• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2000

A large number of man-made chemicals that have been released into the environment have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system of animals and humans. There is a critical developmental period during which sexual brain differentiation proceeds irreversibly under the influence of gonadal hormone. Recently we identified KAP3 gene expressed during the critical period of rat brain sexual differentiation. KAP3 functions as a microtubule-based motor that transports membranous organelles anterogradely in cells, including neurons. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of endocrine disrupter, Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), on the KAP3 gene expression during critical period of rat brain development. Maternal exposure to DDT increased the level of KAP3 mRNA in male and female fetus brains when examined on the gestational day 17 (GDl7). In postnatal day 6, DDT suppressed the expression of KAP3 gene in male and female rat brain. Also, the body weight and fertilization rate were decreased in the DDT exposured rats. These results showed that endocrine disrupter, DDT, can affect the transcriptional level of brain sexual differentiation related gene, KAP3, in the prenatal and the neonatal rat brain and that maternal exposure to endocrine disruptors may lead to a toxic response in embryonic differentiation of brain. And so KAP3 gene may be used a gene maker to analyse the molecular mechanism for toxic response in animal nerve tissues exposed to endocrine disruptors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2004

To investigate the mechanism of germ cell death in postnatal stage of mouse, the involvement of apoptotic executioners, caspase-3 and caspase-activated DNase(CAD), and apoptotic initiators, Bax Fas and Fas ligand, in the germ cell death has been studied. Immune-labels of active caspase-3 and CAD were located in TUNEL-positive, apoptotic, oocytes as well as normal oocytes of primary or secondary follicles. CAD immune-labels were also detected in the nucleus of TUNEL-positive oocytes. Most of oocytes showing positive immune-labeling of active caspase-3 or CAD had vacuoles in their cytoplasm, which is the morphological characteristic of oocyte during folliclar atresia. Bax immune-stains were detected in the atretic oocytes which showed the vacuole in their cytoplasm. Positive immune-labels for Fas ligand was localized in TUNEL-positive or atretic oocytes. Presence of immunoreactivity of active caspase-3 and CAD in TUNEL-positive germ cells implicate that active raspase-3 and CAD might play a role in germ cell apoptosis during early development of mouse ovarian follicle. Immunohistochemical localization of Bax and Fas ligand in TUNEL-positive oocytes suggests that these might be the most plausible modulator of oocyte apoptosis.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to develop a scenario and evaluate student performance in simulation learning of care for children with respiratory distress syndrome in neonatal intensive care units. Methods: To test the application effect, a one group pre-test design was applied. The scenario based on actual patients and textbook material was developed through several meetings of experts. The scenario was used with 17 groups of 55 senior nursing students who participated voluntarily. Results: Contents were organized focusing on the nursing process for simulation learning. In the application of knowledge and skills, nursing students had high scores in the contents of observation of oxygen saturation, and care to relieve dyspnea. Participants' ability, especially in suction and oxygen supply in the evaluation of objective structured clinical examination was not adequate. There was a significant positive correlation between problem-solving ability and satisfaction in learning. Conclusion: The respiratory distress syndrome simulation scenario developed in this study was an effective tool to give students experience in problem solving and critical thinking ability under conditions similar to reality. The development of various scenarios for child nursing care is needed.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of preterm and low birth weight infants (LBWI) is increasing, even though the birth rate is continuously low in Korea. Despite that change, there continues to be a deficit of beds in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study is based on the 2009 Korean Statistical Information Service that examined the development of a Korean NICU service and the survival rate of preterm infants by regionally analyzing the rate of total live births, preterm infants, LBWI, and NICU beds in Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and Korean Statistical Information Service. We confirmed the regional total live birth rate, number of LBWI, and preterm infants and NICU numbers, and all of the results were compared to the average value to determine deficient areas of NICU beds. Results: There were 25,374 (5.7%) preterm infants and 21,954 (4.9%) LBWI in the total number of live births (444,849) in 2009, and regions of high proportion compared to the mean value were Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. Total NICU beds totaled 1,284, and regions of high rates preterm infants and LBWI per 1 NICU bed compared to the mean value were Incheon, Daegu, Ulsan, etc. The NICU holding rate was 87.5% (1,284/1,468), which was increased from 2005. However, there were still shortages of 184 NICU beds (12.5%), especially in Gyeonggi-do, which lacked 157 beds. Conclusion: High risk neonates difficult to transfer, and they need immediate and continuous treatment. As a result, a foundation of well-balanced, national NICU regionalization is necessary. This study suggested that more NICU facilities must be implemented, and clinicians should realize the continuing deficiency of NICU beds in cities and provinces.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.740-745
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• 2007

Purpose : There is a dominant opinion that in vitro fertilization (IVF) leads to an increased incidence of twins, low birth weight (LBW) infants, prematurity and mortality. On the other hand, technical development of IVF and improvement of neonatal intensive care have increased the survival rate of neonates. The purpose of this study was to verify the tendency by comparing the clinical aspects of IVF and spontaneously conceived twins, and to establish methods to increase the survival rate of neonates after IVF. Methods : Retrospective reviews were performed on all twin infants who were admitted to the nursery and NICU at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006. Medical records of IVF twins (study group, n=92) and spontaneously conceived twins (control group, n=265) were analyzed and compared. Neonatal outcomes and complications, as well as obstetric outcomes, were analyzed and compared. Results : Mean gestational age and birth weight of the study group ($34.6{\pm}3.5$ weeks, $2,203.9{\pm}617.2g$) were considerably lower than those of the control group ($36.3{\pm}2.4$ weeks, $2,367.0{\pm}517.9g$). The frequency of prematurity less than 37 weeks (68.5% vs 51.3%) and extremely LBW (15.2% vs 6.4%) were also significantly higher in the study group. Other neonatal outcomes were all insignificant. The obstetric characteristics, maternal age ($32.6{\pm}3.3$ years vs $30.3{\pm}3.9$ years) and the frequency of cesarean delivery(95.7% vs 79.9%) were significantly higher in the study group. Other obstetric outcomes were insignificant except for the frequency of incompetent internal os of cervix (36.2% vs 3.6%) and cerclage operation (38.3% vs 4.3%). Conclusion : Based on the above results, clinical outcomes of twin infants will be further improved by careful attention and thorough antenatal care of the IVF twins.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 1995

The quality of mother-infant interaction during early postpartum period has a significant influence on the child growth and development in many aspects. The mother's initial perception of the newborns might have the lasting influence on the development of the mother-infant attachment and mother-infant relationship. Therefore the proper mother-infant interaction should be developed after infant birth. However, it is acknowledged that the high risk infants influence on the mothers' perception because of their abnormalities or disorders of physical condition and the restricted maternal contacts and interactions. The object of this study is to identify the difference of mother's perception of their normal and high-risk newborn during the early postpartum period. The ultimate goal is to contribute to use this basic data to develop nursing intervention toward the promotion of healthy mother-infant relationship and the helping of growth and development of children. The data were collected for this study from Sep. 21, 1990 to Oct. 1. 1991 at E University Hospital. The sample was 83 of mothers who had normal newborns and 73 mothers who had high risk newborns .The instrument was Neonatal Perception Inventory(NPI) designed by the Broussard for the measurement of mothers' perception of newborns about Average Baby and Your Baby. The data were analysed by using an SPSS Program and include percentage mean, SD, t-test, ANOVA. The results of this study are as follows : 1. The normal newborn mothers' perception is more positive than the high-risk newborn mothers(t=7.94, p=0.000). 2. Mothers' perception of the newborns is not related significantly to mothers' general characteristics. In conclusion, in order to promote positive, healthy mother-infant relationship, the nurse need to support, give information, and educate high-risk newborn mothers through early nursing assessment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.448-458
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• 2009

It has been well documented from animal and human studies that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has numerous beneficial effects on health. In chickens, CLA exerts many effects on performance ranging from egg quality and yolk lipids to meat quality. Although there are several CLA isomers available, not all CLA isomers have the same incorporation rates into egg yolk: cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomers are more favorably deposited into egg yolk than other isomers investigated, but of the two isomers, the former has a higher incorporation rate than the latter. CLA alters the amounts and profiles of lipids in plasma, muscles and liver. Furthermore, increased liver weight was reported in chickens fed dietary CLA. As observed in egg yolk, marked reduction in intramuscular lipids as well as increased protein content was observed in different studies, leading to elevation in protein-to-fat ratio. Inconsistency exists for parameters such as body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production rate and mortality, depending upon experimental conditions. One setback is that hard-cooked yolks from CLA-consuming hens have higher firmness as refrigeration time and CLA are increased, perhaps owing to alterations in physico-chemistry of yolk. Another is that CLA can be detrimental to hatchability when provided to breeders: eggs from these breeders have impaired development in embryonic and neonatal stages, and have increased and decreased amounts of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), respectively. Thus, both problems can be fully resolved if dietary sources rich in MUFAs are provided together with CLA. Emerging evidence suggests that CLA exerts a critical impact on stress and immune functions as it can completely nullify some of the adverse effects produced by immune challenges and reduce mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, CLA is a key regulator of genes that may be responsible for lipid metabolism in chickens. CLA down-regulates both expression of the gene encoding stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 and its protein activity in the chicken liver while up-regulating mRNA of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-l.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of developmental care for preterm infants. Methods: The hybrid model method was used to identify the main attributes and indicators. In the field work stage, data were collected in Seoul and Cheonan, Korea. The participants were 5 nurses working in the NICU. Results: The concept of developmental care was found to have six attributes and ten indicators in 2 dimensions. For the nursing practice dimension, four attributes were derived. They were being like intrauterine state, individualization, interaction, and integrative care with awareness of development. For the family centeredness dimension, supporting parental attachment and professional alliance were attributes of developmental care. Conclusion: Developmental focused care can facilitate the identification of behavioral responses of newborns and provide individualized interventions for fostering growth and development. This concept analysis could provide guidelines for "developmental care" nursing practice and be useful for research in the neonatal field.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1832-1842
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• 2007

Cytochrome P450 aromatase is responsible for the biosynthesis of estrogen. It is also responsible for the endogenous production of 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone), an anabolic androgen unique to pigs. Plasma concentrations of 19-nortestosterone are highest between two and four weeks after birth in male pigs. In the present study, the physiology of 19-nortestosterone was investigated by measuring the mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes, estrogen receptors and androgen receptor in the tissues of growing pigs. The expression of aromatase, 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the testes of male piglets increased between birth and two weeks of age, and then decreased progressively. Similar developmental expressional patterns were observed for 17${\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 3${\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the ovaries of female piglets, but without significant aromatase expression. The major form of aromatase expressed in the testes of piglets was identified as type I. Expression of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$and androgen receptor genes was also detected in both testes and ovaries. A transient elevation of androgen receptor mRNA in male piglets at two weeks of age was also observed in testes. Significant expression of the androgen receptor gene, but not of estrogen receptor-${\alpha}$ and -${\beta}$ genes, was also demonstrated in adipose tissue and muscle. We conclude that the observed increase in the testicular expression of aromatase in male pigs could account for the production of large amounts of 19-nortestosterone at between two and four weeks of age in males. Androgen receptor and 19-nortestosterone appeared to be important for testicular development and might contribute to sexual dimorphism in body composition and muscle development in juvenile pigs.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.229-234
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• 2001

This article summarizes the present developing conditions and achievements in pediatrics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at basic medicine, clinical medicine and preventive medicine in recent fifty years. The author thinks that the strategy goal of the development of TCM pediatrics is modernization. In the future certain years, culturing persons of ability in all kinds of administrative levels and using modern science and techniques are very necessary. In the aspect of the background of TCM pediatrics, childrens physiology and pathology characteristic, pharmacodynamics, making the four diagnostic methods objective, combining macro differentiation with micro differentiation, reforming the preparation form should be intensively researched. In the aspect of clinic, in order to improve curative effect, accumulate materials, we should go deep into the research on virus diseases, immunity diseases, nutritional diseases and neonatal diseases by taking advantage of the superiority of TCM.