Machine-learning-based evaluation of the usefulness of lactate for predicting neonatal mortality in preterm infants.

Background: Unlike in adult and pediatric patients, the usefulness of lactate in preterm infants has not been thoroughly discussed. This study aimed to evaluate whether the lactate level in the first hours of life is an important factor associated with neonatal death in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants.

Methods: Electronic medical records from a level 4 neonatal intensive care unit in South Korea were reviewed to obtain perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Improved Outcomes following a Conservative Approach to Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Comparison across Two Periods.

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a commonly encountered morbidity that occurs inversely with gestational age. In response to the growing trend of avoiding PDA ligation and prophylactic interventions, our center adopted a conservative approach starting in September 2020. This approach involves more precise fluid restriction for hemodynamically significant (hs) PDA.

Patent ductus arteriosus management in very-low-birth-weight prematurity: a place for an early operation?

Objectives: The goal was to evaluate neonatal outcomes based on treatment strategies and time points for haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants, with a particular focus on surgical closure.

Methods: This retrospective study included very-low-birth-weight infants born between 2014 and 2021 who received active treatment for hsPDA. Neonatal outcomes were compared between (i) primary surgical closure versus primary ibuprofen; (ii) early (<14th post-natal day) versus late primary surgical closure (≥14th post-natal day); and (iii) primary versus secondary surgical closure after ibuprofen failure.

A Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Comparative Human Study to Verify the Functionality and Safety of the Lespedeza cuneata G. Don Extract for the Improvement of Aging Male Syndrome.

Objective: Aging male syndrome is a clinical biochemical syndrome characterized by typical aging symptoms and serum testosterone deficiency. Although it is accompanied by various health problems, directly affects life satisfaction, and requires proper management, no clear prevention or treatment other than hormone replacement therapy is currently available for this syndrome. Here, we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of the Lespedeza cuneata extract in the management of the aging male syndrome.

Compositional Differences of Meconium Microbiomes of Preterm and Term Infants, and Infants That Developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis or Feeding Intolerance.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the compositional differences of the first passed meconium microbiome in preterm and term infants, and the secondary aim was to compare the meconium microbiomes of preterm and term infants that later developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)/Feeding intolerance (FI) compared to those that did not develop NEC/FI. During the study period, a total of 108 preterm and term newborns' first passed meconium occurring within 72 hours of birth were collected and microbiome analyzed. Meconium microbiomes showed a disruption in the percentages of the core microbiome constituents in both the phylum and genus levels in infants born < 30 weeks of gestational age (GA) compared to those born ≥ 30 weeks of GA.

The prognosis of refractory hypotension and severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The increased survival rate among very low birth weight infants has resulted in a higher risk for developing neuro-complications such as intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose: We examined refractory hypotension experienced within a week of life in association with severe IVH (grades 3-4) among very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).

Method: Between Jan 2014 and Dec 2017, the clinical data of 191 VLBWIs were retrospectively chart reviewed.

Predictive Value of Heat-Shock Protein Gene Expression on Severe Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

This study aims to evaluate significant gene expression in severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns, which can be used as a predictable measure for high-risk HIE infants. The study prospectively recruited 77 inborn near-term or term HIE newborns between January 2018 and December 2020. We measured six different genes within 6 h of life among the HIE infants and compared the gene levels between the mild- and severe-HIE groups.

Clinical seizures and unfavorable brain MRI patterns in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

The aim was to examine whether clinical seizures and amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) patterns in infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can predict the extent of brain injury on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18∼24 months of age.HIE infants who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH) between June 2014 and March 2017 were included in this study. Infants with clinical seizure were analyzed for aEEG patterns and the extent of brain injury on MRI findings.

The prognosis of brain magnetic resonance imaging injury pattern for outcomes of hypothermia-treated infants.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be a tool that allows the observation of structural injury patterns after cooling. The aim of this study was to determine the early pattern of brain injury in the MRIs of infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after cooling and to search for any clinical factors related to abnormal MRI findings.The study retrospectively recruited 118 infants who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) between 2013 and 2016.

Interleukin 8 may predict surgical necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born less than 1500 g.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) often leads to gastrointestinal emergency resulting high mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) requiring surgery. To date, few studies have explored the role of serum cytokines in the development of feeding intolerance (FI) or NEC outcomes in VLBWIs. Infants born weighing <1500 g or of 32 weeks of gestational age were prospectively enrolled from May 2018 to Dec 2019.

Risk factors associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation after surgical patent ductus arteriosus ligation in preterm infants.

Background: One of the main pathophysiologies of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) involves pulmonary over-circulation. However, PDA treatment does not present with uniform effects on pulmonary outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics - in particular, respiratory parameters - associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation after PDA ligation.

Respiratory Severity Score with Regard to Birthweight during the Early Days of Life for Predicting Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants.

Objective: The respiratory severity score (RSS) has been demonstrated to be associated with the oxygenation index in intubated newborn infants. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of RSS with regard to birthweight (BW) in preterm infants for predicting an association with future pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: Preterm infants with <30 weeks' gestation and <1250 g BW were reviewed and grouped into two (PH vs.

Enlarged subarachnoid space on cranial ultrasound in preterm infants: Neurodevelopmental implication.

The role of enlarged subarachnoid space (ESS) in preterm infants has not been described in concrete. We aimed to evaluate whether ESS should be considered a risk factor potentially associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in prematurity. Electronic medical records of 197 preterm infants (median 32.

Patent ductus arteriosus ligation on neurodevelopmental outcomes at corrected 2 years.

Background: Our aim in this study was to evaluate whether very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) ligated for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes at corrected 2 years. The ligated group was subdivided into ≤2 weeks of life (early) and ligated > 2 weeks of life (late) groups and compared the in-hospital morbidities and long term outcomes.

Methods: Between Dec 2013 and Dec 2015, VLBWI diagnosed with hs PDA were evaluated.

Preoperative metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury after open laparotomy in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: This study evaluated potential risk factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in infants undergoing bedside open laparotomy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and analyzed the association between postoperative AKI and outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective data, including neonatal characteristics, perioperative findings (i.e.

Clinical implications in laboratory parameter values in acute Kawasaki disease for early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse laboratory values according to fever duration, and evaluate the relationship across these values during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) to aid in the early diagnosis for early-presenting KD and incomplete KD patients.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of patients with KD (n=615) were evaluated according to duration of fever at presentation, and were compared between patients with and without coronary artery lesions (CALs). For evaluation of the relationships across laboratory indices, patients with a fever duration of 5 days or 6 days were used (n=204).

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin as a biomarker for disease severity and relapse in recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.

Background: Eosinophils are encountered in many skin diseases, but the role of eosinophils in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains uncertain.

Objective: To examine the role of serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and total IgE as a biomarker of disease severity and relapse in severe recalcitrant AD.

Methods: We enrolled 99 patients with AD: 37 with severe recalcitrant AD, 20 with severe AD, and 42 with mild to moderate AD.

Recurrent macrophage activation syndrome since toddler age in an adolescent boy with HLA B27 positive juvenile ankylosing spondylitis.

Recurrent macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is very rare. We present the case of an adolescent boy with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who experienced episodes of recurrent MAS since he was a toddler. A 16-year-old boy was admitted because of remittent fever with pancytopenia and splenomegaly after surgical intervention for an intractable perianal abscess.

Fatal systemic adenoviral infection superimposed on pulmonary mucormycosis in a child with acute leukemia: A case report.

Background: Although adenovirus (ADV) infection usually causes self-limiting respiratory disorders in immune competent children; severe and systemic ADV infection in children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia has been continuously reported. Nevertheless, there has been no consensus on risk factors and treatment strategies for severe ADV infection in children undergoing chemotherapy.

Case Summary: We report a case of a 15-year-old boy with a fatal systemic ADV infection.

Clinical Application of the Threshold Equalizing Noise Test in Patients with Hearing Loss of Various Etiologies: A Preliminary Study.

Background And Objectives: We aimed to make a preliminary assessment of the prevalence of cochlear dead regions (DRs) and the factors affecting the results of the threshold-equalizing noise (TEN) test in patients with hearing loss of various etiologies.

Subjects And Methods: Between May and July 2014, 109 patients (191 ears) with hearing loss who visited our outpatient clinic were prospectively enrolled. Pure tone audiometry and TEN (HL) test were performed for all the patients.

Missed spermatic cord torsion in an old man.

The fate of testicular salvage in spermatic cord torsion depends on the duration of ischemia and the degree of torsion. Even though spermatic cord torsion (SCT) can occur at any age, it is rarely reported in older patients. If the physician does not pay close attention to this unusual situation, the lack of suspicion for SCT may result in a missed or delayed diagnosis.

Impact of intravesical protrusion of the prostate in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia of moderate size by alpha receptor antagonist.

Purpose: To evaluate whether intravesical protrusion of the prostate (IPP) is related to the treatment effect of alpha-1 receptor antagonist in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with a prostate size of less than 40 g.

Methods: A total of 77 BPH patients over 50 years of age treated with alfuzosin (alpha blocker) were enrolled prospectively. The study included only patients with BPH of 40 g or less.

Ubiquitination and degradation of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 by WD40 repeat/SOCS box protein WSB-1.

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a member of the nuclear protein kinase family, which induces both p53- and CtBP-mediated apoptosis. Levels of HIPK2 were increased by UV irradiation and cisplatin treatment, thereby implying the degradation of HIPK2 in cells under normal conditions. Here, we indicate that HIPK2 is ubiquitinated and degraded by the WD40-repeat/SOCS box protein WSB-1, a process that is blocked under DNA damage conditions.