• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.150-155
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• 2018

Purpose: Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is an age-specific epileptic seizure. Most patients with this condition also exhibit delayed development. This study aimed to determine the effect of long-term prenatal stress on susceptibility to infantile spasms. Methods: We subjected pregnant rats to acute or chronic immobilization stress. Resulting offspring received N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on postnatal day 15, and their behaviors were observed 75 minutes after injection. The expression of KCC2 and GAD67 was also determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Exposure to long-term prenatal stress increased the frequency of spasms and decreased the latency to onset of spasms compared with offspring exposed to short-term prenatal stress. Expression of KCC2 and GAD67 also decreased in the group exposed to long-term prenatal stress compared with the group exposed to short-term prenatal stress. Conclusion: Our study suggests that exposure to long-term prenatal stress results in increased susceptibility to seizures.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.268-277
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• 2002

A comparative study was conducted to identify the effects of prenatal education on primiparas' self-confidence, satisfaction in maternal role performance and perception of delivery experience. Data were collected from 91 primiparas from August 1 to 30, 2001 using structured questionnaires. The subjects were selected from 2 OB & GY hospitals which operate the same prenatal education programs in M city. One group of subjects was primiparas who did receive prenatal education (n= 44) and another group of subjects was primiparas who did not receive prenatal education (n= 47). This study hypothesized that primiparas in education group would have higher self- confidence, satisfaction in maternal role performance and perception of delivery experience than those of non-education group. Descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, t-test, and correlation were used for data analyses. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Primiparas in prenatal education group would not have better perception of delivery experience than those of non-education group (t=1.405, p = 0.163). 2. Primiparas in prenatal education group would have higher self-confidence in maternal role performance than those of non-education group (t=7.669, p=0.000). 3. Primiparas in prenatal education group would have higher satisfaction in maternal role performance than those of non- education group (t=4.115, p = 0.000). 4. There was significant correlations between self-confidence and satisfaction (r=0.489, p=0.000). Moreover, there was significant correlation between self-confidence and perception of delivery experience (r = 0.284, p = 0.006). The results of this study indicated that prenatal education needs to be developed and applied to nursing practice to increase self-confidence and satisfaction in maternal role performance. Experimental studies are needed to identify the effect of prenatal education.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1409-1415
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• 2004

Purpose. To examine the effect of Taegyo-focused prenatal classes on maternal-fetal attachment and self-efficacy related to childbirth. Methods. Over 4 weeks, 49 women, 20 to 36 weeks of gestation participated in a prenatal program led by the nurse who developed it. In addition to Lamaze content it included; understanding ability of fetus to respond, sharing motivation, purpose of pregnancy, and preconceptions of experiencing childbirth, training in maternal-fetal interaction, writing letters and making a declaration of love to unborn baby. Using a pre-experimental design, data were collected by self-report, before and after program, using Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (1981), and Shin's(1997) Labor Self-Efficacy Measurement. Results and Conclusion. Paired t-test showed significant changes in scores of maternal-fetal attachment (t=6.91. p<.001) and self-efficacy related to childbirth (t=10.19, p<.001). Taegyo opens the possibility of integrating Western ideas with Korean traditional health behavior. Incorporation of Taegyo into existing prenatal classes is recommended.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-133
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• 2004

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.506-514
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• 2020

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that increasing dietary copper (Cu) to gravid ewes would enhance brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in their offspring. Methods: Twin-bearing ewes were assigned on d 70 of gestation to diets containing 3, 10, or 20 ppm dietary Cu (n = 8 per group). Twin lambs were assigned at birth to a cold (6℃) or warm (28℃) environmental chamber for 48 h. Blood was collected from ewes and from lambs and perirenal BAT was collected after 48 h in the environmental chambers. Results: Prenatal Cu exposure increased ewe plasma triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine concentration (T₄) (p<0.01) but prenatal Cu exposure had no effect on lamb plasma concentrations of T₃, T₄, glucose, or nonesterified fatty acid concentration (p≥0.08). The high level of prenatal Cu exposure depressed 48-h rectal temperature (p = 0.03). Cold exposure decreased BAT norepinephrine (NE) and increased BAT dopamine (p≤0.01), but prenatal Cu exposure had no effect on BAT cytochrome C oxidase activity or BAT NE or dopamine (p≥0.07). However, BAT of lambs from high-Cu ewes maintained higher uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) gene expression than BAT of lambs from low- and medium-Cu ewes following warm or cold exposure in environmental chambers (p = 0.02). Cold exposure caused near depletion of BAT lipid by 48 h (p<0.001), increased BAT cytochrome c oxidase activity (p<0.01), and depressed plasma fatty acid concentrations (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although prenatal Cu exposure increased BAT UCP1 expression during warm and cold exposure, prenatal cold Cu exposure depressed 48-h rectal temperature. Cold exposure decreased BAT lipid content by over 80% and decreased lamb plasma fatty acid concentration by over 40%, indicating that fuel reserves for thermogenesis were nearly depleted by 48 h of cold exposure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.488-491
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prenatal hypoxic effect on the fetal brain development. Methods : We used the guinea pig chronic placental insufficiency model to investigate the effect of hypoxia on fetal brain development. We ligated unilateral uterine artery at 30-32 days of gestation (dg : with term defined as -67 dg). At 50 dg, 60 dg, fetuses were sacrificed and assigned to either the growth-restricted (GR) or control (no ligation) group. After fixation, dissection, and sectioning of cerebral tissue from these animals, immunohistochemistry was performed with NeuN antibody, which is a mature neuronal marker in the cerebral cortex. Results : The number of NeuN-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the cerebral cortex did not differ between the GR and control groups at 50 dg. However, the number of NeuN-IR cells was lesser in GR fetuses than in controls at 60 dg (p<0.05). Conclusion : These findings show that chronic prenatal hypoxia affect the number of neuron in the cerebral cortex of guinea pig fetus at 60 dg. The approach used in this study is helpful for extending our understanding of neurogenesis in the cerebral cortex, and the findings may be useful for elucidating the brain injury caused by prenatal hypoxia.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1454-1460
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• 2022

Objective: Early environmental enrichment in life can improve cognition in animals. The effect of prenatal auditory stimulation on learning ability and fear level in chick embryos remained unexplored. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of prenatal auditory stimulation on the learning ability and fear level of chicks. Methods: A total of 450 fertilized eggs were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group (C), low-sound intensity music group (LM), low-sound intensity noise group (LN), high-sound intensity noise group (HN) and high-sound intensity music group (HM). From the 10th day of embryonic development until hatching, group LM and group LN received 65 to 75 dB of music and noise stimulation. Group HN and group HM received 85 to 95 dB of noise and music stimulation, and group C received no additional sound. At the end of incubation, the one-trial passive avoidance learning (PAL) task and tonic immobility (TI) tests were carried out, and the serum corticosterone (CORT) and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations were determined. Results: The results showed that compared with the group C, 65 to 75 dB of music and noise stimulation did not affect the PAL avoidance rate (p>0.05), duration of TI (p>0.05) and the concentration of CORT (p>0.05) and 5-HT (p>0.05) in chicks. However, 85 to 95 dB of music and noise stimulation could reduce duration of TI (p<0.05) and the concentration of CORT (p<0.05), but no significant effect was observed on the concentration of 5-HT (p>0.05) and PAL avoidance rate (p>0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, the prenatal auditory stimulation of 85 to 95 dB can effectively reduce the fear level of chicks while it does not affect the learning ability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2013

Objectives : 'Taegyo,' prenatal education, is steeped into Korean culture. Although there has been a traditional focus on providing education and care for the fetus in Korea, there is a lack of medical evidence for its effectiveness. Methods : The authors assessed the scientific basis for 'Taegyo' by reviewing the evidences. Results : 'Taegyo' in Korea began with the spread of Buddhist culture from China, and transmitted by word-of-mouth. The first 'Taegyo' book, the Tae-gyo-shin-gi, was published on 1803. Modern prenatal education is very diverse. However, only a few studies on its effect have been conducted. Development of medicine, especially obstetrics, fetology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and etc., has learned that many factors, including bad environmental conditions and maternal stress, influenced against the fetus and mother. As for the paternal side, occupation, smoking, and stress were also revealed to have consequences for the development of the fetus. On the contrary, adequate maternal nutrition, exercise, and music stimulation positively impact the fetal development and healthy birth. Conclusion : Traditional contents of 'Taegyo' were proved to have effectiveness from evidence-based medicine and animal experiments. We need further studies to explore the impact of prenatal education for the fetal development and maternal health.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to effect of prenatal exercise program combined with Brugger's exercise on low back pain and balance in pregnant women. Design: A Single-Subject Study. Methods: This study was applied to 28 weeks of pregnant women who complained of low back pain for a total of 4 weeks. A total of 10 prenatal exercise programs in this study consists of sessions, and each session was applied with a Bruger exercise for 1 minute before the start. For the fatigue and safety of pregnant women, a break for 1 minute was provided for each session and was conducted under the supervision of the therapist The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and static balance (BT-4) were measured to evaluate the pregnant women's low back pain and balance ability before and after the intervention Results: The change in back pain after the intervention was VAS 5 before the intervention, but the VAS gradually decreased at 4 weeks after the intervention. Reduced to VAS 2 after 4 weeks of intervention. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was 54%, which was at the level of severe disability, but the dysfunction index gradually decreased 4 weeks after intervention, reaching 19% in 4 weeks, and there were no problems with daily life. As for the static balance ability, the sway area and the sway distance values gradually decreased after the intervention in both the eyes open and closed state, showing an improvement in the static balance ability of pregnant women after the intervention than before the intervention. Conclusion: The prenatal exercise program combined with Brugger's exercise was effective to improve low back pain and static balance in pregnant women. The result of this study may helpful as basic data for obstetric physical therapy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2020

Objectives: Prenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure may be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship between Cd exposure during gestation and ADHD at 6 years of age. Methods: As part of an ongoing cohort study (the Environment and Development of Children study), 479 mother-child pairs from Seoul, Korea were included for analysis between 2008 and 2011. The whole blood concentration of Cd was analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The parents were surveyed about ADHD behaviors in their children at age 6. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between prenatal exposure to Cd and ADHD at 6 years of age. Results: Increased prenatal Cd concentrations were associated with increased scores for ADHD for girls, but not for boys, at age 6. A 2-fold increase in the prenatal Cd level was significantly associated with a 22.3% (95% confidence interval, 11.6 to 34.1) increase in ADHD in girls at 6 years of age, as indicated by the linear regression model. Conclusions: Our results identified significant associations between prenatal Cd exposure and ADHD scores in 6-year-old girls.