Changes of drinking behavior in Korean pregnant women for the last 20 year.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the drinking behavior of Korean pregnant women in 2017 and to compare the changes of drinking status with the results of the research conducted in 1997 and 2008.

Methods: Pregnant women at one obstetrics and gynecology hospital and one university hospital were the subjects of the study. They were filled out questionnaire.

Dual chemotactic factors-secreting human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells via TALEN-mediated gene editing enhanced angiogenesis.

Background: Even though mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have angiogenic property, their cytokine secretory capacity is limited to treat ischemic vascular disorders. In present study, we produced genome-edited MSCs that secreted dual chemokine granulocyte chemotactic protein-2 (GCP-2) and stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and determined their therapeutic potential in the context of experimental ischemia.

Methods: GCP-2 and SDF-1α genes were integrated into safe harbor site at the safe harbor genomic locus of amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (AMM) via transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN).

Evaluation of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea scale in Korea.

Objective: Severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and poorer quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the severity of NVP and maternal well-being status using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scale in a Korean population.

Methods: A total of 527 pregnant women who were receiving prenatal care at 4 hospitals were asked to participate in the study between January 2015 and June 2015.

Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Korean Women Based on Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness as Measured by Ultrasonography.

Background: This study was performed to verify the correlation between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (ASFT) measured by ultrasonography (US) during the first trimester of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) of the second trimester in Korean women and to establish a standard of ASFT for predicting GDM.

Methods: A total of 333 singleton pregnant women participated in this study. Their ASFT was measured by US during the 10⁺⁶ to 13⁺⁶ weeks of pregnancy; then a GDM confirmatory test (100 g oral glucose tolerance test) was conducted during the 24 to 28 week period of pregnancy.

Normal intracranial BS/BSOB ratio values in the first trimester of single gestations with live fetuses in a Korean population.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal length of the brainstem (BS) in Korean fetuses and to evaluatethe usefulness of the routine measurement of BS size in the first trimester of pregnancy for the early detection of spina bifida.

Material And Methods: A total of 2,621 normal singleton pregnant Korean women at 10+6 to 13+6 weeks of gestation were selected for this retrospective cross-sectional study. Ultrasonography was used to measure the length of the longest vertical depth diameter of the BS and brainstem-occipital bone (BSOB) in order to obtain the BS to BSOB ratio.

Biomonitoring of Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, and Methylmercury Levels in Maternal Blood and in Umbilical Cord Blood at Birth in South Korea.

With rising concerns of heavy metal exposure in pregnancy and early childhood, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between the lead, cadmium, mercury, and methylmercury blood levels in pregnancy and neonatal period. The study population included 104 mothers and their children pairs who completed both baseline maternal blood sampling at the second trimester and umbilical cord blood sampling at birth. The geometric mean maternal blood levels of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury at the second trimester were 1.

Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells have robust angiogenic properties and are effective in treating hindlimb ischaemia.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (AMMs) have angio-vasculogenic properties and to determine their therapeutic effects on experimental ischaemia. Although AMMs are a promising source of stem cells, their angio-vasculogenic properties are not fully understood.

Methods And Results: We have characterized AMMs by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Matrigel tube formation assays, and various in vitro endothelial differentiation assays.