Hepatic osteodystrophy is frequent complication in patients with chronic liver disease, particularly with chronic cholestasis. We report a male infant with congenital hepatoblastoma, who had osteodystrophy complicated by multiple bone fractures despite adequate supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins including vitamin D. He was born by Caesarean section because of a 7 cm–sized abdominal mass detected by prenatal ultrasonography. The pathologic diagnosis was hepatoblastoma, PRETEXT staging III or IV. Whole body bone scan at the time of diagnosis showed no abnormal uptake. Oral vitamin D3 of 2,000 IU/day was administered with other fat-soluble vitamins. Serum direct bilirubin level gradually increased up to 28.9 mg/dL at postnatal 6 days and was above 5 mg/dL until 110 days of age. Bony changes consistent with rickets became apparent in left proximal humerus since 48 days of age, and multiple bone fractures developed thereafter. With resolving cholestasis by chemotherapy, his bony lesions improved gradually after add-on treatment of bisphosphonate and parenteral administration of vitamin D with calcium. High level of suspicion and prevention of osteodystrophy is needed in patients with hepatoblastoma, especially when cholestasis persists.
Bilirubin ; Calcium ; Cesarean Section ; Cholecalciferol ; Cholestasis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; Hepatoblastoma ; Humans ; Humerus ; Infant ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Rickets ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tele-health service on knowledge and family support of hypertension patients. METHODS: The subjects were two hundred thirty seven primary hypertension patients who were enrolled at health care center located at the cities of Chunchon, Wonju, and Kangreung, Kwangwon-Do. Tele-health system were located health care center of each cities and the service had been provided for three months. Tele-health system called patients every morning to remind them of taking the prescribed medicine by a 12.5 second pre-recorded message. In addition, tele-health system informed the patients of knowledges on hypertension(medication, exercise, nutrition, regular examination) by 18.4 through 25.3 second pre-recorded message during weekend. Data were collected using a questionnaire before and after the service. RESULTS: The differences of knowledge on hypertension before and after tele-health service was significant(t=-7.908, p=.000). Family support before and after the service was statistically significant as well(t=-7.550, p=.000). CONCLUSION: Tele-health service was effective to manage hypertension.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of modified neonatal resuscitation program (M-NRP) which intends to keep minimal handling, to stabilize initial vital signs in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) in Samsung Medical Center, NICU. METHODS: Medical records of 128 ELBWI with gestational age (GA) < or =24 weeks who had been admitted to the NICU of SMC from January 2000 to December 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The data of these patients with M-NRP (n=62) were compared with those with classic NRP (C-NRP) (n=66). RESULTS: These patients who received M-NRP had significantly higher in survived discharge rate (66% vs 47%, P=0.034), lower in mask ventilation (29% vs 97%, P<0.001), shorter incubator-in time (81+/-25min vs 138+/-50min, P<0.001), and higher 1'/5' APGAR score (1': 3.9+/-1.5 vs 2.6+/-1.3, P<0.001, 5': 6.6+/-1.7 vs 5.4+/-1.8, P<0.001) than those who received C-NRP. CONCLUSION: Improvement in survived discharge rate and 1'/5' APGAR score were noted in M-NRP group compared to C-NRP group in the management of GA < or =24 weeks ELBWI
Apgar Score ; Delivery Rooms ; Gestational Age ; Handling (Psychology) ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Masks ; Medical Records ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventilation ; Vital Signs

Background: Macrosomia, as an infant with birth weight over 4 kg, can have several perinatal, and neonatal complications. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of macrosomia in Korea and to identify the growth and developmental outcomes and other neonatal complications. Methods: In total, 397,203 infants who were born in 2013 with birth weight ≥ 2.5 kg and who underwent infant health check-up between their 1 st and 7 th visit were included from the National Health Insurance Service database. The information was obtained by the International Classification of Diseases-10 codes or self-reported questionnaires in the National Health Screening Program. Results: The distribution of infants by birth weight was as follows: 384,181 (97%) infants in the 2.5–3.99 kg (reference) group, 12,016 (3%) infants in the 4.0–4.49 kg group, 772 (0.2%) infants in the 4.5–4.99 kg group, and 78 (0.02%) infants in the ≥ 5 kg group. Macrosomia showed significantly higher incidence of sepsis, male sex, and mothers with GDM and birth injury. There was a significant difference in weight, height, and head circumference according to age, birth weight group, and combination of age and birth weight, respectively (P < 0.001). The number of infants with the weight above the 90 th percentile in macrosomia at each health check-up showed higher incidence than in reference group. The mean body mass index significantly differed among the groups, as 50.6 in infants with 2.5–3.99 kg of birth weight, 63.5 with 4.0–4.49 kg, 71.0 with 4.5–4.99 kg, and 73.1 with ≥ 5 kg. There was a significant difference in the incidence of poor developmental results between infants with macrosomia and the reference group at 24, 36 and 48 month of age. Conclusion Macrosomia was significantly associated with the risk of sepsis, birth injury, obesity and developmental problem especially in a boy born from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus. Careful monitoring and proper strategies for monitoring growth and development are needed.

Background: Although the overall quality of high-risk neonatal care has improved recently, there is still concern about a difference in the quality of care when comparing off-hour births and regular-hour births. Moreover, there are no data in Korea regarding the impact of time of birth on mortality and morbidities in preterm infants. Methods: A total of 3,220 infants weighing < 1,000 g and born at 23–34 weeks in 2013–2017 were analyzed based on the Korean Neonatal Network data. Mortality and major morbidities were analyzed using logistic regression according to time of birth during off-hours (nighttime, weekend, and holiday) and regular hours. The institutes were sub-grouped into hospital group I and hospital group II based on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care level defined by the mortality rates of < 50% and ≥ 50%, respectively, in infants born at 23–24 weeks' gestation. Results: The number of births during regular hours and off-hours was similar. In the total population and hospital group I, off-hour births were not associated with increased neonatal mortality and morbidities. However, in hospital group II, increased early mortality was found in the off-hour births when compared to regular-hour births. Conclusion Efforts to improve the overall quality of NICU are required to lower the early mortality rate in off-hour births. Also, other sensitive indexes for the evaluation of quality of NICU care should be further studied.

Background: Although the overall quality of high-risk neonatal care has improved recently, there is still concern about a difference in the quality of care when comparing off-hour births and regular-hour births. Moreover, there are no data in Korea regarding the impact of time of birth on mortality and morbidities in preterm infants. Methods: A total of 3,220 infants weighing < 1,000 g and born at 23–34 weeks in 2013–2017 were analyzed based on the Korean Neonatal Network data. Mortality and major morbidities were analyzed using logistic regression according to time of birth during off-hours (nighttime, weekend, and holiday) and regular hours. The institutes were sub-grouped into hospital group I and hospital group II based on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care level defined by the mortality rates of < 50% and ≥ 50%, respectively, in infants born at 23–24 weeks' gestation. Results: The number of births during regular hours and off-hours was similar. In the total population and hospital group I, off-hour births were not associated with increased neonatal mortality and morbidities. However, in hospital group II, increased early mortality was found in the off-hour births when compared to regular-hour births. Conclusion Efforts to improve the overall quality of NICU are required to lower the early mortality rate in off-hour births. Also, other sensitive indexes for the evaluation of quality of NICU care should be further studied.

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.
China ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Korea ; SARS Virus ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Viral Load

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first three days in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: The medical records of 1,124 very low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Samsung Medical Center between November 1994 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors, and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first 3 days of life in very low birth weight infants were evaluated. RESULTS: Early onset sepsis, as confirmed by positive blood cultures, was present in 17 of 1,124 infants (1.5%). Sixty-four percent of the isolated pathogens were gram-positive bacteria and 35% of the isolated pathogens were gram-negative bacteria. The dominant pathogens of early onset sepsis included Staphylococcus aureus (23.5%), Esherichia coli (23.5%), and Enterococcus (17.6%). Vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-10.3; P=0.01) was associated with early onset sepsis. The overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.5; adjusted P=0.0039) and mortality within 72 hours of life (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.5; 95% CI, 2.2-18.9; adjusted P=0.0005) of infants with early onset sepsis were higher than that of uninfected infants. CONCLUSION: Early onset sepsis remains an uncommon, but potentially lethal problem among very low birth weight infants. Knowledge of the likely causative organisms and risk factors for early onset sepsis can aid in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy, in order to minimize mortality.
Enterococcus ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: With improved survival of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), there is an increase in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) requiring laparotomy, and the risk of morbidity and mortality in these ELBWI is increased. Thus, we determined the prognostic factors in ELBWI who underwent laparotomy for NEC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 ELBWI who underwent laparotomy for NEC from January 2001 to December 2008 at Samsung Medical Center. RESULTS: Of 480 ELBWI, 35 required laparotomy for NEC; the mortality rate was 20% (Alive group n=28, Dead group n=7). The values of preoperative score for neonatal acute physiology-II (P=0.022) and fraction of inspired oxygen (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the dead group and values of base excess (P=0.004) were significantly lower in the dead group. Values of preoperative heart rate, respiration rate, mean blood pressure, pH, CO2, and potassium ion were not significantly different between the study groups. Intraoperative fluid volume was significantly higher in the alive group than in the dead group (P=0.045). Postoperative infusion rate was significantly lower in the alive group than in the dead group (P=0.022). CONCLUSION: Good preoperative condition, more intraoperative fluid infusion, and stable postoperative hemodynamic condition were factors associated with favorable prognosis of laparotomy for NEC in ELBWI.
Blood Pressure ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Laparotomy ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Potassium ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies