The Effect of Vanishing Twin on Firstand Second-Trimester Maternal Serum Markers and Nuchal Translucency: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Background@#The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vanishing twin (VT) on maternal serum marker concentrations and nuchal translucency (NT). @*Methods@#This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study in 12 institutions. Serum concentrations of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in the first trimester and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total human chorionic gonadotrophin, unconjugated estriol, and inhibin A in the second trimester were measured, and NT was measured between 10 and 14 weeks of gestation. @*Results@#Among 6,793 pregnant women, 5,381 women were measured for serum markers in the first or second trimester, including 65 cases in the VT group and 5,316 cases in the normal singleton group. The cases in the VT group had a higher median multiple of the median value of AFP and inhibin A than the normal singleton group. The values of other serum markers and NT were not different between the two groups. After the permutation test with adjustment,AFP and inhibin A remained significant differences. The frequency of abnormally increased AFP was also higher in the VT group than in the normal singleton group. @*Conclusion@#VT can be considered as an adjustment factor for risk assessment in the secondtrimester serum screening test.

Current Status and Key Issues of Data Management in Tertiary Hospitals: A Case Study of Seoul National University Hospital / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where an ecosystem is being developed to enhance the quality of healthcare services by applying information and communication technologies, systematic and sustainable data management is essential for medical institutions. In this study, we assessed the data management status and emerging concerns of three medical institutions, while also examining future directions for seamless data management. @*Methods@#To evaluate the data management status, we examined data types, capacities, infrastructure, backup methods, and related organizations. We also discussed challenges, such as resource and infrastructure issues, problems related to government regulations, and considerations for future data management. @*Results@#Hospitals are grappling with the increasing data storage space and a shortage of management personnel due to costs and project termination, which necessitates countermeasures and support. Data management regulations on the destruction or maintenance of medical records are needed, and institutional consideration for secondary utilization such as long-term treatment or research is required. Government-level guidelines for facilitating hospital data sharing and mobile patient services should be developed. Additionally, hospital executives at the organizational level need to make efforts to facilitate the clinical validation of artificial intelligence software. @*Conclusions@#This analysis of the current status and emerging issues of data management reveals potential solutions and sets the stage for future organizational and policy directions. If medical big data is systematically managed, accumulated over time, and strategically monetized, it has the potential to create new value.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Diseases and Associations with Serum Biomarkers of Aneuploidy: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#We assessed prenatal detection rates of congenital heart disease (CHD) and associations between maternal serum biomarkers and non-chromosomal CHD in singleton pregnancies. @*Materials and Methods@#This study was conducted as a secondary analysis of data obtained during a multicenter prospective cohort study that investigated the cost-effectiveness of prenatal testing for fetal aneuploidy. We analyzed the prenatal detection rate and accuracy for CHD screening via ultrasound during the second trimester, as well as associations between serum biomarkers and CHDs, in singleton newborns without chromosomal abnormalities. @*Results@#Among 6715 women, 142 (2.1%) newborns were born with CHDs, of which 67 (1.0%) newborns had major CHDs. The prenatal detection rate for all CHDs and major CHDs were 34.5% and 58.2%, respectively. After excluding isolated ventricular septal defects, the detection rate for critical CHDs was 85.9%. Women with low pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) (<0.4 multiples of the median, MOM) face increased risks of non-chromosomal CHDs [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–5.13] and major CHDs (aOR 7.30; 95% CI 3.18–15.59), compared to those without CHDs. A higher inhibin A level (≥2.5 MOM; aOR 4.84; 95% CI 1.42–12.46) was associated with non-chromosomal major CHDs. @*Conclusion@#Ultrasonography performed during the second trimester by obstetricians detected over 85% of critical CHDs. Low maternal serum PAPP-A or high inhibin-A was associated with non-chromosomal CHDs. These results may contribute to an improvement in prenatal diagnosis of CHDs.

Validation of a Strict Obesity Definition Proposed for Asians to Predict Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Korean Pregnant Women

Background@#People are generally considered overweight and obese if their body mass index (BMI) is above 25 kg/m 2 and 30.0 kg/m 2 , respectively. The World Health Organization proposed stricter criteria for Asians (≥ 23 kg/m2 : overweight, ≥ 25 kg/m2 : obese). We aimed to verify whether this criteria could predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korean women. @*Methods@#We included 7,547 Korean women from 12 institutions enrolled between June 2016 and October 2018. Women with no pre-pregnancy BMI data, not Korean, or lost to followup were excluded, leaving 6,331. The subjects were categorized into underweight, normal, overweight, class I obesity, and class II/III obesity based on a pre-pregnancy BMI of < 18.5, 18.5–22.9, 23.0–24.9, 25.0–29.9, and ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 , respectively. @*Results@#Overall, 13.4%, 63.0%, 11.8%, 9.1%, and 2.6% of women were underweight, normal, and overweight and had class I obesity and class II/III obesity, respectively. In the multivariable analysis adjusted for maternal age, a higher BMI significantly increased the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery caused by maternal-fetal indications, cesarean section, large for gestational age, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. @*Conclusion@#Adverse pregnancy outcomes started to increase in those with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2 after adjusting for maternal age. The modified obesity criteria could help predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in Koreans.

Delayed diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal outcomes in women with large for gestational age fetuses during the third trimester

Objective@#We evaluated the incidence of newly diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the 3rd trimester in women with suspected large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses on ultrasound and assessed their perinatal outcomes. @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was performed. Singleton pregnant women with suspected LGA on the 3rd trimester ultrasound and whose results of GDM screening at midpregnancy had been normal were enrolled. All participants were retested with 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) within 2 days after diagnosis of LGA. We compared perinatal outcomes between the newly diagnosed with GDM group and the non-GDM group. @*Results@#Among 169 pregnant women, 13% (23/169) were newly diagnosed with GDM. The women in the GDM group had a higher HbA1c level at diagnosis (5.8 vs. 5.3, P<0.01) and earlier gestational age at delivery (38.0 vs 38.9 weeks of gestation, P=0.003) than those in the non-GDM group. The rate of cesarean delivery (CD) was significantly higher in the GDM group than that in the non-GDM group (73.9%, vs. 49.3%, P=0.028) with similar proportions for the indications of CD except CD on maternal request (CDMR). The CDMR rate was higher in the GDM group than nonGDM group (41.2% vs. 23.6%) but it did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the obstetrical and neonatal complications between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#Among pregnant women with suspected LGA, 13% were newly diagnosed with GDM in late pregnancy. Nonetheless, there were no differences in the perinatal outcomes between women with newly diagnosed GDM and those without GDM. However, concerns over shoulder dystocia appear to increase CD rates in the GDM group.

Delayed diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal outcomes in women with large for gestational age fetuses during the third trimester

Objective@#We evaluated the incidence of newly diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the 3rd trimester in women with suspected large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses on ultrasound and assessed their perinatal outcomes. @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was performed. Singleton pregnant women with suspected LGA on the 3rd trimester ultrasound and whose results of GDM screening at midpregnancy had been normal were enrolled. All participants were retested with 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) within 2 days after diagnosis of LGA. We compared perinatal outcomes between the newly diagnosed with GDM group and the non-GDM group. @*Results@#Among 169 pregnant women, 13% (23/169) were newly diagnosed with GDM. The women in the GDM group had a higher HbA1c level at diagnosis (5.8 vs. 5.3, P<0.01) and earlier gestational age at delivery (38.0 vs 38.9 weeks of gestation, P=0.003) than those in the non-GDM group. The rate of cesarean delivery (CD) was significantly higher in the GDM group than that in the non-GDM group (73.9%, vs. 49.3%, P=0.028) with similar proportions for the indications of CD except CD on maternal request (CDMR). The CDMR rate was higher in the GDM group than nonGDM group (41.2% vs. 23.6%) but it did not reach statistical significance. There were no significant differences in the obstetrical and neonatal complications between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#Among pregnant women with suspected LGA, 13% were newly diagnosed with GDM in late pregnancy. Nonetheless, there were no differences in the perinatal outcomes between women with newly diagnosed GDM and those without GDM. However, concerns over shoulder dystocia appear to increase CD rates in the GDM group.

The Amniotic Fluid Proteome Differs Significantly between Donor and Recipient Fetuses in Pregnancies Complicated by Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

BACKGROUND@#Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a serious complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies. It results from disproportionate blood supply to each fetus caused by abnormal vascular anastomosis within the placenta. Amniotic fluid (AF) is an indicator reflecting the various conditions of the fetus, and an imbalance in AF volume is essential for the antenatal diagnosis of TTTS by ultrasound. In this study, two different mass spectrometry quantitative approaches were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) within matched pairs of AF samples.@*METHODS@#We characterized the AF proteome in pooled AF samples collected from donor and recipient twin pairs (n = 5 each) with TTTS by a global proteomics profiling approach and then preformed the statistical analysis to determine the DEPs between the two groups. Next, we carried out a targeted proteomic approach (multiple reaction monitoring) with DEPs to achieve high-confident TTTS-associated AF proteins.@*RESULTS@#A total of 103 AF proteins that were significantly altered in their abundances between donor and recipient fetuses. The majority of upregulated proteins identified in the recipient twins (including carbonic anhydrase 1, fibrinogen alpha chain, aminopeptidase N, alpha-fetoprotein, fibrinogen gamma chain, and basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein) have been associated with cardiac or dermatologic disease, which is often seen in recipient twins as a result of volume overload. In contrast, proteins significantly upregulated in AF collected from donor twins (including IgGFc-binding protein, apolipoprotein C-I, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, apolipoprotein C-III, apolipoprotein A-II, decorin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A-I, and fibronectin) were those previously shown to be associated with inflammation, ischemic cardiovascular complications or renal disease.@*CONCLUSION@#In this study, we identified proteomic biomarkers in AF collected from donor and recipient twins in pregnancies complicated by TTTS that appear to reflect underlying functional and pathophysiological challenges faced by each of the fetuses.

A Comparison of Predictive Performances between Old versus New Criteria in a Risk-Based Screening Strategy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background@#The definition of the high-risk group for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was changed from the criteria composed of five historic/demographic factors (old criteria) to the criteria consisting of 11 factors (new criteria) in 2017. To compare the predictive performances between these two sets of criteria. @*Methods@#This is a secondary analysis of a large prospective cohort study of non-diabetic Korean women with singleton pregnancies designed to examine the risk of GDM in women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Maternal fasting blood was taken at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation and measured for glucose and lipid parameters. GDM was diagnosed by the two-step approach. @*Results@#Among 820 women, 42 (5.1%) were diagnosed with GDM. Using the old criteria, 29.8% (n=244) of women would have been identified as high risk versus 16.0% (n=131) using the new criteria. Of the 42 women who developed GDM, 45.2% (n=19) would have been mislabeled as not high risk by the old criteria versus 50.0% (n=21) using the new criteria (1-sensitivity, 45.2% vs. 50.0%, P>0.05). Among the 778 patients who did not develop GDM, 28.4% (n=221) would have been identified as high risk using the old criteria versus 14.1% (n=110) using the new criteria (1-specificity, 28.4% vs. 14.1%, P<0.001). @*Conclusion@#Compared with the old criteria, use of the new criteria would have decreased the number of patients identified as high risk and thus requiring early GDM screening by half (from 244 [29.8%] to 131 [16.0%]).

Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase in Early Pregnancy and Subsequent Development of Gestational Diabetes and Preeclampsia

Background@#Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now considered as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is commonly related to NAFLD in the absence of viral hepatitis or alcohol abuse. Previous studies have indicated that elevated ALT is associated with diabetes or metabolic syndrome in adults, but the clinical significance of ALT or NAFLD in pregnancy has not been well determined. The objective of this study was to determine the association between elevated ALT in early pregnancy and the development of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia in late pregnancy. @*Methods@#In this retrospective cohort study, pregnant women who met the following inclusion criteria were included: 1) singleton pregnancy; 2) ALT levels were measured in antenatal outpatient clinic at 4–20 weeks of gestation; 3) patients were screened for gestational diabetes and delivered in Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center. Cases with viral hepatitis or other liver diseases were excluded. The early ALT levels were divided into two groups (normal ALT [≤ 95th percentile] and elevated ALT [> 95th percentile]), and the frequency of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia was compared between the two groups of cases. Gestational diabetes was screened and diagnosed by two-step procedure (50 g oral glucose challenge test and 75 g glucose challenge test with World Health Organization [WHO] criteria). @*Results@#A total of 2,322 women met the inclusion criteria. Cases with elevated early ALT levels (> 95th percentile) had a higher risk of subsequent gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (gestational diabetes by WHO criteria, 2.1% in normal ALT vs. 6.5% in elevated ALT, P < 0.01; preeclampsia, 1.0% in normal ALT vs. 4.1% in elevated ALT, P < 0.05). This relationship between elevated ALT and increased risk of gestational diabetes/preeclampsia remained significant after adjustment for maternal age and pre-pregnancy body mass index. @*Conclusion@#Elevated unexplained ALT in early pregnancy is associated with the risk of subsequent development of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in late pregnancy.

The Amniotic Fluid Proteome Differs Significantly between Donor and Recipient Fetuses in Pregnancies Complicated by Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a serious complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies. It results from disproportionate blood supply to each fetus caused by abnormal vascular anastomosis within the placenta. Amniotic fluid (AF) is an indicator reflecting the various conditions of the fetus, and an imbalance in AF volume is essential for the antenatal diagnosis of TTTS by ultrasound. In this study, two different mass spectrometry quantitative approaches were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) within matched pairs of AF samples.METHODS: We characterized the AF proteome in pooled AF samples collected from donor and recipient twin pairs (n = 5 each) with TTTS by a global proteomics profiling approach and then preformed the statistical analysis to determine the DEPs between the two groups. Next, we carried out a targeted proteomic approach (multiple reaction monitoring) with DEPs to achieve high-confident TTTS-associated AF proteins.RESULTS: A total of 103 AF proteins that were significantly altered in their abundances between donor and recipient fetuses. The majority of upregulated proteins identified in the recipient twins (including carbonic anhydrase 1, fibrinogen alpha chain, aminopeptidase N, alpha-fetoprotein, fibrinogen gamma chain, and basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein) have been associated with cardiac or dermatologic disease, which is often seen in recipient twins as a result of volume overload. In contrast, proteins significantly upregulated in AF collected from donor twins (including IgGFc-binding protein, apolipoprotein C-I, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, apolipoprotein C-III, apolipoprotein A-II, decorin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A-I, and fibronectin) were those previously shown to be associated with inflammation, ischemic cardiovascular complications or renal disease.CONCLUSION: In this study, we identified proteomic biomarkers in AF collected from donor and recipient twins in pregnancies complicated by TTTS that appear to reflect underlying functional and pathophysiological challenges faced by each of the fetuses.

Can the cervical length in mid-trimester predict the use of vacuum in vaginal delivery?

The Amniotic Fluid Proteome Differs Significantly between Donor and Recipient Fetuses in Pregnancies Complicated by Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

BACKGROUND@#Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a serious complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies. It results from disproportionate blood supply to each fetus caused by abnormal vascular anastomosis within the placenta. Amniotic fluid (AF) is an indicator reflecting the various conditions of the fetus, and an imbalance in AF volume is essential for the antenatal diagnosis of TTTS by ultrasound. In this study, two different mass spectrometry quantitative approaches were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) within matched pairs of AF samples.@*METHODS@#We characterized the AF proteome in pooled AF samples collected from donor and recipient twin pairs (n = 5 each) with TTTS by a global proteomics profiling approach and then preformed the statistical analysis to determine the DEPs between the two groups. Next, we carried out a targeted proteomic approach (multiple reaction monitoring) with DEPs to achieve high-confident TTTS-associated AF proteins.@*RESULTS@#A total of 103 AF proteins that were significantly altered in their abundances between donor and recipient fetuses. The majority of upregulated proteins identified in the recipient twins (including carbonic anhydrase 1, fibrinogen alpha chain, aminopeptidase N, alpha-fetoprotein, fibrinogen gamma chain, and basement membrane-specific heparan sulfate proteoglycan core protein) have been associated with cardiac or dermatologic disease, which is often seen in recipient twins as a result of volume overload. In contrast, proteins significantly upregulated in AF collected from donor twins (including IgGFc-binding protein, apolipoprotein C-I, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, apolipoprotein C-III, apolipoprotein A-II, decorin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A-I, and fibronectin) were those previously shown to be associated with inflammation, ischemic cardiovascular complications or renal disease.@*CONCLUSION@#In this study, we identified proteomic biomarkers in AF collected from donor and recipient twins in pregnancies complicated by TTTS that appear to reflect underlying functional and pathophysiological challenges faced by each of the fetuses.

Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with Postpartum Hemorrhage: Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Treatment with N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate

PURPOSE@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#From February 2010 to May 2018, 14 patients (age: 28–39 years; mean: 33 years) underwent UAE using NBCA among 82 patients with PPH. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the patients characteristics, cause of PPH, embolization procedure, and outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Angiograms revealed extravasation (n = 10) or pseudoaneurysm (n = 4) in all patients. The causes of PPH were hysterotomy or hysterectomy related arterial injury (n = 11), cervical laceration (n = 2), and abnormal placentation (n = 1). UAE was performed with NBCA in all patients. Additional UAE with gelatin sponge particles was performed in two patients. Additional non-uterine artery embolization was performed in three patients. Coagulopathy was found in five (35.7%) patients. The technical and clinical success rates were 92.9% and 85.7%, respectively. One patient died from multi-organ failure eight days after UAE. One patient with abnormal placentation had pelvic organ ischemia due to multiple pelvic artery embolization.@*CONCLUSION@#UAE using NBCA is safe and effective for the patients with PPH showing extravasation or pseudoaneurysm.

The Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth according to Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index in Twin Gestations

BACKGROUND: Maternal obesity is a well-known risk factor for both total preterm birth (PTB) and spontaneous PTB in singleton gestation, whereas this association is not well determined in multiple pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of spontaneous PTB according to the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in twin gestations. METHODS: The association between the risk of PTB and pre-pregnancy BMI was determined in women pregnant with twins between 2004 and 2014. Pre-pregnancy BMI values were divided into three groups (underweight/normal/overweight and obese). PTB was classified as spontaneous PTB (following preterm premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, or cervical insufficiency) or medically indicated PTB (cesarean section or induction of labor because of maternal/fetal indications). RESULTS: A total of 1,959 women were included in the analysis, and the percentages of total PTB and spontaneous PTB were 13.1% and 9.3%. The percentages of total PTB and spontaneous PTB in three groups were 14.1%, 11.9%, 16.3%, respectively, and 11.0%, 8.0%, 12.5% (P < 0.05 between normal and overweight/obese women). The risks of total and spontaneous PTB in overweight/obese women were higher than those in women with normal weight, even after adjustment for prior history of PTB, age, maternal height, parity, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.03; OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.05–2.36). CONCLUSION: The risks of both total and spontaneous PTB were significantly greater in the overweight/obese group than in the normal BMI group.

Effectiveness and safety of sublingual misoprostol in medical treatment of the 1st trimester miscarriage: experience of off-label use in Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and safety of medical treatment with sublingual misoprostol (MS) in the 1st trimester miscarriage under the approval by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) for off-label usage by the single medical center in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in one institution between April 2013 and June 2016. Ninety-one patients diagnosed with miscarriage before 14 weeks of gestation and wanted to try medical treatment were included. A detailed ultrasound scan was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Patients took 600 microgram (mcg) of MS sublingually at initial dose, and repeated the same dose 4–6 hours apart. Successful medical abortion was defined as spontaneous expulsion of gestational products (including gestational sac, embryo, fetus, and placenta). If gestational products were not expelled, surgical evacuation was performed at least 24 hours later from the initial dose. Information about side effects was obtained by medical records. RESULTS: About two-thirds of patients had a successful outcome. The median interval time from pill to expulsion was 18 hours in the successful medical treatment group. There was no serious systemic side effect or massive vaginal bleeding. Presence or absence of vaginal spotting before diagnosis of miscarriage, uterine leiomyomas, subchorionic hematoma, or distorted shape of gestational sac on ultrasound scan were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Medical treatment with sublingual MS can be a proper option for the 1st trimester miscarriage, especially for the patient who want to avoid surgical procedure. We can reduce the unnecessary sedation or surgical intervention in the patients with the 1st trimester miscarriage.

Erratum: Correction of Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements was published incorrectly. The authors apologize for any inconvenience that it may have caused.

The clinical significance of D-dimer concentrations in patients with gestational hypertensive disorders according to the severity

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy is a major risk factor of thromboembolism, and the patients with preeclampsia (PE) are known to have higher risk of thromboembolic complications than normal pregnant women. D-dimer is a well-established laboratory marker for the screening of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the concentrations of d-dimer tend to increase physiologically in pregnant women throughout the gestational age. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical significance of d-dimer concentrations in patients with gestational hypertensive disorders (GHD) according to the severity. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was performed in one institution. Singleton pregnant women with GHD were enrolled, and their antepartum concentrations of d-dimer were measured as a part of routine evaluation for patients suspected with PE. Patients with multiple gestations, rheumatic diseases, autoimmune diseases, or suspected VTE were excluded. A categorization of severity about PE was based on the general criteria. RESULTS: In 73.3% of study population, their d-dimer concentrations exceeded the normal range (>0.55 mg/L). A significantly greater proportion of pregnant women had excessive concentrations of d-dimer in the severe GHD than in the non-severe GHD (89.8% vs. 53.7%; P<0.01). Patients with severe GHD had significantly higher median concentrations of d-dimer than those with non-severe GHD (median [range], 2.00 mg/L [0.11 to 7.49] vs. 0.71 mg/L [0.09 to 5.39]; P<0.01) although their earlier gestational ages of sampling. CONCLUSION: Maternal concentrations of d-dimer were significantly elevated in patients with severe features than those without severe features among those with GHD. Some pregnant women with GHD can have markedly elevated concentrations of d-dimer without any evidence of current VTE.

Long-Term Quality Control Program Plan for Cord Blood Banks in Korea: A Pilot Study for Cryopreservation Stability

BACKGROUND: Maintaining the quality of cryopreserved cord blood is crucial. In this pilot study, we describe the results of the internal quality control program for a cord blood bank thus far. METHODS: Donated cord blood units unsuitable for transplantation were selected for internal quality control once a month. One unit of cord blood, aliquoted into 21 capillaries, was cryopreserved and thawed annually to analyze the total nucleated cell count, CD34⁺ cell count, cell viability test, and colony-forming units assay. RESULTS: No significant differences in the variables (total nucleated cell count, cell viability, CD34⁺ cell count) were observed between samples cryopreserved for one and two years. Upon comparing the variables before cryopreservation and post thawing with the capillaries of one year of storage, cell viability and CD34⁺ cell counts decreased significantly. The use of cord blood samples in capillaries, which can be easily stored for a long period, was similar to the methods used for testing segments attached to the cord blood unit. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may be useful for determining the period during which the quality of cryopreserved cord blood units used for transplantation is maintained.

Development and Utilization of a Patient-Oriented Outpatient Guidance System / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: To develop a tool which can easily access the hospital information system (HIS) to facilitate outpatient care and maximize patient satisfaction on his or her hospital visit. METHODS: Our Center for Informatics developed an outpatient guidance system (OGS) after careful analysis of the list of daily tasks undergone by patients and related work processes. Bluetooth beacons were installed to assist patients, to inform them of points of interest, and to guide them along the proper routes to and within the hospital. RESULTS: The OGS conveniently provided patients' clinic schedules, routes to the hospital, and direct costs; all of this information was embedded in the HIS accessed from patients' personal mobile devices or kiosks. Patients were also able to identify their locations within the hospital, receiving proper directions to subsequent task. Since its launch in October 2014, the number of mobile accesses increased from 4,011 to 8,242 per month within a year. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial growth of interest in and use of our OGS in such a short period indicate that this system has been successfully incorporated into patients' daily activities. We believe that this system will continue to help improve health services and the well-being of those visiting the hospital.

Gestational Age-specific Cut-off Values Are Needed for Diagnosis of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Early Pregnancy

During the first trimester of pregnancy, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >2.5 mIU/L has been suggested as the universal criterion for subclinical hypothyroidism. However, TSH levels change continuously during pregnancy, even in the first trimester. Therefore the use of a fixed cut-off value for TSH may result in a different diagnosis rate of subclinical hypothyroidism according to gestational age. The objective of this study was to obtain the normal reference range of TSH during the first trimester in Korean gravida and to determine the diagnosis rate of subclinical hypothyroidism using the fixed cut-off value (TSH >2.5 mIU/L). The study population consisted of pregnant women who were measured for TSH during the first trimester of pregnancy (n=492) and nonpregnant women (n=984). Median concentration of TSH in pregnant women was lower than in non-pregnant women. There was a continuous decrease of median TSH concentration during the first trimester of pregnancy (median TSH concentration: 1.82 mIU/L for 3+0 to 6+6 weeks; 1.53 mIU/L for 7+0 to 7+6 weeks; and 1.05 mIU/L for 8+0 to 13+6 weeks). Using the fixed cut-off value of TSH >2.5 mIU/L, the diagnosis rate of subclinical hypothyroidism decreased significantly according to the gestational age (GA) at TSH (25% in 3+0 to 6+6 weeks, 13% in 7+0 to 7+6 weeks, and 9% for 8+0 to 13+6 weeks, P<0.001), whereas the diagnosis rate was 5% in all GA with the use of a GA-specific cut-off value (P=0.995). Therefore, GA-specific criteria might be more appropriate for the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism.