• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.31-44
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• 1982

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice in high risk infants and determine the factors which affect discharge against advice. Data of this study were collected by means of reviewing the medical records of 127 in-patients who were diagnosed as high risk infants in admission and interviewing of the mothers of these patients was done by telephone. The high risk categories were neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, congenital anomaly, congenital heart disease, blood disorder, neonatal infection and birth injury. Maternal attachment was measured by deviding the subjects into 2 groups, the one the continuing treatment group and the other the discharge against advice group. Maternal attachment is determined by an interplay of maternal attitude and specific infant behaviors. Maternal attachment developes through continuous physical and psychological contact between mother and infants. Later it developes into maternal love. The results were as follows: 1. There was a significant association between maternal attachment and discharge against advice, that is, the attachment score was higher in the continuing treatment group. 2. Inspite of controlling medical insurance, severity of disease and the length of stay, it was found that there continued to be either a partially significant or fully significant relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that maternal attachment was second in importance as a predictor of discharge against advice, which indicates that maternal attachment was a significant predictor of discharge against advice. 3. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that in 32.3％ of these cases the significant predictors of discharge against advice were length of stay, maternal attachment, delivery type, feeding type and income.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제37권9호
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• pp.817-824
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to analyze the intake of antioxidant vitamins and plasma TRAP concentrations of 60 maternal-infant pairs (30 in normal term delivery group, NT; 30 in preform group, PT) We also investigated the relationship between plasma TRAP levels of maternal-umbilical cord blood and pregnancy outcomes. Mean energy intakes of NT and PT pregnant women were 93.2% and 85.4% and their protein intakes were 113.3% and 110.9% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. The vitamin A intakes of NT and W pregnant women were 559.7 RE and 497.8 RE, which were less than RDA. While the vitamin E and C intakes of both NT and PT pregnant women were more than RDA. The maternal plasma TRAP level of PT was 1.41 mmol/l and that of was 1.50 mmol/l, which was significantly higher than TRAP level of PT (p < 0.05) . The umblical cord plasma TRAP levels of NT and PT were 1.44 mmol/l and 1.23 mmol/l, which indicates the significant difference between those two groups (p < 0.001) . In case of comparing the TRAP level of maternal and umbilical cord blood, there was no significant difference in NT pregnant women, however, in PT group maternal the TRAP level significant higher than that of umbilical cord (p < 0.001). The length of gestation and plasma TRAP level of maternal and umbilical cord showed a positive correlation. However, other parameters of pregnancy outcomes such as birth weight, weight gain, and Apgar score were not affected by the plasma TRAP levels. Based on these results, preform infants could have a risk of oxidative stress because of low plasma TRAP level.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.100-108
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• 2015

Purpose: Conventional methods for the prenatal detection of fetal RhD status involve invasive procedures such as fetal blood sampling and amniocentesis. The identification of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma creates the possibility of determining fetal RhD status by analyzing maternal plasma DNA. However, some technical problems still exist, especially the lack of a positive control marker for the presence of fetal DNA. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility and accuracy of fetal RHD genotyping incorporating the RASSF1A epigenetic fetal DNA marker from cffDNA in the maternal plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed maternal plasma from 41 pregnant women identified as RhD-negative by serological testing. Multiplex real-time PCR was performed by amplifying RHD exons 5 and 7 and the SRY gene, with RASSF1A being used as a gender-independent fetal epigenetic marker. The results were compared with those obtained by postnatal serological analysis of cord blood and gender identification. Results: Among the 41 fetuses, 37 were RhD-positive and 4 were RhD-negative according to the serological analysis of cord blood. There was 100% concordance between fetal RHD genotyping and serological cord blood results. Detection of the RASSF1A gene verified the presence of cffDNA, and the fetal SRY status was correctly detected in all 41 cases. Conclusion: Noninvasive fetal RHD genotyping with cffDNA incorporating RASSF1A is a feasible, reliable, and accurate method of determining fetal RhD status. It is an alternative to amniocentesis for the management of RhD-negative women and reduces the need for unnecessary RhIG prophylaxis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.881-888
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate effects of maternal genetic potential and parity with pre- and postpartum periods on body weights, body condition score (BCS) and blood metabolites in relation to physiological stress and nutritional metabolism in Hanwoo cows. Also, this study was designed to develop effective husbandry technique for Hanwoo cows concerning of pre- and postpartum periods, and to get basic data for it. Forty five cows were allocated into two groups, 24 cows with high maternal genetic potentials and 21 cows with low maternal genetic potentials. The average parity of experimental cows with high and low maternal genetic potentials were 2.83±1.63 and 3.00±1.77, respectively. The growth performances such as body weights, average daily gain (ADG) and BCS were not different between two groups regardless of maternal genetic potential. However, pre- and postpartum periods had effects on the growth performances (p<0.05). Parity had no effects on ADG and BCS (p>0.05), but effect on body weight of cows (p<0.05). The metabolites of physiological stress such as neutrophil, hematocrit and cortisol, and nutritional metabolites such as albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in blood of cows were affected by pre- and postpartum periods in a large scale, while those were partially affected by maternal genetic potential. However, among the metabolites in blood, only neutrophil and triglylceride concentrations were affected by different parity of cows. Therefore, the present study suggests that nutritional intake and digestion are affected by physiological stress due to the parturition, and it should need to consider different husbandry technique based on the maternal genetic potential, and pre- and postpartum periods of cows.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.23-33
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• 1987

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of lithium concentration difference between maternal and fetal plasma and the effect of previous lithium loading on rapid transplacental transport of large amounts of lithium. Pregnant rabbits at $20{\sim}22\;days$ of gestation were divided into two groups: chronic $Li^+$ injection group and chronic plus acute $Li^+$ injection group. Small amounts of LiCl (1 mmol/kg per day) were given intraperitoneally to all rabbits of both group, for 5 days before sacrifice. The rabbits of chronic plus acute injection group, received additional intravenous injections of large amounts of LiCl (2 mmol/kg) one hour before sacrifice. Maternal arterial blood, placental sinus blood, fetal blood and amniotic fluid were drawn and analyzed for the plasma concentrations of $Li^+$, $Na^+$ and $K^+$ and for osmolartiy. Followings are the results obtained. 1) There was no difference in the $Li^+$ concentration between maternal plasma and placental sinus plasma in chronic lithium group, although the $Li^+$ concentration of placental sinus plasma was slightly lower than that of maternal arterial plasma in the chronic plus acute lithium group. 2) The $Li^+$ concentration of fetal plasma was much lower than that of placental sinus plasma in both groups, the ratio being $0.76{\pm}0.250$ ($mean{\pm}95%$ confidence interval) for the chronic $Li^+$ group and $0.78{\pm}0.366$ for the chronic plus acute $Li^+$ group. 3) The ratio of $Li^+$ concentration of fetal plasma to maternal arterial plasma was $0.71{\pm}0.196$ in the chronic group and $0.59{\pm}0.261$ in the chronic plus acute group. 4) $Li^+$ concentration of amniotic fluid was much higher than that of fetal plasma in the chronic $Li^+$ group but not significantly different in the chronic plus acute $Li^+$ group. 5) An acute loading of $Li^+$ did not produce any detectable changes in $Na^+$ and $K^+$ concentrations and osmolarity of the maternal plasma. The above results may suggest that: (a) The placental barrier maintains steady state lithium concentration gradient between placental sinus plasma and fetal plasma. (b) In rabbits chronically treated with $Li^+$ the steady state $Li^+$ gradient is established within one hour after an acute $Li^+$ loading, provided that the $Li^+$ concentration in the maternal plasma is less than 4 mmole/l.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.12-19
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• 2008

We evaluated the relationship between birth weight and mercury exposure levels in Seoul, Korea, by following a cohort of pregnant women and the outcomes of their pregnancies between 2001-2005. Eighty-five pregnant women were recruited into this study after obtaining informed consent. Samples were collected at delivery from normal pregnant women who were living in the city of Seoul, Korea. Mercury concentrations in 85 sets of maternal and cord blood samples were measured using a gold-amalgam collection method. We used multiple regression analysis to analyze the effect of mercury exposure on birth weight. The mean levels of total mercury concentrations were 5.41(ppb) in maternal blood of pregnant women and 3.58(ppb) in umbilical cord blood. The mean concentration of umbilical cord blood mercury exposures was higher than the level recommended by WHO. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood mercury concentrations. Mercury concentrations of umbilical cord blood was associated with birth weight. In addition, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, we found that mercury exposure may reduce the birth weight. This study suggests that exposure to mercury concentration during pregnancy contributes to the risk of low birth weight. Therefore, prenatal and environmental education for various and possible sources of mercury exposure might be necessary for the good health of babies. The finding of this study supports the construction of national policy for environmental health management.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제38권7호
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• pp.578-585
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• 2005

Maternal zinc deficiency is relatively common worldwide, but its consequences for pregnancy outcome are not established. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of zinc status in the second trimester on pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 248 pregnant Korean women (25-28 wk gestation). Cord blood was collected from subgroup of 69 women and pregnancy outcome data were obtained from 185 babies. Anthropometry measurement, dietary intake, and biochemical characteristics of pregnancy and cord serum substances were measured. The subjects were divided into quartiles on the basis of maternal serum Zn concentration; $ZnQ_1$ (< 25 percentile), $ZnQ_2$ ($26\~50$ percentile), $ZnQ_3$ ($51\~75$ percentile), and $ZnQ_4$ ($76\~100$ percentile). Zn groups were compared in terms of various maternal factors, concentrations of cord serum substances, and pregnancy outcome. Maternal serum Zn concentration was $118.4\;{\pm}\;35.5\;{\mu}g/dl$ as mean. Intake of Zn was lower than Korean RDA. The rate of Zn deficiency among all subjects was $8.5\%$. Maternal serum Zn levels belonged to normal range. Cord serum Zn level was about $154.7\%$ of maternal serum level. Intakes of energy, calcium, iron, folic acid, and riboflavin did not meet the Korean RDA for pregnant women by gestational age. The mean birth weight of neonates is 3083 $\pm$ 697 g, of whom $9.1\%$ were of low birth weight (< 2,500 g). Maternal serum Zn level was positively correlated with pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and vitamin C intake (p < 0.05). $ZnQ_1$ group had significantly lower maternal serum iron concentration and higher cord serum cholesterol than those in other groups. Maternal serum Zn level, cord serum Zn level, and dietary Zn intake were no related to the pregnancy outcome. The birth weight had a correlation with the maternal hemoglobin and albumin concentration. In conclusion, at this study, we could not find the association with maternal Zn status in 2nd trimester and pregnancy outcome.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.182-188
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• 1999

A study was conducted on a group of 107 women, attending the three peripheral community clinics in Seoul and Kyunggi area for their prenatal care, to ascertain the relationship between maternal serum zinc concentration measured in pregnancy and several pregnancy outcomes. The serum zinc concentration was adjusted for estimated gestational age at the time of drawing blood. Mean daily zinc intake of the pregnant women estimated by a 24-hour recall method was 7.68$\pm$3.70$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 51% of RDA. and mean serum zinc concentration of the women was 94.03$\pm$36.99ug/dl. Adjusted maternal serum zinc level was significantly related to gestational maternal weight gain(p<0.05) and infant birth weight(p<0.05). Pregnant women with tgreater than 9kg weight gain during the gestation period had higher adjusted serum zinc levels than the subjects with less than 8kg weight gain. Adjusted serum zinc levels of mothers who delivered 3.0-3.5kg and greater than 4.0kg birth-weight infants were higher than those of mothers of low-birth-weight infants. Any association between maternal serum zinc level and gestational length, complications and morning sickness was not observed. There results suggest that the maternal serum zinc level may predict perhaps the author could be none specific.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.39-48
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to determine the mercury accumulated at maternal and fetal organs, and compare its levels between maternal and fetal organs on day 20 of gestation, in pregnant Fisher-344 rats which given orally methylmercuric chloride on day 7 of gestation. Pregnant rats were divided four groups by dose: control group, and methylmercuric chloride treatment groups of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The results obtained are as follows: I The mercury concentrations in maternal organs were the highest in kidney, and followed by blood, spleen, liver and brain. 2. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in maternal organs were as follows: Kidney 3.62 (r$^2$=0.943), Blood 2.75 (r$^2$=0.941), Spleen 2.49 (r$^2$=0.990), Liver 1.13 (r$^2$= 0.949), Brain 0.33 (r$^2$=0.984). 3. The mercury concentrations in fetal organs and placenta were the highest in liver, and followed by kidney, placenta and brain. 4. The slopes of regression equation among mercury dose levels in fetal organs and placenta were as follows: Liver 1.79 (r$^2$= 0.968), Kidney 0.79 (r$^2$= 0.976), Placenta 0.68 (r$^2$= 0.920), Brain 0.52 (r$^2$= 0.978), All Body 0.58 (r$^2$= 0.941). 5. As to the mercury levels in kidney, dams were 4.8~14.9 times higher than fetus. But as to the mercury levels in liver and brain, fetus were 1.6~2.5 and 1.5~1.9 times higher than dams. In conclusion, the mercury which exposured to pregnant rats can easily pass through the placenta and accumulated in fetus, especially higher in fetal liver and brain.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.160-172
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutritional status and food intake during pregnancy and lactation can affect fetal programming. In the current metabolic syndrome epidemic, high-fructose diets have been strongly implicated. This study investigated the effect of maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation on the development of metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Drinking water with or without 20% fructose was administered to female C57BL/6J mice over the course of their pregnancy and lactation periods. After weaning, pups ate regular chow. Accu-Chek Performa was used to measure glucose levels, and a tail-cuff method was used to examine systolic blood pressure. Animals were sacrificed at 7 months, their livers were excised, and sections were stained with Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Kidneys were collected for gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time Polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Adult offspring exposed to maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation presented with heavier body weights, fattier livers, and broader areas under the curve in glucose tolerance test values than control offspring. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in the maternal high-fructose group were higher than that in controls. However, there were no significant differences in mRNA expressions of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes and sodium transporter genes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation induces metabolic syndrome with hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in adult offspring.