Here, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and mortality of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) among very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in Korea and assess the associated factors of PHH. This cohort study used prospectively collected data from the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN). Among 2,386 VLBW infants in the KNN database born between January 2013 and June 2014, 63 infants who died without brain ultrasonography results were excluded. Maternal demographics and neonatal clinical characteristics were assessed. The overall incidence of IVH in all the VLBW infants was 42.2% (987 of 2,323), while those of IVH grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 25.1%, 7.0%, 4.8%, and 5.5%, respectively. The incidence and severity of IVH showed a negatively correlating trend with gestational age and birth weight. PHH developed in 0%, 3.5%, 36.1%, and 63.8% of the surviving infants with IVH grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Overall, in the VLBW infants, the IVH-associated mortality rate was 1.0% (24/2,323). Only IVH grade severity was proven to be an associated with PHH development in infants with IVH grades 3-4. This is the first Korean national report of IVH and PHH incidences in VLBW infants. Further risk factor analyses or quality improvement studies to reduce IVH are warranted.
Birth Weight ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/*epidemiology/mortality/pathology ; Cohort Studies ; Databases, Factual ; Echoencephalography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus/*epidemiology/mortality/pathology ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index

No abstract available.
Gastroschisis*

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a potent and selective pulmonary vasodilator agent that improves arterial oxygenation and subsequent clinical outcomes for newborn infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Along with beneficial pharmacological properties, iNO also shows toxicological effects. Although the side effects of iNO have not been fully understood, these need to be thoroughly considered and monitored for the safe and effective clinical use of iNO. This article presents a review of the side effects of iNO and short-term and long-term clinical prognosis in newborn infants > or =34 weeks' gestation with PPHN.
Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.

The degenerative arthritis following total menisectomy has led to consideration of the need for meniscal transplantation, this study evaluates the morphologic and histologic changes fol lowing fresh meniscal autograft and allograft in therabbits. Transplantation of the medial meniscus was carried out in two groups of 32 rabbits(autograft group=16 rabbits, allograft group=16 rabbits). The morphological and histological changes of the transplanted auto-and allografted menisci and the articular cartilage of the medial femoral and tibial condyle were observed at 2,4,6,8,10,12,22,28 weeks postoperatively. There were no significant differences between auto and allograft groups in gross appearance. Histologically, the fibrous adhesion was noted between grafted meniscus and joint capsule 2 weeks after operation, but complete healing was seen at the suture sites without rejection phenomenon at 6 weeks in both groups. There were prominent inflammatory reactions such as lymphocytes and inflammatory cells infiltration during early postoperative stages(2,4 weeks) only in the allograft group, and more prominent fibrotic reactions in the allograft group than auto-graft group. The results of this study suggest that meniscal allografts are able to adapt to the host tissues, survive within the joint environment, and provide a functional replacement for the removed meniscus, but further studies for graft-host immune response and a method to take the maintenance and deposits of graft must be needed to perform the meniscal allograft in human.
Allografts ; Autografts ; Cartilage, Articular ; Humans ; Joint Capsule ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Lymphocytes ; Menisci, Tibial ; Methods ; Osteoarthritis ; Rabbits ; Sutures ; Transplants

Background: Recent studies have shown that oral administration of probiotics may improve the immune imbalance caused by dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and immunological effects of Lactobacillus pentosus in children with mild to moderate AD. Methods: Children aged 2–13 years with AD were randomized to receive either 1.0 × 1010 colony-forming units of L. pentosus or placebo, daily, for 12 weeks. The clinical severity of AD and transepidermal water loss were evaluated. Blood eosinophil counts, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and cytokine levels were measured. The diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were also analyzed. Results: Eighty-two children were recruited, and 41 were assigned to the probiotics intervention group. The mean scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) indices at baseline were 30.4 and 34.3 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. At week 12, the mean indices were 23.6 and 23.1 for the probiotics and placebo groups, respectively. Clinical severity decreased significantly over time in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. In both groups, there were no significant differences in cytokine levels, microbial diversity, or the relative abundance of the gut microbiota at week 12 compared with the corresponding baseline values. The mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices after intervention for the probiotics group were significantly lower than those for the placebo group in IgE sensitized AD (P = 0.019). Conclusion Our results show improved symptoms in the probiotics and placebo groups, and we could not find additional effects of L. pentosus in AD. However, the mean subjective scores of SCORAD indices for the probiotics group are significantly improved compared with those for the placebo group in allergen-sensitized AD.

Pain in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is known as a common symptom, experienced by about 72% of patients. Various types of pain are associated with GBS, including paresthesia, dysesthesia, radicular pain, meningism, myalgia and visceral pain. Pain in GBS can vary from mild to severe, often under-recognized and poorly managed. This article reviews the various pains associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome and their management.

The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, currently has more than 100 staff and researchers from >70 neonatal intensive care units nationwide in Korea. More than 85% to 90% of the population of very low birth weight infants in Korea are registered yearly, and more than half are followed up for up to 3 years at the KNN. A total of >19,000 cases have been accumulated through a strict data quality management process of the KNN. Based on this, >100 research projects have been proposed, >70 peer-reviewed papers have been published in leading international journals, and the cornerstone of the quality improvement project has been launched. In addition, we recently expanded the number of subjects for registration to very premature infants <32 weeks of age and continue to provide essential evidence data for establishing national health policies, such as linking with government policy projects of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for preterm infants. In such manner, the KNN is confident to be successfully and actively moving toward reaching the ultimate goal of standardizing neonatal intensive care and management of preterm infants in Korea by providing essential data for national health policy establishment along with quality improvement through evidence-based interactive data.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted images, ADC maps and conventional MR images for determination of brain tumor consistency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with brain tumor underwent MR examinations with T1, T2 and diffusion-weighted images. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn in the tumors, and the measured signal intensities (SI) were normalized with the contralateral side. We evaluated the correlation between SI ratios from various images and tumor consistency assessed at surgery. In three patients with both cystic and solid components, each component was evaluated independently. Qualitatively observed SIs were also correlated with tumor consistency. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation between tumor consistency and ADC ratio (r = -0.586, p = 0.002), SI ratios on T2-weighted images (r = -0.497, p = 0.010), and observed SIs on T2-weighted images (r = -0.461, p = 0.018). The relative ratio of ADC value correlated with tumor consistency most strongly. CONCLUSION: The measured ratio of ADC, SI ratio and observed SI grade on T2-weighted images can provide valuable information about the consistency of brain tumor.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We evaluated the change in the findings of DMSA scan after acute pyelonephritis (APN), and the relationship between renal scar formation and risk factors such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), organism and inflammatory reaction. METHODS: We examined 200 patients under the age of 5 years with first APN. DMSA scan, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed initially. If the initial DMSA scan was abnormal, it was repeated after 6 months. RESULTS: Median age was 1.1 years. Initial renal defects existed in 136 (68%) of 200 cases. At 6 months after initial infection, follow up DMSA scan was checked in 61 children with initial renal defects for evaluation of scar. Initial renal defects disappeared in 19 (31%)children. Initial renal defects were present in 60 (64%) of 94 kidneys with the VUR, however, they were present in 94 (31.0%) of 306 kidneys without VUR(P<0.05). Among 72 kidneys with initial renal defects, scar developed in 27 (75%) of 36 kidneys with VUR and 22 (61%) of 36 kidneys without VUR (P>0.05). CRP was 11.0+/-7.0mg/dL in 127 patients with initial renal defects and 4.4 5.5mg/dL in 53 patients without initial renal defects (P<0.05) and CRP was 13.0+/-4.7mg/dL in 39 patients with scar and 8.7+/-4.6 mg/dL in 19 patients without scar in follow up DMSA scan (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of VUR and higher CRP level are risk factors for initial renal defects but renal scarring occured higher in the higher level of CRP, irrespective of VUR.
Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Cicatrix* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis* ; Risk Factors ; Succimer ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux