• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.2 s.57
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• pp.279-292
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• 1997

The vaccinations of susceptible children and postpubertal females are the major means to prevent congenital rubella syndrome(CRS). Another means for reducing the CRS is therapeutic abortion or fetal monitoring for women who are infected in the first four months of pregnancy. We could not estimate the incidence of CRS in Korea, because there was no surveillance system for rubella and CRS. Nationwide vaccination program for 15months infant had been started early 1980s. So, most women at childbearing age during study period were not received rubella vaccination. We set forth CRS management system for pregnant women in two rural county of Kyonggi province, Korea. In this system, the presence of rubella IgG and IgM antibodies for early pregnant women were examined with MEIA(Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay) method by IMx automated analyzer $Abbott^(R)$. The infected pregnant women followed up in order to confirm their childrens CRS. This study was carried out from Mu. 1993 to Jun. 1994, and pregnant women examined were 874 persons. The results were summarized as follows. The overall positive .ate of rubella IgG antibody was 94.5%(826/874). The positive rate was significantly increase as the age increased, and reached 100% in pregnant women who were over 35 years old. This results suggest that a meaningful number of women are infected during childbearing years. The geometric mean titer of IgG of sero-positive subjects was significantly declined as the age increased. On the question about history of URI symptoms and rash in pregnancy, 20.7% of respondents checked on URI symptoms with .ash, 13.5% only URI symptoms without .ash, and 65.8% no symptoms. However there was no demonstrable association between the rubella like infection history in pregnancy and the rubella IgG and IgM antibody status. Rubella infection .ate in pregnant women was 0.9%(95% CI 0.4-1.8%). Two of these 8 infected pregnancies were terminated by therapeutic abortion. One of them was not followed. Five babies had no gross anomalies at birth. In Dec. 1996, three of five babies were normal appeared infants. Two of them were not followed. Throughout this study results, we confirmed the need of CRS management system for pregnant women, in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-30
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• 1985

The study was carried out to find out the changes of the sex hormone levels in the milk of Holstein cows during the reproductive stages such as the estrous cycle, pregnancy and periparturient period. The FSH, LH, estradiol-17$\beta$ and progesterone from the milk samples were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The levels of progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ were similar among inter-quarters, but they were higher in after milking than before milking times, with no statistical significance. 2. The milk progesterone levels during the estrous cycles reached a peak mean level of 3.55$\pm$0.26ng/$m\ell$ at 15 days after estrus and they did not show any differences among the length of estrous cycles. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the estrous cycles showed a peak level of 36.40$\pm$2.38pg/$m\ell$ at estrus, and decreased(17.20$\pm$0.46 pg/$m\ell$ to 18.65$\pm$1.26pg/$m\ell$) at luteal phase. 3. The FSH levels during the estrous cycles ranged from 2.25$\pm$0.23mIU/$m\ell$ to 4.35$\pm$0.24mIU/$m\ell$ showing significant changes. The LH levels during the estrous cycles gradually increased and remained a peak level of 10.90$\pm$0.36mIU/$m\ell$ from 20 to 25 days after estrus. 4. The progesterone levels during the pregnancy were decreased from 30 to 60 days after artificial insemination, and therafter continuously increased until 240 days. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the pregnancy were 24.56$\pm$1.19pg/$m\ell$ at day 30 after artificial inseminaton, and increased rapidly until 180 days. The levles were agagin decreased by 26.17$\pm$3.03pg/$m\ell$ until 210 days and markedly increased by 68.00$\pm$8.70pg/$m\ell$ until 240 days. 5. The prolactin levels during the pregnancy were 31.27$\pm$2.31ng/$m\ell$ and 42.60$\pm$2.37ng/$m\ell$ at day 150 and 240 after artificial insemination respectively. The LH levels during the pregnancy reached a peak of 27.47$\pm$7.90mIU/$m\ell$ at day 30 after artificial insemination, and thereafter gradually decreased. 6. The progesterone levels during the periparturient period reached a peak of 4.61$\pm$0.34ng/$m\ell$ at day 3 prepartum, and thereafter gradually decreased, and showed 2.05$\pm$0.60ng/$m\ell$ at day 7 postpartum. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the periparturient period showed high level from 207.23$\pm$6.04pg/$m\ell$ at day 1 prepartum to 239.90$\pm$13.90pg/$m\ell$ at day 2 prepartum, and thereafter began to decline and reached 51.87$\pm$1.72pg/$m\ell$ at by 7 postpartum. 7. The prolactin levels during the periparturient period showed relatively higher level at the time of parturition. The LH levels during the periparturient period rnage from 6.32$\pm$0.32mIU/$m\ell$ to 13.90$\pm$1.37mIU/$m\ell$ showing significant changes. 8. The progesterone levels(4.6$\pm$0.8ng/$m\ell$) of the pregnant cows were significantly higher than those (1.84$\pm$1.4ng/$m\ell$) of nonpregnant cows. The cows of artificial insemination from 61 to 90 days after parturition showed higher progesterone levels. 9. During 20 to 25 days after artificial insemination, the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis from milk progesterone levels were 94.4% for nonpregnant cows(<2.3ng/$m\ell$), and 75.0% for pregnant cows( 3.2ng/$m\ell$). The average overall accuracy of pregnancy prediction for nonpregnant and pregnant cows 83.3% 10. The results obtained this study suggest that the understanding of the endocrinological mechanisms by means of milk hormone analysis during the estrous cycle, pregnancy and parturition would give the basic information needed for increasing efficiency of reproduction. This study would not only provide an accurate method of the early pregnancy diagnosis by milk progesterone levels but also contribute to the research of providing the method of detecting of FSH levels in milk, which was difficult in blood serum.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.530-536
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• 2014

Root barks of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (PS) was reported as contraindicated drugs of pregnancy by many Korean medical classics. Recently, a major ingredient component of PS, paeonol was reported that has contraceptive effect on early pregnancy in rats. However, the accurate molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, we showed that PS decreased the expression of receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor (LIFR) in human endometrial Ishikawa cells at non-toxic dose, although the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was increased by PS. In addition, PS inhibited the adhesion of human trophoblastic JAR cells onto Ishikawa cells. Given importance of LIF-LIFR signaling pathway in the process of embryo implantation, the decreased LIFR expression by PS will be a good explanation on the PS- or its ingredient compounds-induced contraception.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2005

Background: To examine the ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging findings of a cervical mass type cervical pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The ultrasonographic and MRI findings of 5 patients pathologically confirmed as having a cervical pregnancy were analyzed retrospectively. On ultrasonography, the size and echo pattern of the uterine cervix, the shape and echo pattern of the lesion, the degree and the pattern of blood flow on the color Doppler study and the spectral Doppler pattern were analyzed. The shape, signal intensity, and degree and pattern of enhancement of the lesion were evaluated on MRI. Results: The uterine cervix was enlarged and the size of the lesion was 6.1 to 7.1 (average, 6.5) cm. The endocervical canal was irregularly dilated and showed heterogeneous echogenicity in all 5 cases. Four of the 5 lesions were heterogeneously hyper- or mixed echoic and remaining one was relatively homogeneous echogenic. Doppler ultrasonography revealed an increased vascularity of the peritrophoblastic flow pattern. In all 4 cases where MRI performed, the lesion was irregular in shape and the margin was not sharply demarcated. The T2-weighed image showed that the lesions were mixed signal intensity. Three of the 4 lesions contained high signal intensity nodular portions and a low signal intensity rim was observed along the margin of the nodular portions. The T1-weighted image revealed multiple signal voids along the periphery of the lesions and high signal intensity portions as a result of hemorrhage were noted. The dynamic enhanced study showed that the high signal intensity portions on the T2-weighted image were strongly enhanced similar to the vessels on the early phase and the contrast enhancement gradually decreased with time. Conclusion: A cervical mass type cervical pregnancy can be correctly diagnosed using the patient's clinical symptom, the elevation in the serum ${\beta}$-HCG level, and characteristic ultrasonographic and MRI findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2012

Objective: We devised a novel strategy, a GnRH antagonist protocol with a GnRH agonist trigger followed by frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers with long zona dissection (LZD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of this new strategy according to age. Methods: Ninety women aged less than 35 (group A) and 32 women aged 35 to 39 (group B) underwent the GnRH antagonist protocol with a GnRH agonist trigger in order to obtain many oocytes and prevent early-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). All oocytes were cultured to the blastocyst stage and all blastocysts grade 3BB or better were cryopreserved. Embryo transfers were only performed in freeze-thaw cycles to prevent late-onset OHSS and to overcome embryo-endometrium dyssynchrony. LZD was performed just after thawing to improve hatching and implantation rates. Results: The average numbers of retrieved oocytes and blastocysts grade 3BB or better were $12.8{\pm}5.5$ and $4.4{\pm}2.6$ in group A and $10.9{\pm}7.4$ and $2.5{\pm}2.2$ in group B, respectively, and OHSS did not occur in any of the women. Implantation rates were 46.7% in group A and 39.3% in group B. Cumulative clinical pregnancy rates per retrieval were 77.8% in group A and 62.5% in group B. Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates per retrieval were 71.1% in group A and 53.1% in group B. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist protocol with GnRH agonist trigger followed by frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers with LZD can generate many blastocysts without OHSS and maximize cumulative pregnancy rates per retrieval. This strategy is more effective in young women aged less than 35 than in women aged 35 to 39.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1991

This study was carried out to observe the change in uterine cyclic nucleotide level and the effect of PAF on cyclic nucleotides in uterine tissue in early pregnany in order to understand reciprocal relation ship between PAF and cyclic nucleotides in pregnancy in the rat. The test groups were injected intramuscularly with $1{\mu}g$ of PAF or 1.25mg of BN-52021 on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of pregnancy. The level of cyclic nucleotide in removed uterine tissue was assayed by using cyclic nucleotides test kits. The results showed that the cyclic AMP content in uterine tissue of non-pregnant at pro-oestrus rat was $2.91{\pm}0.33$ pmol/mg protein which was lower than those of pregnant rat. The cyclic GMP content in uterine tissue of non-pregnant rat was $0.39{\pm}0.20$ pmol/mg pro-tein which was also lower than those of pregnant rats. The maximum level in cAMP was $5.92{\pm}1.72$ pmol/mg protein on day 3 and cGMP, $1.03{\pm}0.22$ pmol/mg protein on day 4. On each day of pregnancy, PAF induced the increased cAMP level ompared with that of intact rat. That was significant on day 0, 2 and 4 of pregnancy, p<0.05, on the other hand PAF receptor antagonist, BN-52021 ecreased cAMP level in uterine tisssue. PAF as well as BN-52021 had not an consistent effect on changes in cGMP level. These results suggest that cyclic nucleotide levels in uterine tissue ware increased during early pregnancy and PAF influences cAMP level in uterine rather than cGMP level during peri-implantation period, accordingly demonstrating a possible involvement of PAF in the regulation of implantation-related events through cAMP-mediated process.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.4011-4020
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine the self efficacy, body image and family support affect on postpartum depression in early postpartum mothers. The data was collected 306 mothers on the first week after delivery from one hospital located in B city. The instruments were a survey of general characteristics, obstetrical characteristics, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(EPDS), self-efficacy, body image and family support. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that the average item score of the EPDS was 6.09. The significant predictors of postpartum depression were body image, emotional state in pregnancy, and family support. These variables had a 38.4% explainability. The results indicate that the postpartum mothers should be screened for postpartum depression early in the postpartum period and it's necessary to implement nursing intervention focused on to enhance the body image and family support, especially the weak emotional state mothers in pregnancy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 2015

Intake of caffeine during pregnancy can cause retardation of fetal development. Although the significant influence of caffeine on animal development is widely recognized, much remains unknown about its mode of action because of its pleiotropic effects on living organisms. In the present study, by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, the effects of caffeine on development were examined. Brood size, embryonic lethality, and percent larval development were investigated, and caffeine was found to inhibit the development of C. elegans at most of the stages in a dosage-dependent fashion. Upon treatment with 30 mM caffeine, the majority ($86.1{\pm}3.4%$) of the L1 larvae were irreversibly arrested without further development. In contrast, many of the late-stage larvae survived and grew to adults when exposed to the same 30 mM caffeine. These results suggest that early-stage larvae are more susceptible to caffeine than later-stage larvae. To understand the metabolic responses to caffeine treatment, the levels of expression of cytochrome P450 (cyp) genes were examined with or without caffeine treatment using comparative microarray, and it was found that the expression of 24 cyp genes was increased by more than 2-fold (p < 0.05). Among them, induction of the cyp-35A gene family was the most prominent. Interestingly, depletion of the cyp-35A family genes one-by-one or in combination through RNA interference resulted in partial rescue from early larval developmental arrest caused by caffeine treatment, suggesting that the high-level induction of cyp-35A family genes can be fatal to the development of early-stage larvae.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2007

Our goal was to examine the effects of early denudation on the enucleation efficiency and developmental competence of embryos following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and parthenogenetic activation (PA). Oocytes were denuded following 30 h of in vitro maturation (IVM) and then cultured with (D+) or without (D-) their detached cumulus cells for additional $10{\sim}14$ h. Control oocytes were denuded after $40{\sim}44$ h of IVM. The size of the perivitelline space was larger at 40 h of IVM ($11.7{\sim}11.8{\mu}m$) than at 30 h ($8.9{\mu}m;$ p<0.01). The distances between the metaphase II (M II) plates and the polar bodies (PBs) were shorter in D+ ($19.4{\mu}m$) and D- oocytes ($18.9{\mu}m$) than in control oocytes ($25.5{\mu}m;$ p<0.01). Enucleation rates following blind aspiration at 40 h of IVM were higher (p<0.01) in D+ (92%) and D- oocytes (93%) compared to controls (82%). Early denudation did not affect oocyte maturation or the in vitro development of SCNT and PA embryos. When SCNT embryos from D+ oocytes were transferred to four gilts, pregnancy was established in two pigs, and one of them farrowed three live piglets. In conclusion, early denudation of oocytes at 30 h of IVM could improve the enucleation efficiency by maintaining the M II plate and the PB within close proximity and support the in vivo development of SCNT embryos to term.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.322-331
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• 1998

The postpartum is a period of transition to motherhood where a childless woman transforms into a woman with children. Parents, especially mothers must perform an essential role of implementing instrumental and emotional care behaviors on part of the helpless, dependent, and immature infant. First-time mothers, however, suddenly face the responsibility of round the clock duty without neither parenting training during pregnancy, nor a time to gradually adapt to growing responsibilities after birth, with confusion and frustration as a result. Thus, after providing first-time mothers with childcare education as maternal role preparation, this study will try to examine its effects on childcare behaviors and confidence in maternal role during the early postpartum period. This quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design, was carried out from March 1995 to May 1996 to verify the effects of a childcare education program with first-time mothers who had vaginal delivery in Ewha University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, and collected data from 60 subjects who consented to the study. The education was given in the early postpartum period(48-72 hours after delivery) and to measure its effects, a posttest was done 4 weeks later with the results analyzed by SPSS shown in the following : 1. The childcare behavior score of the experimental group that had received the newborn care education was higher than the control group(t=3.5, P=.001). 2. The control group and the experimental group which had received the education showed no difference in degree of confidence in maternal role. 3. The higher the childcare behavior score, the higher the degree of confidence in maternal role was among the subjects(r=.56, P=.001). The preceding results are significant in that childcare practices can be promoted by providing child-care education to first-time mothers in the early postpartum period. Thus, this education can be used as a nursing intervention strategy in the early postpartum period.