• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2018

Background: Lower-limb varicose veins (VVs) are common and known to have a higher prevalence among people who work in occupations requiring prolonged standing. In the Republic of Korea, however, VV-related occupational factors have seldom been examined. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of VVs among nurses, an occupational group considered to be at high risk of VVs, and determine the occupational risk factors of prolonged standing. Methods: Between March and August 2014, a questionnaire survey coupled with Doppler ultrasonography was conducted on the nurses working at a university hospital. Results: A total of 414 nurses participated in the survey and diagnostic testing. From the survey analysis and test results, the prevalence of VVs in nurses was estimated to be 16.18%. Significant factors for venous reflux were age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.10], pregnancy (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.17-3.94), and delivery (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.08-3.78). The statistical significance of these factors was verified after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.27-9.09). Conclusion: Factors significantly associated with venous reflux were increasing age and prolonged working hours (${\geq}4hours$) in a standing position (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.08-7.25), even after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors. This study is significant in that an objective diagnosis of VVs preceded the analysis of the risk factors for VV incidence, thus verifying objectively that VVs are associated with occupations requiring prolonged hours of working in a standing position.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.12-18
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• 1998

Tremendous progress has been made over the past quarter-century studying the genetics of gametogenesis and the resulting gametes and embryos. Studies merging molecular techniques and conventional cytogenetics are now beginning to bridge the gap between what we have learned about the meiotic process in males and females and what we know of the mitotic chromosomes of zygotes. Numerical abnormalities in sperm, oocytes and embryo can now diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). "At risk" couples can, therefore, have only unaffected embryos replaced in the sterus and avoid the possibility of terminating a pregnancy that might only be diagnosed as affected later gestation. Single-cell genetic analysis has also provided powerful tools for studying genetic defects arising during early human development. Recent studies of sperms, oocytes and cleavage-stage human embryos have revealed an unexpectedly high incidence. These genetic abnormalities are likely to contribute to early pregnancy loss and have important implications for improving pregnancy rates in infertile couples by assisted reproduction. The widespread use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) awaits further documentatio of safety and accuracy. Other issues also must be addressed. First, the ethical issues regarding germ cell and embryo screening must be addressed including what diseases are serious enough to warrant the procedure. Another concern is the use of this technology for non-genetic disorders such as gender selection. Finally, the experimental nature of these procedure must continually be discussed with patients, and long-term follow-up studies must be undertaken. Development of more accurate and less expensive assays coupled with improved assisted reproductive technology success rates may make PGD a more widely use clinical tool. The future awaits these development.velopment.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2020

Immunoglobulin (Ig)A vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN), also referred to as Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, is a relatively benign disease in children. However, two 24-year European cohort studies have reported high sustained rates of hypertension, severe proteinuria, and renal dysfunction in patients with IgAVN. Notably, the incidence and exacerbation rates of proteinuria, hypertension, and renal dysfunction during pregnancy were high even in women who recovered from IgAVN before pregnancy. Patients with IgAVN need lifelong care. Trials have been performed to investigate early biomarkers and genes associated with poor prognosis to identify high-risk patients in whom IgAVN may progress to severe renal disease. Urinary IgA/cr, IgM/cr levels, and HLAB35 and angiotensinogen gene expression were shown to be predictors of progression of IgAVN to severe renal dysfunction. The 2019 Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) initiative group published guidelines for pediatric IgAVN, following the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines established in 2012. Compared with the KDIGO guidelines, the SHARE guidelines recommend earlier corticosteroid administration in cases of mild proteinuria (>0.5 g/d). Clinical trials of targeted budesonide delivery to the distal ileum, monoclonal antibody targeting C5, eculizumab and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody administration, among others are currently underway in patients with IgA nephropathy. It is expected that newer therapeutic agents would become available for IgAVN in the near future. This review summarizes IgAVN with emphasis on recently published literature, including possible preventive strategies, predictive biomarkers for progression of IgAVN, and various treatments.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.345-358
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop an empowering education program for Maternal-Fetal Intensive Care Unit (MFICU) nurses who provide intensive care to high-risk mother and fetus at hospitals, to test effects of the education program on nursing care confidence and nursing knowledge, and to examine program satisfaction. Methods: This study comprised of 2 phases: program development and evaluation. First, we have followed a process of program development to develop and refine an empowering education program for MFICU nurses through collaborative works among clinical obstetrics and gynecology doctors and nurses and academic nursing professors. Second, the empowering education program was provided to 49 nurses and evaluated from July 5 to 6, 2019. Levels of MFICU nursing care confidence and knowledge were measured. Results: The empowering education program included 18 hours of lectures, discussion, and Q & A, which continued for 2 days. This program significantly improved high-risk maternal-fetal nursing care confidence and knowledge of nurses. The program was well met with nurses' education need and goals, and found to be highly satisfactory. Conclusion: The empowering education program was observed to be effective in terms of improve nursing care confidence and knowledge of nurses in MFICU. It is proposed that this program should be open regularly for nurses to obtain and improve their clinical knowledge, confidence, and competency. Further study is needed to develop and run 2-levels of education such as basic and advanced levels based on nurses' clinical background and competency.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.49-65
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• 1991

This study was carried out to assess the problems with the pregnant women, and check out the risk-factors in the high-risk pregnancies, using a simplified antepartum risk-scoring system, which was revised from Edwards' scoring system to be suitable for Korean situaition. This instrument was included 4 categories, demographic, obstetric, medical and miscellaneous factors. This survey was based on the 1300 pregnant women who were admitted, $x^2$-test, F-test, Pearsons correation, using statistical package SAS in NAS computer system, KIST. The results of the study were as follows; 1. 1313 infants were deliveried of these 560 infants(42.7%) were born to mothers with risk-scores > 7, and 753 infants(57.3%) were born to mothers risk-scores <7. 2. Maternal age" parity, education level, of the demographic factors were significant relation statistically to identify the high risk pregnancies($X^2$=20.88, 42.87, 15.60 P < 0.01). 3. C-section, post term, incompetent cervix, uterine anomaly, polyhydramnios, congenital anomaly, sensitized RH negative, abortion, preeclampsia, excessive size infant, premature, low birth weight infanl, abnormal presentation, perinatal loss, multiple pregnancy, of the obstetric factors were significant relation statistically to identify the high risk-pregnancies. ($X^2$ = 175.96, 87.5, 16.28, 21.78, 9.46, 8. 10, 6.75, 22.9, 64.84, 6.93, 361.43, 185.55, 78.65, 45.52, P < 0.01). 4. Abnormal nutrition, anemia, UTI, other medicalcondition(pulmonary disease, severe influenza), heart disease, V.D., of the miscellaneous and medical factors, were significant relation statistically to identify the high risk-pregnancies. 5. Premature, low birth weight infant, contracted pelvis, abnormal presentation, of the risk factors were significantly related with Apgar score at 1 '||'&'||' 5 minute after birth and neonatal body weight. 6. Apgar score at 1 '||'&'||' 5 minute after, birth and neonatal body weight were significantly negative correlated with risk-score. 7. There were statistically significant difference between risk-score and Apgar score at 1 '||'&'||' 5 minute after birth, 3 group(0-3, 4-6, above 7), and neonatal body weight, 2 group(below 2.5kg, the other group) (F=104.65, 96.61, 284.92, P<0.01). 8. Apgar score at 1 '||'&'||' 5 minute after birth(below 7), and neonatal body weight(below 2.5kg), were significant relation statistically with risk score.($x^2$=65.99, 60.88, 177.07, P<0.01) were 60.8 %, 60% . 9. Correct classifications of morbid infants(l '||'&'||' 5 minute Apgar score < 7) were 77.8%, 83.8% and that of nonmorbid infants(l '||'&'||' 5 minute Apgar score > 7) were 60.8%, 60%. 10. There were statistically significant difference between dislribution of maternal risk-score among the morbid infants(l '||'&'||' 5 minute Apgar score < 7) and non morbid infants(l '||'&'||' 5 minute Apgar score> 7) ($x^2$=64.8, 58.8, P < 0.001). 11. There were statistically significant difference between distribution of morbid infants(l '||'&'||' 5 minute Apgar score < 7) and fetal death. 12. The predictivity for classifying high.risk cases was 12 % and for classifying low-risk cases was 98.3 % in 5 minute Apgar score. Suggestions for further studies are as follows; 1. Contineous prospective studies, using this newly revised scoring system are strongly recommended in the stetric service. 2. Besides risk facto~s used in this study, assessmenl of risks by factors in another scoring system and paralled studies related to perinatal outcome are strongly recommended.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2010

Purpose:In recent years, Korea has showed a steady increase in the frequency of teenage birth, while the overall birth rate has declined. As the teenage birth is known as a high risk pregnancy itself, we examined perinatal complications of teenage mothers and whose neonates in aspects of medical problem, and social status and support. Methods:We examined the perinatal characteristics of teenage mothers and whose babies, who were hospitalized at Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2004 to July 2009 using medical records retrospectively. Twenty-seven teenage mothers and their 28 babies were enrolled in this study. Results:Teenage mothers were all unmarried and showed high rates of preterm labor, maternal anemia, and unexpected delivery. Among them, 11 (40.7%) were from families that were separated. Eleven mothers (40.7%) did not have any antenatal care. There were high rates of prematurity and low birth weight (60.7% and 64.3%, respectively). The complication included: respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus and necrotizing enterocolitis. Fourteen babies (51.9%) were not going to be brought up by their biological parents. Conclusion:Teenage pregnancy had high rates of preterm labor and associated complications, often caused by the lack of proper antenatal care. Babies from unmarried mothers were likely to be adopted and this could be a social burden. Therefore, to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancy and births, sex education and social supports should be provided to all teenagers.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.218-225
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• 2022

High levels of proinflammatory cytokines have been observed in obese pregnancies. Obesity during pregnancy may increase the risk of various pregnancyrelated complications, with pathogenesis resulting from excessive inflammation. Palmitic acid (PA) is a saturated fatty acid that circulates in high levels in obese women. In our previous study, we found that PA inhibited the proliferation of trophoblasts developing into the placenta, induced apoptosis, and regulated the number of cleaved halves derived from transfer RNAs (tRNAs). However, it is not known how the expression of tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs) changes in response to PA treatment at concentrations that induce inflammation in human trophoblasts. We selected concentrations that did not affect cell viability after dose-dependent treatment of HTR8/SVneo cells, a human trophoblast cell line. PA (200 μM) did not affect the expression of apoptotic proteins in HTR8/SVneo cells. PA significantly increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In addition, 200 μM PA significantly increased the expression of tiRNAs compared to 800 μM PA treatment. These results suggest that PA impairs placental development during early pregnancy by inducing an inflammatory response in human trophoblasts. In addition, this study provides a basis for further research on the association between PA-induced inflammation and tiRNA generation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. The purposes of this study were to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid supplements along with their associated factors among non-pregnant Korean women of childbearing age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From August 2012 to March 2013, 704 women aged 19-45 years completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid as well as questions to identify risk of inadequate folate intake. RESULTS: Approximately 67% of women reported that they had heard of folic acid, and 23.7% had knowledge of both the role of folic acid in preventing birth defects and appropriate time for taking folic acid supplements to prevent birth defects. However, only 9.4% of women took folic acid supplements at the time of the survey. Women aged 19-24 years, unmarried women, and women who had never been pregnant were less likely to be aware and knowledgeable of folic acid or take folic acid supplements. In addition, women at high risk of inadequate folate intake were less likely to take folic acid supplements. In a multivariate analysis, women aged 19-24 years, women with a high school diploma or lower education level, and unmarried women were less likely to be aware and have knowledge of folic acid. The percentage of women taking folic acid supplements was significantly higher among knowledgeable women than among unknowledgeable women. CONCLUSIONS: These results support our hypothesis that women with knowledge of folic acid are more likely to take folic acid supplements. Therefore, educational programs or campaigns to improve knowledge regarding the importance of folic acid and to promote consumption of folic acid supplements as well as folate-rich foods are needed to target young, less educated, and unmarried women.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.171-172
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• 1996

Cocaine is a powerful reinforcer that has become a popular drug of abuse in man. CNS effects that are related to the abuse of cocaine include feeling of well-being and euphoria. Brain dopamine systems are thought to mediate reinforcement and it is often assumed that cocaine's inhibition of dopamine uptake is the mechanism underlying its reinforcing effects. With increase in cocaine use among general population in recent years, adverse effects of the drug have occurred in all social strata and age groups. Therefore, it has been recognized that the epidemic of cocaine abuse is a growing major concerning public health. One of the most troubling aspects of cocaine abuse is its use by pregnant women. Drug abuse during pregnancy puts two lives at risk. Cocaine produces toxic effects on the fetus at concerntrations that are apparently nontoxic to the mother. Not only does cocaine cross the placenta via diffusion and via rapid penetration to mucous membranes, due to its high lipid solubility, but cocaine can also be found in breast milk, the effects of the cocaine can persist long after the child is born. Although it is known that prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with developmental risk to the fetus ana newborn, few studies have been conducted to assess the mechanisms whereby either short-term or long-term administration of cocaine can exert its harmful effects on the mother or the child. Therefore, it was our great interest to investigate the pharmacological and neurobehavioral changes in offspring that are prenatally exposed to cocaine.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.858-861
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• 1994

Prosthetic valve thrombosis is rare but it is one of fatal complication after heart valve surgery. Improvements of the valve design and the material have decreased the frequency of thrombosis but have not eliminated completely. And some cases of prosthetic valve thrombosis during pregnancy were reported inspite of adequate anticoagulation therapy.Urgent surgical intervention is indicated for prosthetic valve thrombosis but it is associated with high operative risk, therefore medical thrombolytic therapy such as urokinase or streptokinase therapy is regarded as an alternative therapy. This is a case report of the successful thrombolytic therapy for valve thrombosis in a pregnant patient after mechanical mitral valve replacement.