• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.713-721
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the breast feeding practice rates and mothers' breast feeding empowerment in preterm (gestation age [GA]<34), late preterm ($34{\leq}$GA<37), early term infants ($37{\leq}$GA<39). We surveyed 33 preterm, 22 late preterm, and 30 early term infants at a 'Baby-Friendly Hospital' in D city. The data were collected from October 1st, 2008 to February 28th, 2010 through the medical records of the infants and their mothers. We also checked the mothers' breast feeding empowerment at discharge day. The rate of breast feeding in the late preterm and preterm infants was significantly lower than that of the early term infants. The score of mothers' breast feeding empowerment in the late preterm and preterm infants was also significantly lower than that of the early term infants. The breast feeding education program is required for the mothers who have preterm and late preterm infants considering the low rate of breast feeding.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.273-285
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• 2022

Objectives: This study compared the nutritional intakes of early and late preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and at home. The dietary problems and the need for community care services for premature infants were further investigated. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study on 125 preterm infants and their parents (Early preterm n = 70, Late preterm n = 55). The data were collected by surveying the parents of preterm infants and from hospital medical records. Results: No significant differences were obtained between the early and late preterm infant groups when considering the proportion of feeding types in the NICU and at home. Early preterm infants were fed with a greater amount of additional calories at home and had more hours of tube feeding (P = 0.022). Most preterm infants had feeding problems. However, there was no significant difference between early and late preterm infants in the mental pain of parents, sleeping, feeding, and weaning problems at home. Many parents of preterm babies had no external support, and more than half the parents required community care to take care of their preterm babies. Conclusions: Regardless of the gestational age, most preterm infants have several problems with dietary intake. Our study indicates the need to establish community care services for preterm infants.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an education program for mothers of late-preterm infants on parenting confidence, breastfeeding rate, and infants' growth and readmission rate. Methods: The participants were 53 mothers of late-preterm infants (26 in the experimental group and 27 in the control group). The experimental group was administered the late-preterm care education program while the control group received standard care. The program consisted of two sessions during hospitalization after birth, one session at the time of discharge, and telephone and social networking service consultations at weekly intervals for the month following discharge. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test, x² test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Parenting confidence and the breastfeeding rate were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the late-preterm infants' growth and readmission rates between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: A care education program for mothers of late-preterm infants can be a useful nursing intervention in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to compare breast feeding rates and factors influencing feeding practice between late preterm ($34{\leq}GA<37$) and preterm infants (GA<34). Methods: A survey was done of 207 late preterm and 117 preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of 4 university hospitals in D city. Data were collected from July 2009 to June 2010 from 324 medical records in the NICU. Breast-feeding at home was checked either by telephone survey or questioning during hospital visits. Results: Rate of breast feeding for late preterm infants was significantly lower than for preterm infants. There was no significant difference in breast-feeding at home. We found differences in factors influencing breast feeding between the two groups. Factors influencing feeding for late preterm infants were type of delivery, mothers' occupation, feeding type during hospitalization, time elapse from hospital discharge, total admission days, infant's body weight at first feeding and length of NPO (nothing by mouth). Factors influencing feeding for preterm infants were birth order, maternal disease and obstetric complications, and one-minute Apgar score. Conclusion: Results of the study show low rates of breast-feeding for late preterm infants indicating a need for breast-feeding education for mothers of these infants.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2016

Severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection involving multiorgan is very rare except in very low-birth weight infants, or in immunocompromised pediatric patients. We report an unusual case of severe CMV infection involving multiple organs including the central nervous system, liver, lung, and gastrointestinal tract in a late-preterm infant at 2 months of age.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2018

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency is a rare primary immunodeficiency and autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding CD18, which is a constituent of leukocyte integrins. Clinical features usually begin with a delay in the separation of the umbilical cord in the neonatal period, and are characterized by marked leukocytosis with infection, delayed wound healing, and repeated bacterial and fungal infections. We experienced a case of leukocyte adhesion deficiency diagnosed in the neonatal period, in which a late preterm infant admitted to neonatal intensive care unit presented with a septic hip. Flow cytometry analysis of whole blood showed a decrease in the expression of CD11b/CD18. This is the first case of leukocyte adhesion deficiency with neonatal septic hip diagnosed in Korea.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2023

Purpose: The starting time for probiotic supplementation in preterm infants after birth varies widely. This study aimed to investigate the optimal time for initiating probiotics to reduce adverse outcomes in preterm or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Medical records of preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks or VLBW infants in 2011-2020 were reviewed respectively. The infants who received Saccharomyces boulardii probiotics within 7 days of birth were grouped into an early introduction (EI) group, and those who received supplemented probiotics after 7 days of birth were part of the late introduction (LI) group. Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups and analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 370 infants were included. The mean GA (29.1 weeks vs. 31.2 weeks, p<0.001) and birth weight (1,235.9 g vs. 1491.4 g, p<0.001) were lower in the LI group (n=223) than in the EI group. The multivariate analysis indicated that factors affecting the LI of probiotics were GA at birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; p<0.001) and the enteral nutrition start day (OR, 1.47; p<0.001). The late probiotic introduction was associated with a risk of late-onset sepsis (OR, 2.85; p=0.020), delayed full enteral nutrition (OR, 5.44; p<0.001), and extrauterine growth restriction (OR, 1.67; p=0.033) on multivariate analyses after adjusting for GA. Conclusion: Early supplementation of probiotics within a week after birth may reduce adverse outcomes among preterm or VLBW infants.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a breastfeeding support program (BSP) on the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and growth in late-preterm infants. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. The participants were 40 late preterm infants (LPIs), of whom 20 were assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the control group. For the mothers in the experimental group, a BSP was provided prior to the LPIs' discharge and reinforced once a week for 4 weeks. Information on the feeding type was collected by observation and the LPIs' body weight was measured. Results: There were significant differences in feeding type by group and time. Exclusive breastfeeding was 5.18 times more common in the experimental group than in the control group (odds ratio=5.18, 95% confidence interval=1.11~16.70). However, weekly weight gain did not show a significant relationship with group and time (F=0.40, p=.712). Conclusion: The BSP was helpful for increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in LPIs. Furthermore, the LPIs in the experimental group, which had a higher likelihood of being exclusively breastfed, showed an equivalent amount of weight gain as the LPIs in the control group, in which infants were more likely to be formula-fed.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the respiratory illness-related hospital visits (out-patient clinics, emergency room, and re-admission) of preterm infants, and compare them according to corrected age and prematurity. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of preterm infants born at <37 weeks of gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Inha University Hospital between January 2012 and June 2015. Infant follow-up appointments in both neonatology and pulmonology out-patient clinics occurred for at least 2 years after NICU discharge. Results: The proportion of infants who visited the hospital due to any respiratory illness was as high as 50% until 12 months of corrected age, and subsequently decreased over time. Hospital admission was significantly higher in early preterm infants (<34 weeks of gestation) compared to late preterm infants (${\geq}34$ and <37 weeks of gestation). The proportion of infants who were re-admitted due to lower respiratory tract illness was significantly higher until 6 months of corrected age compared to the later, and did not differ between early and late preterm infants. Conclusion: The proportion of hospital visits of preterm infants due to respiratory disease was high until 12 months of corrected age. Most notably, the re-admission proportion from lower respiratory tract illness was high under 6 months in both early and late preterm infants. Preterm infants within this age that are visiting the hospital with respiratory symptoms should be carefully observed and followed up.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.182-187
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• 2022

We frequently encounter newborn infants with thrombocytosis in the neonatal intensive care unit. However, neonatal thrombocytosis is not yet fully understood. Thrombocytosis is more frequently identified in newborns and young infants, notably more often in those younger than 2 years than in older children or adults. The production of megakaryocytes (megakaryopoiesis) and platelets (thrombopoiesis) is mainly regulated by thrombopoietin (TPO). Increased TPO levels during infection or inflammation can stimulate megakaryopoiesis, resulting in thrombopoiesis. TPO concentrations are higher in newborn infants than in adults. Levels increase after birth, peak on the second day after birth, and start decreasing at 1 month of age. Initial platelet counts at birth increase with gestational age. Thus, preterm infants have lower initial platelet counts at birth than late-preterm or term infants. Postnatal thrombocytosis is more frequently observed in preterm infants than in term infants. A high TPO concentration and low TPO receptor expression on platelets leading to elevated plasma-free TPO, increased sensitivity of megakaryocyte precursor cells to TPO, a decreased red blood cell count, and immaturity of platelet regulation are speculated to induce thrombocytosis in preterm infants. Thrombocytosis in newborn infants is considered a reactive process (secondary thrombocytosis) following infection, acute/chronic inflammation, or anemia. Thrombocytosis in newborn infants is benign, resolves spontaneously, and, unlike in adults, is rarely associated with hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications.