• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.550-558
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• 2004

The effects of postnatal exposure to octylphenol(OP) on the expressions of the steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone production were evaluated. Postnatal male mice (15-day-old) were injected with 2 or 20mg $kg^{-l}$ body weight (BW) of OP for 5 days and sacrificed on postnatal day 21. Testosterone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and the expressions of the testicular genes were determined by RT-PCR analyses. Significant reductions in the mean body and testis weight were observed in the OP treated animals. No marked alteration in the histological structure of the testis were observed, however, slight reduction in the seminiferous tubule diameter and the number of Leydig cells and several pyknotic cells could be identified in the 20 mg $kg^{-l}$ BW of the OP treated animals. Serum testosterone concentration was dramatically reduced and the mRNA expressions of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and $17\beta$-hydroxylase/Cl7-20 lyase $(P450_{17\alpha})$ were decreased. No significant changes of the gene expressions of the steroidogenic factor-l (SF-I) and estrogen and androgen receptor after the OP treatment showed that the decreased expressions of the steroidogenic enzymes in the present study did not correlate with these genes. Altogether, the present study demonstrates that postnatal treatment of OP inhibits steroidogenesis by decreasing the transcriptional expressions of the StAR and steroidogenic enzymes. The alteration in steroidogenesis may adversely affect the normal development of the testis and sper- matogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation, according to postnatal age, between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and echocardiographic parameters for the assessment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants with respiratory distress. Methods: We enrolled 42 preterm infants with respiratory distress who underwent serial echocardiographic evaluation with simultaneous plasma BNP measurements until ductal closure. The correlations between BNP levels and the following 4 representative echocardiographic parameters were studied: diameter of the ductus arteriosus (DA), ratio of the left atrial diameter to the aortic diameter (LA/Ao), ratio of the PDA diameter to the infant's left pulmonary artery diameter (PDA/LPA), and the antegrade diastolic flow of LPA (DFLPA). Results: BNP levels were significantly correlated to the magnitude of the ductal shunt, comprising the DA diameter, PDA/LPA ratio, LA/Ao ratio, and antegrade DFLPA for the overall study period. The earliest significant correlation, starting from postnatal day 2, was observed between the LA/Ao ratio and BNP levels. The PDA/LPA ratio and the antegrade DFLPA showed significant correlations with BNP levels postnatal day 3 onward, and with the DA diameter, postnatal day 5 onward. Conclusion: BNP levels and echocardiographic parameters showed a positive correlation, but the significance of the correlations differed according to the postnatal age, especially during the first few days of life.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.169-181
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• 2000

Purpose: To investigate the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 during eary tooth development after irradiation and calcium-deficient diet. Materials and Methods: The pregnant three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The control group was non-irradiation/normal diet group (Group 1), and the experimental groups were irradiation/normal diet group (Group 2) and irradiation/calcium-deficient diet group (Group 3). The abdomen of the rats at the 9th day of pregnancy were irradiated with single dose of 350 cGy. The rat pups were sacrificed at embryonic 18 days, 3 days and 14 days after delivery and the maxillae tooth germs were taken. The tissue sections of specimen were stained immunohisto-chemically with anti-BMP-2/4 antibody. Results: At embryo-18 days, immunoreacivity for BMP-2/4 of the Group 1 was modetate in stratum intermedium of dental organ and weak in dental papilla and dental follicle, but that of Group 2 was weak in cell layer of dental organ, and no immunoreacivity was shown in dental papilla and dental follice of Group 2 and in all tissue components of the Group 3. At postnatal-3 days, immunoreacivity for BMP-2/4 of the Group 1 was strong in cell layer of dental organ, odontoblasts and developing alveolar bone, but that of Group of 2 and Group 3 was weak in odontoblasts and developing alveolar bone. At postnatal-14 days, immunoreacivity for BMP-2/4 of the Group 1 was strong in newly formed cementum, alveolar bone and odontoblasts, but that of Group 2 was weaker than that of Group 1. In the Group 3, tooth forming cell layer showed weak immunoreactivity, but other cell layers showed no immunoreactivity. Couclusion : The expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 during early tooth development was disturbed after irradiation and calcium-deficient diet.

• 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 Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.144-152
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• 2012

Objective: Concerns are growing about the decrease in male reproductive health. Caffeine is one of the popular nutrients that has been implicated as a risk factor for infertility. In the present study, we examined whether in utero and lactational exposure to caffeine affects the reproductive function of the offspring of rats. Methods: Pregnant rats received caffeine via drinking water during gestation (26 and 45 mg/kg) and lactation (25 and 35 mg/kg). Body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, sperm parameters, fertility rate, number of implantations, and testosterone level of the offspring were assessed from birth to adulthood. Results: Significant dose-related decreases were observed in the body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height of the offspring. Sperm density had declined significantly in offspring of the low-dose and high-dose groups, by 8.81% and 19.97%, respectively, by postnatal day 150. The number of viable fetuses had decreased significantly in females mated with male offspring of the high-dose group at postnatal days 60, 90, 120, and 150. There were also significant reductions in testosterone levels of high-dose group offspring from birth to postnatal day 150. Conclusion: It is concluded that maternal caffeine consumption impairs gonadal development and has long-term adverse effects on the reproductive efficiency of male offspring rats.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2005

To analyze the developmental changes in soma diameters of digastric motoneurons, wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was injected into the digastric muscle and visualized the retrogradely HRP-labeled motoneurons through tungstate/tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and following diaminobenzidine (DAB) reactions. The results obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal days 1 (P1), 10 (P10) and 30 (P30) indicated as follows: firstly, soma diameters of digastric motoneurons showed unimodal distribution in all postnatal days examined; secondly, the period of P1 to P10 (period 1) showed about 2 times faster growth rate than that of P10 to P30 (period 2); thirdly, the smallest soma examined in each postnatal day exhibited slower growth rate with that of the largest one (increase ratio in soma diameters from P1 to P30, smallest vs. largest = 1.62 : 1.93); Finally, relative growth rates a day showed again that period 1 had faster growth rate than that of period 2. Consequently, developmental changes in soma diameters of digastric motoneurons resulted in very different growth rates between both periods. This implies that the growth of the soma is almost completing within P10 and thereafter growing slowly. The period 1 and 2 are corresponding to sucking and sucking/masticatory period, respectively. Therefore present study providing morphological changes in soma diameters of digastric motoneurons suggests that both periods and their different growth rates of the motoneurons in each period may closely be related with each other.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.888-892
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the risk factors for hospital readmission during the neonatal period among late preterm infants who were discharged after nursery care. Methods : In this retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of 135 late preterm infants readmitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the neonatal period, after discharge from nursery of IL Sin Christian Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. We compared the risk factors of the hospital readmission group with the control group. Results : The gestational age and birth weight of 135 study infants were $36^{+1}{\pm}0.5$ weeks and $2,718.4{\pm}296.9gm$, respectively. Identified risk factors of hospital readmission were breastfeeding (71.9% vs. 44.4%), short duration of nursery stay ($3.3{\pm}1.6$ days vs. $4.1{\pm}2.0$ days), firstborn (60.0% vs. 45.3%), and maternal pregnancy complication (31.9% vs. 18.8%). Jaundice accounted for the majority of hospital readmissions (83.7%), and the age at hospital readmission was $6.2{\pm}3.6$ postnatal days, mostly at 5-6 postnatal days (40.7%). Identified risk factors of hospital readmission due to jaundice were spontaneous normal vaginal delivery (43.4% vs. 1.8%), younger maternal age ($29.8{\pm}3.4$ yrs vs. $32.1{\pm}4.2$ yrs), and lower maternal pregnancy complication (28.3% vs. 50%). Conclusion : Identified risk factors of hospital readmission were breastfeeding, short duration of nursery stay, firstborn, and maternal pregnancy complication. Jaundice accounted for the majority of hospital readmissions, and the age at hospital readmission was $6.2{\pm}3.6$ postnatal days.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2021

Treatment guidelines for postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection in preterm have not been established yet. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatitis, colitis, and sepsis-like disease are among the clinical manifestations, which range from moderate to serious. We present a case of autopsy diagnosed as pCMV infection in a premature infant delivered at gestational age of 24 weeks and 5 days. On the 7th and 14th days of birth, urinary CMV polymerase chain reaction samples were negative, ruling out congenital CMV infection. However, autopsy examination revealed that the patient had disseminated pCMV infection. CMV inclusion bodies were found in the majority of tissues, including the lung, liver, pancreas, breast, kidney, and adrenal gland, but not the placenta. The thymus exhibited significant cortical atrophy and T-cell immunodeficiency, possibly induced by dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or by pCMV infection itself. If dexamethasone treatment is extended or high doses are considered, it may be beneficial to test the CMV infection status to prevent aggravation of infection. This case demonstrates that, despite the low prevalence, pCMV infection should be considered a differential diagnosis in preterm if other conditions or etiology cannot justify clinical deterioration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.867-886
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• 1993

Vitamin B-6 status parameters of mothers were assessed in relation to th condition of the infant at birth and during the neonatal period. Parameters were assessed at birth and then weekly in 18 mother-infant pairs during the neonatal period ; mothers were supplemented postnatally with 2 or 27 mg PN-HCI/d. Vitamin B-6 inadequacy in the 2mg supplemented group was suggested by the vitamin status parameters. Mothers whose infants had unsatisfactory Apgar scores at 5min after birth(<7) had lower vitamin B-6 status parameters than mothers whose infants were scored satisfactory. Also, infants who scored unsatisfactory at birth and whose mothers were supplemented with the low level of PN had significantly lower vitamin B-6 status parameters at 7 days of age than infants who scored satisfactory. Infants scored unsatisfactory showed some beneficial effects in both vitamin B-6 status and growth associated with the higher level of maternal postnatal vitamin B-6 supplement. In summary, the mother's prenatal and postnatal vitamin B-6 intake were significantly related to the condition of her infant at birth and during the neonatal period, respectively.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2016

Purpose: Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common anomalies identified in newborns. This study aims to demonstrate the prevalence of CAKUT including hydronephrosis diagnosed by antenatal and postnatal ultrasound over a five-year period. Methods: The records of births between May $1^{st}$, 2009 and April $30^{th}$, 2014 at our hospital were collected. The number of infants who underwent renal ultrasound after birth for the detection of CAKUT was counted. The incidence of each type of CAKUT such as hydronephrosis, size abnormality, horseshoe kidney, and Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) was retrospectively evaluated for antenatal screening and postnatal follow-up examination. Results: During the study period, 33,276 infants were born and 521 neonates underwent postnatal renal ultrasound. 183 cases of CAKUT were detected prenatally and 140 postnatally using ultrasonographic examinations at the following time: (i) 3-7 days postnatally in 123 newborns (87.9%), (ii) during 1-3 months in 11 newborns (7.9%), and (iii) later than 3 months in 6 newborns (4.3%). Among diagnosed CAKUT, hydronephrosis was the most common anomaly with 113 newborns diagnosed prenatally and 46 postnatally. Duplex kidney was the second most common anomaly followed by horseshoe kidney, simple cysts in the kidney and so on. Conclusion: The detection of CAKUT is an important part of the prenatal ultrasound. This study analyzed the prevalence of CAKUT detected on prenatal screening and compared the results to those detected postnatally. Prenatal ultrasound screening fulfills the needs of postnatal examinations and therefore, both antenatal and postnatal sonographic investigations are of vital importance for diagnosis of renal and urinary tract anomalies.