The survival rates of high-risk infants and premature infants have increased, and the morbidity rates among survivors have decreased with the recent developments in neonatal intensive care. However, in the real neonatal care practice, many drugs, medical devices and treatment protocols have been used based on results of studies in adults or older children, despite their lack of proven safety and efficacy in neonates. In the Western developed countries, although pediatric clinical trials have been activated by several efforts of the government or national union, clinical trials targeting newborn or premature infants remains a challenge. Recently, political movements and efforts to promote pediatric clinical trials have been started in Korea, increasing the number of clinical trials conducted among children. However, neonatal clinical trials account for only a small percentage of these trials. Performing neonatal clinical trials has many obstacles in terms of not only ethical and technical issues, but also the specific metabolic and physiological characteristics of neonates. Nevertheless, neonatal clinical trials are definitely needed to assure that safe and optimal evidence-based-therapies are applied in this special population.
Adult ; Child ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

PURPOSE: This study determined the level of stress and type of coping style of spouses with high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: Subjects were 102 spouses with high-risk pregnant women at 6 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from January to August, 2009. The tools for this study were stress scale and coping scale. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average score of subjects stress was 2.18 and coping score was 2.46 point out of 4.00. The highest score of stress categories was 2.44 point in emotional problems and the lowest score was 1.72 in communication and support resources. The stress level was significant differences according to length of marriage, number of hospital visits, satisfaction with marriage relationship, hospitalization days and gestational age respectively. Spouses tended to use an active coping style (2.60) rather than a passive coping style (2.31). There were significant differences according to mother's age and gestational age in active coping and educational level in passive coping. CONCLUSION: Considering the level of stress coping style and characteristics of high-risk pregnant women's spouses, a nursing intervention should be provided to help them alleviate stress and to encourage active coping.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Spouses ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study determined the level of stress and type of coping style of spouses with high-risk pregnant women. METHODS: Subjects were 102 spouses with high-risk pregnant women at 6 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from January to August, 2009. The tools for this study were stress scale and coping scale. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The average score of subjects stress was 2.18 and coping score was 2.46 point out of 4.00. The highest score of stress categories was 2.44 point in emotional problems and the lowest score was 1.72 in communication and support resources. The stress level was significant differences according to length of marriage, number of hospital visits, satisfaction with marriage relationship, hospitalization days and gestational age respectively. Spouses tended to use an active coping style (2.60) rather than a passive coping style (2.31). There were significant differences according to mother's age and gestational age in active coping and educational level in passive coping. CONCLUSION: Considering the level of stress coping style and characteristics of high-risk pregnant women's spouses, a nursing intervention should be provided to help them alleviate stress and to encourage active coping.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Marriage ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Pregnant Women ; Spouses ; Stress, Psychological

Disinfectants including polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) and mixtures of chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) have been widely used in Korea to prevent microbial growth in the humidifier water, which triggered an outbreak of serious respiratory diseases. In addition to the respiratory syndrome, disease-related symptoms including liver toxicity, asthma, and skin allergies were also found after extensive survey of people exposed to the humidifier disinfectants (HDs). In this study, eye irritation tests were performed based on the Organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) test guidelines 492 using EpiOcular™ which is a tissue model of reconstructed human cornea-like epithelium. As results, the raw materials of PHMG (26% as active ingredient) and CMIT/MIT (1.5% as active ingredient) were classified under UN globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemical (GHS) category 1 or category 2. However, aqueous dilutions of raw materials such as market products of HDs that contain 0.13% of PHMG and 0.03% of CMIT/MIT or further dilutions of the market products for humidifier that contain 0.0013% of PHMG and 0.0003% of CMIT/MIT were classified under any category, which suggested absence of eye irritation at the test concentration.
Asthma ; Classification ; Disinfectants ; Epithelium ; Guanidine ; Humans ; Humidifiers ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Liver ; Skin ; United Nations ; Water

Disinfectants including polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) and mixtures of chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) have been widely used in Korea to prevent microbial growth in the humidifier water, which triggered an outbreak of serious respiratory diseases. In addition to the respiratory syndrome, disease-related symptoms including liver toxicity, asthma, and skin allergies were also found after extensive survey of people exposed to the humidifier disinfectants (HDs). In this study, eye irritation tests were performed based on the Organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) test guidelines 492 using EpiOcular™ which is a tissue model of reconstructed human cornea-like epithelium. As results, the raw materials of PHMG (26% as active ingredient) and CMIT/MIT (1.5% as active ingredient) were classified under UN globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemical (GHS) category 1 or category 2. However, aqueous dilutions of raw materials such as market products of HDs that contain 0.13% of PHMG and 0.03% of CMIT/MIT or further dilutions of the market products for humidifier that contain 0.0013% of PHMG and 0.0003% of CMIT/MIT were classified under any category, which suggested absence of eye irritation at the test concentration.
Asthma ; Classification ; Disinfectants ; Epithelium ; Guanidine ; Humans ; Humidifiers ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Liver ; Skin ; United Nations ; Water

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants have difficulty maintaining body temperature after birth. However, clinical guidelines advocate that neonatal body temperature should be maintained at 36.5°C–37.5°C. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the incidence of admission hypothermia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to determine the association of admission temperature with in-hospital mortality and morbidities. METHODS: A cohort study using prospectively collected data involving 70 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that participate in the Korean Neonatal Network. From registered infants born between January 2013 and December 2015, 5,343 VLBW infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean admission temperature was 36.1°C±0.6°C, with a range of 31.9°C to 38.4°C. Approximately 74.1% of infants had an admission hypothermia of <36.5°C. Lower birth weight, intubation in the delivery room and Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes were significantly related to admission hypothermia. The mortality was the lowest at 36.5°C–37.5°C and adjusted odd ratios for all deaths increased to 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.83), 1.44 (95% CI, 1.05–1.97) and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.22–2.82) for infants with admission temperatures of 36.0°C–36.4°C, 35.0°C–35.9°C, and <35.0°C, respectively. Admission hypothermia was also associated with high likelihoods of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension, proven sepsis, pulmonary hemorrhage, air-leak, seizure, grade 3 or higher intraventricular hemorrhage and advanced retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser therapy. CONCLUSION: A large portion of preterm infants in Korea had hypothermia at NICU admission, which was associated with high mortality and several important morbidities. More aggressive interventions aimed at reducing hypothermia are required in this high-risk population.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Body Temperature ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery Rooms ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hypothermia ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intubation ; Korea ; Laser Therapy ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Seizures ; Sepsis

Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) meningitis in a neonate is rare, but its recognition is important because the disease progresses rapidly and has poor prognosis. A 4-day-old premature female infant born at 36 weeks and 5 days of gestation presented with symptoms of fever and icteric skin. Initial cerebrospinal fluid findings suggested bacterial meningitis, and treatment with antibiotics was started. On the third day, P. mirabilis growth was found in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures and brain computed tomography revealed normal findings. The patient showed improved clinical symptoms, but brain magnetic resonance imaging on hospital day 18 revealed a brain abscess measuring 4.5×3.1×3.1 cm in the right frontal lobe. Cyst drainage was performed immediately and a catheter was inserted. Follow-up computed tomography revealed a tiny abscess remaining in the right frontal lobe, and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging later demonstrated marked interval regression in the size of the abscess. The patient was discharged on day 57 of hospitalization in good condition. Serial brain imaging should be considered in neonatal cases of P. mirabilis meningitis.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Catheters ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Mirabilis ; Neuroimaging ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Proteus mirabilis* ; Proteus* ; Skin

OBJECTIVES: the effect of different sterilization methods on the surface morphology of PPDO-hybrid-PLGA nanofiber scaffold and attachments of PC12 cell were investigated. METHODS: Poly (p-dioxone)-hybrid-Poly (lactide-glycolide) (PPDO-hybrid-PLGA) nanofiber scaffold, fabricated in a tube form with 1.5 mm internal diameter, 0.2 mm thickness and 5 mm length, was prepared using electrospinning method. To study the surface morphology using SEM, The study group and control group in respective were; Control:Non-sterilized scaffold, Group I:scaffold sterilized with 70% Alcohol, Group II: scaffold sterilized with Ethylene Oxide at 65 degrees C, and Group III: scaffold sterilized with Ethylene Oxide at 37 degrees C. To investigate viability of the PC12 cell on the scaffold, The study group and control group in respective were; Control: sterilized with 70% Alcohol, Group I: sterilized with Ethylene Oxide at 65 degrees C, and Group II: sterilized with Ethylene Oxide at 37 degrees C. RESULTS: 1. The surface morphology was slightly changed in Group I, II and GroupIII, compared with control. 2. The attachment of PC12 cells in Group I, II was not higher than in control DISCUSSION: The attachment of PC12 cell is not influenced by different sterilization methods.
Animals ; Ethylene Oxide ; Ethylenes ; Nanofibers ; PC12 Cells ; Sterilization

PURPOSE: Routine screening for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (TORCH) in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates has become a common practice. However, the incidence of TORCH varies across countries, and the cost of TORCH testing may be disadvantageous compared to disease-specific screening. To evaluate the efficacy of TORCH screening, the medical charts of IUGR or SGA neonates born in a single institution in Bucheon, Korea from 2011 to 2015 were reviewed. METHODS: The clinical data of the 126 IUGR or SGA neonates were gathered, including gestational age, Apgar scores, neonatal sonographic findings, chromosome study, morbidities, developmental follow-up, and growth catch-up. Maternal factors including underlying maternal disease and fetal sonography were collected, and placental findings were recorded when available. TORCH screening was done using serum IgM, CMV urine culture, quantification of CMV DNA with real-time polymerase chain reaction, and rapid plasma reagin qualitative test for syphilis. Tests were repeated only for those with positive results. RESULTS: Of the 119 TORCH screenings, only one was positive for toxoplasmosis IgM. This result was deemed false positive due to negative IgM on repeated testing and the absence of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Considering the incidence and risk of TORCH in Korea, the financial burden of TORCH screening, and the single positive TORCH finding in our study, we suggest disease-specific screening based on maternal history and the clinical symptoms of the neonate. Regarding CMV, which may present asymptomatically, universal screening may be appropriate upon cost-benefit analysis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea* ; Mass Screening* ; Plasma ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rubella* ; Simplexvirus ; Syphilis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Ultrasonography

Indonesia and South Korea have become inseparable in various respects since the 2 countries established diplomatic relation in 1973. Indonesia is a tropical region that stretches across the equator, comprised of 5 main islands (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Papua) and 4 archipelagoes (Riau, Bangka Belitung, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku). As most population of Eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Papua and Nusa Tenggara & Maluku) live in poor areas, it is expected that there will be many parasites. Nevertheless, little is known about the status of parasites in Indonesia. This study examines the prevalences of malaria and lymphatic filaria, which are prevalent in Indonesia, as well as those of soil-transmitted-helminths (STH). As a result, the Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax case loads are almost equal. The current prevalence of P. vivax is uniformly low (<5%) in all age groups and annual parasite incidence (API) showed decreasing tendency as 0.84 per 1,000 population in 2016. However, more than 65 million people still live in malaria epidemic regions. Lymphatic filariasis remains an important public health problem and 236 cities were classified as endemic areas in 514 cities/districts in 2017. It is difficult to ascertain the current prevalence rate of STH in Indonesia, although West Sumba and Southwest Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara reported prevalence rate of more than 20%. The study also considers the (sero) prevalences of other parasites identified in Indonesia. This report should be useful not only to parasitologists but also to travelers and people with business in Indonesia.
Commerce ; Diplomacy ; Elephantiasis, Filarial ; Humans ; Incidence ; Indonesia ; Islands ; Korea ; Malaria ; Parasites ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Prevalence ; Public Health