We aimed to assess the relationship between dietary soyfood and isoflavone intake and colorectal cancer risk in a case-control study. A total of 901 colorectal cancer cases and 2669 controls were recruited at the National Cancer Center, Korea. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary habits, and the isoflavone intake level was estimated from five soyfood items. A high intake of total soy products, legumes, and sprouts was associated with a reduced risk for colorectal cancer in men and women, although the middle quartiles of intake of total soy products were associated with an elevated risk. In contrast, a high intake of fermented soy paste was associated with an elevated risk for colorectal cancer in men. The groups with the highest intake quartiles of isoflavones showed a decreased risk for colorectal cancer compared to their counterparts with the lowest intake quartiles in men (odds ratio (OR): 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–0.89) and women (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.99). The reduced risk for the highest intake groups persisted for distal colon cancer in men and rectal cancer in women. The association between soyfood intake and colorectal cancer risk was more prominent among post-menopausal women than pre-menopausal women. In conclusion, a high intake of total soy products or dietary isoflavones was associated with a reduced risk for overall colorectal cancer, and the association may be more relevant to distal colon or rectal cancers.

We report on our experience with acute peritoneal dialysis (APD) in 16 very low birth weight neonates ranging from 24.6 to 30.2 weeks' gestation with a birth weight ranging from 630 g to 1,430 g using a 14-gauge Arrow vascular catheter for APD access. The underlying causes of acute renal failure were: sepsis (7), necrotizing enterocolitis (4), patent ductus arteriosus (3), hydrops fetalis (1), intracranial hemorrhage (3), pulmonary hemorrhage (2), pneumonia (1), and perinatal asphyxia (1). Among 12 patients, the APD was successful for the control of hyperkalemia, fluid overload, and metabolic acidosis. The peritoneal permeability and transport were at their maximum at a short dwell time with rapid exchanges. Complications associated with the APD were: peritonitis (2), leakage (2), hemoperitoneum (1), and hernia (1). During the dialysis, four patients died; there were three episodes of catheter-related complications in these patients. At 60 days after the withdrawal of the APD, 10 patients were alive, and had full recovery of their renal function. Therefore, APD in premature neonates with a 14-gauge Arrow vascular catheter was safe and effective. This procedure helped manage the hemodynamic and metabolic imbalance of acute renal failure and was associated with few complications.

Neonatal intracranial regions showed different elasticity, which could be accessed by strain elastography. These normal findings should prompt future studies investigating the use of ultrasound elastography in the neonatal brain.

This study was performed to evaluate the utilization and outcomes of palivizumab in high risk children born prematurely with chronic lung disease (CLD). A retrospective review of 128 patients was conducted from September 2004 to March 2009 at the Ajou University Hospital. All patients were diagnosed with CLD, were born at ≤35 weeks of gestation, were <2 yr old at the onset of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, and had received medical therapy within six months prior to the RSV season. Fifty-three patients did not receive palivizumab prophylaxis and 75 patients received at least one dose of palivizumab. There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with and without palivizumab prophylaxis with regard to demographic characteristics and risk factors for RSV infection. There were no systemic adverse responses. Compliance with the course of prophylaxis was 92.2%. Hospitalization associated with RSV occurred in 12 cases (22.6%) in the group without prophylaxis and in three cases (4.0%) with prophylaxis. Palivizumab prophylaxis significantly reduced the frequency of RSV-related hospitalization in preterm children with CLD. This is the first retrospective review of palivizumab prophylaxis in Korea. Palivizumab is effective and well tolerated in high risk prematurely born children.

Background: Earlier and more accurate identification of a high-risk group of preterm infants that are likely to develop a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) would allow specific targeting of early treatment and thus possibly minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with a PDA in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Objective: To investigate the predictability of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for early targeted treatment of hsPDA in ELBW infants. Methods: 73 ELBW infants that underwent echocardiographic evaluation and plasma BNP measurement after birth were enrolled. 31 infants developed hsPDA (HsPDA group) and 42 infants did not develop hsPDA (nPDA group). Results: BNP levels of the HsPDA group were significantly higher than those of the nPDA group at 24 h of age (921 [318–2,133] vs. 152 [91–450] pg/ml) but not different at 12 h of age. BNP levels at 24 h of age were significantly correlated with the magnitudes of the ductal shunt but not at 12 h of age. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of BNP levels for prediction of hsPDA at 24 h of age was 0.830. At the cutoff BNP levels of 200 and 900 pg/ml at 24 h of age, sensitivity was 83.9 and 54.8% and specificity was 61.9 and 95.2%, respectively. Conclusions: BNP levels at 24 h of age can be used as a guide for early targeted treatment of hsPDA and avoid the unnecessary use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors in ELBW infants.