• Obstetrics & gynecology science
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.688-692
• /
• 2018

Listeriosis is a rare foodborne infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It is 12-20 times more prevalent in pregnant women compared to the general population, with a 20-40% mortality rate in neonates. Early treatment with appropriate antimicrobial agents is critical for pregnancy outcomes; however, the infection is difficult to control because the nonspecific clinical manifestations and rarity of the disease often preclude early diagnosis. We encountered 2 cases of pregnancy-associated listeriosis that occurred at 29 and 37 weeks of gestation. Both neonates were delivered by emergent cesarean section due to fetal condition, and one of the preterm infants died immediately after birth. Pregnancy-associated listeriosis should be considered in the management of unexplained fever or inflammatory conditions in pregnant women.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to implement safe and suitable kangaroo mother care with healthy mothers and newborns immediately after childbirth. In addition, it aimed to assess its effects on maternal attachment, maternal role confidence, and maternal role satisfaction. Research design, data and methodology: A quasi-experimental design was used with pre and posttests. A total of 58 participants were selected by convenience sampling through public notifications at a women's hospital. The control group performed routine care without providing kangaroo contact, and a posttest was performed four weeks after the pretest. The experimental group comprised healthy mothers who had given birth by cesarean section. They performed kangaroo mother care twice a day (60 min each) for four weeks for their newborns after the protocol was validated by an expert. Results: The results showed significantly higher maternal attachment, maternal role confidence, and maternal role satisfaction in mothers who participated in kangaroo mother care than those who did not. Our findings suggested that kangaroo mother care has a positive effect on the enhancement of maternal attachment and facilitation of maternal role confidence and satisfaction. Conclusions: Thus, the expansion and implementation of kangaroo mother care are necessary to promote healthier mother-child relationships.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.128-133
• /
• 2024

Aortic dissection in pregnant patients results in an inpatient mortality rate of 8.6%. Owing to the pronounced mortality rate and speed at which aortic dissections progress, efficient early detection methods are crucial. Here, we highlight the importance of early chest computed tomography (CT) for differentiating aortic dissection from pulmonary embolism in pregnant patients with dyspnea. We present the unique case of a 38-year-old pregnant woman with elevated D-dimer and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, initially suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. Initial transthoracic echocardiography did not indicate aortic dissection. Surprisingly, after an emergency cesarean section, a chest CT scan revealed a DeBakey type I aortic dissection, indicating a diagnostic error. Our findings emphasize the need for early chest CT in pregnant patients with dyspnea and elevated D-dimer and NT-proBNP levels. This case report highlights the critical importance of considering both aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism in the differential diagnosis of such cases, which will inform future clinical practice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.82-82
• /
• 2003

Offspring have been produced from somatic cells in a number of species. This biotechnology introduced a new phenomenon in reprogramming and differentiation of somatic cell, namely totipotency. However, birth of oversized calves and perinatal abnormalities such as increased gestation length, lack of spontaneous parturition, higher incidence of dystocia, and reduced perinatal viability of offspring are frequently observed in pregnancies of cloned bovine fetuses. Disturbance of feto-placenta has been proposed as likely causes for abnomal growth. However. Little is known the mechanism responsible for the perinatal problems. Therefore, we focused on gestation length in somatic cell nuclear recipient cows. To solve this issues, placental tissues of control and cloned bovine were obtained by a cesarean section (C-section) before 5 days of paturition. Total RNA from control and cloned bovine placenta was extractd by TRIzol reagent. GeneFishing DEG kits (Seegene) were used to identify differentially expression genes. Total RNA (3 ug) were synthesized by M-MLV reverse transcriptase (200 u/ul) with 10 uM dT-annealing control primer (ACP1) at 42C for 90 min. Then, first-strand cDNA (50 ng) was amplified using the 5 uM arbitary ACP (1-20) and 10 uM dT-ACP2 primers. Some specific expression genes were amplified, Now, we are cloning and sequencing. These finding strongly can be support to solve the problems for parturition delay in nuclear transfer cows, suggest that placenta specific proteins are key indicators for the aberration of gestation and placental function in cows.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.190-202
• /
• 2000

Background : The objectives of this study were to examine patients' satisfaction with the DRG based payment method and its association with their awareness of the method, to examine patient reported changes in doctors' caring attitude, level of their out-of-pocket payments, providers' acceptance of patients' request for additional services after the program, and to examine changes in service utilization recorded in medical records. Method : One hundred-four patients who had cesarean sections before and after the demonstration program at two hospitals located in Seoul participated in the study. Patients were surveyed before discharges when their charges were finalized. Their medical records were reviewed as well to collect data for service utilization during hospital stays. The association between patients' satisfaction with the payment method and their awareness of the method was analyzed by ${\chi}^2$-test, and the significance of changes in providers' acceptance of patients' request for additional services and service utilization after the program were examined by ${\chi}^2$-test and t-test, respectively. Results : A large proportion of patients did not know of the DRG based payment method at the time of survey and a significantly larger proportion of patients who came to the hospitals with the knowledge satisfied with the method. About the same proportion of patients reported improvement and deterioration in doctors' caring attitude compare to the previous hospitalizations and a similar result was found concerning out-of-pocket payments. Providers' acceptance of patients' request for medication, PCA and painless delivery decreased significantly after the program whereas the acceptance for additional hospital days and laboratory and radiology tests did not. Length of stay, the numbers of days on antibiotics and antianemic medication, and the number of blood tests decreased significantly after the program, however, decreases in the rate of antianemic medication and the number of urine analyses were not statistically significant. Re-operation, in-hospital death, and complications were not observed before and after the program. Conclusion : The study findings indicated a need for better patient education and publicity about the newly introduced payment method to improve their satisfaction with the system. Other study findings concerning service utilization and quality of care indicators were consistent with the government funded evaluation studies.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Rotavirus is one of the most important etiologic agents of nosocomial infections among the neonates. This study was designed to investigate nosocomial rotavirus infection in neonates who were admitted to a postpartum-care center after birth. Methods : From March 2005 to September 2006, 957 healthy neonates were examined for rotavirus antigen in stool by immunochromatographic method and 216 neonates were rotavirus antigen positive within 24 hours after admitted to a postpartum-care center. We reviewed the nursing charts retrospectively such as characteristics, monthly distribution, birth hospitals, delivery methods, feeding types and clinical manifestations. Results : Among 957 neonates, 216 neonates (22.6%) were rotavirus antigen positive and there were no differences in sex, birth weight, gestational age. Monthly positive rate of rotavirus antigen showed diversity from 10% to 36%. According to birth hospitals, positive rate showed diversity from 3.5% to 53.6%. Out of 957 neonates, 655 cases (68.4%) were born of vaginal delivery and mean hospitalized duration was 2.4 days, 302 cases (31.6%) were born of cesarean section and mean hospitalized duration was 5.7 days. 17.6% of vaginal delivery and 33.4% of cesarean section were rotavirus antigen positive. The positive rate was higher in neonates by cesarean section than vaginal delivery (P<0.001). According to feeding types, positive rate of rotavirus antigen was lower in breast-fed group than formula-fed group (P<0.001). Proportion of symptomatic case among rotavirus antigen positive was 34.7%. Most common clinical manifestation was diarrhea (61.3%), following poor feeding (45.3%), fever (40.0%), vomiting (25.3%), delayed weight gain (12.0%), and decreased urine amount (5.3%). Conclusion : Some neonates were already infected before admission to a postpartum-care center. Without meticulous management, nosocomial rotavirus infection would transmit rapidly in a postpartum-care center spreading to the community. Recommendation of breast-feeding, routine rotavirus screeing test with or without symptom, and isolation of all rotavirus antigen positive neonates in a postpartum-care center seem to be necessary. Also attentive hygiene education and further investigations of rotavirus infection in a postpartum-care center would be needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2009

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, the distribution of deciduosis, and the relationship with endometriosis in fertile women during Cesarean delivery. Methods: In this study, pelvic tissues suspicious for ectopic deciduas were taken for biopsy during Cesarean section from 154 parturients of full term pregnancy from January 1990 to December 2003. And then those patients were followed up till April 2008. Results: Tissues from 94 parturients (94/154, 61%) were evaluated histopathologically, and ectopic decidua was observed in 70.2% (66/94). Ectopic sites were ovaries only (65/94, 69.1%), ovaries and uterine serosa (12/94, 12.8%), uterine serosa only (9/94, 9.6%), and pelvic serosa. Twenty seven (27/66, 40.9%) parturients had past history of diagnosis and treatments for endometriosis. We have tried to connect 39 (39/66, 59.1%) patients who had never been diagnosed for endometriosis but pathologically confirmed for deciduosis, and 18 patients were able to contact by phone. Twelve patients (12/18, 66.6%) showed no symptoms of endometriosis and had not received any treatments for endometriosis. Conclusion: We can conclude that most of incidental cases confirmed pathologically for deciduosis during pregnancy do not symptomatically progress.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2011

Experimental tracheal ligation (TL) has been shown to reverse the pulmonary hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to normalize gas exchange. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the TL would correct the surfactant deficiency present in the fetal rabbit model of CDH by using lamellar body count. Lamellar bodies are synthesized and secreted by the type II pneumocytes of fetal lung. The phospholipids present in these bodies constitute the major component of pulmonary surfactant. Twenty-one pregnant New Zealand rabbits underwent hysterotomy and fetal surgery on gestational day 24. Two fetuses of each pregnant rabbit were operated. In the fetus of one end of bicornuate uterus, left DH was created by excision of fetal diaphragm through open thoracotomy (DH Group). In the fetus of the other end of bicornuate uterus, left DH and TL were created (TL Group). The fetuses were delivered by Cesarean section on gestational day 31. Fourteen in control group, 12 in the DH group and 13 in TL group were born alive. En bloc excision of lungs, bronchi and trachea was done in all newborn rabbits. A five Fr catheter was inserted through trachea and repeated irrigations with 10 cc normal saline were done. The irrigated fluid was centrifuged at $280{\times}g$ for 5 minutes and the lamellar bodies were counted with the upper level fluid in platelet channel of electronic cell counter. The average lamellar body counts were $37.1{\pm}14.2{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ in control group, $11.5{\pm}4.4 {\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ in DH group, and $6.5{\pm}0.9{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ in TL group. Lamellar body count in DH group was lower than in control group and did not increase after TL. This study shows TL has no therapeutic effect on decreased surfactant level of CDH and the pregnant rabbit is appropriate for the animal model of CDH.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.59-72
• /
• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the duration of lochia in women hospitalized at Korean medical postpartum care center and to identify factors that influence duration of lochia. Methods: On the obstetric variables of 315 cases, the duration of lochia was analyzed. In the postpartum care center, the obstetric variables were asked of 315 cases of women, and who examined a body composition. After discharge, women were surveyed for the duration of lochia by telephone. Results: The median duration of lochia was 30 days and the range was 18~53 days. Maternal age, parity and mode of delivery were associated with its duration. So, its duration was longer on women over the age of 35, multipara and women had a Cesarean section. Its duration was correlated with gestational age and BMI before pregnancy, but not neonatal gender, birth weight, maternal BMI change during pregnancy, maternal body weight gain, BMI before delivery. Conclusions: It was 30 days that the median duration of lochia of women who had been got Korean medical postpartum care management, and which was slightly different from previous studies. And it was influenced by maternal age, parity, mood of delivery, gestational age and BMI before pregnancy. In future more studies or surveys for the duration of lochia of women with no treatment, lochial pattern and so on should be done.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.261-266
• /
• 1999

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus(VRE) was first isolated from various specimens of patients with renal failure or leukemia in 1988. Thereafter VRE has been increasing gradually and became one of the clinically important palhogenic organisms currently. We experienced a case of E. faecalis sepsis in a 4 day old neonate. She was born at 39 weeks gestational age with 2,900gm weight by Cesarean section delivery due to breech presentation. She had had swelling and motion limitation of the left knee joint with fever for one day at age of 4 day and was transfered to our hospital. Ultrasonographic examination of her left knee joint showed some inflammatory change. E. faecalis was isolated from the blood. The organism showed resistance to vancomycin on drug susceptibility test using BHI agar screening test and disk diffusion method. After treatment with ampicillin-sulbactam for 3 weeks the baby was improved. Although VRE infection has been considered rare in Korea. considerable number of demonstrative studies about VRE isolation have been reported recently thus adequate countermeasures are needed to reduce the emergence and prevent nosocomial spreading of this organism.