Development and Validation of an MRI-Based Brain Volumetry Model Predicting Poor Psychomotor Outcomes in Preterm Neonates.

: Infant FreeSurfer was introduced to address robust quantification and segmentation in the infant brain. The purpose of this study is to develop a new model for predicting the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterm infants using automated volumetry extracted from term-equivalent age (TEA) brain MRIs, diffusion tensor imaging, and clinical information. : Preterm infants hospitalized at Severance Children's Hospital, born between January 2012 and December 2019, were consecutively enrolled.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes among children with congenital gastrointestinal anomalies using Korean National Health Insurance claims data.

This study investigated neurodevelopment and risk factors in children surgically treated for congenital gastrointestinal anomalies (CGIA), excluding those with known high-risk factors such as low birth weight or chromosomal anomalies. Data of children born between 2008 and 2015 who underwent surgical treatment for CGIA were retrieved from the Korean National Health Insurance Database. CGIA included esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, jejunoileal atresia, anorectal malformations, and congenital megacolon.

Public and Clinician Perspectives on Ventilator Withdrawal in Vegetative State Following Severe Acute Brain Injury: A Vignette Survey.

Background: The vegetative state (VS) after severe acute brain injury (SABI) is associated with significant prognostic uncertainty and poor long-term functional outcomes. However, it is generally distinguished from imminent death and is exempt from the Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) Decisions Act in Korea. Here, we aimed to examine the perspectives of the general population (GP) and clinicians regarding decisions on mechanical ventilator withdrawal in patients in a VS after SABI.

Beyond Legal Boundaries: Public and Clinician Perspectives on Treatment Withdrawal in Infants With Poor Neurological Prognosis.

Background: Despite medical advancements in neonatal survival rates, many children have poor neurological outcomes. Because the law in Korea restricts the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to only cases of imminent death, treatment discontinuation may not be an option, even in patients with poor neurological prognosis. This study investigated the opinions of the general population and clinicians regarding life-sustaining treatment withdrawal in such cases using hypothetical scenarios.

Healthcare service use and medical outcomes of tracheostomy-dependent children: a nationwide study.

Background: Despite the rising trend of tracheostomies in children, there is a lack of comprehensive resources for families to navigate the challenges of living with a tracheostomy, emphasising the need for evidence-based support in understanding postoperative care and long-term adjustments. This study aimed to examine the pattern of using healthcare services and nationwide medical outcomes in children who underwent a tracheotomy before the age of 2 years.

Methods: This retrospective study used the National Health Insurance System database from 2008 to 2016 and included all children codified with tracheotomy procedure codes before their second birthday.

Survival of children with trisomy 18 associated with the presence of congenital heart disease and intervention in the Republic of Korea.

Background: Trisomy 18 syndrome (T18) is the second most common autosomal trisomy and has a high risk of fetal loss and stillbirth. Aggressive surgical treatments for the respiratory, cardiac, or digestive systems of patients with T18 were previously futile, while the results of recent studies are controversial. Over the past decade, there have been approximately 300,000 to 400,000 births annually in the Republic of Korea; however, there have been no nationwide studies on T18.

Efficacy and safety of mucous fistula refeeding in preterm infants: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) is safe and beneficial for the growth and intestinal adaptation of preterm infants with enterostomies.

Methods: This exploratory randomized controlled trial enrolled infants born before 35 weeks' gestation with enterostomy. If the stomal output was ≥ 40 mL/kg/day, infants were assigned to the high-output MFR group and received MFR.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants.

During the last several decades, the number of preterm infants has increased, and their survival rate has improved owing to advances in perinatal care. As more preterm infants survive, many studies examine their neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aimed to summarize the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants according to gestational age at birth using a recently published meta-analysis.

Assessment of sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron for in-situ remediation of cadmium-contaminated acidic groundwater at a zinc smelter.

Unprecedented high concentrations of heavy metals have been detected in the groundwater at a zinc smelter in Seokpo, South Korea. The outflow of the contaminated groundwater into the nearby Nakdong River must be prevented by some means such as permeable reactive barrier (PRB). As a reactive material for injection-type PRB, we have tested sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) to assess its efficacy in remediating the groundwater from the smelter.

Noninvasive Neurally Adjusted Ventilation in Postextubation Stabilization of Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: To compare the effects of noninvasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NIV-NAVA) to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in achieving successful extubation in preterm infants.

Study Design: This prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial enrolled preterm infants born at <30 weeks of gestation who received invasive ventilation. Participants were assigned at random to either NIV-NAVA or NCPAP after their first extubation from invasive ventilation.

Age-specific effects of ozone on pneumonia in Korean children and adolescents: a nationwide time-series study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the age-specific effects of 8-hour maximum ozone levels on pneumonia in children and adolescents.

Methods: We performed quasi-Poisson regression analyses for individuals of 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years of age using nationwide time-series data from the Korea (2011-2015). We constructed distributed lag linear models employing a generalized difference-in-differences method and controlling for other air pollutants.

Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes of School-aged Children Born Extremely Preterm: a Korean Single-center Study with Long-term Follow-up.

Background: School-aged children born very preterm have been suggested to have worse cognitive and behavioral outcomes than children born full-term. Executive function (EF) is a higher level of cognitive function related to academic achievement. The present study aimed to evaluate the cognitive (including EF) and behavioral outcomes of Korean children born extremely preterm (EP) and to analyze any biological or socioeconomic risk factors for poor cognitive outcomes in this population.

Impact of very preterm birth and post-discharge growth on cardiometabolic outcomes at school age: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Adverse metabolic outcomes later in life have been reported among children or young adults who were born as preterm infants. This study was conducted to examine the impact of very preterm/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) birth and subsequent growth after hospital discharge on cardiometabolic outcomes such as insulin resistance, fasting glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) among children at 6-8 years of age.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included children aged 6-8 years and compared those who were born at < 32 weeks of gestation or weighing < 1,500 g at birth (n = 60) with those born at term (n = 110).

Head growth during neonatal intensive care unit stay is related to the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm small for gestational age infants.

Background: To investigate postnatal growth patterns and their relationship with the neurodevelopment of preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 90 infants born SGA with a birthweight <1500 g or gestational age <32 weeks. Length, weight, and head circumference (HC) were recorded at birth, 35 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), 40 weeks PMA, and 4, 9, and 18 months corrected age (CA).

Paediatric palliative screening scale as a useful tool for clinicians' assessment of palliative care needs of pediatric patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although the importance of palliative care in pediatric patients has been emphasized, many health care providers have difficulty determining when patients should be referred to the palliative care team. The Paediatric Palliative Screening Scale (PaPaS) was developed as a tool for screening pediatric patients for palliative care needs. The study aimed to evaluate the PaPaS as a reliable tool for primary care clinicians unfamiliar with palliative care.

Development and Application of Advance Care Planning Workbooks to Facilitate Communication with Children and Adolescent Patients: A Pilot Test.

Purpose: This study presents the process of designing workbooks for advance care planning appropriate for the Korean cultural setting and describes actual case studies.

Methods: This study focused on single inductive case studies of the utilization of an advance care planning workbook and recruited individual participants.

Results: The workbook for adolescents contained six sessions and the workbook for children contained seven sessions.

Looking into the life of technology-dependent children and their caregivers in Korea: lifting the burden of too many responsibilities.

Background: The number of technology-dependent children (TDC) is increasing in South Korea, but available healthcare services after their discharge are poor. This study aimed to examine how TDC and caregivers live at home and identify their difficulties and needs regarding home care with few services to support them.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital for children in South Korea.