• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.419-431
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to provide the correct knowledge on GDM(Gestational Diabetes Mellitus) to nurses for effective care of pregnant women with GDM by investigating the knowledge of nurses about GDM. The subjects of this study were 557 nurses who work at six general hospitals in Seoul and Gyung-Gi province of Korea. The data were collected from November, 2000 to December, 2000, using a 30-item knowledge questionnaire about GDM consisted of eight areas developed by Choi et al. (2000): characteristics and diagnosis, influence on pregnancy, goal and method of management, diet therapy, exercise therapy, insulin therapy, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and postpartum care of GDM. The data were analyzed by SAS program for t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score of knowledge on GDM was 23.18. 2. There were significant differences according to age(p= 0.002), education background (p= 0.045). working period(p= 0.000), working unit(p= 0000), working experience of obstetric and gynecologic (OS & GY) units(p= 0.000), experience of pregnancy (p=0.003) and experience of delivery (p=0.014) in GDM knowledge. 3. The level of each area on GDM knowledge was as follows; 1) Area of characteristics and diagnosis of GDM The mean score of this area was 0.79. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by age(p=0.003), marital status (p=0.018), working period(p=0.002) working unit(p=0.007), working experience of OB & GY units(p=0.005), experience of pregnancy(p=0.034) and experience of delivery(p=0.033). 2) Area of influence on pregnancy The mean score of this area was 0.93. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by age(p=0.006), working unit (p=0.000) and working experience of OB & GY units(p= 0.000). 3) Area of goal and method of management The mean score of this area was 0.70. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by age(p=0.004), region(p=0.006), education background(p=0.013), marital status(p=0.007), working period(p=0.000), working unit(p=0.011), working experience of OB & GY units(p=0.002), experience of pregnancy(p=0.025) and experience of delivery(p=0.043). 4) Area of diet therapy. The mean score of this area was 0.74. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by age(p=0.002), region(p=0.011), marital status (p=0.001). working period (p=0.007). working unit(p=0.002), working experience of OB & GY units(p=0.001), experience of pregnancy(p=0.001), experience of delivery(p=0.011) and diabetes patients in family members(p=0.032). 5) Area of exercise therapy. The mean score of this area was 0.83. There were not significant differences in all general characteristics. 6) Area of insulin therapy The mean score of this area was 0.61. Nurses' knowledges were significant differences by age (p=0.024), marital status (p=0.048), working period(p=0.027), working unit(p=0.002), working experience of OB & GY units(p=0.000), experience of pregnancy (p=0.047) and experience of delivery(p=0.040). 7) Area of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The mean score of this area was 0.83. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by marital status (p=0.027), working period(p=0.001). experience of pregnancy(p=0.020) and experience of delivery(p=0.010). 8) Area of postpartum care The mean score of this area was 0.69. Nurses' knowledges were significantly different by working unit(p=0.000), working experience of OB & GY units (p=0.000) and working experience of medical unit(p=0.047). The results of this study are suggested that nurses might be taught systemically and individually about GDM so that they can become more proficient in detecting and preventing GDM, and therefore they will feel confident to teach GDM to women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.97-118
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to compare the nurses' perceptions with the women's about the women's needs in premature labor and to find out how to accomplish effective nursing intervention for the women to cope with their crises in premature labor. The objects of this study consisted of 33 hospitalized mothers in post partum because of premature labor, who were delivered of new born, in four university hospitals, a general hospital and a lower general hospital which has a neonatal intensive care unit in Seoul during 17 days(Oct. 4, 1994 to Oct. 20, 1994) and 32 nurses who have worked at delivery rooms in the hospitals above for 6 months or more, accomplishing nursing intervention. The results of this investigation were as follows : 1) General characteristics of women : Their mean age was 29.4 years(SD 4.37) and the mean of their gestational periods 3 days over 34 weeks(SD 2.48). Most of them were the married(93.9%) and held high school degree or more(93.9%). And some of them were the deligious(68.7%), multiparae(59.4%) and had their jobs(21.2%). The also had hospitalized experience due to premature labor(51.5%), experienced in premature delivery(33.3%), the prental care(78.6%), cesearean section(63.6%), and pregnancies less than twice(62.5%). The most mothers were included in 34 weeks and a day to 37 weeks(60.6%). It was also confirmed that most of the sustaining presences in labor were their husbands(81.2%). 2) General characteristics of nurses : Their mean age was 27.6 years(SD 4.50), and their carrier with the service on the average 6 months over 3 years long(SD 3.63). Numbers of them were staff nurses(84.4%), maiden ladies(71.9%), graduated from junior colleges of nursing(71.9%), and had no experiences in delivery(78.1%).Besides, none of them had experiences in premature labor. 3) The whole mean of needs perceived by pregnant women was identified as 3.086 points and the degree of their perception was given much weight in order of interdependence need(3.14), self concept need(3.11), physical physiologic need(3.09), and role function need(2.74). So it was proved that they regarded interdependence need as being the most important need in crises caused premature labor. 4) The whole mean of needs felt by the nurses was 3.092 points and the degree of their feelings was given much weigh in order of physical physiologic need(3.22), self concept need(3.15), interdependence need(3.06) and role function need(2.75). So it was ascertained that they felt physical physiologic need the most important, differing from the women in it. 5) There were few differences on the degrees of the perceptions that the nurses and the women showed on each of the four parts. 6) On each part of the questionnaires, it was examined that the women felt the need for the fetus to be the most important generally while the nurses perceived the need with the women to be more important than that. 7) The primiparae(40.6%) felt role function need be more important than multiparae(59.4%) (p<0.05), and the women from universities and above(39.4%) perceived self concept need to be more important than those holding the high school degrees and below(60.6%). (p<0.05) 8) The nurses having experience in delivery(21.9%) perceived interdependence need and role function need to be more important than important than those having no experiences(78.1%). (p<0.05) So far most of the nurses have concentrated their efforts on nursing for safety for the women in premature labor hospitalized in delivery rooms. But the women are not satisfied with just it because of having perceived the need for the fetus more important above all. In nursing for the future, therefore, every nurse caring for the women should offer them all the informations that they will want for their fetuses to adapt them to the crises effectively, understanding such their needs and making most of honest and simple terms for them, I insist. Through this study, I'm sure that inquiring into the need of women in premature labor minetely will show the way of more effective nursing interventions in clinic. And I suggest that the various kinds of studies about the more objects be done for the generalization of the results of this study in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.594-602
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• 2009

Purpose : Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}1$ on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether $TGF-{\beta}1$ has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% $O_2$). $TGF-{\beta}1$ (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. Results : In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL $TGF-{\beta}1-treated$ group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated group except NR2C. Conclusion : The administration of $TGF-{\beta}1$ could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 1981

Low phenylalanine diet(0.05%) was given to the Sprague Dawley pregnant rats at the 14 days of gestation and continued until the pups were lactated for 11 days. Body weight, plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine, brain weight, and brain phenylalanine and tyrosine were determined on pups randomly sacrificed at several intervals. Body weight of pups on normal diet (0. 36% phenylalanine) gained rapidly while the pups on the phenylalanine deficient diet decreased and did not survive during the period of 11 days. Brain weight of the pups on the phenylalanine deficient diet was significantly lower(P < 0.05) than the normal pups. Phenylalanine deficient diet did not affect the level of plasma phenylalanine of pups, but it seems that there was a positive correlation between the level of phenylalanine in the diet and the plasma tyrosine level. The plasma tyrosine level of pups on the deficient diet was decreased significantly during the Period while the pups on the normal diet increased steadily. Phenylalanine and tyrosine level in the brain was lower in Pups on the deficient diet than the pups on normal diet but the plasma phenylalanine level was not significantly different in both diets. However, plasma tyrosine level was significantly lower in the pups on the deficient diet than the normal diet at the end of the period.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2008

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance discovered or onset during pregnancy and attention is needed because of increased risk of perinatal morbidties and higher incidence of diabetes afterward. This study was performed to identify dietary factors associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Developed food frequency questionnaire containing 192 food items were used to assess nutritional status of 246 control subjects and 104 GDM subjects. Food habits of subjects were examined in the questionnaire. The more irregularity and less variety of meal were found in GDM group compared to control group and GDM group tended to eat rapidly and do not like vegetables and greasy foods. Total score of food habits in GDM was lower than control group, which suggests that GDM group have undesirable food habits. Mean daily energy and carbohydrate intakes of GDM group were higher than those of control group, and percent energy from protein was significantly higher in control. Nutrient density of protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin BI of GDM group was significantly lower than those of control group. Therefore dietary quality of GDM group was lower than that of control group. Odds ratio for GDM was high when energy and carbohydrate intakes were high. And when the intakes of rice, noodle, shiruduk, hamburger, boiled egg, steamed pork shank were high, the odds ratio for GDM was high. These results indicate that the amount and frequencies of several foods and dish items were related with the occurrence of GDM subjects. On the whole, GDM subjects consumed more cereals and less vegetables and less legumes. From these results, pregnant women with GDM tended to have unhealthy food habits, and carbohydrate intake was important dietary factors on the onset of GDM.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.686-693
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• 2007

Purpose : Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is a potent inhibitor of inosine-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a new immunosuppressive drug used. It was reported that MPA protected neurons after excitotoxic injury, induced apoptosis in microglial cells. However, the effects of MPA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury has not been yet evaluated. Therefore, we examined whether MPA could be neuroprotective in perinatal HI brain injury using Rice-Vannucci model (in vivo) and in rat brain cortical cell culture induced by hypoxia (in vitro). Methods : Cortical cells were cultured using a 18-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and incubated in 1% $O_2$ incubator for hypoxia. MPA ($10{\mu}g/mL$) before or after a HI insult was treated. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 hours of hypoxic exposure (8% $O_2$). MPA (10 mg/kg) before or after a HI insult were administrated intraperitoneally. Apoptosis was measured using western blot and real-time PCR for Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3. Results : H&E stain revealed increased brain volume in the MPA-treated group in vivo animal model of neonatal HI brain injury. Western blot and real-time PCR showed the expression of caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 were decreased in the MPA-treated group In in vitro and in vivo model of perinatal HI brain injury, Conclusion : These results may suggest that the administration of MPA before HI insult could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via anti-apoptotic mechanisms, which offers the possibility of MPA application for the treatment of neonatal HI encephalopathy.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

PURPOSES : As the population of the mobility handicapped, who are classified as the disabled, the elderly, pregnant women, children, etc., has increased, the voices for guaranteeing their rights have been increasing as well. Thus, the design manuals for roads and sidewalks for the mobility handicapped were developed by the local government, such as the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Tourism, in Seoul City. However, according to the 2013 survey results of the Seoul Metropolitan City, the mobility handicapped still feel uncomfortable with the sidewalks, and particularly request for the improvement of the step and slope of the sidewalk curb. Therefore, in this study, we conducted an empirical experimental study to determine the slope of the sidewalk curb and height of the steps considering the mobility handicapped and analyzed whether there is a statistically significant difference. METHODS : The methodology of this study is an empirical experimental one. In the study, five non-disabled people, 10 wheelchair users, and 10 eye patch and stick users walked about 2-3 min on the sidewalk plates of the sloped type (0%, 5%, 6.3%, 8.3%) and stepped type (0 cm, 1 cm, 3 cm, 6 cm), and their human physiological responses, such as the skin temperature, volume of perspiration on forehead and chest, and heart rate, were measured and recorded. After combining the data, we conducted a nonparametric test, ANOVA, or t-test to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference according to each slope and step type. RESULTS : It was found that for the non-disabled, there was no significant difference in human physiological responses according to the slope and steps of the sidewalk. It can be said that the non-disabled do not feel much physiological discomfort while walking. In the case of the sloped sidewalk plate, the heart rate of the wheel chair users increased when the slope was 6.3%. In the case of the eye patch and stick users, the volume of perspiration on the chest increased at a slope of 5.0%. In general, it is judged that a sidewalk with a slope that is less than 5% does not cause a change in the physiological response. In the case of a stepped sidewalk plate, when 0 cm, 1 cm, and 3 cm were compared for wheelchair users, the amount of forehead perspiration increased from 1 cm. Meanwhile, in the case of the eye patch and stick users, when 0 cm and 6 cm were compared, the amount of perspiration on the forehead and chest as well as the heart rate all increased at 6 cm. Taken together, in the case of wheelchair users, a difference was shown when the height of the step of the sidewalk plate was 1 cm, suggesting that installing it at 0 cm does not cause any physiological discomfort. Moreover, in the case of the eye patch and stick users, when comparing only 0 cm and 6 cm, 0 cm was considered to be suitable, as there was a difference in physiological response at 6 cm. CONCLUSIONS : In this study, we set the human physiological responses such as chest skin temperature, amount of perspiration, and heart rate as evaluation items, and our study was considered to be a meaningful experiment that targeted wheelchair users as well as eye patch and stick users. The validity of the evaluation items was confirmed, as the results of human physiological responses were significant. As for the sidewalk design, according to the experiment result, it is considered that differential application should be implemented according to the type of mobility handicap, rather than uniformly applying a sidewalk step of 2 cm and sidewalk slope of 1/25, which are the current legal standards.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Captured specimens of the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and seasonal variations of reproductive organs were investigated. Molars of juveniles had not tooth wear and the height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, young adults had smooth tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear and the third molars also reached to the first and second molars. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variation of breeding was confirmed that breeding season of adult males was from early February to early October, having a peak of the breeding in April and July, and non-breeding season was from in the middle of October to late January. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules filling with numerous germ cells and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, Young and old adult males of the non-breeding season had the small testes with the extremely slender seminiferous tubules filling with only spermatogonia and the reduced caudal epididymides without spermatozoa. Males weighing more than 3.9 g in the body weight and 0.013 g in the testis and epididymis weight reached sexual maturation in breeding season, and the females weighing more than 3.8 g in body weight of the breeding season were pregnant condition having 5~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 1998

Purpose : We performed this study to evaluate the immune responses and protective efficacies of the HBV vaccine in infants born from hepatitis B virus(HBV) carrier mothers. Methods : Seventy eight infants born from HBV carrier mothers, who were able to follow up for 12months in the Catholic University St. Vincents hospital, were involved in this study from July 1995 to December 1996. Samples were collected at birth, 4, 8 and 12months after injection of HBIG and HBV heat-inactivated plasma derived vaccines. We evaluated the changes and relationships of viral markers detecting by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay between HBV carrier mothers and their infants. Results : 1) A total of 5.0%(106/2,117) of pregnant women were found to be a HBV carrier. The rates of HBeAg positive and negative were 38.5%(37/96) and 61.5%(59/96), respectively. 2) The seroconversion rates of anti-HBs with infants of HBV carrier mothers at 4, 8 and 12 months were 85.9%(67/78), 75.6%(59/78) and 73.1%(57/78), respectively. Although these were statistically significant differences(P<0.05), they were not related to HBeAg status of the mothers. The geometric mean titers of anti-HBs at 8 and 12 months were significantly higher than at 4 months, statistically(P<0.05). The protective efficacy of the HBV vaccine and HBIG at 12 months in infants from HBeAg positive and negative mothers were 89.8% and 100%, respectively. 3) Five of 78(6.4%) infants became infected by HBV from only HBeAg positive mothers during the follow up period of 12 months. Three of 5 infected infants became HBV carriers. HBsAg positive at birth from HBeAg positive and negative mother were 4 infants, respectively. Three of 4 infants became infected by HBV from only HBeAg positive mothers. Conclusion : We confirmed that the seroconversion rate of HBV heat-inactivated plasma derived vaccine which was one of other vaccines manufacturing in Korea was 85.9%. The protective efficacy of this HBV vaccine and HBIG at 12 months in infants from HBeAg positive and negative mothers were 89.8% and 100%, respectively.