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.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats* ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

Indomethacin is used widely in clinics nowadays and the side effect of ulceration is well known. This experiment was performed to Study the morphological and histochemical changes on gastric mucosa after indomethacin treatment. The microscopic finding of the mucosa was observed following oral administration of 10 mg/kg indomethacin in alcohol as solvent. The histological changes were observed from 6 hours after administration of indomethacin and the maxima1 injury was found at 24 hours. Structural changes of injury included hemorrhage, epithelial desquamation and inflammatory cell infiltration. From the 3 day specimens, regeneration signs had started and in the 6 day specimens almost complete recovery of the mucosal epithelium was noted. The histochemical changes of the mucus were also observed from the 6 hr specimens. As far as neutral glycoprotein was concerned, the decrease was most significant in the 3 day o1d group, and besides, they showed minimal reaction to PAS stain. For acidic mucus, the decrease was significant in the 24 hr group and the 3 day group showed minimal reaction to Alcian blue stain. It was noted that these changes of the mucus had recovered 6 days after the administration of indomethacin.
Animal ; Gastric Mucosa/drug effects* ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Indomethacin/adverse effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced ; Time Factors

No Abstract Available.
Diagnosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Flagellin* ; Leptospirosis*

Recently, it has been postulated that diabetic autonomic neuropathy is caused by reduction in availability of nerve growth factor (NGF) in enteric nervous system. This experiments were performed to determine the changes of the distribution of enteric neuropeptide by diabetes and these changes could be prevented by administration of NGF. Sprague Dawley rats (200~250gm) were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 65 mg/kg in saline. Recombinant human NGF (Sigma, Co., Ltd.) were administered at a dose of 500ng/kg subcutaneously every day for consecutive 4 weeks after streptozotocin administration. After 4 weeks, rats were anesthetized with ether and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. ileum was dissected and prepared by whole mount preparation method. Prepared segments were immunostained for substance p, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and galanin by PAP technique. For the observation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, segments were immersed in Champy-Maillet solution for 2 days Results obtained were as follows: 1. In myenteric plexus of diabetic rats, substance P-like and VIP-like immunoreactivity were not changed compared with that of the control group. CGRP-like and galanin-like immunoreactivity were decreased in diabetic group and immunoreactive cells for CGRP and galanin were also decreased 18.1% (P<0.01) and 43.7% (P<0.01) respectively. 2. In NGF administerd diabetic group, immunoreactivity of substance p, VIP, galanin in myenteric plexus were slightly increased and immunoreactive cells for substancre p, VIP, galanin were almost the same as that of the control group. However, immunoreactive cells for CGRP of myenteric plexus were not changed by NGF. 3. In submucous plexus of diabetic rats, immunoreactivity of all four neuropeptides(substance p, CGRP, VIP, galanin) were decreased compared with that of the control group. Immunoreactive cells for substance p, CGRP, VIP, and galanin were also decreased in 38.8%, 77.6%, 33.0%, and 35.7%, respectively (P<0.01). 4. In NGF administered diabetic group, immunoreactivities of substance p, VIP and galanin in submucous plexus were increased and the immunoreactive cells were increased significantly compared to diabetic group. However, immunoreactive cells for CGRP of submucous plexus were not changed by NGF. 5. Interstitial cells of Cajal of diabetic group were decreased 7.4% ovoidal cells (A type) and 28.3% round cells (B type) In NGF administered group, the morphology and the number of ICC were not different to the control group. With the above results, it could be assumed that NGF prevent the damage of neurotransmitter and ICC in enteric nervous system.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Enteric Nervous System ; Ether ; Galanin ; Humans ; Ileum ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Myenteric Plexus ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Neuropeptides ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peristalsis* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Submucous Plexus ; Substance P ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Purpose: To examine the clinical characteristics, demographic features, and visual prognosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in Korean patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with IIH who visited the Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic at Samsung Medical Center from September 2011 to January 2023. This analysis focused on demographic characteristics at onset, clinical manifestations, and visual outcomes at the last follow-up. Results: Out of 34 patients, 20 met the modified Dandy criteria and 14 were presumed to have IIH. The mean age at onset was 32.97 ± 9.6 years with females comprising 85.3% (n = 29) of the sample. The average body mass index (BMI) was 29.15 ± 6.43, with 47.0% of patients (n = 16) classified as obese. The most frequent symptom was headache, reported by 85.3% (n = 29) of patients, followed by pulsatile tinnitus (64.7%, n = 22) and transient visual obscuration (TVO; 32.4%, n = 11). Treatment included observation for 3 patients (8.8%), acetazolamide therapy for 26 patients (76.5%), and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (V-P shunt) for 2 patients (5.9%). Out of 23 patients with follow-up > 6 months, 87.0%, 8.7%, and 4.3% showed good, fair, and poor visual outcomes, respectively; optic nerve atrophy was observed in 19.6% (9 eyes). The initial peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness measured by OCT was 143.56 ± 62.41 μm in the right eye and 139.3 ± 76.38 μm in the left which decreased to 97.39 ± 25.72 and 94.91 ± 19.32 μm, respectively by the last examination. Conclusions While the proportion of obese patients in this Korean cohort and the average BMI were lower than in western countries, both have increased relative to previous reports from Korea. Most patients experienced a benign course.

The nutrition knowledge and food attitude of obese children were assessed and compared with their normal children counterparts to provide information for nutrition education programs. One hundred forty six obese children and 92 normal children from the fourth to sixth grade in Bucheon and Anyang elementary schools of Kyeong-gi Province were selected for the study. A multiple choice questionnaire, including 12 items of general nutrition knowledge and 13 items of weight control, were used to test the nutrition knowledge of children. The results of this study are as follows : 1) 57.5% of male and 40.9% of female obese children had experience with weight control, but the rate of correct answers on the nutrition knowledge test ranged from 53% to 58%, which does not show any significant difference between the two groups. The rate of correct answers on items conrerning 'general nutrition knowledge' and 'nutrition knowledge for weight control' did not show any significant difference among the two groups. 2) Obese male students showed a higher rate of correct answers(59.2%) on items of 'the proper food selection for obese children', compared with their counterparts and also obese female students showed a higher rate of correct answers(88.6%) on 'physical exercise', compared with their counterparts. 3) The rate of correct answers on nutrition knowledge of 'basic food groups', 'the functions of iron and vitamins', 'the concept of energy', and 'the principle of weight change' were lower than 40%. 4) The obese children frequently did not have breakfast, overate during lunch in many cases, and had low recognition on knowledge that was necessary to weight control. 5) Only 30.9% and 22.7% of male and female obese children replied that they would participate in weight control programs. However, 53.6% of males and 68.2% of females did not show any concern in participating the programs. From these results, it was suggested that it is necessary to motivate the obese to participate in weight-control program. When developing nutrition education programs for the obese, the contents of the questions that showed a low correct answering rates should be emphasized.
Breakfast ; Child* ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Food Preferences ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Iron ; Life Style* ; Lunch ; Male ; Pediatric Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to set up a hypothetical model to explain causal relationships among influential variables in the mother-child relationship for Korean infants and toddlers and their mothers. The research was based on Barnard's (1978) mother-child relations model, and goodness-of-fit was examined. METHODS: The participants were 207 mothers with infants or toddlers. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS programs. RESULTS: Regarding the influence of the variables on the mother-child relationship between infants and toddlers and their mothers, social support had a 75% explanation of mother-child relationships, and attachment had a 58% explanation of social support. Attachment had both direct and indirect effects on the mother-child relationships, and social support had direct and total effects on the mother-child relationships. Among child-related variables, child temperament had a moderating effect on the mother-child relationships. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the model has utility in developing effective nursing intervention methods to boost mother-child relationships between infants and toddlers and their mothers.
Child ; Humans ; Infant* ; Mother-Child Relations* ; Mothers* ; Nursing ; Temperament

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolism is the major complication in patients with the insertion of cardiac prosthetic valves. The purpose of this study is evaluate the risk factors about the formation of left atrial thrombi after cardiac valve replacement. METHOD: Transesophageal(TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) were done to evaluate postoperative cardiac condition in 98 patients with cardiac prosthetic valves from Jan. 1991 to Oct 1991. Several clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzied to evaluate the relationship with the formation of left atrial thrombi. RESULT: In univariate analysis, important factors related to the formation of left atrial thrombi are type of operation (p=0.027), postoperative left ventricular function(p=0.003), preoperative(p=0.037) and postoperative systolic ventricular size(p=0.024). However, in multivariate analysis postoperative left ventricular size(p=0.017), presence of previous thrombi(p=0.014), preoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) and postoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) are significant factors. CONCLUSION: Patients with high risk and low risk for the formation of left atrial thrombi after valve replacement can be identified by readily available clinical and echocardiographic variables.
Echocardiography ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors* ; Thromboembolism