Risk factors for respiratory distress syndrome in full-term neonates / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a one of the most common cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality in neonates. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for RDS in full-term neonates.METHODS: We conducted this retrospective study using medical records. The study group included 80 full-term neonates diagnosed with RDS and hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2012 and December 2016, at Yeungnam University Hospital. We analyzed sex, gestational age, birth weight, delivery method, maternal age, number of pregnancy, history of abortion, and complication of pregnancy. The control group included 116 full-time neonates who were hospitalized with jaundice during the same period.RESULTS: The incidence of full-term RDS was more common in males (odds ratio [OR], 3.288; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.446–7.479), cesarean section (OR, 15.03; 95% CI, 6.381–35.423), multiparity (OR, 4.216; 95% CI, 1.568–11.335). The other factors rendered no significant results.CONCLUSION: The risk factors for RDS in full-tern neonates were identified as male sex, cesarean section, and multiparity. Further studies involving more institutions are needed to clarify the risk factors for RDS in fullterm infants.

Antiepileptic and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of red ginseng in an intrahippocampal kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated by electroencephalography / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation can lower the seizure threshold and have influence on epileptogenesis. The components of red ginseng (RG) have anti-inflammatory effects. The abundance of peripherally derived immune cells in resected epileptic tissue suggests that the immune system is a potential target for anti-epileptogenic therapies. The present study used continuous electroencephalography (EEG) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RG in intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy.METHODS: Prolonged status epilepticus (SE) was induced in 7-week-old C57BL/6J mice via stereotaxic injection of kainic acid (KA, 150 nL; 1 mg/mL) into the right CA3/dorsal hippocampus. The animals were implanted electrodes and monitored for spontaneous seizures. Following the IHKA injections, one group received treatments of RG (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (RG group, n=7) while another group received valproic acid (VPA, 30 mg/kg/day) (VPA group, n=7). Laboratory findings and pathological results were assessed at D29 and continuous (24 h/week) EEG monitoring was used to evaluate high-voltage sharp waves on D7, D14, D21, and D28.RESULTS: At D29, there were no differences between the groups in liver function test but RG group had higher blood urea nitrogen levels. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that RG reduced the infiltration of immune cells into the brain and EEG analyses showed that it had anticonvulsant effects.CONCLUSION: Repeated treatments with RG after IHKA-induced SE decreased immune cell infiltration into the brain and resulted in a marked decrease in electrographic seizures. RG had anticonvulsant effects that were similar to those of VPA without serious side effects.

Risk factors for respiratory distress syndrome in full-term neonates / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND@#Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a one of the most common cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality in neonates. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for RDS in full-term neonates.@*METHODS@#We conducted this retrospective study using medical records. The study group included 80 full-term neonates diagnosed with RDS and hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2012 and December 2016, at Yeungnam University Hospital. We analyzed sex, gestational age, birth weight, delivery method, maternal age, number of pregnancy, history of abortion, and complication of pregnancy. The control group included 116 full-time neonates who were hospitalized with jaundice during the same period.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of full-term RDS was more common in males (odds ratio [OR], 3.288; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.446–7.479), cesarean section (OR, 15.03; 95% CI, 6.381–35.423), multiparity (OR, 4.216; 95% CI, 1.568–11.335). The other factors rendered no significant results.@*CONCLUSION@#The risk factors for RDS in full-tern neonates were identified as male sex, cesarean section, and multiparity. Further studies involving more institutions are needed to clarify the risk factors for RDS in fullterm infants.

Antiepileptic and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of red ginseng in an intrahippocampal kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated by electroencephalography / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND@#Chronic inflammation can lower the seizure threshold and have influence on epileptogenesis. The components of red ginseng (RG) have anti-inflammatory effects. The abundance of peripherally derived immune cells in resected epileptic tissue suggests that the immune system is a potential target for anti-epileptogenic therapies. The present study used continuous electroencephalography (EEG) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RG in intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy.@*METHODS@#Prolonged status epilepticus (SE) was induced in 7-week-old C57BL/6J mice via stereotaxic injection of kainic acid (KA, 150 nL; 1 mg/mL) into the right CA3/dorsal hippocampus. The animals were implanted electrodes and monitored for spontaneous seizures. Following the IHKA injections, one group received treatments of RG (250 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (RG group, n=7) while another group received valproic acid (VPA, 30 mg/kg/day) (VPA group, n=7). Laboratory findings and pathological results were assessed at D29 and continuous (24 h/week) EEG monitoring was used to evaluate high-voltage sharp waves on D7, D14, D21, and D28.@*RESULTS@#At D29, there were no differences between the groups in liver function test but RG group had higher blood urea nitrogen levels. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that RG reduced the infiltration of immune cells into the brain and EEG analyses showed that it had anticonvulsant effects.@*CONCLUSION@#Repeated treatments with RG after IHKA-induced SE decreased immune cell infiltration into the brain and resulted in a marked decrease in electrographic seizures. RG had anticonvulsant effects that were similar to those of VPA without serious side effects.

Clinical features according to chest radiologic patterns of Mycoplasma pneumonia in children / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Clinical differences in Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) in children and adolescent patients according to abnormal infiltrate patterns on the chest X-ray were compared. METHODS: From 2012 to 2015, patients (n=336) diagnosed with MP at Yeungnam University Medical Center have been classified as eiher lobar pneumonia or bronchopneumonia based on the infilterate patterns observed on chest X-ray. Cases were analyzed retrospectively for gender, age, seasonal incidence rate, main symptoms (fever duration, extrapulmonary symptoms), and laboratory results, including white blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), as well as concurrent respiratory virus infection. RESULTS: The following results were observed. First, lobar pneumonia affected 22.0% of all MP patients and was the most common in preschool children, with a high incidence rate in November and December. Second, lobar pneumonia had a longer fever duration than bronchopneumonia (p<0.001), and also showed significantly higher platelets (336.8 vs. 299.1 k/µL, p=0.026), ESR(46.3 vs. 26.0mm/hr, p<0.001) and CRP (4.86 vs. 2.18mg/dL, p=0.001). Third, viral co-infection was more common in bronchopneumonia (p=0.017), affecting 66.7% of infants and toddlers (p=0.034). Finaly, lobar consolidation was most common in both lower lobes. CONCLUSION: MP in children has increased in younger age groups, and the rate of lobar pneumonia with severe clinical symptoms is higher in older children.