• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.184-194
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• 2019

Purpose: There has been a considerable increase in the number of women giving birth at advanced age. The genetic screening of such women is highly desirable. Clinical nurses, however, are not adequately trained to assist such clients. This study aims at identifying the educational needs of nurses in order for them to provide better care and treatment for such women. Methods: 206 South Korean clinical nurses participated in this study. Study variables were measured by nurses' attitudes toward terminating pregnancy (ATP), knowledge of prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (K-PGSD), and information needs for prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (I-PGSD). The statistical analysis included T-test, analysis of variance and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Results: Mean scores were 34.57±5.73 for ATP, 16.44±3.04 for K-PGSD, and 78.81±10.95 for I-PGSD. The findings demonstrate that nurses have high information needs (I-PGSD) to take better care of women who have positive results from their amniocentesis tests. Conclusion: Information needs among clinical nurses are not currently being met. Education for nurses must include training in counseling to encourage patients' autonomous decision-making regarding their pregnancies.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2007

Purpose: Cleft lip and/or palate is the most common congenital facial anomaly whose incidence is about 1 in 500~1000 live births. As this anomaly may be associated with the serious chromosomal anomalies or the multiple organ abnormalities resulting in the fetal loss or perinatal maternal morbidity and mortality, careful prenatal counseling with early and accurate detection is important. Although conventional prenatal ultrasound(US) examination in midterm pregnancy has been applied for screening of cleft lip, there are definite limitations in the diagnosis of accompanying cleft palate or alveolar cleft. We applied high-resolution 3D US along the serial axial, coronal and sagittal plane so that we could diagnose the cleft palate and/or alveolar cleft in fetuses with cleft lip. Methods: From May 2005 to September 2005, 20 fetuses with cleft lip were examined with prenatal 3D US. Average maternal age was 28.8 years old(24-35 years old), and average gestational age was 24.8 weeks(17.6 to 34.2 weeks). Consecutive axial, coronal and sagittal multislice view were obtained via prenatal 3D US examination and diagnosis of cleft palate and/or alveolar cleft in cleft lip fetuses was followed. Results: With noninvasive and safe prenatal 3D US examination, 17 of 20 cleft lip fetuses were demonstrated to have cleft palate and/or alveolar cleft. Prenatal counseling according to the result was made. Conclusion: Existing prenatal US examination is suitable for screening the cleft lip fetuses but has limitation in identifying the related existence of cleft palate and/ or alveolar cleft. Authors verify the presence of cleft palate and/or alveolar cleft acquiring the successive multislice axial, coronal, and sagittal view with prenatal 3D US examination. Therefore, prenatal 3D US examination could be regarded as a noninvasive and secure screening modality in fetuses with cleft lip for confirming whether cleft palate and/or alveolar cleft is accompanied.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.24.1-24.5
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• 2015

Ultrasonographic examination is widely used for screening of abnormal findings on prenatal screening. Cleft lip with or without cleft palate of the fetus can also be screened by using ultrasonography. Presence of abnormal findings of the fetal lip or palate can be detected by the imaging professionals. However, such findings may not be familiar to oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons can use ultrasonographic imaging of fetal cleft lip with or without cleft palate to provide information regarding treatment protocols and outcomes to the parent. Therefore, surgeons should also be able to identify the abnormal details from the images, in order to setup proper treatment planning after the birth of the fetus. We report two cases of cleft lip with or without cleft palate that the official readings of prenatal ultrasonography were inconsistent with the actual facial structure identified after birth. Also, critical and practical points in fetal ultrasonographic diagnosis are to be discussed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2016

Background The prenatal ultrasound detection of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and its continuous management in the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal periods using a multidisciplinary team approach can be beneficial for parents and their infants. In this report, we share our experiences with the prenatal detection of CL/P and the multidisciplinary management of this malformation in our institution's Congenital Disease Center. Methods The multidisciplinary team of the Congenital Disease Center for mothers of children with CL/P is composed of obstetricians, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, pediatricians, and psychiatrists. A total of 11 fetuses were diagnosed with CL/P from March 2009 to December 2013, and their mothers were referred to the Congenital Disease Center of our hospital. When CL/P is suspected in the prenatal ultrasound screening examination, the pregnant woman is referred to our center for further evaluation. Results The abortion rate was 28% (3/11). The concordance rate of the sonographic and final diagnoses was 100%. Ten women (91%) reported that they were satisfied with the multidisciplinary management in our center. Conclusions Although a child with a birth defect is unlikely to be received well, the women whose fetuses were diagnosed with CL/P on prenatal ultrasound screening and who underwent multidisciplinary team management were more likely to decide to continue their pregnancy.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.463-477
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• 2018

Purpose: This study identifies correlations among information needs and knowledge about prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis (I-PGSD & K-PGSD), and attitude toward terminating pregnancy (ATP) among pregnant women in South Korea. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted from January 2013 to April 2014 in South Korea. 222 pregnant women responded to three questionnaires developed by the authors. The questionnaire for I-PGSD consisted of 19 questions; 18 questions for K-PGSD; and 10 questions for ATP. Results: Mean scores were $80.46{\pm}11.73$ for I-PGSD; $14.86{\pm}3.74$ for K-PGSD; and $33.71{\pm}6.13$ for ATP. The ATP score was positively correlated with the I-PGSD and K-PGSD scores, but statistically significant with only I-PGSD (p=.006). I-PGSD scores were higher than average on three genetic syndromes (Down, Patau, and Edwards syndrome), on management after the diagnosis of positive fetal aneuploidy, and on test result interpretation after the amniocentesis and level II fetal ultrasonogram. Conclusions: In light of current legal and moral controversy regarding terminating pregnancy and rapidly advancing prenatal genetic testing technology, more prenatal genetic education for nurses and nursing students who teach pregnant women is needed. In addition, more professional counseling services provided by trained nurses are also required.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1997

During a 6-year period, from January 1990 to December 1995, 101 neonates with congenital anomalies were admitted to the division of Pediatric Surgery of Youngdong Severance Hospital. All of them had prenatal screening more than once with ultrasound. Fifty eight of them had prenatally detectable anomalies by ultrasonography. However abnormalities were prenatally detected in 24 neonates(41%). The detection rate was 70% in patientws who had the prenatal screening at our hospital, whereas, the rate was 24% when it was performed at other medical facilities. Duodenal and jejuno-ileal atresia showed the highest detection rate(86%) followed by abdominal mass. Esophageal atresia was suggested by maternal polyhydramnios in 3 patients (25%). Only one patient with diaphragmatic hernia(1.75%) was prenatally detected and none with gastroschisis. The mean interval from birth to operation was 32 hours in the prenatally detected patients and 50 hours in the non detected. The complication rate and the mortality after emergency operation were 20% and 7% in the detected group, and 58% and 23% in the nondetected, respectively. The average period of the hospitalization was 20 days in the detected group and 39 days in the nondetected. We conclude that the prenatal detection of anomalies is necessary to ensure adequate care for the mothers and the babies with congenital anomalies. This includes early transfer, timing of optimal delivery and operation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.276-283
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• 2011

Purpose: Prenatal depression is associated with potential negative consequences for the mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to examine pregnant women's stress, and depression and their impact on maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth. Methods: Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and fetal sonogram from a convenience sample of 166 pregnant women. Results: Women who have a low educational level, poor health and are dissatisfied with their marriage showed low maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal depression had significant correlations with length of pregnancy and level of stress. Even though correlation between maternal stress and fetal weight (r=-.15, p=.099) and correlation between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (r=-.13, p=.095) were not statistically significant, the impact of the prenatal psychological state of mothers can not be ignored as it relates to fetal health. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth can be affected by maternal emotional state, including stress or depression. These findings suggest that primary care nurses in hospitals and public health centers should provide prenatal depression screening and nursing intervention programs for management and prevention of prenatal stress and depression.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of the Momguard noninvasive prenatal test by tracing the 'screen positive' results based on preliminary samples from Korean cohorts. Materials and Methods: This preliminary study is based on data collected by the LabGenomics Clinical Laboratory (Seongnam, Korea) with informed consent. Only pregnant women who underwent both the Momguard test and karyotyping were included in this study. Momguard test results were compared with those of the karyotyping analysis. Results: Among the 38 cases with 'screen positive' results by Momguard, 30 cases also had karyotyping results available. In three trisomy (T) 18 and three T13 cases, the Momguard results were concordant with the karyotyping results. For the T21 cases, except for one case belonging to the mid-risk zone, Momguard results from 23 out of 24 cases matched the karyotyping results. Conclusion: Momguard is a highly reliable screening tool for detecting T13, T18, and T21 cases in independent Korean cohort samples.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2010

Purpose: Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) allows for the rapid prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies. The main advantages of this assay are its low cost, speed, and automation, allowing for large-scale application. However, despite these advantages, it is not a routine method for prenatal aneuploidy screening in Korea. Our objective in the present study was to validate the performance of QF-PCR using short tandem repeat (STR) markers in a Korean population as a means for rapid prenatal diagnosis. Material and Methods: A QF-PCR assay using an Elucigene kit (Gen-Probe, Abingdon, UK), containing 20 STR markers located on chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y, was performed on 847 amniotic fluid (AF) samples for prenatal aneuploidy screening referred for prenatal aneuploidy screening from 2007 to 2009. The results were then compared to those obtained using conventional cytogenetic analysis. To evaluate the informativity of STR markers, the heterozygosity index of each marker was determined in all the samples. Results: Three autosomes (13, 18, and 21) and X and Y chromosome aneuploidies were detected in 19 cases (2.2%, 19/847) after QF-PCR analysis of the 847 AF samples. Their results are identical to those of conventional cytogenetic analysis, with 100% positive predictive value. However, after cytogenetic analysis, 7 cases (0.8%, 7/847) were found to have 5 balanced and 2 unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities that were not detected by QF-PCR. The STR markers had a slightly low heterozygosity index (average: 0.76) compared to those reported in Caucasians (average: 0.80). Submicroscopic duplication of D13S634 marker, which might be a unique finding in Koreans, was detected in 1.4% (12/847) of the samples in the present study. Conclusion: A QF-PCR assay for prenatal aneuploidy screening was validated in our institution and proved to be efficient and reliable. However, we suggest that each laboratory must perform an independent validation test for each STR marker in order to develop interpretation guidelines of the results and must integrate QF-PCR into the routine cytogenetic laboratory workflow.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-123
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• 1984

This study is attempting to examine the possible determinants of the rise of the sex ratio at birth from 106 to 110 in past decade in Taiwan. The basic hypothesis for the sudden rise of the sex ratio at birth is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. The reasoning for this hypothesis involves three types of considerations - motivation, norm, and access. The theory is evaluated by analyzing data from birth registration and a large and representative sampie of Taiwanese wives of childbearing age. The empirical data seem to support the theoretical preposition and the basic hypothesis that the rise of the sex ratio at birth in Taiwan is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. There is striking evidence of son-preference in the rise of the sex ratio at birth in higher birth order. In 1990 the sex ratio was 119 for third births and 128 for fourth and fifth births compared to the expected 106. Also, the 1991 KAP data indicated that women who have only daughters but no any son are more likely to make prenatal sex screening and terminate their pregnancies in male live births at higher birth order. Obviously, genetic diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling which was available in recent years was misused for prenatal sex determination and sex selective abortion.