• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to assess the prognostic value of serum hCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels measured at 11 days post-ET for predicting pregnancy outcome in women participating in IVF. Methods: Between May 2005 and April 2008, sera were obtained from 70 infertile women who underwent IVF-ET at 11 days post-ET and stored. HCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels were measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The predictive accuracy of hCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels for establishment of intrauterine pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy was calculated by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: For the prediction of intrauterine and ongoing pregnancy, serum hCG was better than progesterone and inhibin A. The predictive performance of progesterone and inhibin A was similar. The serum progesterone and inhibin A levels were significantly correlated each other (r=0.915, p=0.010). Conclusion: A single measurement of the serum hCG level is sufficient to predict pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Reproduction in ruminant species is a highly complex biological process requiring a dialogue between the developing conceptus (embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes) and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition signaling and regulation of gene expression by uterine epithelial and stromal cells. The uterus provide a microenvironment in which molecules secreted by uterine epithelia and transported into the uterine lumen represent histotroph, also known as the secretome, that are required for growth and development of the conceptus and receptivity of the uterus to implantation by the elongating conceptus. Pregnancy recognition signaling as related to sustaining the functional lifespan of the corpora lutea, is required to sustain the functional life-span of corpora lutea for production of progesterone which is essential for uterine functions supportive of implantation and placentation required for successful outcomes of pregnancy. It is within the peri-implantation period that most embryonic deaths occur in ruminants due to deficiencies attributed to uterine functions or failure of the conceptus to develop appropriately, signal pregnancy recognition and/or undergo implantation and placentation. The endocrine status of the pregnant ruminant and her nutritional status are critical for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The challenge is to understand the complexity of key mechanisms that are characteristic of successful reproduction in humans and animals and to use that knowledge to enhance fertility and reproductive health of ruminant species in livestock enterprises.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.592-597
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• 1999

The purpose of this study were to determine the folate status of pregnant women living in kwangju, Korea and to assess the relationships between folate status and pregnancy outcome. Eighty-one women took part in the study: 26 in their first trimester of pregnancy, 23 in the second, and 32 in the final trimester. The folate intake data both from their diets and supplementasage was obtained using a 24-hour recall method and by measuring the use of supplements. Folate levels of serum and erythrocytes were determined by a microbiological assay using Lactovacillus casei(ATTC 7469) as the test organism. A series of determinations for pregnancy outcome was conducted, including birth weight, length, Apgar score at 5 min after birth, and gestational period. The dietary folate intake in each trimester was 118$\pm$85, 148$\pm$117, and 137$\pm$69ug/d, respectively. All levels were far below the Korean recommended diet allowances(RDA)for folate. Eighty-four percent of the subjects consumed supplemental folate after the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery. the supplemental folate intakes in the second and third trimester were 651$\pm$142 and 688$\pm$150ug/d, respectively. Therefore, the women who took folate supplements consumed more folate than the RDA. Serum folate levels for each trimester were 9.0$\pm$3.8, 11.4$\pm$6.0, and 16.3$\pm$11.0ng/ml respectively, greadually increasing as the pregnancy progressed; the serum folate level in the third trimester was significantly higher(p<0.05) than that in first trimester. The erythrocyte folate concentrations in each trimester were recorded as 369.8$\pm$108.8, 396.2$\pm$107.5, and 420$\pm$7 162.6ng/ml respectively. There was no significant differences among the erythrocyte folate concentrations unlike the serum folate levels. There was no significant difference among the erythrocyte folate concentrations unlike the serum folate levels. There was no signifcant correlation between trimester to be important in maintaining adequate folate status, however these results imply that the serum and erythrocyte folate levels were adequate to support the growth of the fetus.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2017

The thalidomide tragedy in the 1960s has resulted in a perpetuation of a certain perception amongst physicians and pregnant women that the use of medication during pregnancy is a potential teratogen. Consequently, physicians hesitate in prescribing medication to pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women often refuse medication despite therapeutic necessity because of this existing perception. Recently there have been frequent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to the recurrence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, following pregnancy in older women. And there are lots of unnecessary termination of pregnancy due to the of information of medication exposed to medication following over 50% of unintended pregnancy. In light of this, better dissemination of information regarding the safe usage of medication for pregnant women is required. This would not only be cost-effective in terms of medical expenditure, but also prove beneficial for the treatment of diseases. In addition, Korea needs to adapt to the increasing changes of the international information system regarding supporting the safe usage of medication during pregnancy. An example of this is shown by the recent changes to the labeling of medication by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The new labeling includes information on the risk of usage, rather than just an arbitrary alphabetic classification of B, C, D, or X. Furthermore, this information is limited in Korea because of the lack of research, which in turn is due to several limitations on ethics and methodology, as well as present regulations on the research of pregnant women. From this, we can learn that government support is critical for the establishment of research so that we can alter the perception that all medication is harmful to pregnant women.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Objectives: Dental or maxillofacial emergencies are uncommon during pregnancy, but if they occur, they are challenging to treat due to potential risks. The mother should not be denied necessary medical or dental care because of pregnancy. The aim of the study is to observe outcomes of pregnancy in patients requiring emergency minor oral surgical procedures during gestation and to determine the safety of the pregnant woman undergoing the procedure and the fetus. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 52 pregnant women requiring emergency oral surgical procedures. A standard treatment protocol for treatment of specific entities was followed. Close monitoring and observation were the primary goal of treatment. All patients were followed postoperatively until complete recovery from the surgical procedures and then until birth of the baby. A control group of 52 healthy pregnant patients who did not require oral surgical procedures was considered for statistical analysis. The measurements to calculate observation were fetal loss (spontaneous abortion), preterm birth, low-birth weight, or incidence of any congenital anomalies in the baby and its association with surgical procedures. Results: No fetal loss occurred in any of the cases. However, four patients experienced preterm birth and seven neonates exhibited low birth weights. No congenital abnormalities were discovered. In one instance, a patient who underwent surgery for a mandibular symphysis fracture under general anesthesia in the 31st week of pregnancy experienced labor pain on the fourth postoperative day, requiring an emergency Caesarean section. Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that, compared to the control group, minor emergency surgeries performed during pregnancy have no discernible negative effects on the fetus. These procedures can safely be performed by adhering to our described protocols.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2024

Purpose: This review explored the status of publications on intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women in contemporary China. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases were searched using the terms "IPV," "pregnant woman," "Chinese," and synonyms in English, along with related keywords for Chinese publications. All literature pertaining to IPV during pregnancy, conducted in China, and published between 1987 and September 2023 was included. Results: A total of 37 articles from 30 studies were selected. The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy ranged from 2.5% to 31.3%, with psychological violence being the most common form. Frequently identified risk factors included unintended pregnancy, poor family economic conditions, male partners engaging in health risk behaviors, poor employment status of women or their partners, low education levels among women, physical or mental health issues, strained couple relationships, and in-law conflicts. IPV during pregnancy primarily led to mental health problems for the victims and could result in adverse obstetric outcomes, as well as negative effects on the temperament and development of the offspring. Victims in China demonstrated a low willingness to seek help from professionals. Furthermore, relevant research in mainland China is scarce, with a limited number of studies and non-standardized research methodologies. Conclusion: Future research should investigate IPV in pregnancy from various perspectives, identify factors unique to IPV during pregnancy, and focus on high-risk groups. Considering the conditions in China, there is a pressing need to increase public awareness of IPV and to investigate interventions aimed at addressing this issue.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2024

Background: Sperm quality and the number of sperm introduced into the uterus during artificial insemination (AI) are pivotal factors influencing pregnancy outcomes. However, there have been no reports on the relationship between sperm concentration at AI and sperm quality in Hanwoo cattle. In this study, we examined sperm quality and pregnancy rates after AI using sperm inseminated at different concentrations. Methods: We evaluated the motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity of sperm at different concentrations (10, 15, 18, and 20 million sperm/straw) in 0.5-mL straws. Subsequently, we compared the pregnancy rates after AI with different sperm concentrations. Results: After freeze-thawing, sperm at the assessed concentrations showed similar viability and acrosomal membrane integrity. After AI, cattle in the 10 million group had significantly lower pregnancy rates compared to those in the 18 and 20 million groups. Conversely, there were no statistically significant variances observed between cattle in the 10 and 15 million groups. Conclusions: Sperm at concentrations of 10, 15, 18 and 20 million per straw exhibited comparable motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity. However, a concentration of at least 18 million sperm per straw is required to achieve a consistent rate of pregnancy rate in Hanwoo cattle after AI.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2009

Purpose: To assess the value of first-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), nuchal translucency (NT) and second-trimester alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin-A in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study in 3,121 singleton pregnancies with integrated testing was performed at Kangnam CHA hospital between January 2005 and December 2006. Baseline characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and serum marker levels were obtained by review of the medical records. We analyzed the data to identify associations between the integrated screening markers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS program. Results: In preterm labor and preeclampsia, high AFP, hCG, and inhibin-A levels and low PAPP-A and NT levels were found to be significantly correlated (P<0.05). Elevated second-trimester inhibin-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 2.843), low birth weight (odds ratio 1.446), and preterm labor (odds ratio 1.287), and while decreased first-trimester PAPP-A levels were associated with preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.51) and preterm labor (odds ratio 0.75). Conclusion: First- and second-trimester maternal serum markers screening can be used for predicting high-risk pregnancies.

• Obstetrics & gynecology science
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.688-692
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• 2018

Listeriosis is a rare foodborne infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It is 12-20 times more prevalent in pregnant women compared to the general population, with a 20-40% mortality rate in neonates. Early treatment with appropriate antimicrobial agents is critical for pregnancy outcomes; however, the infection is difficult to control because the nonspecific clinical manifestations and rarity of the disease often preclude early diagnosis. We encountered 2 cases of pregnancy-associated listeriosis that occurred at 29 and 37 weeks of gestation. Both neonates were delivered by emergent cesarean section due to fetal condition, and one of the preterm infants died immediately after birth. Pregnancy-associated listeriosis should be considered in the management of unexplained fever or inflammatory conditions in pregnant women.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1098-1102
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• 2022

The placenta is a captivating multifunctional organ of fetal origin and plays an essential role during pregnancy by intimately connecting mother and baby. This study explicates placental pathology and information about 25 placentas collected from the mothers infected with novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2). So far, congenital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be remarkably uncommon in spite of many cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Out of the 25 placental tissue samples collected, none has shown gene expression of SARS-CoV-2 when confirmed by RT-PCR. At the same time, nasal and throat swab samples collected from newborns of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers correspondingly tested negative by RT-PCR. The shielding properties of placental barriers against viral infections from mothers to newborns remains a mystery. Major histopathological findings have been recorded as choriodecidual tissue with necrosis, intramural fibrin deposition, chorionic villi with fibrosis, and calcification. Moreover, although recent findings are insufficient to prove direct placental transmission of COVID-19, the abundance of angiotensin-converting enzymes-2 (ACE-2) on the placental surface could potentially contribute to unpleasant outcomes during pregnancy as SARS-CoV-2 gains access to human cells via ACE-2. Finally, the significance of these findings is vague and needs further study.