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Background@#The application of a heated-humidified breathing circuit (HHBC) may reduce respiratory heat loss during mechanical ventilation, but its effect in preventing intraoperative hypothermia is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of HHBC in maintaining the core temperature of patients receiving mechanical ventilation under general anesthesia. @*Methods@#We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane library (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to February 2022 that compared the intraoperative core temperature in patients with heated humidifier (HH) and other circuit devices. The primary outcome was the intraoperative core temperature at the end of surgery. The weighted mean differences (WMDs) between the groups and their 95% CIs were calculated for each outcome. We performed a trial sequential analysis of the primary outcomes to assess whether our results were conclusive. @*Results@#Eighteen RCTs with 993 patients were included in the analysis. A significantly higher core temperature was observed at the end of surgery in patients with HH than those with no device (WMD = 0.734, 95% CI [0.443, 1.025]) or heat and moisture exchanger (WMD = 0.368, 95% CI [0.118, 0.618]), but with substantial heterogeneity. @*Conclusions@#Although HHBC did not absolutely prevent hypothermia, this meta-analysis suggests that it can be used as an effective supplemental device to maintain the intraoperative core temperature under general anesthesia. However, considering the substantial heterogeneity and limitations of this study, further well-designed studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of HHBC.
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Purpose@#To report a case with bilateral circumscribed posterior keratoconus with different results of refractive error between eyes after cataract surgery. Case summary: A 57-year-old man was referred for decreased vision and suspected keratoconus in both eyes. The corrected visual acuity was 0.04 in the right eye and 0.2 in the left eye. On slit-lamp microscopy and anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) examination, the excavation of the posterior corneal surface was observed in the central area of the right eye and in the mid-to-inferior area of the left eye. Considering the posterior corneal refractive power measured within the 8-mm zone on AS-OCT, we expected the postoperative hyperopic shift in the refractive error of 2.61 diopters (D) in the right eye and 2.17 D in the left eye. Accordingly, the adjusted predicted refractive error was determined as -0.68 D in the right eye and -1.06 D in the left eye, based on the Barrett Universal II formula. The postoperative values of the spherical equivalent by manifest refraction was -1.0 D in the right eye and -3.0 D in the left eye at 1 month, which was close to the predicted target in the right eye, but myopic by approximately 2.0 D in the left eye, compared to the predicted values. @*Conclusions@#In patients with bilateral circumscribed posterior keratoconus, the location, depth, and area of the excavation of the posterior corneal surface should be considered independently in both eyes to calculate the intraocular lens power more accurately.
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Purpose@#We investigated the contributing factors affecting the ocular discomfort on instillation and compliance of 0.1% cyclosporin A (CsA) cationic nanoemulsion eye drops. @*Methods@#We enrolled patients who were prescribed 0.1% CsA eye drops (Ikervis®) and who filled out an eye drop satisfaction questionnaire to assess ocular discomfort on instillation (questions Q1-Q4) and compliance of eye drops (Q5-Q7). First, to identify the contributing factors affecting the early ocular discomfort of 0.1% CsA instillation and compliance, Q1-Q7 scores were correlated with respect to age, sex, instillation period duration, meibomian gland dysfunction, tear secretion, corneal sensitivity, corneal erosions, Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance ocular staining score (OSS), tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and ocular surface disease index in patients who completed the first questionnaire within the first 3 months of instillation of 0.1% CsA (referred to as Cohort 1). Second, to evaluate the change in ocular discomfort on instillation and compliance, along with the prolonged instillation of 0.1% CsA, the changes in individual scores for questions Q1-Q7 were analyzed in patients who completed at least two or more serial questionnaires (corresponding to Cohort 2). @*Results@#In Cohort 1 (74 eyes in 39 patients), the scores for ocular discomfort on instillation (Q1-Q4) were higher in females and correlated negatively with the instillation period duration and age and positively with tear secretion, corneal erosions, OSS, and tear MMP-9 grades. The higher the grade of tear MMP-9, the lower the compliance score of Q5. In Cohort 2 (34 patients), the scores for ocular discomfort on instillation tended to decrease as the cumulative instillation period lengthened. @*Conclusions@#The results of this study may aid clinicians in explaining to patients the ocular discomfort on instillation of 0.1% CsA, so as to improve treatment compliance.
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Purpose@#To report a case with bilateral circumscribed posterior keratoconus with different results of refractive error between eyes after cataract surgery. Case summary: A 57-year-old man was referred for decreased vision and suspected keratoconus in both eyes. The corrected visual acuity was 0.04 in the right eye and 0.2 in the left eye. On slit-lamp microscopy and anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) examination, the excavation of the posterior corneal surface was observed in the central area of the right eye and in the mid-to-inferior area of the left eye. Considering the posterior corneal refractive power measured within the 8-mm zone on AS-OCT, we expected the postoperative hyperopic shift in the refractive error of 2.61 diopters (D) in the right eye and 2.17 D in the left eye. Accordingly, the adjusted predicted refractive error was determined as -0.68 D in the right eye and -1.06 D in the left eye, based on the Barrett Universal II formula. The postoperative values of the spherical equivalent by manifest refraction was -1.0 D in the right eye and -3.0 D in the left eye at 1 month, which was close to the predicted target in the right eye, but myopic by approximately 2.0 D in the left eye, compared to the predicted values. @*Conclusions@#In patients with bilateral circumscribed posterior keratoconus, the location, depth, and area of the excavation of the posterior corneal surface should be considered independently in both eyes to calculate the intraocular lens power more accurately.
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Purpose@#We investigated the contributing factors affecting the ocular discomfort on instillation and compliance of 0.1% cyclosporin A (CsA) cationic nanoemulsion eye drops. @*Methods@#We enrolled patients who were prescribed 0.1% CsA eye drops (Ikervis®) and who filled out an eye drop satisfaction questionnaire to assess ocular discomfort on instillation (questions Q1-Q4) and compliance of eye drops (Q5-Q7). First, to identify the contributing factors affecting the early ocular discomfort of 0.1% CsA instillation and compliance, Q1-Q7 scores were correlated with respect to age, sex, instillation period duration, meibomian gland dysfunction, tear secretion, corneal sensitivity, corneal erosions, Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance ocular staining score (OSS), tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and ocular surface disease index in patients who completed the first questionnaire within the first 3 months of instillation of 0.1% CsA (referred to as Cohort 1). Second, to evaluate the change in ocular discomfort on instillation and compliance, along with the prolonged instillation of 0.1% CsA, the changes in individual scores for questions Q1-Q7 were analyzed in patients who completed at least two or more serial questionnaires (corresponding to Cohort 2). @*Results@#In Cohort 1 (74 eyes in 39 patients), the scores for ocular discomfort on instillation (Q1-Q4) were higher in females and correlated negatively with the instillation period duration and age and positively with tear secretion, corneal erosions, OSS, and tear MMP-9 grades. The higher the grade of tear MMP-9, the lower the compliance score of Q5. In Cohort 2 (34 patients), the scores for ocular discomfort on instillation tended to decrease as the cumulative instillation period lengthened. @*Conclusions@#The results of this study may aid clinicians in explaining to patients the ocular discomfort on instillation of 0.1% CsA, so as to improve treatment compliance.
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Aerobic exercise is well known to have a positive impact on body composition, muscle strength, and oxidative capacity. In animal model, both treadmill and wheel running exercise modalities have become more popular, in order to study physiological adaptation associated with aerobic exercise. However, few studies have compared physiological adaptations in response to either treadmill exercise (TE), or voluntary wheel running exercise (WE). We therefore compared each exercise intervention on body composition and oxidative markers in male C57BL/6 N mice. The total distance run was remarkably higher in the WE group than in the TE group. Both forms of exercise resulted in the reduction of body weight, fat mass, and adipocyte size. However, the average for grip strength of WE was higher than for control and TE. Interestingly, PGC-1α expression was increased in the gastrocnemius (glycolytic-oxidative) and soleus (oxidative) muscle of TE group, whereas WE showed a significant effect on PGC-1α expression only in the soleus muscle. However, muscle fiber type composition was not shifted remarkably in either type of exercise. These results suggest that TE and WE may exert beneficial effects in suppressing metabolic risks in mouse model through attenuating body weight, fat mass, size, and increase in mitochondria biogenesis marker, PGC-1α.
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Aerobic exercise is well known to have a positive impact on body composition, muscle strength, and oxidative capacity. In animal model, both treadmill and wheel running exercise modalities have become more popular, in order to study physiological adaptation associated with aerobic exercise. However, few studies have compared physiological adaptations in response to either treadmill exercise (TE), or voluntary wheel running exercise (WE). We therefore compared each exercise intervention on body composition and oxidative markers in male C57BL/6 N mice. The total distance run was remarkably higher in the WE group than in the TE group. Both forms of exercise resulted in the reduction of body weight, fat mass, and adipocyte size. However, the average for grip strength of WE was higher than for control and TE. Interestingly, PGC-1α expression was increased in the gastrocnemius (glycolytic-oxidative) and soleus (oxidative) muscle of TE group, whereas WE showed a significant effect on PGC-1α expression only in the soleus muscle. However, muscle fiber type composition was not shifted remarkably in either type of exercise. These results suggest that TE and WE may exert beneficial effects in suppressing metabolic risks in mouse model through attenuating body weight, fat mass, size, and increase in mitochondria biogenesis marker, PGC-1α.
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The role of atypical bacteria and the effect of antibiotic treatments in acute bronchitis are still not clear. This study was conducted at 22 hospitals (17 primary care clinics and 5 university hospitals) in Korea. Outpatients (aged > or = 18 yr) who had an acute illness with a new cough and sputum (< or = 30 days) were enrolled in 2013. Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect five atypical bacteria. A total of 435 patients were diagnosed as having acute bronchitis (vs. probable pneumonia, n = 75), and 1.8% (n = 8) were positive for atypical pathogens (Bordetella pertussis, n = 3; B. parapertussis, n = 0; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, n = 1; Chlamydophila pneumoniae, n = 3; Legionella pneumophila, n = 1). Among clinical symptoms and signs, only post-tussive vomiting was more frequent in patients with atypical pathogens than those without (P = 0.024). In all, 72.2% of the enrolled patients received antibiotic treatment at their first visits, and beta-lactams (29.4%) and quinolones (20.5%) were the most commonly prescribed agents. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the incidence of atypical pathogens is low in patients with acute bronchitis, and the rate of antibiotic prescriptions is high.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bordetella parapertussis/genetics , Bordetella pertussis/genetics , Bronchitis/drug therapy , Chlamydophila pneumoniae/genetics , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Hypertension/complications , Legionella pneumophila/genetics , Mycoplasma pneumoniae/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Republic of Korea , Sputum/microbiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: There is a fair amount of evidence indicating that increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance is associated with postmenopausal state, but can be modulated by diet and exercise. In this study, we explored whether a Pueraria lobata root-based supplement containing Rehmannia glutinosa (PR) and/or aerobic treadmill exercise can modify the metabolic changes associated with estrogen deficiency. METHODS: Seventy rats were randomly assigned to the following groups for 8 weeks (n=10 per group): SHAM, sham-operated; PR0, ovariectomized (OVX) control; PR200, OVX with PR200 mg/kg B.W; PR400, OVX with PR400 mg/kg B.W; EPR0, OVX with exercise; EPR200, OVX with exercise and PR200 mg/kg B.W; EPR400, OVX with exercise and PR400 mg/kg B.W. RESULTS: OVX induced significant increases in body weight, food intake, fat mass, LDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose, confirming induction of menopausal symptoms. PR supplementation or exercise significantly suppressed the above mentioned changes through different regulatory elements in adipose tissue: PR supplement upregulated adiponectin gene expression and aerobic exercise upregulated adiponectin and insulin receptor gene expression and a combination of PR supplement and aerobic exercise showed an additive effect on adiponectin gene expression. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results of this study suggest that PR supplement has a potential to provide health benefits in OVX rats through leptin and adiponectin secretion. In addition, the data suggest that combination of exercise and PR would have additive effects on metabolic dysfunction associated with estrogen deficiency.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Adiponectin , Adipose Tissue , Blood Glucose , Body Weight , Diet , Eating , Estrogens , Exercise , Fasting , Gene Expression , Insulin Resistance , Insurance Benefits , Leptin , Obesity , Pueraria , Receptor, Insulin , RehmanniaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We evaluated oncologic outcomes following radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with a Gleason score (GS) of 7 with tertiary Gleason pattern 5 (TGP5). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 310 patients who underwent RP from 2005 to 2010. Twenty-four patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant antiandrogen deprivation or radiation therapy were excluded. Just 239 (GS 6 to 8) of the remaining 286 patients were included in the study. Patients were classified into four groups: GS 6, GS 7 without TGP5, GS 7 with TGP5, and GS 8. We analyzed preoperative clinical factors, postoperative pathological outcomes, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). RESULTS: TGP5 in GS 7 was an independent predictor of primary Gleason pattern 4, tumor volume larger than 10%, positive surgical margin, and lymphovascular invasion. The presence of TGP5 in GS 7 was not associated with BCR-free survival. Subgroup analyses revealed that BCR-free survival did not differ significantly between patients with GS 7 with TGP5 and those with GS 8 (p=0.120). In addition, time to BCR in patients with a higher percentage of TGP5 was shorter than that in patients with a lower percentage of TGP5. TGP5 in GS 7 was not a significant predictive factor for BCR, whereas prostate-specific antigen density and a positive surgical margin were shown to be independent predictors of BCR. CONCLUSIONS: TGP5 in GS 7 was an independent predictor of unfavorable pathologic outcomes. The rate of BCR was similar in GS 7 disease with TGP5 and in GS 8 disease, even though TGP5 was not a significant predictive factor for BCR in Cox proportional hazards models.
Subject(s)
Humans , Disease Progression , Medical Records , Neoplasm Grading , Proportional Hazards Models , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatectomy , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Tumor BurdenABSTRACT
Although exercise-induced growth factors such as Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are known to affect various aspects of physiology in skeletal muscle cells, the molecular mechanism by which IGF-I modulates anti-inflammatory effects in these cells is presently unknown. Here, we showed that IGF-I stimulation suppresses the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a key innate immune receptor. A pharmacological inhibitor study further showed that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is required for IGF-I-mediated negative regulation of TLR4 expression. Furthermore, IGF-I treatment reduced the expression of various NF-kappaB-target genes such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. Taken together, these findings indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of exercise may be due, at least in part, to IGF-I-induced suppression of TLR4 and subsequent downregulation of the TLR4-dependent inflammatory signaling pathway.
Subject(s)
Cytokines , Down-Regulation , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins , Interleukin-6 , Muscle, Skeletal , Toll-Like Receptor 4 , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
Actinomycosis is an indolent, slowly progressive infection caused by Actinomyces species and usually results in the formation of characteristic clumps called sulfur granules. Depending on the site of primary infection, it is generally classified as cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal type. Abdominal actinomycosis is often difficult to diagnose before operation because of its infrequent and chronic disease progression without any characteristic clinical features. In principle, diagnosis is based on histologic demonstration of sulfur granules in pus or surgically resected specimen, and the treatment consists of long-term antibiotic therapy coupled with or without surgical resection. We report a case of abdominal actinomycosis presenting as mesenteric mass adhering to small bowel confirmed by laparoscopic exploration and biopsy. Treatment with intravenous penicillin for 4 weeks followed by additional oral therapy for 11 months resulted in clinical resolution.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Actinomycosis/diagnosis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Mesentery/pathology , Penicillin G/therapeutic use , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Double pylorus is a rare abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract and it presents as two openings between the gastric antrum and the duodenal bulb. The acquired type is more common than the congenital one and this acquired type arises secondary to peptic ulcer disease. A 68-year-old man visited the gastrointestinal clinic and he presented with chronic epigastric pain and dyspepsia. Upper endoscopy showed double pylorus with an accessory channel on the lesser curvature side of the prepyloric antrum and also an active duodenal ulcer. Upon review of the patient's past history and examination, the findings of the upper endoscopy that was done 7 years previously were within the normal limits. The patient was diagnosed as having a double pylorus secondary to duodenal ulcer and he treated conservatively with anti-ulcer therapy. We report here on a case of double pylorus along with the brief review of the literature.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Duodenal Ulcer , Dyspepsia , Endoscopy , Gastrointestinal Tract , Peptic Ulcer , Pyloric Antrum , PylorusABSTRACT
Double pylorus is a rare abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract and it presents as two openings between the gastric antrum and the duodenal bulb. The acquired type is more common than the congenital one and this acquired type arises secondary to peptic ulcer disease. A 68-year-old man visited the gastrointestinal clinic and he presented with chronic epigastric pain and dyspepsia. Upper endoscopy showed double pylorus with an accessory channel on the lesser curvature side of the prepyloric antrum and also an active duodenal ulcer. Upon review of the patient's past history and examination, the findings of the upper endoscopy that was done 7 years previously were within the normal limits. The patient was diagnosed as having a double pylorus secondary to duodenal ulcer and he treated conservatively with anti-ulcer therapy. We report here on a case of double pylorus along with the brief review of the literature.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Duodenal Ulcer , Dyspepsia , Endoscopy , Gastrointestinal Tract , Peptic Ulcer , Pyloric Antrum , PylorusABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Observational studies showed a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) among postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users. But recent randomized clinical trial reported that HRT does not decrease, and may in fact, increase the incidence of CVD. Progestogen may in part contribute the increased risk but the exact role of different progestogens in the development of CVD is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of progesterone/progestogen and combination with estrogen on the regulation of estrogen and progesterone receptor m RNA expression in vascular endothelial cells to provide a basis to analyze the direct steroid effects on CVD. METHODS: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were cultured for 24 hours. Media were supplemented with estradiol (E2) (10(-7)M), progesterone (P4) (10(-7)M), medoxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) (10(-7)M), norethindrone acetate (NETA) (10(-7)M) and RU 486 (10(-6)M) alone or in combination. Receptor expression (estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor total and isoform B) was examined at the mRNA level by reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: Total progesterone receptor expression was decreased after NETA treatment. E2, P4, MPA, NETA increased expression of PRB. PRB expression was more increased in E2 combined with P4 and MPA, than single treatment. PRB down regulation was found when RU 486 was additionally supplemented into the medium. ER expression was decreased after E2, P4, and MPA treatment. When MPA was added to E2, ER was more down reguated than the addition of P4 and NETA. RU 486 prevented down reguation of MPA on ER alpha. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that MPA compared to P4 and NETA, may attenuate the favorable effect of estrogen on vasular endothelium.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Cardiovascular Diseases , Down-Regulation , Endothelial Cells , Endothelium , Estradiol , Estrogen Replacement Therapy , Estrogens , Hormone Replacement Therapy , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells , Incidence , Mifepristone , Norethindrone , Progesterone , Progestins , Receptors, Progesterone , RNA , RNA, MessengerABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The current various case-finding instruments for detecting depression in Korea are too cucumbersome and time-consuming for routine use in primary care or student and soldier groups because of too many questions. We carried out this study in order to investigate the validity of the two-question case-finding instrument for detecting depression easily in the primary care or the mentioned groups. METHODS: We selected one boy high school in Seoul and 155 sophomer students answered the questionnaire by self-report. The questionnaire included two questions about depressed mood and anhedonia: (1) "During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?" (2) "During the past month, have you often been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things(e.g., studying, playing or talking with friends) ?". And then a resident of family medicine interviewed them and made a diagnosis for depression using the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV. Simultaneously we compared the test characteristics of a two-question case-finding instrument with those of a previously validated Beck Depression Inventory as a currently world-wide used screening instrument for depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of major depression as determined by the interview was 6.6%(10 of 151). The two-question case finding instrument had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.663-internal consistency, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 54.6%, a positive likelihood ratio of 2.20 and a negative predictive value of 1.00.(A "yes" answer to either of the two questions was considered a positive test.) And the BDI had a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 68.1%, a positive likelihood ratio of 3.63 and a negative predictive value of 0.99(cut-off point=15). Area under the ROC curves of the two-question case-finding instrument was 0.882, greater than that of the BDI, 0.834. CONCLUSIONS: The test characteristics of a two-question case-finding instrument were higher compared to those of BDI for major depression. Therefore, the two-question case-finding instrument is a useful measure for detecting depression and less time-consuming in primary care and certain groups.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Male , Anhedonia , Depression , Diagnosis , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Korea , Mass Screening , Military Personnel , Pleasure , Prevalence , Primary Health Care , ROC Curve , Sensitivity and Specificity , Seoul , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We aim to statistically analyze the variables affecting FHR using principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis. It is tried to find which variables significantly affect FHR. Thus, it would help further work of building objective decision basis to analyze variables affecting FHR. METHODS: The samples are chosen from pregnant women who took a NST at Hanyang University Hospital. It consists of 5,314 data which have been collected from 1989 to 1997. For collection of data and values of each variable, our own FHR interpretation softwares, HYFM-I (DOS version, since 1989) and HYFM-II (Windows version, since 1998) were used. Then, the principal component analysis is performed to find significant variable and multiple regression analysis is performed using these variables. RESULTS: The mean baseline FHR is not influenced by a specific factor in abnormal group. The gestational week, loss of signal, variability, and 5 minutes Apgar score are chosen as main effects through principal component analysis. From the results of regression analysis, it is noticed that 5 minutes Apgar score which is one of neonate prognosis after birth causes an increase of estimated FHR score (EFS), whereas the loss of signal causes a decrease of EFS. The variability in normal group is more active increasing factor of EFS than abnormal group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on gestational week, 5 minutes Apgar score is highly related with fetal maturity in both normal and abnormal groups. Also, it is found that different patterns of each variable by groups are due to delay of fetal growth that is caused by disease of a pregnant women. Thus, the further studies to build objective decision basis are need.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Apgar Score , Fetal Development , Fetal Heart , Heart Rate, Fetal , Multivariate Analysis , Parturition , Pregnant Women , Principal Component Analysis , PrognosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Intrauterine growth restriction(IUGR) accounts for significantiy increased perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates. The Purpose of this study is to investigate the association between some of the risk factors and the incidence of fetal growth restriction. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The retrospective survey of obstetric records of 2188 mothers, who delivered between July, 1995 and June, 1998, was carried out in Hanyang University Kuri Hospital, with the following inclusion criteria: Korean, singleton pregnancy with live birth and a gestational age of more than 32 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1) The incidence rate for IUGR was 4,7% during the period of 1995 through 1998. 2) 41.2% of IUGR was due to unknown causes, 58.8% of IUGR was due to known. Among known causes the maternal factor was 40.2%, the placenta factor was 14.7%, and the fetal anomaly was 4%. 3) Among maternal factors, pregnancy induced hypertension was the most common cause. 4) The incidence of IUGR was higher in primiparous women and in female babies. 5) The IUGR group showed lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes than control group,