• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2015

Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), is clinically administered to woman at risk for premature labor to induce fetal lung maturation. However, exposure to repeated or excess GCs leads to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and subsequently increases risk of psychiatric and cardio-metabolic diseases in later life through fetal programming mechanisms. GCs are key mediators of stress responses, therefore, maternal nutrient restriction or psychological stress during pregnancy also causes negative impacts on birth and neurodevelopment outcome of fetuses, and other congenital defects, such as craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities. In this study, to examine the effect of prenatal stress on fetal skeletal development, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg [DEX1] or 10 mg/kg [DEX10] maternal body weight per day) was administered intraperitoneally at gestational day 7.5~9.5 and the skeletons were prepared from embryos at day 18.5. Seven out of eighteen (39%) embryos treated with DEX10 showed axial skeletal abnormalities in either the T13 or L1 vertebrae. In addition, examination of the sternum revealed that xiphoid process, the protrusive triangular part of the lower end of the sternum, was bent more outward or inward in DEX group embryos. In conclusion, our findings suggest a possible link to the understanding of the effect of uterine environment to the fetal skeletal features.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2021

This article aims to introduce German discussion on the approval of the non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD), which started with the development of PrenaTest^® by LifeCodexx AG. The discussion started with the concern that the non-invasive nature of NIPD, such as PrenaTest^®, may rapidly expand the use and scope of similar tests, thus leading to a new era of eugenics. Based on this concern, the need for clear clinical guidelines on specific indications for NIPD has been suggested. Along the same line, it was discussed whether PrenaTest^® is against the Basic Law prohibiting discrimination on grounds of disability and whether the test is outside the scope of the purpose of gene testing limited by Genetic Diagnosis Act. Through such discussion, the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany established the preconditions for inclusion of NIPD in the German public health insurance system. For this, the German motherhood guideline was amended and the information for the insured persons provided to pregnant women was included in the amended guideline. Such discussion made in Germany provides insight on which points should be considered when various gene testings are accepted in Korea, in which genetic communication has not been systematized yet. In particular, German counseling system for pregnant women will provide valuable insights for Korea where the direction for regulations on abortion has not been established even after the ruling by the Constitutional Court that charges for abortion are against the constitution.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.83-101
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• 2005

The present study applied Bayley Scales of Infant Development to Infants with High Risk to investigate the effects of determinants such as variables related to demographic variable, prenatal and perinatal and postpartal environments, and developmental indices in infancy. First, mental and motor development index were high in infants whose mothers had high in education, mothers had not had a disease during the pregnancy, mothers had not taken medicine during the pregnancy. Second, mental and motor development index were high in infants who had used an oxygen inhaler, incubator, and in infants who had been given a timely birth. Third, mental and motor development index were higher in infants whose mumbling and the initial speaking was normal than in infants whose development was late.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.209-222
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• 1993

The present study attempts to explore the first appearance 8nd subsequent development of %cosine hvdroxvlase (TH)-containing neurons in the rat brain from embryonic day (E) 10.5 to the neonate. To increase the senti노ivity and resolution power, a double bridge peroxidase-anti-peroxidase technique was employed for cellular localization of TH. In situ hybridization histochemistw with synthetic TH oligomer (30-mer) codinB TH was also used to detect TH mRNA. TH-containing neurons were first detected at E11.5 in the intermediate zone of prosencepha1on and mesencephalon. At this stage, TH-immunoreactive neurons were small, ovoid bee and emitted their fibres into their immediate surroundings. From this stage, TH-immunoreactive neurons increased in their number and underwent migration and cell differentiation. At E15.5, the distribution pattern of the maior groups of TH neurons was similar to that of adult catecholaminergic groups, and at E19.5 the external laver of median eminence showed TH-immunoreactive processes.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2014

To understand the effect of prenatal stress on sex-specific changes in embryonic and placental growth, a synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) was administered intraperitoneally at a dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) (Dex1) or 10 mg/kg BW (Dex10) to pregnant ICR mice at the gestational days 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 post coitum (p.c.). Embryos and placentas were then harvested at days 11.5 and 18.5 p.c., and their body weight and size were measured following the determination of sex through PCR using Sry specific primers in tail tissues. As a result, female embryos presented reduced fetal body weight and size in Dex1- and Dex10-treated groups than those of control group at the embryonic day 11.5 p.c. Interestingly, the growth seems to be recovered at day 18.5 as there was no difference in growth between control and dexamethasone treated groups. In the case of males, Dex1 induced a decrease in fetal weight in day 11.5 and this pattern was maintained until day 18.5, whereas their growth was not affected by Dex10 treatment. Placental growth showed similar patterns to fetal growth in both sexes but the extent of reduction was not statistically significant in most cases. Placental weights in Dex1- and Dex10-treated group were decreased significantly in male only. The results imply that the effect of prenatal stress is largely sex dependent due to different strategies for growth and survival in a stressful environment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prenatal, perinatal, and infancy history of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared to unaffected siblings (SIB) and typically developing children (TC). Methods: Subjects with ASD, their SIB, and TC were recruited. All subjects were assessed using both the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R) and the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (K-ADOS) and were subsequently identified as affected or unaffected. Prenatal, perinatal, and infancy history was obtained from the primary caregivers and each facet was compared in those with ASD, the SIB, and the TC groups using SPSS ver. 17.0 (p<.05). Results: 70 individuals with ASD (63 males, 87.94${\pm}$37.8months), 53 SIB (27 males, 85.4087.94${\pm}$48.06 months), and 32 TC (19 males, 104.1987.94${\pm}$23.409 months) were analyzed. The ASD group showed significantly higher rates of insufficient vaccination as they aged age ($x^2$=15.54, p=.000). Among the scheduled vaccinations, the DPT vaccination ($x^2$=10.08, p=.006) was insufficient in ASD groups. The ASD group also showed higher rates of sleep disturbances from infancy. Differences in maternal/paternal age at conception, gestational age, and growth parameters at birth were not significantly difference among the three groups. Conclusion: These results do not support the previous controversies regarding the relationship between prenatal/perinatal complications and ASD. However, these results indicate that perinatal and prenatal factors may contribute to the development of ASD.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.93-114
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• 2005

The prenatal care is the preventive medical service to help the pregnant mother deliver the healthy baby. It's regular examines give some chances to check-up the healthy conditions. This thesis concentrates on the CRM system to support an effective prenatal care system and prove the effectiveness of it. As CRM is the adapted management related to the customer's own information, it is important to develop the CRM model classified by the patients characteristics. A general hospital in Busan operated the CRM system to carry out the effective prenatal care and there is an analysis to ensure the effectiveness of CRM system for the pregnant women in our maternity ward. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) According to the comparisons with the CRM system, we can conclude the system is desirable. (1) Maternal Age : In the age distribution, the prenatal visit frequency, triple marker freqency, oral GTT and targeted ultrasonography in the experimental group in 30 to 34 years old is higher on the whole. For over 35 years old group, the higher frequency comes out in the oral GTT and targeted ultrasonography and for 25 to 29 years old group the different figure shows just in the targeted ultrasonography. (2) Area of residence: There is a clear difference in all the items in Busan and near area but no sign of difference in prenatal visits and oral GTT in other residencial area. Especially in the targeted ultrasonography the higher figure shows in the experimental group located in the both areas. The targeted ultrasonography is known as the specific examination which should be examined by the specialists, on the contrary the other examinations can be operated in the small clinic. So the public information and seminars related with ultrasonography increases the check-up frequency. The clinic requests some ultrasonographical examinations to the specialists in general hospital. (3) Parity: The clear difference shows that the CRM system causes the prenatal visit frequency to become higher in experimental group. The figure is 9.7 times and 8.6 times each. This is opposite that the past study said multiparity reduced the average prenatal visits. But the result of CRM is considered as the method to help the multiparity understand the importance of the prenatal care. (4) Obstetrical history: In the experimental group of the spontaneous delivery group, the figure is higher in the prenatal visit frequency, triple marker, oral GTT and targeted ultrasonography but the Caesarean section delivery group has higher figure in targeted ultrasonography. (5) In the first check-up, the rate of targeted ultrasonography in under 16 week pregnancy, in the 16 week pregnancy to 32 week pregnancy and the over 32 week pregnancy in the experimental group is upper than the compared one. For the oral GTT, there is a difference in under 16 week pregnancy but no difference in prenatal visits and triple marker. 2) The analysis of characteristics of prenatal care through the decision tree resulted in the fact that the most important variable is the residential area. After the delivery frequency is following, the obstetrical history and maternal age are in order. It is the same result in the triple marker and oral GTT. Consequently it is the same order of important variables in CRM system. The effectiveness of CRM system is proved in this study. The CRM system is a marketing method to control and lead the customers through the segmentation of customer data. It increases the new customer aquisition, maintenance of loyal customers, augmentation of customers value, activation of potential customers and creation of life time customers. So eventually it can enlarge the customers value. The medical institution should make efforts to establish the data base enforced by the customer's information on the underlying ordinary data system to carry out the CRM system effectively. In addition, it should develop the a variety of marketing strategy in order to set up one to one marketing satisfying the needs of individual patients.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among mother-daughter relationship, husband-wife relationship, and prenatal attachment according to pregnant women's internal working model. Method: A convenience sample of 68 pregnant women was recruited from two OBGYN hospitals in M city. Data collection was conducted through the use of an Adult Attachment Interview and questionnaires. This study used a descriptive correlational design and the period of investigation was from July 3-20, 2002. 41 of the 68 women were in a secure pregnant women's internal working model and 27 of the 68 in insecure ones. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Result: The results of this study were as follows: Mean score of the prenatal attachment of the secure pregnant women and mean score of the mother-daughter relationship of the secure pregnant women was significantly higher than that of insecure ones. 3) Prenatal attachment was negatively and significantly related to mother-daughter attachment and husbandwife attachment in the secure pregnant women's internal working model. However it was not significantly relationship in insecure pregnant women's internal working model. Conclusion: It is found in this study that there is an intergenerational attachment relationship during pregnancy. Further findings support the development of creative strategies to enhance positive attachment relationships for pregnant women. It is recommended to develop nursing education of attachment for the insecure pregnant women's internal working model.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.602-611
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• 1995

This study was designed to find out the effects of $\omega$-3 and $\omega$-6 polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acid from prenatal to growing period on the brain growth and behavioral development of rats. Rats(Sprague-Dawley strain) were fed experimental diets-fish oil, corn oil or beef tallow-with different contents of $\omega$-3 and $\omega$-6 fatty acids throughout the prenatal and lactational period and up to 10 weeks of age. DNA and RNA concentration of rat brain were determined at 0, 3, 6 weeks of age and choline and acetylcholine concentrations were analyzed at 10 weeks of age. When the rats were 7 weeks of age, position reversional test in a Y-shaped water maze for 4 weeks was measured. The experimental results obtained are summarized as follows. Food intakes were significantly lower in fish oil group and body weight gain was low in the group fed beef tallow and the groups fed fish oil and corn oil were somewhat good. Food efficiency ratio was not significantly different among the groups. Brain weight was not affected by the fatty acid composition of experimental diets and DNA and RNA concentration of the rat brain were consistently maintained at the same level. It was not different significantly among the dietary groups in the DNA and RNA concentrations of the rat brain during the experimental period. The acetylcholine concentration in the fish oil group was somewhat higher than the other groups. The position reversional test in a Y-shaped water maze showed a significant difference the score of test among the experimental groups. The score of the rats fed the fish oil diet was significantly higher than the other groups and the concentration of acetylcholine in brain were too. Therefore the correlatin between the Y-shaped water maze test score and the acetylcholine concentratin in the brain was found. Above finding support the content that dietary fatty acid composition does not affect to the brain cell number and cell size but the behavior development is influenced. Therefore, the improvement of behavior development is required the effective usage of finny tribe.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Knowledge of developmental biology is essential for clinicians who seek to develop a rational approach to the diagnostic evaluation of patients with birth defects. After an accurate diagnosis, a clinician can make predictions about prognosis, recommend management options, and provide an indication of recurrence risk for the parents and relatives. In this paper, we first review the basic mechanisms of embryological development and clinical dysmorphology. We then review cellular and molecular mechanisms in development and related congenital anomalies. Developmental anomalies have a major impact on public health. Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis, with the option to continue or to terminate a pregnancy, are important for helping families faced with the risk of a serious congenital anomaly in their offspring. Moreover, primary prevention of birth defects, for example, supplementation of prenatal folic acid and prevention of consumption of alcohol which has teratogenic effects, can be accomplished using developmental biology knowledge.