• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2014

We performed this study to evaluate the role of Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) in insulin resistance during normal pregnancy. This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out on 97 healthy pregnant women including 32, 25, and 40 individuals in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively, and on 28 healthy non pregnant women between the autumn of 2012 and the spring of 2013. We analyzed the serum concentrations of IL-17 and IL-18 by using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance equation. No significant differences between the demographic data of the pregnant and non pregnant groups were observed. Insulin resistant in pregnant women was significantly higher than the controls (p=0.006). Serum IL-17 concentration was significantly different in non pregnant women and pregnant women in all gestational ages (p<0.05). Serum IL-18 level was significantly lower in subjects with first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy in compared to non pregnant women (p<0.05). No significant correlations were found between serum IL-17 and IL-18 levels with insulin resistance (r=0.08, p=0.34 vs. r=0.01, p=0.91, respectively). Our data suggested that IL-17 and IL-18 do not appear to attribute greatly to pregnancy deduced insulin resistance during normal pregnancy.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.489-497
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to most appropriately develop maternity wear according to the preferences of specific age groups of pregnant women. The specific age groups were women in their twenties, early thirties, and late thirties. This survey was conducted in the metropolitan area around Seoul, South Korea through a questionnaire given to 150 pregnant women. The study found that pregnant women purchased significantly cheaper clothes after their pregnancy than before. The participants responded that they mostly bought clothes using the Internet, but they also reported many instances of returning the clothes due to fit and sizing. It was shown that women in their twenties tended to consider the price, design, and activity more than women in their thirties when purchasing maternity wear. The study showed that pregnant women tended to wear maternity wear from early in the pregnancy-preferring leggings, one-piece dresses, pants, shirts, briefs, and bras with the girdle on the outside. More women in their late thirties purchased maternity support belts than younger age groups. In any case, in purchasing maternity wear, clothing features that the respondents focused on were comfort, functionality, fit, the covering of their body changes, and fashion. Still, many respondents 35 years and older reported more interest in safety rather than fashion in comparison to the responses of respondents under the age of 35.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2019

Purpose: To determine whether maternal attitude toward sex during pregnancy and health-related quality of life could influence sexual function of pregnant women. Methods: In this study, 138 second and third trimester pregnant women completed self-report questionnaires during their visits to women's hospitals or community health centers to assess their general characteristics, attitude toward sex during pregnancy (PIES-M), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), and sexual function (FSFI-6K). Multiple regression analysis was performed to test the research model with SPSS version 23. Results: Pregnant women who had discontinued their sexual life after recognizing their pregnancy accounted for 27.5% of women questioned. The average sexual function score of pregnant women was higher in the second trimester than the third trimester. Attitude toward sex during pregnancy (${\beta}=-.38$, p<.001), maintaining sexual life (${\beta}=.20$, p=.028), health-related quality of life (${\beta}=.18$, p=.030), and adverse symptoms during sex (${\beta}=.18$, p=.042) were determinants of sexual function during pregnancy. Conclusion: Nurses in antenatal care units need to help pregnant women maintain a positive attitude toward sexual activity during pregnancy and manage their health-related quality of life to maintain their sexual life during pregnancy.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2019

This study investigated the significant difference in the influences of pregnant couples' attachment representation for parents of origin on their psychological symptoms according to groups. One hundred and eighty two pregnant couples answered the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by means of frequency, percentages, t-test. Pearson's correlation using SPSS ver. 21.0 and multiple group structural equation modeling using AMOS ver. 20.0. The findings are as follows. First, there were significant differences in attachment representations according to parents of origin and psychological symptoms between pregnant women and spouses. Second, there were negative influences of attachment representations to parents of origin on psychological symptoms for both the pregnant women group and their spouses group, respectively. Last, the negative effects of attachment representation for parents of origin on their psychological symptoms according to groups were significantly different; consequently, the impact on the spouses group was stronger than the pregnant women group. The results imply that policies to help pregnant couples reduce psychological symptoms should be provided. In addition, the unexpected result on the weaker impact of pregnant women's attachment representation for parents of origin on their psychological symptoms suggests it is better to consider other factors simultaneously (such as a romantic attachment to spouses) that might provide a moderating role. The study results are meaningful because it is the first to apply a statistically advanced method to analyze pregnant women and spouses in relation to parents of origin on their psychological symptoms.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the influences of the attitudes of pregnant women and their husbands towards sex during pregnancy on sexual function. Additional purpose was to compare the frequency of sexual dysfunction according to gender and gestational trimester and to describe the changes in sexual behavior according to the gestational trimester. Methods: In this study, 231 pregnant couples completed self-report questionnaires during their visits to women's hospitals or community health centers. The questionnaires assessed general characteristics, maternal/paternal sexual attitudes towards sex during pregnancy (Maternal Sex during Pregnancy Scale, MSP/Paternal Sex during Pregnancy Scale, PSP), and sexual function (using the Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function, respectively). Multiple regression analysis was done to test the research model using SPSS version 23.0. Results: In this study, 74.9% of pregnant women and 38.5% of their husbands reported sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was prevalent in pregnant women in the first trimester and prevalent in husbands in the third trimester. MSP (β=.44, p<.001) in pregnant women and PSP (β=.39, p<.001) and being in the first trimester (β=.17, p=.012) in husbands influenced sexual function during pregnancy. In the first trimester, the scores for attitudes towards sex during pregnancy were the lowest in pregnant women, while they were the highest in their husbands. Conclusion: Positive attitudes about sex during pregnancy are important for sexual function in pregnant couples. Because the difference in attitudes towards sex during pregnancy between pregnant women and their husbands was greatest in the first trimester, sexual health interventions need to be provided in early pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.80-95
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of low birth-weight infants and their's mothers, and to identify the factors which influenced to delivery of L.B.W infants. The data derived from K. General Hospital and J. obs & gyn clinic in pusan from January, 1998 to August, 1998, which were from mothers of having B. W infants. The factors used for this study were characteristics of general, obstetrical, environmental aspects and physical and psychological life experiences during pregnancy. Analysis of data obtained were computerized statistically by using SPSS 7.5 WIN program. the data were analysed as number, frequency, percentage, t-test and ANOVA. The major results obtained of this study were as follows : 1) Gender that L.B.W infants were male in 47.2% and female in 52.8%, body weight of 2001~2500gm was above 8 in 68.5%, and below 5 in 1.8%. The L.B.W infants with complications were 7, which were 6.5%. The kinds of malformations were the Cleft palate & lip, Hyper-kalemia, Hypoglycemia, Meningocele, CHD, Down syndrome and each of them marked 0.9%. 2) In the general characteristics of pregnant women, the age group of 25~29 years was the most common as 46.3%. Over 35 years of age, elderly gravidas were in 7.5%. the height of 156~160cm was the most common as 52.8%. pregnant women of below 150cm height was in 3.7%. body weight of 51~55kg was the most common as 38%. pregnant women of below 45kg were in 19.4%. The women with smoking and drinking episodes during pregnancy were 1.9% and 25%. In the status of marriage, married women were in 95.4%, unmarried ones were in 1.9%, and unmarried couples were in 2.8%. Iin he obstetrical characteristics of pregnant women, pregnant women with gestational age under 37wks were in 45.4%, and the ones over 38wks were 54.6%. At the methods of delivery, normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries were in 51.9%, which were the most common, cesarian section deliveries were in 47.2%, and breech deliveries were in 0.9%. In the environmental characteristics of pregnant women, 40.8% of pregnant women lived in house or apartments with stairs, 23.1% of them lived in the high altitude. the pregnant women who ran a household without a helper were in 65.7%. In the pregnant women who had underwent life experiences of physical and psychological stress during pregnancy. life experiences of physical stresses were described as persistent fatigue due to lifestyle, traumatic experience, illness, move away with an effort, physical impact caused by discord. life experiments of psychological stresses were describeded as trouble with their husbands, discord with one's husband family, family problems, and conflicts due to environmental factors, etc. The number of the pregnant women who had complications during pregnancy was 32, which was 29.6% totally. Among them, pre-eclampsia was in 12.1% and the premature rupture of membrane in 7.4%. 3) In the analysis of the general, obstetrical, and circumstantial characteristics and L.B.W infants. There were statistical difference significantly between the gestational age of pregnant women(F=12.035, P=.000), and the status of marriage(F=3.207, P=.044), and maternal complication(t=2.344, P=.021) etc.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is the fundamental study to develope basic slacks pattern for pregnant women by analysing characteristics of the lower half of their body. The results are as followers: 1. The pregnancy has changed almost all items including the waist height, lengths and etc. and changed proportion of body by accumulation of fat. 2. The changes of the waist circumference and flat figure from waist to hip could be found by analysing the body shell (pregnant women from five months pregnance to one month after delivery). 3. The postures of five month-pregnant women were compared with those of six, seven, eight, and nine month-pregnant women, and with those of one month after delivery. The waist height has been increased till the middle of pregnancy but lowed till the end of the pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was a comparative study to understand the levels of anxiety, pain and maternal-fetal attachment between women who became pregnant after infertility treatment and became pregnant naturally. Methods: This study used a comparative survey design. Data were collected by 50 couples of natural pregnancy and of who became pregnant after infertility treatment who visited delivery room in C Medical hospital, Seoul. These couples were to have first baby, and cervix dilatation of women was less than 3 cm regardless of diagnosis. Results: The score of anxiety of infertile women was significantly higher than that of naturally pregnant women; however, that of spouses showed no difference. The pain score for infertile women was significantly higher in both the active and transition phases. Pain scores that reported by their spouses did not show differences in either phase. The score of maternal-fetal attachment showed no difference between two groups of women. Conclusion: The result showed the importance of nursing intervention to reduce women's anxiety and pain, through both antenatal-childbirth education programs and assertive nursing interventions. It is necessary to develop and evaluate new intervention which would be more effective for reducing pain and anxiety for couples who became pregnant after infertility treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.422-430
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• 2021

Objectives: Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but insufficient research has investigated pregnancy and its outcomes in women with COVID-19. This cross-sectional study compared birth outcomes related to COVID-19 between Bangladeshi pregnant women with and without COVID-19. Methods: The study was conducted at 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from March to August 2020. Pregnant women admitted for delivery at these hospitals with laboratory results (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) were analyzed. Using convenience sampling, we included 70 COVID-19-positive and 140 COVID-19-negative pregnant women. Trained and experienced midwives conducted the interviews. Data were analyzed using the t-test, the chi-square test, and univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regression. Results: Pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 4.37) and undergo a cesarean section (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.51 to 7.07). There were no significant differences in birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, and the Apgar score at 1 minute or 5 minutes post-delivery between women with and without COVID-19. All the newborn babies who were born to COVID-19-positive women were COVID-19-negative. Conclusions: Our study suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to give birth to a preterm baby and undergo a cesarean section. For this reason, physicians should be particularly cautious to minimize adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborn babies.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1976

The change of heart rates during Flack Test was observed in the pregnant women, $24{\sim}48$weeks, of gestational age, to analyze mechanical and neural regulatory factors in responses to the positive lung inflation. The results obtained were summarized as followings: 1) Endurance tine of Flack Test was 37.6 sec, in the nonpregnant women, and 25.1 sec. in the pregnant women. 2) When Flack Test was employed, heart rate was decreased in early stage of Flack Test in the pregnant women, while heart rate was increased in the nonpregnant women. 3) In the pregnant women bradycardia due to abdominal mechanical intervention in early stage of Flack Test was prominent, while tachycardia was found in the nonpregnant women. 4) During Flack Test, tachycardia due to sympathetic central reflex activation was observed immediately after bradycardia in early stage of Flack Test. 5) It may be noted that Flack Test employed in the present study is a useful model to evaluate and analyze the neural and mechanical abdominal intervention factor in response to the positive inflation of lung in pregnant women.