Risk factors for refractory respiratory distress syndrome among very-low-birth-weight infants.

Background: The objective was to evaluate refractory respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) risk factors among very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs).

Method: The data of VLBWIs born between January 2013 and December 2020 registered in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) were analyzed. Infants who died within 5 postnatal days or who were not given surfactant were excluded.

Development of a machine learning model to identify intraventricular hemorrhage using time-series analysis in preterm infants.

Although the prevalence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) has remained high, no optimal strategy has been established to prevent it. This study included preterm newborns born at a gestational age of < 32 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital between January 2013 and June 2022. Infants who had been observed for less than 24 h were excluded.

Attojoule Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Based Memristor for High-Performance Neuromorphic Computing.

In next-generation neuromorphic computing applications, the primary challenge lies in achieving energy-efficient and reliable memristors while minimizing their energy consumption to a level comparable to that of biological synapses. In this work, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)-based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) memristors operating is presented at the attojoule-level tailored for high-performance artificial neural networks. The memristors benefit from a wafer-scale uniform h-BN resistive switching medium grown directly on a highly doped Si wafer using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), resulting in outstanding reliability and low variability.

Histologic features and predicting prognosis in ulcerative colitis patients with mild endoscopic activity.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the histologic features predictive of prognosis and correlate them with endoscopic findings in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) having complete or partial mucosal healing (MH).

Methods: We prospectively collected and reviewed data from patients with UC who underwent colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy with biopsy. Complete and partial MH were defined as Mayo endoscopic subscores (MESs) of 0 and 1, respectively.

Neonatal outcomes of early preterm births according to the delivery indications.

Objective: To compare the neonatal outcomes of early preterm births according to delivery indications and determine the obstetric risk factors associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively studied pregnancies delivered between 22 + 0 and 26 + 6 weeks at the tertiary center between April 2013 and April 2022. Stillbirths, elective termination of pregnancy, and multifetal pregnancies were excluded.

Development and validation of a prediction model for evaluating extubation readiness in preterm infants.

Successful early extubation has advantages not only in terms of short-term respiratory morbidities and survival but also in terms of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. However, no consensus exists regarding the optimal protocol or guidelines for extubation readiness in preterm infants. Therefore, the decision to extubate preterm infants was almost entirely at the attending physician's discretion.

Thermodynamically Driven Tilt Grain Boundaries of Monolayer Crystals Using Catalytic Liquid Alloys.

We report a method to precisely control the atomic defects at grain boundaries (GBs) of monolayer MoS by vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth using sodium molybdate liquid alloys, which serve as growth catalysts to guide the formations of the thermodynamically most stable GB structure. The Mo-rich chemical environment of the alloys results in Mo-polar 5|7 defects with a yield exceeding 95%. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of VLS-grown polycrystalline MoS films markedly exceeds that of the films, exhibiting abundant S 5|7 defects, which are kinetically driven by vapor-solid-solid growths.

Comprehensive characterization of maternal, fetal, and neonatal microbiomes supports prenatal colonization of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this study, we aimed to comprehensively characterize the microbiomes of various samples from pregnant women and their neonates, and to explore the similarities and associations between mother-neonate pairs, sample collection sites, and obstetrical factors. We collected samples from vaginal discharge and amniotic fluid in pregnant women and umbilical cord blood, gastric liquid, and meconium from neonates. We identified 19,597,239 bacterial sequences from 641 samples of 141 pregnant women and 178 neonates.

Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in twin and singleton pregnancies: a Korean national cohort study.

Objective: To investigate whether effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in preterm infants with very low birth weight were different by plurality.

Design: Nationwide prospective cohort study.

Patients: Twins and singletons with very low birth weight (<1500 g) who were born between 23 and 33 weeks of gestation and registered in the Korean Neonatal Network from January 2014 to December 2019.

Epidemiologic study of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation among pediatric patients: A retrospective, population-based cohort study in South Korea.

We aimed to examine the clinical trends of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ICPR) and factors associated with live discharge following ICPR. As a national population-based cohort study, data were extracted from the South Korean National Inpatient Database. This study included 8992 pediatric patients under 18 years of age who underwent ICPR due to in-hospital cardiac arrest during hospitalization in South Korea between 2010 and 2019 (10 years).

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants with very low birth weight conceived with the assistance of in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18-24 months of corrected age between preterm (<32 weeks of gestational age) infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) conceived with and without the assistance of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of sildenafil in term and preterm infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Sildenafil is widely used off-label in pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study was conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of sildenafil in term and preterm neonates with PAH, by developing a population PK model, and to suggest appropriate doses to achieve clinically effective concentrations. A population PK modelling analysis was performed using sildenafil and its metabolite N-desmethyl sildenafil (DMS) concentration data from 19 neonates with PAH, whose gestational ages ranged 24-41 weeks.

Protective Immunity against in Rats, Provided by HCl- and NaOH-Induced Bacterial Ghosts (LMGs) as Vaccine Candidates.

() bacterial ghosts (LMGs) were produced by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HCl, HSO, and NaOH. Acid and alkali effects on the LMGs were compared by in vitro and in vivo analyses. Scanning electron microscope showed that all chemicals form lysis pores on the cell envelopes.

Hydrochloric acid-treated ghosts induce IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in murine macrophage.

Background: Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty cell envelopes commonly generated using Gram-negative bacteria; they represent a potential platform for efficient adjuvant and vaccine delivery systems. However, the efficient production of BGs from bacteria in a short period of time is challenging.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of producing BGs in the Gram-positive using various chemicals, and the potential application of BGs as a novel immunomodulatory agent.

Radiographic Follow-up After Normal Ultrasound Screening of the Hip in Breech Infants.

Background: Breech presentation is one of the most important risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip, and all breech infants should be screened. The necessity of further follow-up of developmental dysplasia of the hip after normal clinical and sonographic screening is a controversial subject. The purpose of this study to identify the incidence of delayed dysplasia in breech infants after normal ultrasound screening and the necessity of further clinical and radiologic follow-up in these patients.

Development of a Kit for Rapid Immunochromatographic Detection of Sacbrood Virus Infecting (AcSBV) Based on Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibodies Raised against Recombinant VP1 and VP2 Expressed in .

A Korean isolate of the sacbrood virus infecting (AcSBV-Kor) is the most destructive honeybee virus, causing serious economic damage losses in Korean apiculture. To address this, here, we attempted to develop an assay for the rapid detection of AcSBV-Kor based on immunochromatographic detection of constituent viral proteins. Genes encoding VP1 and VP2 proteins of AcSBV-Kor were cloned into an expression vector (pET-28a) and expressed in BL21(DE3).

Differentiation of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome misleading to necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a rare non-immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-like symptoms which requires differential diagnosis as treatments differ.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings that differentiate FPIES from NEC in preterm and term infants.

Methods: Clinical features, comorbidities, and laboratory and radiologic findings of neonates with presumed NEC were reviewed retrospectively and compared between FPIES and NEC in preterm and term infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between May 2003 and February 2020.

Breech Presentation in Twins as a Risk Factor for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

Introduction: Identifying risk factors associated with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is essential for early diagnosis and treatment. Breech presentation is a major DDH risk factor, possibly because of crowding of the fetus within the uterus. In multifetal pregnancy, fetuses are generally smaller than singletons, which may obscure the effect of breech presentation on fetal hips.

The association of low body mass index with neonatal morbidities in preterm infants.

Little is known about the association between body proportionality at birth and neonatal outcomes in preterm infants. Body mass index (BMI) is one of the weigh-for-length ratios that represent body proportionality. The objective of this study was to examine whether BMI at birth affects neonatal outcomes in preterm infants.

Differences in Comorbidities and Clinical Burden of Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Based on Disease Severity.

The present study compared baseline characteristics, comorbidities and clinical burden of pre-term infants with type 1 and 2 severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) Collaborative classification. This study was a prospective cohort study of pre-term (<32 weeks) very-low-birth-weight infants. Severe BPD was divided into type 1 severe BPD requiring of ≥30% oxygen and/or non-invasive ventilation at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA), and type 2 severe BPD requiring invasive mechanical ventilation at 36 weeks PMA.

Pristine Graphene Insertion at the Metal/Semiconductor Interface to Minimize Metal-Induced Gap States.

Metal (M) contact with a semiconductor (S) introduces metal-induced gap states (MIGS), which makes it difficult to study the intrinsic electrical properties of S. A bilayer of metal with graphene (Gr), ., a M/Gr bilayer, may form a contact with S to minimize MIGS.