• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2008

The early diagnosis of bovine pregnancy is an essential component of successful reproductive planning on farms, because lack of bovine pregnancy over the long term results in reproductive failure and low milk yield-the latter of which is a special concern on dairy farms. This study was designed to identify early pregnancy-specific whey proteins in bovine, by comparing milk samples collected from cattle during pregnancy (Days 30 and 50) and from non-pregnant cattle. In this study, differentially expressed proteins in five pregnant and five non-pregnant Holstein dairy cattle were investigated and compared, using proteomics analysis. The first dimension was applied to a pH $3.0{\sim}10.0$ strip, by loading a 2-mg milk protein sample. After the second-dimension separation was performed, the gels were stained with colloidal Coomassie brilliant blue. The stained gels were scanned and the images were analyzed, to detect variations in protein spots between non-pregnant and pregnant cattle milk protein spots, using ImageMaster, this was followed by analysis with MALDI TOF-MS. Analysis of the 2-DE gel image resulted in a total of approximately $500{\sim}600$ protein spots, of which 12 spots were differentially expressed, six spots were up-regulated, and four spots were down-regulated; two spots were identified as pregnancy-specific proteins. These proteins were identified as lactoferrin, NA-DH dehydrogenase subunit 2, albumin, serum albumin precursor and transferrin. Our results via 2-D PAGE analysis revealed composite profiles of several milk proteins related to early bovine pregnancy, implying the possible use of these milk proteins in the early detection of bovine pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to look into back pain, pain disability, labour pain, and related areas of pain experienced by postpartum women. Method: A survey about pain including a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry pain disability, and pain drawing was used in a descriptive research method on 98 women 2-3 days after delivery. Result: 57.1% of those surveyed reported experiencing back pain before pregnancy. 75.5% reported experiencing back pain during pregnancy. The average starting time of back pain for pregnant women was 2.9 months into pregnancy. 48.8% reported the most severe back pain in the last trimester of pregnancy, while most women complained of left and right pubic pain and lumbar area pain during pregnancy. Statistical relations were calculated and menstrual symptoms (F=5.938, p=0.004), back pain prior to pregnancy (F=4.714, p=0.000), back pain during pregnancy (F=-3.429, p=0.001), and back pain disability prior to pregnancy (F=-1.994). Conclusion: There is a relation in postpartum women's back pain between back pain prior to pregnancy and back pain during pregnancy. Pelvic examinations early in pregnancy can determine if back pain will change for the worse or relapse. Therefore, the application of a pain relieving nursing intervention is needed.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2014

The majority of early embryonic mortality in pregnancy occurs during the peri-implantation stage, suggesting that this period is important for conceptus viability and the establishment of pregnancy. Successful establishment of pregnancy in all mammalian species depends on the orchestrated molecular events that transpire at the conceptus-uterine interface during the peri-implantation period. This maternal-conceptus interaction is especially crucial in pigs because in them non-invasive epitheliochorial placentation occurs, in which the pre-implantation phase is prolonged. During the pre-implantation period, conceptus survival and the establishment of pregnancy are known to depend on the developing conceptus receiving an adequate supply of histotroph, which contains a wide range of nutrients and growth factors. Evidence links growth factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and colony-stimulating factor 2 (CSF2) to embryogenesis or implantation in various mammalian species; however, in the case of pig, little is known about such functions of these growth factors, especially their regulatory mechanisms at the maternal-conceptus interface. Our research group has presented evidence for promising growth factors affecting cellular activities of primary porcine trophectoderm (pTr) cells, and we have identified potential intracellular signaling pathways responsible for the activities induced by these factors. Therefore, this review focuses on promising growth factors at the maternal-conceptus interface regulating the development of the porcine conceptus and playing pivotal roles in implantation events during early pregnancy in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.603-608
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• 1997

To improve animal production, a simple and accurate pregnancy diagnosis plays a very important role. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an on-farm blood progesterone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for monitoring the early pregnancy in sows. Star tubes coated with mouse monoclonal anti-progesterone antibody were used for this proposed EIA system which was tested in field trials. The results could be obtained within 30 minutes either by spectrophotometry or the naked eye. Heparinized fresh blood samples collected from the ear vein of sows 17-22 days after breeding (day 0) were tested qualitatively to diagnose sows as pregnant or non-pregnant with high ( > 3 ng/ml) or low ($${{\leq_-}}3ng/ml$$) progesterone in the blood. To provided a double check data, plasma progesterone levels were also measured quantitatively by the same EIA system with some modification. Total agreement of diagnosis by the on-farm EIA kit and by farrowing or abortion from 128 tested sows was found to be 92.2% accuracy (93.1% on pregnant diagnosis and 83.3% on non-pregnant diagnosis). It was concluded that the on-farm EIA blood progesterone test is a very useful method for monitoring the early pregnancy status of sows.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

Implantation of an embryo occurs during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, known as the "implantation window." During this implantation period, there are significant morphologic and functional changes in the endometrium, which is followed by decidualization. Many immune cells, such as dendritic and natural killer (NK) cells, increase in number in this period and early pregnancy. Recent works have revealed that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and NK cells are involved in vascular remodeling of spiral arteries in the decidua and lack of APCs leads to failure of pregnancy. Paternal and fetal antigens may play a role in the induction of immune tolerance during pregnancy. A balance between effectors (i.e., innate immunity and helper T [Th] 1 and Th17 immunity) and regulators (Th2 cells, regulatory T cells, etc.) is essential for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The highly complicated endocrine-immune network works in decidualization of the endometrium and at the fetomaternal interface. We will discuss the role of immune cells in the implantation period and during early pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.210-214
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• 2004

This study was carried out to predict the value of serum ${\beta}$ subunit of humans chorionic gonadotropin(${\beta}$- hCG) in early pregnancy viability. This was performed among 85 women in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET). The serum ${\beta}$-hCG levels were established for 30 normal singleton pregnancies, 10 twin and triplet pregnancies, 10 preclinical abortions, 10 clinical abortions, 20 biochemical abortions and 5 ectopic pregnancies. In comparison to normal singleton pregnancies, multiple pregnancies showed higher ${\beta}$-hCG. But clinical abortions, preclinical abortions and ectopic pregnancies showed lower ${\beta}$-hCG levels than singleton pregnancies. In conclusion, if we predict the value of serum ${\beta}$-hCG of variable early pregnancies and analyze it, we could predict the dilution protocol. Also, it can be useful in other ways.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2021

Purpose: Breast cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent among young Korean women. During pregnancy, women's concern regarding their breasts heightens. Thus, pregnancy provides a window of opportunity for breast cancer prevention and management along with antenatal care. This study developed and evaluated an integrated breast health program for pregnant women. Methods: This study employed a non-equivalent control group and non-synchronized design (22 experimental, 29 control). Women pregnant for over 28 weeks participated. The two-session integrated breast health program focused on breast management during breastfeeding and education about breast cancer prevention and early screening. Results: During the early postpartum period (within three months after the program), there were statistically significant differences in knowledge and attitude about breast cancer and breast self-examination before and after the program. There were also statistically significant differences in BSE at 6 and 12 months after the program and mammography at 12 months after the program. However, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical breast examination and breast ultrasonography at 6 and 12 months after the program. Conclusion: The integrated breast health management program was effective in increasing knowledge and improving attitudes regarding breast cancer, BSE, and early screening practices among pregnant women. Further studies should consider providing breast health programs differently for each phase of pregnancy and continuing the same after delivery.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.266-269
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• 2010

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used to manage chronic pain syndromes and it is accepted a cost-effective therapy. Child-bearing women who had SCS become or choose to become pregnant despite these policies pregnancy is a relative contraindication. A 32-year-old woman had SCS as a treatment for the CRPS I of the left lower extremity, During various check up tests, we happen to find out that her serum beta-hCG was positive and confirmed pregnancy. SCS is not recommended in pregnancy because the effects of SCS on pregnancy and nursing mothers had not been confirmed. However, many female patients suffering from chronic pain may expect future pregnancy and we think that they must be informed about the possibility of pregnancy and the effects of SCS device implantation in the course of pregnancy. First of all, a good outcome requires a multidisciplinary team approach, including obstetrics, neonatology, pain medicine and anesthesia, as was used from an early pregnancy. Unfortunately, she had a misabortrion after 6 weeks.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 1994

This experiment was examined the effect of splenectomy on the hematology in pregnant wistar rat. Only animals that had been shown regular 4-day estrous cycles for more than two cycles were used. The day after mating with the same male animal ws designated Day 0 of pregnancy. Spleen was removed from Day 0(early), 6(middle) and 13(late) of pregnant rat, respectively. Blood sample was collected at Day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of the pregnancy. 1. RBC was increased significantly(P<0.05) to the progress of pregnancy in control rat. The late splenectomized rats were decreased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy than control rats. 2. Hb was increased significantly (P<0.05) at 21th day of pregnancy in late splenectomized groups than others group. 3. In the late splenectomized rats, Ht was decreased significant (P<0.05) due to the progress of pregnancy and decreased significantly (P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy in all splenectomized groups. 4. WBC was increased significantly (P<0.05) at Day 1 of pregnancy in splenectomized groups compared with control. 5. In differential leukocyte rate, the Basophils and Monocytes was not significantly changed. Neutrophils was increased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 14 and 21 than Day 1 and 7 of pregnancy in control. Lymphocytes was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in control due to progress of pregnancy. Neutrophils was increased and Lymphocytes was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in splenectomized groups compared with control.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 1991

It is widely recognized that the embryonic or fetal loss after breeding is common in the cattle and that it is an important factor affecting reproductive efficiency. The causes of this loss have been subject of extensive researches and the results indicate that the embryonic mortality may he primary factor responsible for low pregnancy rates in non-embryo transfer bovine populations as well as embryo transfer programs. However, it's causes are still not clearly understood. The embryonic mortality or pregnancy rate has been influenced by various embryonic and maternal effects related to genetic and environmental factors. The timing and extent of embryonic mortality vanes greatly according to authors and estimating methods, because it is difficult to make direct measurements. The major important factors that may influence the embryonic losses or pregnancy rates after embryo transfer can be summeirized. 1.When an embryo is transferred to unmated recipients, the contralateral transfer to corpus luteum results in a lower survival rate than ipsilateral deposition. When the embryos are transferred for the production of twin calves, their survivals and twin pregnancies have quite inconsistent according to the transfer methods either to the unmated-synchronized or already mated recipients and more works are needed to accurrately clarify the previous results. 2.Although embryos can be cultured in vitro some hours without the great declines in pregnancy rates, the rates differ markedly among culture times and media but may be improved by co-transfer systems. 3.Embryo developmental stages and quality grades clearly affect the survival rate following freezing and the pregnancy rate after transfer and the selection of embryos without chromosome abnormalities and of high fertile semen may also be considered to increase the pregnancy rates. 4.Many researches have attempted to relate the plasma progesterone levels to pregnancy rates and others have done either direct progesterone supplementation or luteal stimulation by hCG treatment in order to increase the pregnancy rates. However, these effects on pregnancy rates are inconsistent and also contradictory. 5.The asynchrony between donors or embryos and recipients may he a major cause of embryo death and low pregnancy rate and the sensitivity to uterine asynchyony differs in according to the quality and stages of embryos. 6.The extremes of poor or over nutrition during early pregnancy in the recipients are detrimental to the survival of embryos and the good body condition is required to prevent a reduejion of pregnancy rates. The uterine pathogens in embryonic mortality or fertility have been questioned but the infection of C.pyogenes and Campylobacter fetus is still important pathogens. 7.The heat stress during early pregnancy may reduce conceptus weight and possibly increase the embryonic mortality.