• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.655-666
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• 2023

Purpose: Gestational nutrition has an impact on the growth and development of the fetus. Choline (C) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are important and essential nutrients for humans that play a role in the structural integrity of the membranes as well as signalling. C is used in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, and cell membranes are highly enriched with DHA. The dietary intake of C or DHA during pregnancy directly influences fetal development. Currently, there is no evidence to prove the effectiveness of the combined dietary supplementation of both C and DHA during gestation on developmental outcomes in the offspring. Methods: The current study was designed to assess the physical, sensory, and motor development of rat pups born to mothers supplemented with C and/or DHA during the entire gestational period. Pregnant rat dams were divided into the following five groups: Normal control (NC), Saline control (SC), Choline (C), DHA, and Choline+DHA (C+DHA). The NC dams did not receive any supplementation during the entire gestation period. The experimental groups were supplemented with Saline, C, and/or DHA, respectively, during the entire gestation (E0 to delivery). Results: Rat pups (n = 6/group) exposed to combined C and DHA showed significant improvement in birth weight, fur development, eye-opening as well as weight gain on the 7th, 14th, and 21st postnatal day and pinnae detachment (assessed from birth to postnatal day 21) when compared with age-matched NC, SC or C or DHA pups. Further, significant reflex responses were observed in visual placing and bar holding of pups exposed to both C and DHA, whereas the differences in surface righting, negative geotaxis, and grasping reflexes were not significant between the groups. Conclusion: Gestational supplementation of both C and DHA rather than either of them alone is better in enhancing developmental outcomes in rat pups.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.181-185
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• 2019

The traditional calculation of gestation length (GL) in Holstein cows relies solely on the insemination day and has a high error rate for actual calving dates. The present study was conducted to develop a more accurate method of estimating GL. Among 3,578 Holstein cows, the number of fetuses had a significant (p < 0.05) effect, with GLs of 282.4 ± 2.5 days for singletons and 276.0 ± 1.6 days for twins. Within the singleton group, the GLs were 284.6 ± 1.9 days for males and 280.3 ± 1.5 days for females, a significant difference (p < 0.05). However, within the twin group, there was no difference in GLs among twin males, twin females, or twins of both sexes. Gestation was significantly shorter for singleton males born from June to August but significantly longer for twin males born in the May to June period (p < 0.05). Neither parity nor housing type was associated with any significant difference in GL. In order to predict the calving dates of Holstein cows accurately and improve their management, calculations should consider the number and sex of fetuses as well as the insemination season.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 1987

A teratogenic study was carried out on New zealand White rabbits in order to examine the teratogenic potentiality of the recombinant human interferon-${\alpha}$A(rHuIFN-${\alpha}A$), an available therapeutic agent. The rHuIFN-${\alpha}A$ was intravenously administered at dose sevels of $1{\times}10^5$, $4{\times}10^5$ and $1.2{\times}10^6$ I.U/kg/day for a period of13 days from day 6 to day 18 of gestation. Two-thirds of the pregnant females in each group were sacrificed on day 29 of gestation and their fetuses were examined. The remaining dams were allowed to litter naturally, and the postnatal develpment of the offsprings was observed. The administration of rHuIFN-${\alpha}A$ during a period of organogenesis produced no embryotoxic and teratogenic effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.410-420
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was to evaluate the effects of the dietary energy levels on the physiological parameters and reproductive performance during gestation over three parities in sows. Methods: A total of 52 F1 gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$) were allotted to one of four dietary treatments using a completely randomized design. The treatments contained 3,100, 3,200, 3,300, or 3,400 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg diet but feed was provided at 2.0, 2.2, and 2.4 kg/d in the first, second and third parity, respectively. Results: The body weight and body weight gain during gestation increased as the dietary energy level increased (p<0.05, and p<0.01) in the first parity. In the second parity, the body weight of sows was the lowest (p<0.05) when 3,100 kcal of ME/kg treatment diet was provided. The body weight was higher as the dietary energy level increased (p<0.05) during the gestation period in the third parity. During lactation, the voluntary feed intake of lactating sows tended to decrease when gilts were fed higher energy treatment diet (p = 0.08) and the body weight, body weight gain were increased by dietary energy level during gestation (p<0.05). Backfat thickness was not affected by dietary treatment during the gestation period in three parities, interestingly backfat change from breeding to d 110 of gestation was higher as the dietary energy level increased at the first parity (p<0.05). When gilts were fed 3,400 kcal of ME/kg treatment diet a higher number of weaning piglets was observed in the first parity (p<0.05). The highest culling rate (69%) was seen when gestating sows were fed 3,100 kcal/kg ME treatment diet during three parities. Conclusion: In conclusion, the adequate energy intake of gestating sows should be 6,400 or 6,600 kcal of ME/d, 7,040 or 7,260 kcal of ME/d, and 7,680 or 7,920 kcal of ME/d for parity 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 1985

Serum levels of LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone were investigated every 20 days after the day of mating for the period of 140 days, at the day of parturition and thereafter 10 th and 20th day postpartum in Korean native goats. Serum levels of LH were highest with 1.95 mIU/ml at the 60 days after gestation, but maintained high levels until 100 days after gestation, and thereafter decreased gradually to 0.02 mIU/ml at the day of parturition. Prolactin concentrations increased from the 140 days after gestation, and showed highest levels with 29.75 ng/ml at the day of parturition, then decreased gradually. FSH levels determined were below 1.25 mIU/ml during the experimental period. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentrations increased gradually from 7.51 pg/ml at the 20 days after gestation to 159.62 pg/ml at the day of parturition, and decreased rapidly after parturition. Progesterone levels were highest with 6.62 ng/ml at the 120 days after gestation, the decreased rapidly to 1.25 ng/ml at the day of parturition.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.510-518
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• 1998

It was assumed that the maternal identity in primi-gravida is one of the most attribute of the motherhood, that is not biological but cognitive phenomena, appears active process as intelligent human being. The purposes of this study were that the identification the cognitive structure and the influencing factors of the maternal identity in primi-gravida. Theoretical framework in this study, maternal identity in primi-gravida was constructed as a cognitive output, has the cognitive structure of cognitive-perceptual factor, cognitive-behavioral factor, and cognitive-emotional factor. Influencing factors of maternal identity was constructed as a cognitive input, which were pregnancy related perceptions (pregnancy intention, minor discomfort, value of motherhood), interpersonal relationship(relationship with mother, relationship with husband, relationship with social network), preparation to motherhood(maternal knowledge, antenatal self care), and biological factor (gestation period). This study was the descriptive correlational research design, was done from the 3rd January to the 15th March 1996, and the research subjects were selected conviniently 226 the primi-gravida during the gestation period, data collection method was self reported questionnaire cross-sectionally. Descriptive data analysis was done by SAS PC$^{+}$, testing the hypothetical model was done by covariance structural analysis using LISREL 8.03 program. The result of the hypothesis testing, the value of motherhood(y=.650, T=4.26) the maternal knowledge (y=.137, T=2.030), the gestation period( y=.113, T=2.621), showed significant causal effect on the maternal identity in primi-gravida. In conclusion, the maternal identity in primi-gravida had interrelated cognitive structure consist of perceptual, behavioral, and emotional factors. Significant causal factors influencing the maternal identity were value identified. It seems to contribute toward the understanding the characteristics of the maternal identity as a cognitive domains that has been regarded highly abstract concept, so has not been validated empirically.y.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 1991

This stduy was conducted to find out the changes of estradiol-17$\beta$ and progesterone levels in the plasma of Cheju mares during gestatation period and before and after parturition with 12 heads of Cheju ponies. The results are as follows : 1. The estradiol-17$\beta$ and progesterone levels on the 1~4 months showed 61.6~134.2pg/ml and 7.74~9.20ng/ml respectively, but the estradiol-17$\beta$ levels rapidly increased to 426.4~1772.9pg/ml, and the progesterone levels decreased to 1.42~5.43ng/ml on the 5~10 months of gestation period. 2. The progesterone levels of the pregnant and the non-pregnant mares showed 4.80ng/ml and 0.04ng/ml in winter, respectively, but both of the two appeared 1,211.5pg/ml and 99.4pg/ml of estradiol-17$\beta$, respectively. Therefore the diagnosis of pregnancy might be more accurate with the levels of estrdiol-17$\beta$ in autumn. 3. The progesterone levels showed 3.20ng/ml the day before parturition and less than 1ng/ml on 2 days after parturition. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels, showing the rising trend, and 90.1~162.4pg/ml up to 10 days.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.297-300
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• 1996

LBD-001, a recombinant human interferon $\gamma$ produced by genetically engineered yeast as a host system, was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague-Dawley male rats from premating to mating period at least for 60 days and to female rats from at least for 2 weeks before mating to early gestation period (from day 0 to 7 of gestation) at dose levels of $0.35\times10^6, 0.39\times10^6, and 1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day. In the positive control group, ethynylestradiol ($EE_2$; 40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg/day) was subcutaneously administered only to female rats during the early gestation period. Effects of the test agents on reproductive performances of the male or female rats and embryonic development were as followings; (1) No significant changes by the treatment of LBD-001 were observed in general behaviors, body weight, food and water consumption, and necropsy of parent animals. However, significant decreases of body weight, food consumption, and water consumption were observed in ($EE_2$ -treated female rats. (2) Mating performances and fertility of parent animals were not significantly affected by the treatment of LBD-001. In ($EE_2$ -treated females, however, the fertility was completely inhibited. (3) No changes in resorption rate and external abnormality of F1 fetuses were observed by the treatment of LBD-001. The results show that LBD-001 at the dose of $1.38\times10^6$ I.U./kg/day or less does not affect general toxicity and reproductive function of parent animals and embryonic development of F1 fetuses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2017

This study investigated the incidence rate of umbilical hernia (UH) in pig farms and examined the effect of using them as breeding pigs on reproductive traits. The occurrence of UH ranged from 0.1% to 3.0% in pig farms investigated. UH pigs were found in almost all farms except for a single farm in Jeju Island. Spontaneously occurring UH pigs were selected and used for cross breeding tests. UH-related crosses and their progeny showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in gestation period, the numbers of piglets born and alive, and body weights at birth and $21^{st}$ day comparing to those of the control population. UH-related crosses showed longer gestation period, reduced numbers of piglets, and lighter body weights than those from the control population. Interestingly, reduced number of piglets was about one fourth, suggesting that UH inheritance might play a critical role as a lethal gene during embryogenesis. In addition, UH incidence rate in UH-related crosses was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the control except for UH-cross3. However, in the progeny of control cross, a pig also had UH appearance, indicating that porcine UH might be inherited in recessive inheritance mode. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that UH is one of recessively inherited genetic defect that occurs at ordinary times in pig farms, suggesting that the use of UH animals as sire and/or dam may lead to economic losses due to increased gestation period, reduced numbers of piglets born and alive, and lower growth rates after birth of pigs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2014

Purpose: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants, and its incidence increases with a shorter gestation period. We investigated the clinical significance of eosinophilia in premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and September 2010. Eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil percentage of >3% of the total leukocytes. Perinatal parameters and clinical parameters were also analyzed. Results: Of the 261 infants born at <34 weeks gestation, 22.4% demonstrated eosinophilia at birth. The eosinophil percentage peaked in the fourth postnatal week at 7.5%. The incidence of severe eosinophilia increased after birth up to the fourth postnatal week when 8.8% of all patients had severe eosinophilia. Severity of eosinophilia was positively correlated with a lower gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar score. Respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, nephrocalcinosis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and sepsis were associated with a higher eosinophil percentage. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia from the first postnatal week and the percentage was the highest in the fourth postnatal week, with the maximal difference being 4.1% (P<0.001). Conclusion: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants and reaches peak incidence and severity in the fourth postnatal week. The eosinophil percentage was significantly higher in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients from the first postnatal week. Severe eosinophilia was significantly associated with the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia even after adjusting for other variables.