• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2004

Objective : In this study, we aimed to produce basic data on the prenatal environmental risk factors of low birth weight infants at a community level. Methods : In 2000, we conducted the direct interview using questionnaire about prenatal environmental risk factors with low birth weight infant-delivered mothers and normal weight infant-delivered mothers in Asan-city, Chungcheongnamdo Province, Korea. The questionsgiven to the mothers included past pregnancy history, menstrual status, disease history before and during the pregnancy, family history, environmental risk factors and exposure history. The responses of the twogroups were compared to calculate the prenatal environmental risk factors of each group. Results : Mothers' smoking was significantly associated with low birth weight infants (adjusted odds ratio(AOR) 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-8.56) and preterm baby (AOR 4.20; 95% CI, 1.21-14.61). Other environmental risk factors were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Smoking of mothers can be a risk factor for the delivery of low birth weight infants. These results could provide the basic data on prenatal environmental risk factors of mothers of low birth weight infants and suggest research topics for further community-based evaluation.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.168-181
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identified patterns of studies and to analyze the nursing research related to the massage intervention in Korea and to improve direction of nursing research in massage intervention in Korea. Methods: The research studies related to the massage were selected from the Korean Nurses Academic Society Journal and dissertation which were conducted experimental research design the last 7 years in Korea. The total numbers of the studies were 58. Result: The study subjects were post operational state in 34.5%, healthy adult in 17.2% studies. The others dealt with infant, cancer, dementia, hypertension, preterm neonates, elderly. Types of massage were whole body in 31.1%, foot in 22.6%, hand in 17.2%, back in 13.8% studies. And Meridian massage in 17.2%. Length of massage was below 5 minutes in 17.2%, 6~10 minutes in 29.4% and 11~20 minutes in 32.8% studies. Frequency of massage was only 1 time in 25.9%, 2~5 times in 31.1% studies. Massage produced psychological and physiological effects. Positive psychologic effects were anxiety relief, pain relief, mood enhancement and fatigue relief. Positive physiologic effects on body systems were blood pressure, heart rate, edema, skin temperature, immune system, blood glucose, excretion, PMS syndrome and growth and development. Conclusion: As a result, effects of massage were almost positive. Therefore massage is useful alternative nursing intervention. But more attention research is needed to identify the objectivity instrument to measure and repeat research.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.752-759
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• 1994

It is accepted that colostral macrophages have protective effects on gastrointestinal tract of the neonates. Macrophages act as a major defensive cells in colostrum and serve as a main source of colostral prostaglandins which are known to exert cytoprotection for gastrointestinal tract of neonates against infectious agents and drugs such as aspirin. This study was conducted to evaluate the total cell numbers and differential counts for macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in colostrum of Korean mothers. To compare the level of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, and TXB2 between colostrum and serum of postpartum mothers, radioimmunoassay adopting eicosanoids-antibody complex method was applied instead of charcoal method. The results were as follows : 1) Total defensive cell count was 7.6$\pm$2,37$\times$106 cells/ml, differential counts of macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes were 57.49$\pm$4.14%, 37.98$\pm$4.43% and 4.29$\pm$0.73% respectively. 2) The order of prostaglandin level in colostrum which are known to enhance development and cytoprotection of gastrointestinal tract, was 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, TXB2 and PGE2. Colostral PGE2 level was 584.6$\pm$72.3 pg/ml, higher than that of serum(p<0.01). 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, the most abundant prostaglandin in colostrum was higher than in serum level, too (p<0.01). Serum TXB2 level of postpartum mothers(n=42) was higher nine times than that of colostrum(p<0.01), which seems to cause vasoconstriction of uterus in postpartum period. 3) In preterm mothers, serum level of TXB2 level in both groups.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the MTHFR variants, folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiencies increase the risk of hyperhomocysteinaemia and adverse pregnancy outcome such as short gestational age or reduced birth weight. Healthy pregnant women (n=136; 24-28 gestational weeks; 20-40 years old), who visited Ewha Womans University Hospital for prenatal care, participated in this study. At the time of delivery, trained nurses recorded the pregnancy outcome from medical chart. We determined maternal MTHFR polymorphisms (C to T subsitution at nucleotide 677) and measured serum homocyteine, vitamin $B_{12}$, and folate concentrations. We compared serum homocysteine level by MTHFR genotype, serum folate and serum vitamin B12 levels using ANOVA. To evaluate the association between serum homocysteine level and pregnancy outcome, we compared the gestational age and birth weight by serum homocysteine levels using multiple regression analysis, adjusting for other potential predictors. Mean level of serum homocysteine was highest among pregnant women of the MTHFR variants with low levels of serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. Regarding association with birth outcome, we found the relationship between homocysteine levels and increased gestational age (p=0.03) and reduced birth outcome (p>0.05). Our data demonstrates that serum level of folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ among pregnant women affects significantly serum homocysteine levels, and the genetic polymorphism of MTHFR modulates the relationship between them. However, we did not have conclusive evidence of association between high homocysteine level and adverse pregnancy outcome such as preterm or low birth weight.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2017

Purpose: Although procalcitonin (PCT) level is useful for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, PCT reliability is inconsistent because of the varied conditions encountered in neonatal intensive care units. This study aimed to investigate PCT levels and factors influencing increased PCT levelin newborns without bacterial infection during the first week of life. Methods: In newborns hospitalized between March 2013 and October 2015, PCT levels were measured on the first, third, and seventh days after birth. Newborns with proven bacterial (blood culture positive for bacteria) or suspicious infection (presence of C-reactive protein expression or leukocytosis/leukopenia) were excluded. Various neonatal conditions were analyzed to identify the factors influencing increased PCT level. Results: Among 292 newborns with a gestational age of $35.2{\pm}3.0$ weeks and a birth weight of $2,428{\pm}643g$, preterm newborns (n=212) had higher PCT levels than term newborns (n=80). Of the newborns, 7.9% had increased PCT level (23 of 292) on the firstday; 28.3% (81 of 286), on the third day; and 3.3% (7 of 121), on the seventh day after birth. The increased PCT level was significantly associated with prenatal disuse of antibiotics (P=0.004) and surfactant administration (P<0.001) on the first day after birth, postnatal use of antibiotics (P=0.001) and ventilator application (P=0.001) on the third day after birth, and very low birth weight (P=0.042) on the seventh day after birth. Conclusion: In newborns without bacterial infection, increased PCT level was significantly associated with lower gestational age and respiratory difficulty during the first week of life. Further studies are needed for clinical applications.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate and report the current status of physical therapy (PT) performed in Korean neonatal intensive care units (NICU) to present foundational data that promotes the advances in neonatal PT in Korea. Methods: Based on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) data, we administered a questionnaire survey to 74 hospitals (39 tertiary and 35 general hospitals) in Korea equipped with a NICU and pediatric PT unit. We developed a 32-item questionnaire with reference to previous Korean studies. The questionnaires were distributed and retrieved via regular mail and an online system. Results: Of the 74 hospitals, 58 (78%) practiced neonatal PT and the duration of each session significantly differed according to the hospital rating. PT was given, depending on clinical symptoms, to infants who were preterm and low birth-weight (96.5%), had brain and spinal cord diseases (84.5%), had pathological tonus (94.8%), with respiratory problems (65.5%), for range of motion exercises (82.8%), for neurodevelopment approaches (72.4%), and for positioning (70.7%). Interdisciplinary meetings were held to share clinical decisionmaking in 17.2% of the hospitals surveyed and parent-participating education to ensure a family-centered approach was offered in 63.8% of the hospitals. The barriers of neonatal PT included low insurance fees, insufficient awareness of colleagues, and the severity of the patient. Conclusion: This study is the first report of the current status of neonatal PT in Korea. The findings of this study will serve as foundational data to review the current neonatal PT practice and promote further advances.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2020

Purpose: The Cow's Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS^TM), which considers crying, regurgitation, stools, skin and respiratory symptoms, was developed as an awareness tool for evaluating cow's milk-related symptoms. The scoring ranges from 0 to 33. A score ≥12 was proposed as being likely cow's milk-related and suggestive of allergy to cow's milk. This study aimed to determine the age-related CoMiSS^TM values in presumed healthy infants in Poland. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in well-child clinics in two locations. Parents of the presumed healthy infants aged ≤6 months were approached during a routine checkup/vaccination visit. The exclusion criteria were as follows: presence of acute or chronic diseases, preterm delivery, treatment with therapeutic formula, and use of any food supplements (except vitamins) or medications. Results: Data from 226 infants were obtained (median age [Q1-Q3], 4 months [3-4]). The overall median (Q1-Q3) and mean (standard deviation) CoMiSS^TM values were 4 (2-7) and 4.7 (3.5), respectively. The 95th percentile was 11. Scores on some, albeit not all, components of the CoMiSS^TM significantly differed between age groups (crying, stools) or feeding type groups (stools and skin symptoms). Eleven children (4.9%) scored ≥12. Conclusion: This study adds to earlier age-related CoMiSS^TM data by providing CoMiSS^TM values in presumed healthy infants in Poland.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.347-360
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• 2017

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate congenital malformations in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques (ART), compared with infants conceived spontaneously. Methods: In this study, available resources searched to find relevant articles included PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane, ProQuest, Iranmedex, Magiran, and Scientific Information Database. After extracting the necessary information from evaluated articles, meta-analysis on the articles' data was performed using Stata version 11.2. Results: In this study, from a total of 339 articles, extracted from the initial investigation, ultimately 30 articles were selected for meta-analysis that assessed the use of ART on the risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications on 5 470 181 infants (315 402 cases and 5 154 779 controls). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for low birth weight was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.36 to 2.62), preterm labor 1.79 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.63), cardiac abnormalities 1.43 (95% CI, 1.27 to 1.62), central nervous system abnormalities 1.36 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.70), urogenital system abnormalities 1.58 (95% CI, 1.28 to 1.94), musculoskeletal disorders 1.35 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.64), and chromosomal abnormalities in infants conceived by ART was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.44), which were all statistically significant, except chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusions: The risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications were significantly higher in ART than normal conception, while chromosomal abnormalities were not; therefore, the application of ART should be selected individually for patients by detailed assessment to reduce such risks in the population.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.101-104
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• 1994

The purpose of the present study was to examine the in vivo activity of oxytocin antagonist I (AI)in the nonpregnant estrous rat. Cannulas were placed in the jugular vein for infusing compounds and a water-filled balloon-tipped cannula placed in one uterine horn for assessing uterine activity. Uterine contractions were monitored with a Grass Polygraph and contractile activity determined as the integrated area for 10 minutes. Five minutes after infusing 5 ${\mu}\textrm{g}$ of AI, 100mU of oxytocin was given as an in bolus injection and repeated every hour for 5 hours. At five minutes, 1 and 2 hours after injection AI the uterine contractile response to 100 mU of oxytocin was significantly inhibited compared to controls(p<0.05). At 3, 4 and 5 hours no differences in response were detected compared to controls(p>0.05). These results in conjunction with other reports from our laboratory suggest that AI has the potential of being a potent and specific tocolytic for prevention of preterm labor in humans.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.561-564
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• 2005

Isolated deficiency of 3-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase is a rare disorder of the catabolic pathway for leucine and many patients have mild symptoms or no symptom. However, the introduction of tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening has revealed an unexpectedly high incidence of this disorder. We report an asymptomatic premature infant with isolated 3-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase deficiency detected by newborn screening program using tandem mass spectrometry. She was born at preterm, 36 weeks of gestation and her birth weight was 1,912 gm. She was delivered by Cesarian section due to maternal preeclampsia and oligohydramnios. An elevation of 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine in a blood sample obtained at Seven days was detected by tandem mass screening. Massively elevated excretion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate and 3-methylcrotonylglycine was detected in the urine collected at 15 days. L-carnitine(100 mg/kg/day) was administrated orally to correct sencondary carnitine deficiency. Carnitine is conjugated with metabolites, to decrease the potential toxic effects. She is asymptomatic to date, and her growth and development are within normal limits.