• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.559-567
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of complete coverage and content of available antenatal care (ANC) on the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) in 4 countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Methods: Measures of complete coverage and content of ANC services included the frequency of ANC visits and the seven service components (blood pressure measurement, iron supplementation, tetanus toxoid immunization, explanations of pregnancy complications, urine sample test, blood sample test, and weight measurement). The complete coverage and content of ANC services were assessed as high if more than 4 ANC visits and all seven components were delivered. Multivariable logistic regression with complex survey designs was conducted using Demographic Health Survey data from the 4 ASEAN countries in question from 2014 to 2017. Results: The proportion of LBW infants was higher in the Philippines (13.8%) than in Indonesia (6.7%), Cambodia (6.7%), or Myanmar (7.5%). Poor ANC services were associated with a 1.30 times higher incidence of LBW than a high level of complete coverage and content of ANC services (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.52). In addition, the risk of LBW was higher in the Philippines than in other countries (aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 2.01 to 2.51) after adjusting for mothers' demographic/socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and other factors. Conclusions: In sum, complete coverage and content of ANC services were significantly associated with the incidence of LBW in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The Philippines did not show statistically significant results for this relationship, but had a higher risk of LBW with poor ANC.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2018

Purpose: Physicians' attitudes may have a strong influence on women's decision regarding prenatal screening options. The aim of this study is to assess the physicians' attitudes toward prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed and collected at several obstetrics-gynecological conferences and meetings. The questionnaire included 31 multiple choice and 5 fill-in-the-blank questions. Seven questions requested physicians' demographic information, 17 questions requested information about the NIPT with cell-free fetal DNA, and 12 questions requested information about general prenatal screening practices. Results: Of the 203 obstetricians that completed the survey. In contrast with professional guidelines recommending the universal offering of aneuploidy screening, only 53.7% answered that prenatal aneuploidy testing (screening and/or invasive diagnostic testing) should be offered to all pregnant women. Physicians tended to have positive attitudes toward the clinical application of NIPT as both primary and secondary screening methods for patients at high-risk for fetal trisomy. However, for patients at average-risk for fetal trisomy, physicians tended to have positive attitudes only as a secondary screening method. Physicians with more knowledge about NIPT were found to tend to inform their patients that the detection rate of NIPT is higher. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate expert opinion on prenatal screening in South Korea. Education of physicians is essential to ensure responsible patient counseling, informed consent, and appropriate management after NIPT.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제50권12호
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• pp.1206-1211
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• 2007

목 적 : 사회경제적 환경의 변화로 첫 아이를 출산하는 어머니의 연령이 늦어지고 있다. 많은 연구자들이 첫 아이를 출산하는 어머니의 연령이 늦어지는 것과 저체중출생아의 출생율과의 관계에 대해 연구하였으나 아직 일치된 연구결과를 얻지 못하고 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구자들은 산모의 연령이 저체중출생아의 출생률에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2001년부터 2003년까지 통계청의 인구동태자료 중 출생기록에 등록된 1,545,338명 중 단태아면서 첫 번째 아이인 736,167명을 대상으로 저체중출생아와 극소저체중출생아의 출생률에 대해 어머니의 나이, 직업, 학력, 결혼유무, 거주지, 결혼 기간, 아버지의 직업과의 관계를 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석을 이용하여 분석하였다. 결 과 : 산모의 연령에 따라 저체중출생아가 출생할 위험률은 30-34세, 35-40세, 40세 이상의 초산부는 25세에서 29세의 초산부에 비해 각각 1.3배, 2.1배, 2.4배 높게 나타났으며 어머니의 직업, 학력, 결혼유무, 거주지, 결혼 기간, 아버지의 직업 등을 감안하여도 1.3배, 1.9배, 2.0배로 모두 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 산모의 연령에 따라 극소체중출생아가 출생할 위험률은 30-34세, 40-44세, 45세 이상의 초산부는 25세에서 29세의 초산부에 비해 각각 1.8배, 3.3배, 3.7배 높게 나타났으며 어머니의 직업, 학력, 결혼유무, 거주지, 결혼 기간, 아버지의 직업 등을 보정하여도 1.6배, 2.7배, 2.6배로 모두 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 각각의 산모의 연령과 교육 정도, 결혼유무에 따른 저체중출생아의 출생률을 비교하였을 때 30대의 고등학교 졸업 이상이고 기혼인 산모에서 저체중출생아의 출생률(3.7%)은 20대의 고등학교 졸업이상이고 기혼인 산모보다 더 낮았다. 결 론 : 본 연구에서 산모가 나이가 많아질수록 저체중출생아와 극소저체중출생아가 출생할 위험률이 높으며 어머니의 직업, 학력, 결혼유무, 거주지, 결혼 기간, 아버지의 직업 등을 고려하여도 높다. 하지만 나이가 많은 산모라도 사회경제적 환경이 개선된 다면 저체중출생아의 출생률을 줄일 수 있고 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5455-5459
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• 2013

Background: The risk of malignancy index (RMI) for the evaluation of adnexal masses is a sensitive tool in certain populations. The best cut off value for RMI 1, 2 and 3 is 200. The cut off value of RMI-4 to differentiate benign from malignant lesions is 450. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of four different malignancy indexes (RMI1-4) in a homogeneous population. Materials and Methods: We evaluated a total of 153 non-pregnant women with adnexal masses who did not have a history of malignancy and who were above 18 years of age. Results: A cut-off value of 250 for RMI-1 provided 95.9% inter-observer agreement, yielding 95.9% specificity, 93.5% negative predictive value, 75.0% sensitivity and 82.8% positive predictive value. A cut-off value of 250 for RMI-1 showed high performance in preoperative diagnosis of invasive malignant lesions than cut-off value of 200 in our population. A cut-off value of 350 for RMI-2 provided 94.5% inter-observed agreement, yielding 94.2% specificity, 93.4% negative predictive value, 75.0% sensitivity and 77.4% positive predictive value. RMI-2 showed the higher performance when the cut-off value was set at 350 in our population. A cut-off value of 250 provided 95.2% inter-observer agreement, yielding 95.0% specificity, 93.2% negative predictive value, 75.0% sensitivity, and 88.0% positive predictive value. RMI-3 showed the highest performance to diagnose malignant adnexal masses when the cut-off value was set at 250. In our study, RMI-4 showed similar statistical performance when the cut-off value was set at 400 [(Kappa: 0.684/p=0.000), yielding 93.8% inter-observer agreement, 93.4% specificity, 93.4% negative predictive value, 75.0% sensitivity, and 75.0% negative predictive value]. Conclusions: We showed successful utilization of RMIs in preoperative differentiation of benign from malignant masses. Many studies conducted in Asian and Pacific countries have reported different cut-off values as was the case in our study. We think that it is difficult to determine universally accepted cut-off values for RMIs for common use around the globe.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제5권3_4호
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• pp.47-56
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• 1990

Smoking damages nonsmoker's health who have been exposed to passive smoking as well as smoker's own health. Passive smoking can cause serious health damage to particular groups, such as the old aged, children and pregnant women. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between nicotine concentrations in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and urinary cotinine concentrations of nonsmokers exposed to ETS, and to provide basic information related to health risk assessment. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. When 180 cigarrette were smoked during S hours (high concentrations exposure) in 132 m$^3$chamber, mean concentrations of nicotine in ETS showed 263.52 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$${\pm}$51.93. When 45 cigarretts were smoked (low concentrations exposure), it was 69.43${\pm}$8.96 $\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$. 2. The urinary cotinine concentrations of each times (0, 2.5, 5, 17 and 24 hours) in nonsmokers ranged from 0.27∼12.52 ng/ml in high concentrations exposure and 0.22∼2.28 ng/ml in low concentrations exposure. Mean while the total urinary cotinine concentrations during 24 hours ranged from 11.62∼31.65 ng/ml in high concentrations exposure and 3.45∼5.64 ng/ml in low concentrations exposure. 3. The correlation equation and coefficient between cotinine concentrations in nonsmokers' urine (y) and nicotine concentrations in ETS (x) was y=0.421+0.0171x and 0:875 (p<0.01) respectively, 4. The quantity of nonsmokers' smoking exposure by passive smoking can be assumed as based on the estimation of nicotine concentrations in ETS by measuring cotinine concentrations of nonsmokers' urine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.3029-3034
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• 2015

Background: While the perinatal outcomes of active maternal smoking are well documented, results of the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure during pregnancy are inconsistent. We aimed to examine the effect of ETS exposure, assessed by maternal hair nicotine levels at $35^{th}$ week of gestation, on birth weight and the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW). Materials and Methods: A total of 871 non-smoking healthy pregnant women were recruited by one Korean hospital between 1 October 2006 and 31 July 2007. Hair samples were collected and anthropometric questionnaires administered at $35^{th}$ week of gestation. The primary outcome was birth weight and secondary outcomes were the risk of babies being SGA and LBW. Results: Log-transformed hair nicotine concentrations were inversely related with birth weight after adjusting for confounding variables (${\beta}=-0.077$, p=0.037). After stratifying hair nicotine levels by tertiles (T1, low [0.0-0.28 ng/mg]; T2, medium [0.29-0.62 ng/mg]; and T3, high [0.63-5.99 ng/mg]), the mean birth weight in each groups were 3,342g (T1) 3,296g (T2) and 3,290 g (T3), respectively. However the difference between groups was not statistically significant by analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) adjusting for covariates (p=0.062). In logistic regression analysis, the risk of SGA was higher in the T3 (OR=1.59, 95%CI 1.05-2.42) than in the reference group (T1), after controlling for confounding variables. The risk of low birth weight (<2,500g, LBW) was not significantly higher (OR=1.44, 95%CI 0.95-2.19), but the risk of babies being below 3,000g birth weight was increased in the T3 group (OR=1.53, 95%CI 1.00-2.36) compared with that in the T1 group. Conclusions: Maternal ETS exposure during pregnancy was inversely related with birth weight. The risk of SGA increased in the highest ETS exposure group compared with in the low exposure group. To prevent ETS exposure during pregnancy, more comprehensive tobacco control policies are needed.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.56-60
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• 2005

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) were added to AFP to make what is commonly known as the Triple test. The Triple test combines results from these three tests and has been a standard screening procedure for several years. Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of adding inhibin-A to Down's syndrome risk assessment. The Quad test adds dimeric Inhibin-A (DIA) to the three other markers and uses the same computer program to calculate risk factors. Testing was performed between 14 and 21 weeks of gestation. Sample size were 648 samples and period of study was from 1, July, 2004 to 30, September, 2004. Used analytical methods for AFP, hCG and uE3 were radioimmunoassay (RIA) and dimeric inhibin A was enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Adding dimeric inhibin-A as a fourth marker to the standard triple test increases the detection rate from 62 % to 75 % with a false-positive rate of 5%. The DIA based Quad test has been shown to be the most effective second trimester screening test for Down's syndrome suitable for routine use. Increased DIA values are observed during normal pregnancy where a bimodal pattern response is seen. Values increase during the first trimester, decline after 14 weeks, and re-ascend between 17-25 weeks. Values for DIA may be additionally elevated during a Down's syndrome pregnancy. Dimeric inhibin A is a glycoprotein hormone made by the ovary and placenta. DIA levels are twice as high in Down's syndrome pregnancies. AFP, hCG, and uE3 levels vary with gestational age, and incorrect gestational dating will influence results. DIA levels do not vary substantially with gestational age, resulting in greater screening accuracy. Although the Quad test is an improvement over the Triple test, it is important to underscore the fact that a positive test on both should be done. Most women who initially screen positive will be found to be carrying normal babies when amniocentesis and definitive diagnostic chromosome analysis are done.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제40권sup권
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• pp.29-38
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to establish an association between the percent of energy from total sugar and disease prevalence of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome with the context of the current population dietary practice in Korea. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2001 and 2002 dataset were used as the source of data for this research. Usual nutritional intakes for over 20 years old people were calculated from the two non-consecutive dietary intake data from KNHANES 2001 and 2002 dataset. SAS and SUDAAN were used for statistical analyses. Sample weighted means, standard errors, and population percentages were calculated, and multiple logistic regression model with adjustment for covariates were used to determine the odds ratios(ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Subjects were categorized as 3 ways and compared the LS means and ORs for heath factors. First, subjects excluding pregnant women, were categorized according to percent of energy from the usual total sugar intakes as ${\leq}10%$, 11-15%, 16-20%, 21-25%, >25%. Risk of LDL cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the '>25%' group compared to the '<10%' group. The risks of the other health effects did not show any significant differences. Second, the subjects were categorized considering both Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range(AMDR) from carbohydrate and %Energy from total sugar as 'CHO<55% & Total sugar ${\leq}10%$', 'CHO 55-70% & Total sugar 11-25%', and '$CHO{\geq}70%$ & Total sugar ${\geq}25%$'. The risk of obesity tended to increase in the '$CHO{\geq}70%$ & Total sugar ${\geq}25%$' group compared to the 'CHO<55% & Total sugar ${\leq}10%$'. Third, the subjects were categorized as 'CHO<55% & Total sugar ${\leq}10%$', 'CHO 55-70% & Total sugar 11-20%', and '$CHO{\geq}70%$ & Total sugar ${\geq}20%$'. The risk of obesity also tended to increase in the '$CHO{\geq}70%$ & Total sugar ${\geq}20%$' group compared to the 'CHO<55% & Total sugar ${\geq}20%$' group. In conclusion, risk of LDL cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the over 25% total sugar intake group, and the risk of obesity tended to increase in the 20-25% total sugar intake and high carbohydrate intake group. The risks of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome were not associated with total sugar intakes. More research to elucidate the association for Korean between the intakes of total sugar, added sugar, glucose, fructose, and sweeteners and diseases prevalences shoud be excuted in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.35-40
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• 2017

본 연구는 임신초기 초음파에 의해 측정된 임산부의 복부 피하지방두께(Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness; ASFT)와 임신중기 발현되는 임신성당뇨(Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; GDM)와의 연관성을 확인하고 GDM 예측을 위한 ASFT의 기준을 알아보고자 하였다. 286명의 임산부를 대상으로 임신초기 ASFT를 측정한 후 임신중기 GDM 선별검사(50 g OGTT) 140 mg/dL 이상을 고위험군으로 산정하고 산모연령, 임신 전 체질량지수, 임신 중 체중증가량과 함께 비교 분석하였다. ROC 곡선분석을 이용하여 GDM 예측을 위한 ASFT의 cut-off value를 결정하였다. 산모연령, 임신 중 체중증가량은 임신중기 GDM과 관련성이 없었으며, 임신 전 체질량지수와 임신초기 ASFT는 정상군과 GDM 고위험군에서 의미있는 차이를 보였다. GDM 예측을 위한 ASFT의 cut-off value는 2.23 cm(AUC 0.913, Sensitivity 76.19%, Specificity 93.72%)로 결정하였다. 임신초기 초음파로 측정된 ASFT는 임신중기 GDM 예측을 위한 중요한 지표로 유용하게 평가되었다. 따라서 ASFT는 GDM을 조기에 인식하는데 있어서 보조적인 진단지표로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.