• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2014

To understand the effect of prenatal stress on sex-specific changes in embryonic and placental growth, a synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) was administered intraperitoneally at a dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) (Dex1) or 10 mg/kg BW (Dex10) to pregnant ICR mice at the gestational days 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 post coitum (p.c.). Embryos and placentas were then harvested at days 11.5 and 18.5 p.c., and their body weight and size were measured following the determination of sex through PCR using Sry specific primers in tail tissues. As a result, female embryos presented reduced fetal body weight and size in Dex1- and Dex10-treated groups than those of control group at the embryonic day 11.5 p.c. Interestingly, the growth seems to be recovered at day 18.5 as there was no difference in growth between control and dexamethasone treated groups. In the case of males, Dex1 induced a decrease in fetal weight in day 11.5 and this pattern was maintained until day 18.5, whereas their growth was not affected by Dex10 treatment. Placental growth showed similar patterns to fetal growth in both sexes but the extent of reduction was not statistically significant in most cases. Placental weights in Dex1- and Dex10-treated group were decreased significantly in male only. The results imply that the effect of prenatal stress is largely sex dependent due to different strategies for growth and survival in a stressful environment.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2008

The plasticity of nervous system is generated not only due to changes in neurons but also due to changes in neuroglial cells. Astrocyte is important for maintaining the normal brain function and controlling the neuronal functions. The amygdala receives an array of important sensory information of danger signals. This information is further transduced and integrated to produce the highly adaptive emotion, fear. In this study, morphometric changes in the cell bodies of astrocytes in the amygdala, induced by prenatal stress and restraint stress were examined. For this purpose. rats were classified into 4 groups; control group (CON), only restraint-stressed (starting on P90 for 3 days) group (CONR), prenatally-stressed group (PNS), and prenatally and restraint (on P90 for 3 days) stressed group (PNSR). Astrocytes were verified with anti-GFAP immunohistochemistry, counter stained with methylene blue/azure II and were examined using the Neurolucida. Results showed that astrocytes in the amygdala of PNS rats had significantly larger cell bodies than did CON rats and this was enhanced further by restraint stress. Thus this data showed that hypertrophy of the astrocytic cell bodies of amygdala complex is induced by prenatal and restraint stress.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2018

Purpose: To identify risk factors for premature birth among premature obstetric labor women. Methods: Participants were 129 hospitalized women who were diagnosed with potential premature obstetric labor with 20 weeks to 37 weeks of gestation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, t-test, and binary logistic regression. Results: Of 129 women, 78(60.5%) gave premature birth and 51 (39.5%) gave full-term birth. Risk factors for premature birth were education level (${\leq}$bachelor's degree), abnormal bowel condition (constipation or diarrhea), time firstly diagnosed with a premature obstetric labor (below 28 weeks of pregnancy), and multiple pregnancy. There were also increased risks of premature birth for participants with high level of anxiety and high level of prenatal stress. In social support, there was an increased risk of premature birth for participants with low level of social support. Conclusion: Prenatal nursing programs should consider not only psychosocial factors such as anxiety, prenatal stress, and social support, but also some general and obstetric factors such as education level, abnormal bowel condition, time firstly diagnosed with a premature obstetric labor, and multiple pregnancy to increase maternal and child health.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2008

The efficient strategies to cope with unpredictable and/or harmful environmental changes have been developed by every organism in order to ensure its survival and continuity of it's own species. As a results, all living things on earth maintain dynamically internal stability via a process termed 'homeostasis' among physiological parameters despite of external environment changes. Stress is an emotional and physical response to threat homeostasis. Stress may have not only transient but rather permanent effect on the organism; recent evidence clearly show that prenatal stress could organize or imprint permanently physiological systems without any change in genetic codes, a process known as 'epigenetic programming'. In this review, a series of reproduction-associated events occurred in prenatally stressed male rats such as alteration in the structure of sexually dimorphic brain regions, modification of neurotransmitter metabolism, changes in reproductive endocrine status, and finally, disorders of sexual behavior will be introduced. The fetal brain is highly sensitive to prenatal programming and glucocorticoids in particular have powerful brain-programming properties. The chronic hyperactivation of fetal brain by maternal stress-induced glucocorticoid input will provide new program via increasing the neuroplasticities. This 'increased neuroplasticities' will be the basis for the 'increased phenotypic plasticities' rendering the organism's better adaptation to environmental challenges. In conclusion, organism who experienced 'harsh' environment in his fetal life seems to give up a certain portion of reproductive competence to make good chance of survival in his future life by epigenetic (re)programming.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the stress, depression, and fetal attachment of pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment, and to identify factors associated with fetal attachment. Methods: As a correlation survey design, data were collected from 136 pregnant women who underwent infertility treatment. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Stress, depression, and fetal attachment averaged $3.01{\pm}0.60$ (range of scale 1~5), $10.02{\pm}6.51$ (out of a possible 63), and $3.64{\pm}0.55$ (range of scale 1~5), respectively. Level of fetal attachment was higher when mother's age was less than 35, having other children, and having prenatal education experience. Lower score of depression and client's age less than 35 were significant factors affecting fetal attachment. Conclusion: Infertility is a life-affecting trauma for the individual, and personal and social changes due to infertility cause physical and psychological difficulties even after a successful pregnancy with infertility treatment. Therefore, prenatal management programs need to be developed giving consideration to the emotional and physical changes in order to promote physical and psychological stability in the women pregnant following infertility treatment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a Yoga-focused prenatal program on the stress, anxiety, self confidence and labor pain of pregnant women who had in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Methods: A quasi experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The data collection period and meditation program were between January 9 and August 31, 2009. Forty-six women who were pregnant following IVF, and were between 12-20 weeks gestation, participated in the study (23 experimental group, 23 control group). Data were analyzed using Chisquare test, Mann-Whitney U Test, ANCOVA, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients with the SPSS 12.0 for Windows Program. Results: Although the sample size was limited, women who participated in the program showed statistically significant improvements in stress, anxiety, labor pain, and labor confidence for women pregnant after IVF. Conclusion: The result indicate that this 12-week Yoga-focused educational program can be utilized for women pregnant following IVF to reduce their stress, anxiety, and labor pain, and to increase delivery confidence. It is suggested that the Yoga-focused educational program be offered to every pregnant woman.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.733-741
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing maternal identity of Korean primiparas. Methods: The data were collected by a self-report questionnaire in 2006. The participants were 210 healthy primiparous women who delivered at one of three medical centers and revisited the outpatient department for follow up between 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 17.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Maternal identity was significantly correlated with Taekyo accomplishment, the culturally based prenatal preparation (p<.001). Transitional gratification to motherhood (p<.001), postpartum depression (p<.001), childcare stress (p<.001), infant temperament (p<.001), and social support (p<.001) were also significantly correlated with maternal identity. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that maternal identity was significantly predicted by transitional gratification to motherhood, infant temperament, childcare stress, and Taekyo accomplishment. These variables explained 31.0% of the variance of maternal identity. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that postpartum nursing interventions to promote maternal identity should focus on reinforcing education and support for reducing childcare stress and infant difficulty, and increasing transitional gratification to motherhood. Also, prenatal encouragement and education for improving Taekyo accomplishment may be helpful to promote maternal identity after birth.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2006

Methods : 40 of Female rats were allowed to mate with 40 of male rats. Then, female rats were delivered of offspring rats, After birth 28 days, offspring rats were divided 8 groups, The normal group(Group A), the 10 mg/kg Angelicae gig antis radix~treated group(Group B), the 50 mg/kg Angelicae gigantis radix-treated group(Group C), the 100 mg/kg Angelicae gig antis radix-treated group(Group D), The control (noise-treated) group(Group E). the noise -10 mg/kg Angelicae gigantis radix-treated group(Group F), the noise-50 mg/kg Angelicae gigantis radix~treated group(Group G), and the noise-100 mg/kg Angelicae gigantis radix-treated group(Group H)(n = 5 in each group), From the 15th day of pregnancy, all rats were subcutaneously injected with 50 mg/kg BrdU once a day 30 min before the starting of experimental treatment. Rats of the prenatal noise-treated group were applied with 95 decibel supersonic machine sound for 1h once a day until delivery, After birth 28 days, offspring rats intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg of BrdU and offspring rats were treated Angelicae gigantis radix Herb-acupunture on chungwan(CV12) for 7 consecutive days. For the detection of BrdU-positive cells and Ki-67 positive cells in hippocampus, immunohistochemistry was performed. Results : 1. The number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of noise-treated group was significantly decreased to normal group, and the Group F, G, H were significantly increased to control group. 2. The number of Ki-67 positive cells in the dentate gyrus of noise-treated group was significantly decreased to control group, and the Group G, H were significantly increased to control group. Conclusion : We concluded that postnatal Angelicae gigantis radix administration has effect on cell proliferation in offspring rats with prenatal noise stress during pregnancy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program's feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women's hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.10 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion: A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples' relationships.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.215-229
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• 2006

목적 : 당귀는 전통적으로 학습과 기억능력 증진 및 각종 질병치료에 우수한 효과가 있는 것으로 알려져있다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 인삼약침이 소음스트레스가 유발된 태아쥐의 해마 및 시상하부에서 nitric oxide synthase에 미치는 영향을 관찰하였다. 방법 : 당귀약침이 소음스트레스에 미치는 영향을 연구하기 위하여 태아기에 소음스트레스를 유발하고 생후 4주후 7일간 당귀약침을 투여한 후 NADPH-d 조직화학법을 시행하였다. 결과 : 1. 소음스트레스는 태아쥐의 해마 및 시상하부에서 NOS 발현이 유의하게 증가하였다. 2. 당귀약침은 해마 CAI에서만 소음스트레스에 의해서 증가된 NOS 발현을 유의하게 억제하였다. 3. 당귀약침은 시상하부 PVN, DMH 및 LHA에서 소음스트레스에 의해서 증가된 NOS 발현을 유의하게 억제하였다. 결론 : 본 연구를 통하여 당귀약침이 소음스트레스가 유발된 태아쥐의 해마 및 시상하부에서 증가된 NOS 발현을 유의하게 억제시켜 태아의 스트레스 자극에 당귀약침치료가 유의한 효과가 있음을 확인하였다.