $37^{+0}$-$41^{+6}$ weeks) were randomly selected from 289 late preterm infants and 825 term infants born in the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between January 2007 and December 2007, and their electronic medical records were reviewed and analyzed. Results : Compared to term infants, late preterm infants had significantly more medical problems such as temperature instability (odds ratio [OR] 8.7), hypoglycemia (OR 17.5), intravenous fluid infusion (OR 10.2), evaluation for sepsis (OR 9.4), respiratory problems (OR 7.5), apnea and bradycardia (OR 8.6), phototherapy for jaundice (OR 3.6), and feeding intolerance (OR 10.0). Hospital stay was also significantly longer in late preterm infants. Conclusion : Late preterm infants had significantly more medical problems and increased length of hospital stay compared to term infants. More attention should be given to caring for these late preterm infants in newborn nursery during the early postnatal period.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2006

Vaginal cytology was examined in 12 Shih-tzu bitches to establish the accurate basic data for estimate to the optimal mating time and ovulation time. The mean duration of proestrus and estrus were $9.09{\pm}0.83\;(mean{\pm}SD)$ days and $7.36{\pm}0.47$ days in pregnant bitches. The gestational length in the 12 pregnant bitches was $65.2{\pm}0.5$ days in pregnant bitches when Day 0 was timed from the first day of male acceptance. Characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of large intermediate cell, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in estrus, and parabasal cell, small and large intermediate cell and leukocyte in diestrus, respectively. Cornification index (CI) was the high proportion in proestrus and estrus, then it decreased in diestrus and anestrus. When Day 0 was timed from the day of the first male acceptance, the CI peak was Day 2 and maintained above 80% between Day -4 and Day 6 during 11 days, and above 90% between Day -1 and Day 5 during 7 days. In relationship between CI and reproductive hormones, CI showed peak at the first day after plasma estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentration peak and plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml at Day 0 which was the first day after CI peak. In conclusion, ovulation in Shih-tzu bitches occurred at the first day after CI peak. Vaginal cytology is the simple and reliable method for estimating estrous cycle, optimal breeding time and ovulation time in Shih-tzu bitches.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to assess the natural history and perinatal outcomes of twin gestations according to chorionicity. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 99 monochorionic (MC) and 206 dichorionic (DC) twin gestations delivered at Il Sin Christian Hospital in Busan between January 2002 and December 2007. The incidences of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTS) and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality, were evaluated. Results : MC twins had a lower gestational age (35.7 vs. 36.6 weeks, P=0.03) at birth and a higher incidence of intrauterine fetal loss (10% vs. 1.5%, P<0.001) than DC twins. The incidence of intrauterine fetal loss was higher in MC sIUGR than in DC sIUGR (19% vs. 2.5%, P=0.025) twins. The number of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; 31% vs. 16%, P=0.042), and the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (7% vs. 0%, P=0.031), and respiratory distress syndrome with surfactant treatment (27% vs. 11%, P=0.049) were higher in MC than DC twins. The incidences of sIUGR and TTS were 21 and 9% among the MC twins. The incidences of intrauterine fetal loss were higher in MC twins with TTS [6 of 9 (67%)] or sIUGR [4 of 21 (19%)] than uncomplicated MC twins (P<0.001). The frequency of admission to the NICU (P=0.001), the length of hospital stay (P=0.033), the prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia (P=0.011), and intraventricular hemorrhage (P=0.007) were also higher in MC with TTS or sIUGR than in uncomplicated MC twins. Conclusion : The incidence of neonatal complications was higher in MC twins, especially those gestations complicated by TTS or sIUGR.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.213-232
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• 2000

The development of the knee joint was studied by electron microscopy in human fetuses ranging from 20 mm to 260 mm crown-rump length ($7\sim30$ weeks of gestational age). The appearance of the primordium of the meniscus and cruciate ligament was conspicuous as the mesenchymal cells , preceeding that of joint space at 30 mm fetus. The primitive joint cavity was first seen in the interzone from the 40 mm fetus and its intermediate layer proceeded developing as a narrow cleft which was closely incorporated with two chondrogenic layers. Poorly differentiated mesenchymal cells of the meniscus at 40 mm fetus containing predominantly free ribosomes differentiated into fibroblasts at 60 mm fetus. By 100 mm fetus, the fibroblast in inner zone of the meniscus presented as oval profiles with a short cell processes, whereas middle and peripheral zones presented as elongated cells. Differentiation of the synovial membrane coincided with clarification of the joint cavity When dilatation of the synovial cavity occurred, the two types of synovial cells were identified at 60 mm fetus. By 100 mm fetus a majority of the intimal cells were B-type. B-type cells were clearly distinguishable from A-type cells by their content of extensive rough endoplasmic reticula and well developed Golgi complexes. In contrast, A-type cells had numerous filopodia, pinocytotic vesicles, lysosomes and large vacuoles. At 260 mm fetus the B-type cells were also a majority of intimal cells. At 260 mm fetus the inner zone of the meniscus was filled with parallel oriented fascicles of collagenous fibers and oval fibroblasts. The middle zone was constituted of parallel and radially arranged fibers and fibroblasts. The outer zone was populated by elongated fibroblasts encircled by crossed collagenous fibers with the blood vessels. At 30 mm fetus the fibroblasts of the cruciate ligament contained rough endoplasmic reticula and mitochondria. Collagen fibrils were noted within narrow cytoplasmic processes which were continued with the extracellular space. Collagen fibrils of ligament were filled in the bulk of extracellular space at 100 mm fetus. By $150\sim260mm$ fetus, the cruciate ligaments were constituted of longitudinally oriented bundle of collagen fibrils with irregular rows of round cells between.