• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2000

In modern society, the amount of alcohol ingestion is increasing at a dangerous level, especially among women. One of reason for increased alcohol consumption is stress caused by social pressures. Alcohol is a kind of depressant of centric nervous system, so it can induce relaxation of body and decrease the stress. The evidence on the effects of alcohol on the fetus is somewhat hazy, whereas that of smoking is quite clear. The literature on the ingestion of alcohol strongly suggests that drinking during pregnancy is associated with teratogenic effect and low birth weight. Therefore, the adverse effect of alcohol ingestion during pregnancy must be informed to public. More remarkable warning sign about alcohol ingestion must be attached on the top of bottles. This can be an effective measure for public education. Also legal sanction or tax imposition for the production of liquor be required. First of all, drinking habit or drinking culture must be changed. In fact, the strongest motivation of drinking in adolescent is a peer pressure which is related to drinking habit or culture. Secondly, early detection and treatment must be required to prevent from fetal alcohol syndrome. Accordingly, drinking history of pregnant women must be assessed as early as possible and health professional should give a warning about the abstinence of alcohol to drinking women. Thirdly, to minimize the adverse effects for mother, withdrawal syndrome by alcohol ingestion must be treated. to correct the malformation by fetal alcohol syndrome(FAS) can be corrected. Sometimes surgical intervention may be required for this purpose.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.50
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• pp.318.1-318.10
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• 2018

Background: In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium as biomarkers of prenatal ethanol exposure and growth deficits, as birth outcomes, that constitute several of the key cardinal features of fetal alcohol syndrome. Methods: A total of 157 meconium samples were collected from enrolled infants within 24 hours of birth, and nine FAEEs were quantified using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The relationships between cumulative concentrations of nine species of FAEEs in meconium and birth parameters of growth (age-sex-specific centiles of head circumference [HC], weight, and length) and respective and combined birth outcomes of growth deficits (HC ${\leq}10th$ centile, weight ${\leq}10th$ centile, and length ${\leq}10th$ centile) were determined. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher cumulative concentrations of meconium FAEEs correlated with elevated risks for HC and length, both, 10th percentile or less (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-7.74; P = 0.029) and HC and weight and length, all of them, 10th percentile or less (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.12-9.59; P = 0.031). Conclusion: The elevated cumulative FAEEs in meconium were associated with combined growth deficits at birth, specifically HC and length, both, 10th percentile or less, which might be correlated with detrimental alcohol effects on fetal brain and bone development, suggesting a plausible alcohol-specific pattern of intrauterine growth restriction.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.56-66
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to test that complex motor training enhance motor function significantly, to test change in cerebellum, and to test the synaptic plasticity into the immunohistochemistry response of synaptophysin. Using an animal model of fetal alcohol syndrome - which equates peak blood alcohol concentrations across developmental period - the effects of alcohol on body weight during periods were examined. The effect of complex motor training on motor function and synaptic plasticity of rat exposed alcohol on postnatal days 4 through 10 were studied. Newborn rats were assigned to one of two groups: (1) normal group (NG), via artificial rearing to milk formula and (2) alcohol groups (AG), via 4.5 g/kg/day of ethanol in a milk solution. After completion of the treatments, the pups were fostered back to lactating dams, where they were raised in standard cages (two-and three animals per cage) until they were postnatal 48 days. Rats from alcohol group of postnatal treatment then spent 10 days in one of two groups: Alcohol-experimental group was had got complex motor training (learning traverse a set of 6 elevated obstacles) for 4 weeks. The alcohol-control group was not trained. Before consider replacing with "the experiment/study", (avoid using "got" in writing) the rats were examined during four behavioral tests and their body weights were measured, then their coronal sections were processed in rabbit polyclonal antibody synaptophysin. The synaptophysin expression in the cerebellar cortex was investigated using a light microscope. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The alcohol groups contained significantly higher alcohol concentrations than the normal group. 2. The alcohol groups had significantly lower body weights than the normal group. 3. In alcohol groups performed significantly lower than the normal group on the motor behavioral test. 4. In alcohol-control group showed significantly decreased immunohistochemistric response of the synaptophysin in the cerebellar cortex compared to the nomal group. These results suggest that improved motor function induced by complex motor training after postnatal exposure is associated with dynamically altered expression of synaptophysin in cerebellar cortex and that is related with synaptic plasticity. Also, these data can potentially serve as a model for therapeutic intervention.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.677-685
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• 2006

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate whether exogenous thyroxine($T_4$) treatment to alcohol-fed dams would ameliorate the detrimental effects of alcohol on the postnatal development of neuropeptide-Y(NPY)-containing neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the offspring. Methods : Time-pregnant rats were divided into three groups. An alcohol-fed group A received 35 calories of liquid alcohol diet daily from gestation day 6; control group B was fed a liquid diet in which dextrin replaced alcohol isocalorically; and alcohol＋$T_4$ group C received 35 calories of liquid alcohol diet and exogenous thyroxine subcutaneously. The features of the growth and maturation of rat brain tissue were observed at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 postnatal days via immunohistochemistry. Results : Group C showed prominent NPY immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex compared to group A and B at P7. In group C, NPY-containing neurons were widely distributed in the all layers of cerebral cortex after P14. Also, numerical decreases of NPY-containing neuron were not found according to increasing age in group C. A decrease of NPY-containing neurons, however, was clearly observed in group A compared to group C at P28. In the hippocampus, similar patterns appeared in groups B and C after P7. Especially, in groups B and C, NPY-containing fibers formed plexus in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus at P14. Conclusion : These results suggest that the increase of NPY synthesis caused by maternal administration of exogenous thyroxine may convalesce fetal alcohol effects, one of the effects of the dysthyroid state following maternal alcohol abuse.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.549-565
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• 2000

Comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to determine 1) selected risk factors and its impact that affect pregnancy outcome such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse 2) these factors can facilitate future strategies for health promotion and prevention for both pregnant women and fetus. Review of literature were extracted from searching MEDLINE(1966 - Oct. 2000). CINAHL (1982 - Oct. 2000) and the domestic literature. The following factors were identified: 1. The effects of risk behaviors on pregnancy. ${\cdot}$Maternal smoking was associated with the occurrence of premature or LBW delivery, fetal growth retardation, extremities defects, heart defects and sudden infant death syndrome. ${\cdot}$Maternal alcohol consumption was associated with spontaneous abortion, premature or LBW delivery, morphologic/neurologic problems, especially fetal alcohol syndrome. ${\cdot}$Heroin was associated with withdrawal after birth in which were born to heroine addicts for gestational age and lung maturation in animal studies. ${\cdot}$Cocaine was associated with spontaneous abortion, abruptio placenta and a poor response to environmental stimuli. ${\cdot}$So far, the effects of caffeine on pregnancy was controversial, but severe caffeine consumption was associated with premature or LBW delivery, spontaneous abortion, still birth and dystocia. 2. Intervention methods and its effects identified were as follows ${\cdot}$Conducted intervention for smoking, alcohol and drug consumption were single or combined. ${\cdot}$Intervention methods were counseling, phone contact, mailing, use of educational videotape, booklet, support person and alternatives such as nicotine patch. ${\cdot}$The interventions increased the rates of smoking cessation during pregnancy and awareness of the risk of drug consumption, and decreased amount of alcohol consumption. ${\cdot}$The intervention outcome found positive effect on birth weight and length. 3. Our recommendations were as follows ${\cdot}$The personal and social cognition should be enhanced through education and the mass media. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to educate and give information of preconceptional care, planned pregnancy and early prenatal care for optimal pregnancy outcome. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to develop comprehensive assessment tool which is reliable and valid on smoking, alcohol consumption and substance abuse to identify supportive or interventional program.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.400-407
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• 2024

Intrauterine alcohol exposure delays bone maturation and intensifies osteoporosis and fracture risk. As most studies emphasize the neurological aspects of intrauterine alcohol exposure, there is a lack of research on the implications pertaining to osseous tissue. Previous studies investigated these effects in fetuses, with limited studies on postnatal life. Postnatal studies are crucial since peak bone growth occurs during adolescence. This study aimed at assessing the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the humerus proximal and distal growth plate chondrocytes in 3-week-old rats. Sprague Dawley rats (n=9) were assigned to either the ethanol group (n=3), saline (n=3), and untreated (n=3) group and time-mated. Once pregnant, as confirmed by the presence of a copulation plug, the former 2 groups were treated with 0.015 ml/g of 25.2% ethanol and 0.9% saline. The untreated group received no treatment. The left humeri belonging to 6 pups per group were used. Serial sections were cut with a microtome at 5 ㎛ thickness. These sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for assessment of normal morphology or immunolabeled with anti-Ki-67 and transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) antibody. Prenatal alcohol exposure adversely effected the growth plate sizes and the number of cells in the proliferative zone. Fewer TGFβ-1 immunopositive and proliferative chondrocytes were found using the anti-Ki-67 antibody. This may explain the growth retardation in offspring exposed to gestational alcohol, showing that gestational alcohol exposure inhibits cell proliferation, aiding the diminished stature.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.95-101
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• 1997

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a potent teratogen in rodents and is present at low concentration in fermented foods and alcohol beverages. It has been well hypothesized that some metabolic products are responsible for the teratogenic effects of the compound. In the present study, the effects of phenobarbital (PB) on EC-induced embryotoxicity were investigated in SD rats. Six groups were constructed: EC 300 (EC 300 mg/kg/day), EC 600 (EC 600 mg/kg/day), EC 600+PB (EC 600 mg/kg/day and PB 80 mg/kg/day), PB (PB 80 mg/kg/day), DR (dietary restriction, 8 g/day/rat) and a control group. Rats of the EC 600+PB group were pretreated with phenobarbital intraperitoneally for three days to induce cytochrome P450 enzymes, followed by oral administration of EC for two consecutive days. The incidence of fetal deaths in the EC 600+PB group was higher than that of the EC 600 group(42.7 vs. 14.3%). The incidence of fetal realformations in the EC 600+PB group was higher than that of the EC 600 group (external; 7.0 vs. 4.1%, visceral; 31.4 vs. 11.3%, skeletal; 11.1 vs. 6.5%). There was no embryotoxicity in the control, EC 300, PB and DR groups. These results show that the pretreatment with phenobarbital augments EC-induced embryotoxicity in rats, indicating an evidence that metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 may be the major pathway of EC to its embryotoxic forms.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.3983-3990
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• 2012

The hazardous effects of heavy alcohol intake and smoking to body systems have been identified by numerous studies, and there is many influencing factors on alcohol intake and smoking choices. The aim of this study is to identify the correlation between alcohol intake and digit ratio (2D:4D), as well as smoking and digit ratio (2D:4D) in university students. Participants were 121 male and 314 female university students. After filling in questionnaire related alcohol and smoking history, 2nd and 4th finger lengths were measured on both hands using vernier callipers with photocopy. This study showed 2D:4D of the males was 0.95, and that of the females was 0.96. There was a significant difference between male and female in digit ratio. The digit ratio according alcohol intake level significantly differed in only women's left hand. The digit ratio according smoking level significantly differed in only men's left hand. Moreover, The digit ratio was negatively associated with alcohol intake and smoking. The results of this study suggest that the digit ratio (2D:4D) affected with fetal testosterone concentration is negatively related to alcohol intake and smoking. Therefore, the digit ratio would be used in preventive program of alcohol intake and smoking of adolescent, or in antialcoholism /smoking cessation program as a biological basic data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1590-1598
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• 2008

Cell proliferation and differentiation are critical processes in a developing fetal rat brain, during which programmed cell death (PCD) also plays an important role. One of the decisive factors for PCD is Bcl-2 family proteins, where Bax induces cell death, whereas Bcl-2 acts as an inhibitor of PCD. As maternal drinking is known to cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or malformation of the fetal brain during pregnancy, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether maternal ethanol exposure alters the PCD-related Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression during fetal brain development. Pregnant female rats were orally treated with 10% ethanol and the subsequent expressions of the Bax and Bcl-2 proteins examined in the fetal brain, including the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, from gestational day (GD) 15.5 to GD 19.5, using Western blots, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. With regard to the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax proteins (Bcl-2/Bax), the Bax protein was dominant in the forebrain and midbrain of the control GD 15.5 fetuses, except for the hindbrain, when compared with the respective ethanol-treated groups. Moreover, Bcl-2 became dominant in the midbrain of the control GD 17.5 fetuses when compared with the ethanol-treated group, representing an alternation of the natural PCD process by ethanol. Furthermore, a differential expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins was found in the differentiating and migrating zones of the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Thus, when taken together, the present results suggest that ethanol affects PCD in the cell differentiation and migration zones of the prenatal rat brain by modulating Bax and Bcl-2 expression in an age- and area-dependent manner. Therefore, this is the first evidence that ethanol may alter FAS-associated embryonic brain development through the alteration of Bax and Bc1-2 expression.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.17-41
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• 2016

Subjects : A literature research on the constitution and medicinal effect & adaptation diseases of "Bullsusan". "Bullsusan" is a herbal prescription composed of Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸) and Cnidii Rhizoma(川芎). Objectives : Through the researching on the records of "Bullsusan" in Korean Traditional Medical Books, gain the literature evidence for adaptation to these days child labor as a pre-labor keeping herbal medicine. And have detailed consideration on the constitution of prescription and medicinal effect & adaptation diseases of "Bullsusan". Methods : First, researched the records of "Bullsusan" in Korean Traditional Medical Books which were included at A Series of Korean Medicine(韓國醫學大系) and analysed component ratio, nickname, herbal manufacture and drug processing method, medicinal effect and adaptation diseases. Second, referred related Korean and Chinese researches that examined the medicinal effect and adaptation diseases of "Bullsusan" by scientific experimentation. Conclusions : We found total 46 records of "Bullsusan" from 20 kinds of Korean Traditional Medical Books included at A Series of Korean Medicine. Prescription component ratio of Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma were 3:2, 1:1, 2:1, 1:1. 3:2 had most 20 records and 1:1 had second 14 records. Especially 1:1 had a tendency of having nickname "Goonguitang", but not must had. First herbal manufacture was powder, it had 8 records. First drug processing method was decocting with water and alcohol, had 19 records. Medical Effects of "Bullsusan" can be induced to next 8, that were "remove get bad blood, give birth new blood", "easy labor by reducing fetal volume", "acceleration of labor", "test of fetal survival, elimination of dead embryo", "elimination of placenta", "revive", "allaying pain", "nourish the blood". From these medical effects, 9 adaptation diseases can be induced. That were "threatened abortion", "womb ache and vaginal bleeding by spontaneous abortion", "pre-labor keeping(prevention of hard labor)", "acceleration of labor", "hard labor", "missed abortion", "postnatal vaginal bleeding, dizziness, asthma, headache, womb ache", "postnatal mastoptosis and mastodynia", "first aid symptom like as dizziness, unconsciousness, stroke caused by excessive bleeding". The medical effect of "acceleration of labor" and "elimination of placenta" have been examined by modern clinical research. The effect of "remove get bad blood, give birth new blood", "allaying pain" and "nourish the blood" have been examined by modern experimental study. But overdosing on "Bullsusan" to pregnant mouse can cause natural abortion, so the proper dose of "Bullsusan" in pregnant period is very important.