• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

Cell-free nucleic acids (cf-NAs) originate in trophoblasts and are detected in the maternal plasma. Using innovative bioinformatic technologies such as next-generation sequencing, cf-NAs in the maternal plasma have been rapidly applied in prenatal genetic screening for fetal aneuploidy. Amniotic fluid is a complex and dynamic fluid that provides growth factors and protection to the fetus. In 2001, the presence of cf-NA in amniotic fluid was reported. Amniotic fluid is in direct contact with the fetus and is derived from fetal urine and maternal and fetal plasma. Therefore, these genetic materials have been suggested to reflect fetal health and provide real-time genetic information regarding fetal development. Recently, several studies evaluated the global gene expression changes of amniotic fluid cell-free RNA according to gestational age. In addition, by analyzing the transcriptome in the amniotic fluid of fetal aneuploidy, potential key pathways and novel biomarkers for fetal chromosomal aneuploidy were identified. Here, we review the current knowledge of cell-free RNA in amniotic fluid and suggest future research directions.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.189-202
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• 1997

The hypothalamic peptide GnRH plays a central role in the regulation of the mammalian reproductive axis. Recent studies suggested that GnRH stimulates or inhibits the ovarian steroidogenesis and gametogenesis directly. Our previous report indicated that GnRH gene is expressed in adult rat ovary as well as in hypothalamus and that the expressed GnRH may induce the follicular atresia and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rat. Therfore, we studied whether GnRH gene is expressed in the mouse fetal ovary, when the germ cells are degenerating by apoptosis during gonad diffeerentiation. Mouse fetal gonads were obtained on the 12, 15,18 and 20th day of gestation from the mother mice superovulated (10 IU PMSG and 10 IU hCG) and mated. The morphological changes of fetal ovaries were examined histochemically by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The fetal sex was confirmed by PCR methods for sexing. RT-PCR methods were used to examine the expression of GnRH gene and the sex steroid hormones were determined by conventional radioimmunoassays. The levels of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) were increaseduntil 18th day of gestation and then E was decreased just before parturition. The morphological changes of fetal gonadal tissue sections showed the ovarian development and coincided with the result of PCR analysis for sexing using ovary- or testis- specific oligonucleotide primers. Immunoreactive GnRH in placenta was decreased gradually until the end of gestation but fetal brain and ovarian GnRH were increased. The level of GnRH gene expression was increased during fetal ovarian development from 12 till 18th day and decreased suddenly on 20th day just before birth. From these results, it is suggested that ovarian GnRh may play a regulatory role on the germ cell differentiation of fetal ovary.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2018

Aquaporin (AQP) 3, a facilitated transporter of water and glycerol, expresses in placenta and fetal membranes, but the detailed localization and function of AQP3 in placenta remain unclear. To elucidate a role of AQP3 in placenta, we defined the expression and cellular localization of AQP3 in placenta and fetal membranes, and investigated the structural and functional differences between wild-type and AQP3 null mice. Gestational sacs were removed during mid-gestational period and amniotic fluid was aspirated for measurements of volume and composition. Fetuses with attached placenta and fetal membranes were weighed and processed for histological assessment. AQP3 strongly expressed in basolateral membrane of visceral yolk sac cells of fetal membrane, the syncytiotrophoblasts of the labyrinthine placenta and fetal nucleated red blood cell membrane. Mice lacking AQP3 did not exhibit a significant defect in differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and normal placentation. However, AQP3 null fetuses were smaller than their control litter mates in spite of a decrease in litter size. The total amniotic fluid volume per gestational sac was reduced, but the amniotic fluid-to-fetal weight ratio was increased in AQP3 null mice compared with wild-type mice. Glycerol, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels in amniotic fluid of AQP3 null mice were significantly reduced, whereas lactate level increased when compared to those of wild-type mice. These results suggest a role for AQP3 in supplying nutrients from yolk sac and maternal blood to developing fetus by facilitating transport of glycerol in addition to water, and its implication for the fetal growth in utero.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.347-356
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• 2005

The wound healing process in fetus is quite different form that of adult. Regeneration plays an important role and scarless wound healing is possible in early gestational fetal period. Recently, the various effects of the hypoxia and reoxygenation in the wound healing process have been investigated by many researchers. The hypoxic state is known to alter protein synthesis and gene expression of TGF-${\beta}$, VEGF. The authors hypothesize there may be differences between fetal and adult fibroblast and this difference may play a possible role in the mechanism of scarless fetal wound healing. In this study, we investigated the growth of fibroblast, the amount of collagen deposition, the amount of protein synthesis and gene expression in TGF-${\beta}$(transforming growth factor-${\beta}$), VEGF(vascular endothelial growth factor) under the various hypoxic and reoxygenation conditions. Through these processes, we tried to determine the relationships between scarless fetal wound healing and hypoxic condition. In control group, fetal and adult fibroblasts were cultured under normoxic condition. The experimental groups were allocated into four different groups. The differences in TGF-beta, VEGF under 24, 48, 72 hours were statistically investigated. Compared to adult fibroblast group, there was a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) in the rates of protein synthesis in TGF-beta and VEGF of fetal fibroblast. In this study, these results may reflect the possibility that fetal fibroblast are more susceptible to change in oxygen and has a superior rate of angiogenesis through increased VEGF expression. The possible superiority of angiogenesis in fetal fibroblast may play an important role in scarless wound healing.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.235-245
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• 1996

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 pregnant Korea Jin-do bitches that were the Korean native breed, from days 15 to 60 pregnancy to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures of pregnancy. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (Day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Gestational ages at earliest detection of the following fetal and extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days 17 to 22; placental layers in the uterine wall at days 20 to 24; zonary placenta at days 25 to 28; yolk sac membrane at days 22 to 24; amnionic membrane at days 27 to 29; embryo initial detection at days 21 to 23; fetal heartbeat at days 21 m 25; bipolar shape embryo at days 25 to 26; fetal movement at days 28 to 31; limb buds at days 31 to 35; anechoic area in head at days 31 to 36; stomach at days 34 to 37; urinary bladder at days 34 to 37; skeleton at days 36 to 38; dorsal sagittal tubular structure in vertebrae at days 36 to 38; lung hyperechoic vs liver at days 37 to 39; liver hypoechoic vs abdomen at days 37 to 40 and kidney at days 43 to 48, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 1995

Defining the mechanisms of B cell diversification which establish the immune repertoire is fundamental to understand how the immune response is regulated. In this report, B cell differentiation and diversification focused on the regulation of immunoglobulin $V_H$ gene expression during ontogeny were analyzed by in situ hybridization technique. Fetal liver B cells in .different gestational days from 16d to 20d showed the predominant expression of $V_H7183$ and $V_HQ52$ without transition of repertoire during the observed gestation days. The two subsets of fetal liver B cells separated according to different differentiation stages based on the presence of tell surface immunoglobulin also did not indicate apparent difference in expressed $V_H$ gene family profiles. B cells in fetal spleen as an another hematopoietic lymphoid tissue in fetus also expressed similar $V_H$ gene repertoire to that in fetal liver B cells. This distinct pattern of $V_H$ gene expression in fetal B cells from that of adult B cells were not changed even after four weeks contact with adult bone marrow microenvironment supplied by the established adult bone marrow stromal cell layers. Thus, the restricted $V_H$ gene repertoire of B cells in fetus which is distinct from that in adult appears to be associated more with the genetic potential of fetal B cell progenitors and less with environmental influences or differentiation stages or compartmentalization.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.213-223
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between stress, temperament and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women. The respondents in this research were 249 pregnant women who were participating in a Parent Education project. Data was collected by way of a questionnaire. A summary of the findings were as follows: Among the pregnant women in this study, total stress level was below the average and maternal fetal attachment level was above the average. The group demonstrating high levels of stress exhibited low level of maternal-fetal attachment when compared to those with low levels stress. Pregnant woman's stress and maternal temperament demonstrated a significant correlation with maternal-fetal attachment.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.181-184
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• 2004

There are reports showing that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted at non-thermal levels may be associated with biological alterations in target cells. In this study it is objected to assess the potential influences of EMFs produced by cellular phones on fetal heart rate. Non Stress Test (NST) is a widely used method of fetal monitoring and assessing fetal health and well-being. Sixty volunteers with uncomplicated term pregnancies were studied by a Spacelabs AM-67 Doppler ultrasound monitor. Fetal Heart Rate recordings were obtained while there were no Cellular Phone around for 10 minutes. Afterwards, all patients were exposed to EMFs for 10 minutes. NST was performed while they were holding the CP on stand-by mode and then on dialing mode, each for 5 minutes. The recordings were analyzed with respect to baseline heart rate, accelerations and decelerations. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test was used to compare these variables. The results indicate that EMFs emitted by CP do not cause any demonstrable effects on baseline FHR, acceleration or deceleration.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 1991

Digital fetal monitoring system based on the personal computer combined with the digital signal processing (DSP) board was implemented. The DSP board acquires and digitally processes ultra- sound fetal Doppler signal for digital signal conditioning, rectification, low -pass filtering, autocorrealtion function calculation and its peak detection. The personal computer interfaced with the DSP board is in charge of graphic display, hardcopy, data transmission and on -line analysis of fetal heart rate change including on - line warning system, base -line estmation, acceleration, deceleration and variability. It is one of the most suitable situation to apply the DSP chip for siganl conditioning, digital filtering of ultrasound fetal Dopier signal and fetal heart rate estimation using autocorrelation technique .

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

Owing to the risk of fetal loss associated with prenatal diagnostic procedures (amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling), noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) is ultimate goal of prenatal diagnosis. The discovery of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma in 1997 has opened up new probabilities for NIPD by Dr. Lo et al. The last decade has seen great development in NIPD. Fetal sex and fetal RhD status determination by cffDNA analysis is already in clinical use in certain countries. For routine use, this test is limited by the amount of cell-free maternal DNA in blood sample, the lack of universal fetal markers, and appropriate reference materials. To improve the accuracy of detection of fetal specific sequences in maternal plasma, internal positive controls to confirm to presence of fetal DNA should be analyzed. We have developed strategies for noninvasive determination of fetal gender, and fetal RhD genotyping using cffDNA in maternal plasma, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) including RASSF1A epigenetic fetal DNA marker (gender-independent) as internal positive controls, which is to be first successful study of this kind in Korea. In our study, accurate detection of fetal gender through gestational age, and fetal RhD genotyping in RhD-negative pregnant women was achieved. In this assay, we show that the assay is sensitive, easy, fast, and reliable. These developments improve the reliability of the applications of circulating fetal DNA when used in clinical practice to manage sex-linked disorders (e.g., hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), RhD incompatibility, and the other noninvasive pregnant diagnostic tests on the coming soon. The study was the first successful case in Korea using cffDNA in maternal plasma, which has created a new avenue for clinical applications of NIPD.