A statistical observation was performed on 13,317 cases of neonates who had been delivered at Taegu Catholic Hospital during the past 3 years from Jan, 1st 1988 to Dec. 31st 1990. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Among 13,317 neonates, the male was 7,234 and the female 6,083, with the sex ratio of male to female being 1.19:1 2) Percentage distribution by birth weight was 5.6% for 2.500gm or less, 3.3% for 4,001gm or more. The mortality rate was 8.4 per 1,000 live births and 61.1% for very low birth weight infants. 57.1% of neonatal death occured within 24 hours after birth and the most common cause of death was prematurity (53.6%). 3) The mean growth data at birth were as following: Weight: 3,253+/-484gm in male, 3,160+/-456gm in female; Height: 50.11+/-2.59cm in male, 49.57+/-2.50cm in female; Head circumference: 33.60+/-1.74cm in male, 33.12+/-1.64cm in female; Chest circumference: 32.83+/-1.83cm in male, 32.41+/-1.75cm in female. 4) Among 13,317 noenates, 352 (2.6%) were under 37 wks and 555 (4.2%) above 42 wks and 92.6% very low birth weight infants under 37 wks. 5) 44.2% of 13,317 neonates, was the highest-density distribution which was between 47.5~52.4cm by length and 3,001~3,500gm by weighing. 6) The admission rate was 13.7% and the causes of admission in order of frequency were neonatal infection (47.9%), premature or low birth weight infant (12.9%), neonatal jaundice (11.3%), asphyxia neonatorum (6.9%), respiratory disress syndrome (5.4%), etc. 7) Among all neonates, 2.2% had neonatal asphyxia (a 1-minute Apgar score of 6 or less). The highest incidence was 19.7% in the breech delivery group by delivery mode and 33.6% in the prematurity by gestational age. 8) The types of delivery in order of frequency were spontaneous vaginal delivery (72.5%), Cesarean section (21.9%), vacuum delivery (5.0%), breech delivery (0.5%) and forceps delivery (0.1%). 9) The incidence of twin babies was 182 (91 pairs), 1.37% of all neonates, 1 pair per 145 neonates. Of all twins, 50.5% were below 2,500gm of birth weight and 20.9% premature. 10) The incidence of neonatal jaundice was 63.0%. Of icteric neonates, 8.2% had pathologic jaundice treated by phototherapy or exchange transfusion. 11) Among all neonates, there were 7,705 cases (57.9%) with high risk factors; the order of frequency was Cesarean section (37.8), meconium stained (13.3%), premature rupture of membranes over 24 hours (12.7%), birth weight 2,500gm or less (9.6%), etc.
Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; Birth Weight ; Cause of Death ; Cesarean Section ; Daegu ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; Live Birth ; Male ; Meconium ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Phototherapy ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Sex Ratio ; Surgical Instruments ; Thorax ; Twins ; Vacuum

Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Joints ; Knee ; Mandible ; Metaplasia ; Synovial Membrane ; Temporomandibular Joint

Skeletal remains collected from the archaeological fields must be maintained carefully, for being used in scientific studies on the physical characteristics, health status, and pathological disease of the ancient or medieval human populations. Even if Joseon Dynasty Human Sample Collection might be a good example for such studies, few of bone collections predated the Joseon Age (e.g. Goryeo Dynasty) have been established until now, possibly owing to poor preservation condition of archaeological sites in Korea. In this study, we performed anthropological studies on a few cases of Goryeo skeletons, which have been rarely reported by anthropologists in Korea. Judging from the preservation status of bones found in various types of Goryeo graves (e.g. earthen- or stone-chambered tombs), many cases seem to be cremated in accordance with Buddhist funeral rites. Goryeo bone collections must be constructed with the bones identified in the earthen tombs, which were preserved much perfectly than those of any other types of Goryeo tombs.
Anthropology, Physical ; Archaeology ; Funeral Rites ; Humans ; Korea ; Skeleton

Increase in agricultural production or steel manufacturing during Proto-Three Kingdoms Period enabled ancient people to establish well-organized ancient kingdoms in Korean peninsula. A pottery in which human skeletons were buried, the urn coffin, has been regarded as one of the frequently used burial system in ancient Korean society. Among them, the small-sized urn coffin was thought to be used for reburial of adult skeleton or burial for infants and children. In this report, we showed that the human adult bones were buried in a very unique pattern. Based on anthropological study, the dead person buried in the urn coffin died in his/her 30s; and every bone fragment belonged to human skull without exception. The dead person might be a warrior killed in action because there have been reports on exclusive burial of skull in a small-sized, ancient urn coffin in Japan, that was commonly interpreted as the burial of ancient warrior's heads decapitated during ancient battle, and were reburied in the burial ground. Nevertheless, considering that the cervical bones were not found along with the skull bone fragments, the tell tale sign of decapitation, more future studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis. However, even so, it could not be easily denied that very unique funeral customs: burial of human adult skull in a small-sized urn coffin, prevailed in the ancient Korean societies in certain regions.
Adult ; Burial ; Child ; Decapitation ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Japan ; Korea ; Skeleton ; Skull ; Steel ; Tooth