Mitochondrial DNA mutations in extremely preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a serious chronic lung disease affecting extremely preterm infants. While mitochondrial dysfunction has been investigated in various medical conditions, limited research has explored mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene mutations, specifically in BPD. This study aimed to evaluate mitochondrial mtDNA gene mutations in extremely preterm infants with BPD.

Outcomes at 18-24 Months of Infants with Birth Weight under 500 g Born in Korea during 2013-2017: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of infants at 18-24 months born in the Korean Neonatal Network with a birth weight <500 g.

Methods: The anthropometric and neurodevelopmental data of infants with a birth weight <500 g at a gestational age of ≥22 weeks who were registered in the Korean Neonatal Network 2013-2017 and followed up at a corrected age of 18-24 months were reviewed. Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as the presence of any of the following: (1) cerebral palsy; (2) severe visual impairment; (3) hearing impairment; or (4) cognitive impairment.

Prevention of human milk-acquired cytomegalovirus infection in very-low-birth-weight infants.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the rate of cytomegalovirus virolactia in the human milk (HM) of mothers of VLBW infants, compare the CMV infection rates and the changes in CMV DNA viral load and nutrient profile among different HM preparation methods.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was performed in infants with gestational age < 32 weeks or birth-weight < 1500 g admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Asan Medical Center and Haeundae Paik Hospital who were given mother's own milk. Enrolled infants were randomized into three groups according to the HM preparation methods: freezing-thawing (FT), FT + low-temperature Holder pasteurization (FT + LP), and FT + high-temperature short-term pasteurization (FT + HP).

Survey of Korean pediatrician's perceptions of barriers to and improvements in breastfeeding.

Background: Although the benefits of breastfeeding are broadly acknowledged with the efforts of the government and several medical societies, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months is lower in Korea than in developed countries.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate pediatricians' perceptions of breastfeeding barriers and the current breastfeeding counseling environment and propose government policies to encourage breastfeeding in Korea.

Methods: Fourteen survey questions were developed during meetings of Korean Society of Breastfeeding Medicine experts.

Prenatal prognostic factors for isolated right congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a single center's experience.

Background: Right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (RCDH) is relatively rare compared with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (LCDH). Clinical data of RCDH, especially with respect to antenatal prediction of neonatal outcome, are lacking. The aim of this study was to report the treatment outcomes of patients with antenatally diagnosed RCDH and to evaluate the predictability of observed-to-expected lung area-to-head circumference ratio (O/E LHR) for perinatal outcomes, focused on mortality or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requirement.

Survival and Morbidities in Infants with Birth Weight Less than 500 g: a Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the survival and morbidities of infants in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) with birth weight (BW) < 500 g.

Methods: The demographic and clinical data of 208 live-born infants with a BW < 500 g at a gestational age of ≥ 22 weeks who were treated in the neonatal intensive care units of the KNN between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed.

Results: The survival rate of the infants was 28%, with a median gestational age and BW of 24 weeks (range, 22-33) and 440 g (range, 220-499), respectively.

Comparing Axillary and Rectal Temperature Measurements in Very Preterm Infants: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: The agreement between axillary temperature (AT) and rectal temperature (RT) measurements has not been well established in preterm infants. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the agreement between AT and RT measurements in very preterm infants.

Methods: Preterm infants <32 weeks of gestational age were prospectively included.

Functional and structural evaluation in the lungs of children with repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Background: To evaluate the long-term functional and structural pulmonary development in children with repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to identify the associated perinatal-neonatal risk factors.

Methods: Children with repaired CDH through corrective surgery who were born at gestational age ≥ 35 weeks were included in this analysis. Those who were followed for at least 5 years were subjected to spirometry and chest computed tomography for evaluation of their functional and structural growth.

Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality After 24 Hours in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Background And Objectives: The existing prediction formulas for in-hospital mortality of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants were mostly developed in the 1990s or 2000s and thus may not reflect the recently improved levels of neonatal care. We conducted this study to build a model for predicting the in-hospital mortality using perinatal factors available soon after birth.

Methods: We gathered data on VLBW infants from the Korean Neonatal Network, a nationwide, prospective, Web-based registry that enrolled patients from 2013 to 2017.

Morbidity and Mortality of Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to provide morbidity and mortality information on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with congenital heart disease (CHD-VLBWs).

Methods: The study used a 10-year cohort of VLBW infants from a single institution. CHD was classified according to International Classification of Diseases, Version 9, Clinical Modification.

Challenges of acute peritoneal dialysis in extremely-low-birth-weight infants: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been used occasionally in extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ELBW infants with AKI treated with PD.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of ELBW infants with AKI, who underwent PD from January 2008 to February 2018, were reviewed.

Fatal outcome of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in neonates with recessive PKHD1 mutations.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is the most common inherited childhood-onset renal disease, with underlying ciliopathy, and varies widely in clinical severity. The aim of this study was to describe the most severe form of ARPKD, with a fatal clinical course, and its association with mutations in polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 (fibrocystin) (PKHD1). Clinical, imaging, pathological, and molecular genetic findings were reviewed in patients prenatally affected with ARPKD and their families.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide cannot predict treatment response to ibuprofen in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a useful marker for diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) and serial BNP measurement is also valuable for monitoring treatment response. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate whether plasma BNP level can predict treatment response to ibuprofen in preterm infants born at <30 weeks of gestation with hsPDA. Plasma BNP was measured before (baseline) and 12 to 24 h after (post-treatment) completion of the first (IBU1) and second (IBU2) course of ibuprofen.

Neonatal exchange transfusion: Experience in Korea.

Background: Exchange transfusion (ET) is an established, efficacious, and reliable practice for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, hemolytic disease of the newborn, and neonatal sepsis. This study assessed the indications and clinical outcomes of ET performed in a tertiary hospital in Korea.

Materials And Methods: We studied 64 ET sessions performed on 23 neonates between March 1999 and March 2018.

Prenatal sonographic markers of the outcome in fetuses with bronchopulmonary sequestration.

Purpose: To evaluate the prenatal sonographic predictive markers of the outcome in fetuses with bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS).

Methods: BPS size and diameter of the feeding artery (FA) were measured prenatally and postnatally. Velocity of the FA and the left ventricular-modified myocardial performance index (LV mod-MPI) were also evaluated prenatally.

Validity of the Korean Developmental Screening Test for very-low-birth-weight infants.

Purpose: The importance of the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants has been emphasized as their mortality rate has markedly improved. This study aimed to assess the validity of the Korean Developmental Screening Test (K-DST), a developmental screening tool approved by the Korean Society of Pediatrics, for the timely diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay in VLBW infants.

Methods: Subjects included VLBW infants enrolled in the Korean Neonatal Network database between January 2012 and December 2014.

Basal serum cortisol concentration in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The aim of our study was to measure the basal serum cortisol concentration immediately after birth and to determine its association with perinatal factors and clinical outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: Basal serum cortisol level was obtained within one hour after birth in inborn VLBW infants. The association between the basal serum cortisol level and perinatal and clinical outcomes was analyzed by comparing the groups with high versus low cortisol levels.

National Registry Data from Korean Neonatal Network: Two-Year Outcomes of Korean Very Low Birth Weight Infants Born in 2013-2014.

Background: The aim of this study was to observe long-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) born between 2013 and 2014 in Korea, especially focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Methods: The data were collected from Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) registry from 43 and 54 participating units in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A standardized electronic case report form containing 30 items related to long-term follow up was used after data validation.

The predictors for the non-compliance to follow-up among very low birth weight infants in the Korean neonatal network.

The critical need to emphasize preterm infant follow-up after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge assures early identification of and intervention for neurodevelopmental disability. The aims of this study were to observe the follow-up rates in high-risk follow-up clinics, and analyze factors associated with non-compliance to follow-up among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The data was prospectively collected for 3063 VLBW infants between January 2013 and December 2014 from 57 Korean neonatal network (KNN) centers at a corrected age of 18-24 months.

Chronic Placental Inflammation as a Risk Factor of Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Background: Chronic placental inflammation (CPI) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases in premature infants, whereas retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major complication primarily affecting preterm and very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. This study aims to investigate the association between CPI and ROP in VLBW infants.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of clinical records of VLBW infants born between 2013 and 2016.

Case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung associated with congenital pulmonary airway malformation in a neonate.

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously known as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, is a rare developmental lung abnormality associated with rhabdomyosarcoma, pleuropulmonary blastoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung. We report an unusual case of a 10-day-old male newborn with a left lower lobe pulmonary cyst who underwent lobectomy, which revealed type II CPAM complicated by multifocal mucinous adenocarcinoma. KRAS sequencing revealed a somatic mutation in Codon12 (GGT → GAT), suggesting the development of a mucinous adenocarcinoma in the background of mucinous metaplasia.

Transthoracic catheter drainage for large symptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation.

Background: Surgical resection of large symptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) in newborns has high risks of mortality and postoperative morbidity. This study aimed to report the clinical outcomes of newborns who underwent percutaneous transthoracic catheter drainage (PTCD) of large symptomatic CPAM before surgical resection.

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study based on review of the medical records of newborn infants who required surgical resection of large symptomatic CPAM at a single tertiary hospital from 2001 to 2017.

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration in neonates: The natural course and predictive factors associated with spontaneous regression.

Purpose: To describe the natural course of extralobar pulmonary sequestration (EPS) and identify factors associated with spontaneous regression of EPS.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively searched for patients diagnosed with EPS on initial contrast CT scan within 1 month after birth and had a follow-up CT scan without treatment. Spontaneous regression of EPS was assessed by percentage decrease in volume (PDV) and percentage decrease in sum of the diameter of systemic feeding arteries (PDD) by comparing initial and follow-up CT scans.