The fetal hemoglobin, which is structurally different from adult hemoglobin, has higher affinity for oxygen and higher resistance to denaturation with alkali than adult hemoglobin. Intrauterine growth retarded neonates have higher mortality and morbidity than normal neonates. In this article, to determine the changes of fetal hemoglobin by gestational age in infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (AGA)and to explain the mechanism underlying the increased fetal hemoglobin synthesis in intrauterine growth retarded newborn infants, the proportion of fetal hemoglobin and adult hemoglobin at birth and 1 month of age was checked in 25term infants small for gestational age(TSGA). The results were compared with 50 preterm infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (paga) and 40 term infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (TAGA). The results were as forllows. 1)The decrease of fetal hemoglobin by gestational age in infants of AGA at birth was statistically significant (p<0.01). 2) The fetal hemoglobin at birth was 74.47+/-2.4%n the TSGA group, 78.01+/-5.05% in the PAGA group and 68.32+/-4.84% in the TAGA group. The differnce between each group was statistically significant (p<0.01). 3) The fetal hemoglobin at one month of age was 55.68+/-3.76% in the TSGA group, 35.74 (13.33%in the PAGA group and 59.96+/-5.53% in the TAGA group. The difference between TSGA and TAGA infants was not significant (p>0.05). 4) The decrese rate of fetal hemoglobin between first day and one month of postantal age was 54.2% in the PAGA infants, 25.2% in the TSGA infants and 12.2% in the TAGA infants. 5) The fetal hemoglobin at forty weeks of postconceptional age was 13.20+/-5.09%in the transfused PAGA group, 62.34+/-3.01% in the nontransfused PAGA group, 64.08+/-2.08% in the TSGA group and 68.32+/-4.12% in the TAGA infants. The difference between transfused PAGA group and other groups was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Adult ; Alkalies ; Fetal Hemoglobin* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder of developing retinal blood vessels in extremely premature infants. In the 1950's, the relationship of ROP and prolonged administraion of oxygen was demonstrated by many randomized clinical trials. After than, Oxygen use was severely restricted and the incidence of ROP was decreased. However, with the development of modern intensive care, ventilator, artificial surfactant, and other technology, the survival of extremely premature infants and incidence of ROP are increasing So we studied the time of development and risk factors of ROP. We also studied to decide the optimal time of mass screening in the preterm infants. METHODS: We studied 436 infants who was admitted in NICU of Ewha Womans Uninvesity Hospital for the treatment of RDS, prematurity or other reasons. They were examined by indirect opthalmoscope to schedule. RESULTS: 1) Among 436 infants, 49 infants (11.2%) were diagnosed as a retinopathy of prematurity. 2) The indicence of ROP increased with small gestational ages and low birth weights and the mean gestational age in the group of ROP was 30.9+/-4.0weeks and mean birth weight was 1450+/-352gms. 3) Mean age of first diagnosing time was 5.6 weeks after birth and the range of distribution was very wide. But mean age of first diagnosing time in gestational age was 36.3 weeks and it's range was narrow 4) The risk factors of ROP were prolonged use of oxygen, high concentration of oxygen with ventilator, frequent apnea, sepsis, hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the use of xanthine derivatives, phototherapy over than 1 week, surfactant treatment, perinatal asphyxia. CONCLUSION: Retinopathy of prematurity has a relationship with small gestational period, low birth weights, long duration of high oxygen, and other risk factors. The optimal period of mass screening in preterm infants for ROP is from 33 weeks to 36 weeks gestational age rather than chronological age after birth.
Apnea ; Appointments and Schedules ; Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Critical Care ; Mass Screening ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Phototherapy ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinopathy of Prematurity* ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Xanthine

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Phototherapy* ; Riboflavin*

No abstract available.
Haemophilus influenzae* ; Haemophilus*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Microbubbles*

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal blood pressure is one of the vital signs used to assess the general health of a newborn infant. But, it is difficult to measure and varies according to the model of sphygmomanometer, the used method, the postconceptional age, birth weight, asphyxia, postnatal age and activity. We have assessed the rnean value of blood pressure(BP) according to postconceptional age. Variations caused by the postconceptional age, birth weight, body surface area(BSA), postnatal age, and sex were analyzed to determine the rnost important factor influencing the neonatal BP. METHODS: This study included 448 normal fullterm infants and healthy preterm infants born from Jan. 1995 to Aug. 1997 at Ewha Dongdaemoon and Mokdong Hospital. The BP was taken on day 1, 3, 5 with the oscillometric device(Dinamap 1846 critikon Inc.), for premature infants BP was followed up every week afterward. RESULTS: The neonatal BP was related to the postconceptional age(R=0.204, P<0.05), BSA(R =0.191, P<0.05), birth weight(R=0.183, P<0.05) and the postnatal age in fullterm infants(R=0.022, P<0.05) but not with the sex of the infant. The postconceptional age was the most significant variable among those influencing the BP. The normal value of the systolic and the diastolic BP was expressed as mean+/-2SD according to the postconceptional age, less than 28 weeks(n=27) systolic/diastolic pressure 50.4+/-23.1mmHg/26.2+/-12.8mmHg, 28-32weeks(n= 63) 60.1+/- 30.6mmHg/33.6+/-16.7mmHg, 32-36weeks(n = 139) 63.2+/- 20.4mmHg/37.7+/- 19.8 mmHg, 36- 40weeks(n=543) 65.6+/-18.5mmHg/38.6+/-17.3mmHg, more than 40weeks(n= 136) 67.7+/-16,9mmHg/39.3+/- 15.8mmHg. The increase in blood prssure with the postconceptional age was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The normal range of neonatal BP, especially preterm infants, was presented, and it would be much valuable for the evaluation of BP in neonate if standardized by postconceptional age.
Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Parturition ; Reference Values* ; Sphygmomanometers ; Vital Signs

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant, Newborn*