• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2014

The measurement of $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}$-OHP) in a dried blood spot on filter paper is an important for screening of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Since high levels of $17{\alpha}$-OHP are frequently observed in premature infants without congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we evaluated cuts-off based on birth weight and performed validation. Birth weight and $17{\alpha}$-OHP concentration data of 292,204 newborn screening subjects in Greencross labopratories were analyzed. The cut-off values based on birth weight were newly evaluated and validated with the original data. The mean $17{\alpha}$-OHP concentration were 7.25 ng/mL in very low birth weight (VLBW) group, 4.02 ng/mL in low birth weight (LBW) group, 2.53 g/mL in normal birth weight (NBW) group, and 2.24 ng/mL in heavy birth weight (HBW) group. The cut-offs for CAH were decided as follows: 21.12 ng/mL for VLBW and LBW groups and 11.14 ng/mL for NBW and HBW groups. When applied new cut-offs for original data, positive rates in VLBW and LBW groups were decreased and positive rates in NBW and HBW groups were increased. The cut-offs based on birth weight should be used in the screening for CAH. We believe that our new cut-off reduce the false positive rate and false negative rate and our experience for cut-off set up and validation will be helpful for other laboratories doing newborn screening test.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.194-204
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• 2011

Purpose: Many infertile women are receiving in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). But side effects occur after IVF-ET and pregnancy rate is still low. So this study is to report the effect of herbal medicine on a woman receiving IVF-ET and herbal medicine's low risk on a pregnant woman. Methods: The patient was underwent artificial insemination five times and IVF-ET three times. In this study, the patient steadily took a herbal medicine before IVF-ET to birth. Results: The side effects of IVF-ET and the miscarriage symptoms ware decreased. And by taking a herbal medicine during IVF-ET, the patient was pregnant and gave birth when she was 33 weeks pregnant by cesarian section. Conclusions: This case study shows that herbal medicine is effective for reducing side effects of IVF-ET and increasing pregnancy rate. And in this case the patient gave birth to healthy babies, althogh steadily taking herbal medicine during pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-47
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to explore subjectivity on childbearing in high school students. Methods: A Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each type was used. Forty-three high school students classified 40 selected Q-statements into 9 points standard. The obtained data were analyzed by using the pc-QUANL program. Results: High school students' subjectivity on childbearing were analyzed into two types: Type 1 turned out to be 'FOLS (family oriented life style)' and Type 2 'CINK (couple important no kid)'. Conclusion: In order to resolve such problems as low birth rate and the advanced age of the population, effective youth and adult programs, policy and institution are required. The current demographic, economic and other factors such as personal values and policies may lower birth rate. In particular, youths' need for children and birth rate tend to be lower. There are positive and negative patterns in high school students' subjectivity on childbearing. Thus, national and social efforts are needed to change negative factors into positive ones. In order to maintain positive subjectivity on childbearing in high school students, it is necessary to apply family-centered educational programs and to implement birth-friendly and realistic programs for promoting child birth.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2018

National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has put a great effort on extending life expectancy, for last 40 years. The system has also made remarkable outcomes in achieving universal health coverage. However, it is facing challenges of low health insurance benefits and sustainability risk due to low birth rate and aging society at the same time. To overcome the difficulties and build a lifelong health security system for the nation, it is required for NHIS to make multilateral changes in its roles. Based on the quantitative growth achieved so far, NHIS needs to strive for the growth in quality by not only increasing coverage and reforming contribution imposition system, but also reorganizing the relevant systems such as lifelong health management support, rational adjustment to the medical fee, and benefit costs monitoring. In addition, it's important for NHIS to restructure the organizational culture by having specialty and communicating with people for high quality of administration and health insurance sustainability.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.8
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• pp.284-290
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• 2020

Korea currently has the world's lowest birth rate but a rapidly inreasing number of preterm infants. The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), launched by the Korean Society of Neonatology under the support of Korea Centers for Disease Control, has collected population-based data for very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) born in Korea since 2013. In terms of the short-term outcomes of VLBWIs born from 2013 to 2016 registered in the KNN, the survival rate of all VLBWIs was 86%. Respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were observed in 78% and 30% of all VLBWIs, respectively. Necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in 7%, while 8% of the VLBWIs needed therapy for retinopathy of prematurity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Sepsis occurred in 21% during their NICU stay. Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade ≥III) was diagnosed in 10%. In terms of the long-term outcomes for VLBWIs born from 2013 to 2014 registered in the KNN, the post-discharge mortality rate was approximately 1.2%-1.5%, mainly owing to their underlying illness. Nearly half of the VLBWIs were readmitted to the hospital at least once in their first 1-2 years of life, mostly as a result of respiratory diseases. The overall prevalence of cerebral palsy was 6.2%-6.6% in Korea. Bilateral blindness was reported in 0.2%-0.3% of VLBWIs, while bilateral hearing loss was found in 0.8%-1.9%. Since its establishment, the KNN has published annual reports and papers that facilitate the improvement of VLBWI outcome and the formulation of essential healthcare policies in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.143-153
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was aimed at finding the effects of cycled lighting on body weight, physiological variables and the behavioral state of LBWI (low birth weight infants) in the NICU. Method: The subjects were 20 LBWI at 2 NICUs. They were assigned to an experimental or control group which consisted of 10 subjects in each. Cycled light was applied to the experimental group for 10 days. Result: It was certified that the application of cycled lighting resulted in increased body weight and O2 saturation, and decreased heart rate of the LBWI. However, there was no effect in decrease of respiration and stabilization of the behavioral state. Conclusion: The application of cycled lighting might be a nursing intervention which would in turn have positive effects on the growth of LBWI.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.424-434
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• 2002

Background & purpose Since the 1970's the rate of breast-feeding has decreased significantly. The Korean National Institute of Health reported that the rate of breastfeeding was 68.9% in 1982 and 14.1% in 1997. There are many influencing factors including: the lack of education and information on breast feeding, lack of faith in breast feeding, increment of the rate of working, lack of encouragement by supporters in difficult situations, and nurses' low level of knowledge about breast feeding. Such a lack of knowledge and support of breast-feeding at home by family members create another dilemma to the problem of breast-feeding. If problems arise and family members are unable to provide assistance due to the deficiency of knowledge, mothers show a tendency to abandon breast-feeding. The purpose of this research is to find out the rate of breast-feeding practice by time sequence of 1 week, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after birth and influencing factors on breast-feeding practice centered on the postpartal women who were 3discharged from one hospital, which is located in Seoul and provides simple breast-feeding education and continuous postnatal telephone consultation. Methodology The subjects of this research were 54 women who gave birth in a hospital located in Seoul from 1 March 2000 to 31 April 2000. After birth the subjects were educated individually about breast-feeding and telephone consultations were conducted. On the 1st week, 6th week, and 12th week, the subjects were surveyed about their breast-feeding practice rates and methods by telephone. Results 1) Complete breast-feeding rate: Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 64.2% complete breast-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks, 39.6%, and 12 weeks, 34.1%. 2) Partial breast-feeding rate: Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 32.1% partial breast-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks, 39.6%, and 12 weeks 15.1%. 3) Complete bottle-feeding rate Within one week after birth, the subjects showed 1.9% complete bottle-feeding rate. Within 6 weeks of giving birth 15.1%, and 12 weeks 17.0%. These results show that individual education about breast-feeding and continuous postnatal telephone consultation influenced on the practice of breast-feeding. On considering the reality of the hospital situation in which nurses could not operate education program due to the work-load, it is necessary to find out selectively those mothers who are unable to breast feed and provide education individually and continuous support by telephone follow up. Futhermore, the active role of lactation nurse specialist and their efficient management of breast-feeding for the successful practice is required.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2012

This study investigated the effect of birth weight on the fertility of Holstein heifers. Growth parameter (body weight) was measured at birth. Calves were analyzed as three subgroups: low (L), average (A) and high (H) birth weight (BW) calves. LBW calves were born 10 kg lighter than HBW calves. Fertility data collected included age at first breeding (AFB), number of services per conception, pregnancy rate to first artificial insemination (AI), and age at first calving (AFC). Primiparous calves in HBW are smaller compared to multiparous cows (18.3% versus 48%). Although not significantly different, LBW offspring appeared to breed faster over the service period compared with the ABW offspring that bred three weeks later on the average. The mean pregnancy rate to first AI for LBW heifers was higher (60%) than ABW (48%) and HBW (45%). HBW cows required more services per conception (2.1) than the LBW (1.7) and ABW (1.9). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in age at first calving among the different calving birth weights. Smaller birth size did not have any subsequent adverse effects on fertility. HBW offspring were more likely or tend to have worse fertility parameters.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.72
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• pp.49-70
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest a response and solution through Christian educational care to the crisis and change of the era of low birth rate faced by Korean society and the Korean church. This study proposes to find an alternative to the biblical aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood as God's blessing for the demographic cliff and low birth rate problem that have become a reality in Korean society and churches. Being a parent in an age of low birth rate is very difficult, but on the other hand, it gives happiness and joy. Being a parent is a blessing from God, and is the most important and valuable thing in life. However, modern society emphasizes the right and necessity to choose one's own parenthood status. In the nuclear family, the decrease in the number of children, and the development of child research, parents feel more responsibility and economic burden for raising children than ever before. Therefore, it is a reality that the number of people who delay becoming parents or voluntarily do not have children is gradually increasing. To improve the perception of becoming a parent due to a decrease in responsibility for raising children, it is necessary to shed light on marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing from a Christian educational point of view. In addition, it is necessary to understand the recognition of being a parent and the characteristics of childbirth and rearing, and to analyze past and present value changes. This study will also discuss the causes of low birthrate and try to provide Christian educational care for childcare including solving the low birthrate problem.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2007

This study analyzes the contents of low birthrate measures by the government and their effectiveness. The discussion on the measures being promoted by the government is conducted by considering the analysis on the cause of low birthrates, introduction of overseas policies and government policy propositions, etc. The evaluation on effectiveness is conducted by considering the recognition of the policies by women who are the subject of childbirth and preceding studies. Low birth rates are not the problem of an individual anymore, but a task that the whole of society has to resolve. The comprehensive measures should be made including the elements that influence birth rate such as reducing the cost of raising a child, creating a favorable environment in society and worksite, and improving the nurturing environment, etc.