The Role of Prolactin in Amniotic Membrane Regeneration: Therapeutic Potential for Premature Rupture of Membranes.

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is defined as rupture of fetal membranes before the onset of labor. Prolactin (PRL) is secreted by decidual membranes and accumulated significantly in the amniotic fluid during pregnancy. PRL could ameliorate inflammation and collagen degradation in fetal membranes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant obesity: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: Lifestyle changes, such as those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including alterations in physical activity and dietary habits, are known to affect pregnancy outcomes. In particular, suboptimal intrauterine conditions during pregnancy are known to influence not only fetal growth but also growth during infancy. However, research on the impact of the environmental changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of infants and children during their early years is lacking.

Analyzing circulating tumor cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition status of papillary thyroid carcinoma patients following thyroidectomy: a prospective cohort study.

Background: This study investigated the prevalence and subtype distribution of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) before and after thyroidectomy to determine the potential of CTC count as a noninvasive marker of the efficacy of surgical treatment in PTC.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2021 and January 2022, 62 PTC patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were prospectively evaluated. Peripheral blood samples (7.

The Risk of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus According to Offspring's Birthweight in Women With Normal Body Mass Index: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Maladaptation to vascular, metabolic, and physiological changes during pregnancy can lead to fetal growth disorders. Moreover, adverse outcomes during pregnancy can further increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in mothers. Delivering a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) baby may indicate a pre-existing metabolic dysfunction, whereas delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) baby may indicate a pre-existing vascular dysfunction.

Short-term neonatal and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of children born term low birth weight.

This study aimed to examine the impact of term LBW on short-term neonatal and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children 5-7 years of age. This is a population-based cohort study that merged national data from the Korea National Health Insurance claims and National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. The participants were women who gave birth at a gestational age of ≥ 37 weeks between 2013 and 2015 in the Republic of Korea, and were tracked during 2020 for the neurodevelopmental surveillance of their children.

The Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Vascular Factors Related to Preeclampsia in a Smoking Mouse Model.

Smoking cigarettes is known to lower the risk of preeclampsia. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of smoking on the expression of soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endoglin (sEng)-1 and the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in pregnant mice. We developed a smoking mouse model using a gas-filling system.

Repeated Intravenous Administration of Human Neural Stem Cells Producing Choline Acetyltransferase Exerts Anti-Aging Effects in Male F344 Rats.

Major features of aging might be progressive decreases in cognitive function and physical activity, in addition to withered appearance. Previously, we reported that the intracerebroventricular injection of human neural stem cells (NSCs named F3) encoded the choline acetyltransferase gene (F3.ChAT).

An Exosome-Rich Conditioned Medium from Human Amniotic Membrane Stem Cells Facilitates Wound Healing via Increased Reepithelization, Collagen Synthesis, and Angiogenesis.

Tissue regeneration is an essential requirement for wound healing and recovery of organs' function. It has been demonstrated that wound healing can be facilitated by activating paracrine signaling mediated by exosomes secreted from stem cells, since exosomes deliver many functional molecules including growth factors (GFs) and neurotrophic factors (NFs) effective for tissue regeneration. In this study, an exosome-rich conditioned medium (ERCM) was collected from human amniotic membrane stem cells (AMSCs) by cultivating the cells under a low oxygen tension (2% O and 5% CO).

Prepregnancy Glucose Levels Within Normal Range and Its Impact on Obstetric Complications in Subsequent Pregnancy: A Population Cohort Study.

Background: We sought to identify the influence of prepregnancy glucose levels on obstetric complications in subsequent pregnancy.

Methods: Women in Republic of Korea who had given birth between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2010 were enrolled. The database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and data from a national health screening program for infants and children were used.

Bioinformatics and integrated pharmacology network to identify the therapeutic targets and potential molecular mechanism of alpha-lipoic acid on primary ovarian insufficiency.

Women experiencing primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) are more likely to experience infertility, and its incidence is increasing worldwide annually. Recently, the role of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in the treatment of POI has been reported. However, details of the potential pharmacological targets and related molecular pathways of ALA remain unclear and need to be elucidated.

A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Parallel, Non-Inferiority Clinical Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Unicenta and Melsmon for Menopausal Symptom Improvement.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Unicenta in female subjects with menopausal symptoms by analyzing the changes in the Kupperman index (primary endpoint) and hormonal changes (secondary endpoint). It was a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, parallel, non-inferiority clinical study conducted at two different tertiary medical centers. A Unicenta injection was shown to be non-inferior to Melsmon based on the Kupperman index in both the intent-to-treat and per-protocol populations ( = 0.

Investigating the regenerative effects of folic acid on human amniotic epithelial stem cells and amniotic pore culture technique (APCT) model in vitro using an integrated pharmacological-bioinformatic approach.

Introduction: Disruption of fetal membranes before the onset of labor is referred to as premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Lack of maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation reportedly leads to PROM. However, there is a lack of information on the location of FA receptors in the amniotic tissue.

Intraocular Pressure-Lowering and Retina-Protective Effects of Exosome-Rich Conditioned Media from Human Amniotic Membrane Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is one of the most devastating eye diseases, since the disease can develop into blindness and no effective therapeutics are available. Although the exact mechanisms and causes of glaucoma are unknown, increased intraocular pressure (IOP) has been demonstrated to be an important risk factor. Exosomes are lipid nanoparticles secreted from functional cells, including stem cells, and have been found to contain diverse functional molecules that control body function, inhibit inflammation, protect and regenerate cells, and restore damaged tissues.

Blood Transfusion, All-Cause Mortality and Hospitalization Period in COVID-19 Patients: Machine Learning Analysis of National Health Insurance Claims Data.

This study presents the most comprehensive machine-learning analysis for the predictors of blood transfusion, all-cause mortality, and hospitalization period in COVID-19 patients. Data came from Korea National Health Insurance claims data with 7943 COVID-19 patients diagnosed during November 2019−May 2020. The dependent variables were all-cause mortality and the hospitalization period, and their 28 independent variables were considered.

Pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies over 10 years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in twin pregnancy outcomes between 2007 and 2016 in a Korean population.

Methods: The data for this nationwide population-based study was obtained from the national birth registry of the Korean National Statistical Office and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service of Korea. Women with twin pregnancies who gave birth between 2007 and 2016 were included.

Effect of Human Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cell Transplantation on Preterm Premature Rupture of Fetal Membrane Using the Amniotic Pore Culture Technique in vitro.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cell therapy using human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) for the treatment of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) in vitro.

Design: Using the amniotic pore culture technique (APCT), we mimicked the environment of PROM in vitro, thus enabling the observation of the healing process of hAESC-treated amniotic membranes.

Materials: Amniotic membrane samples were collected from placentas of pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean sections.

COVID-19 and vaccination during pregnancy: a systematic analysis using Korea National Health Insurance claims data.

Objective: This study systematically analyzed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccination details during pregnancy by using the national health insurance claims data.

Methods: Population-based retrospective cohort data of 12,399,065 women aged 15-49 years were obtained from the Korea National Health Insurance Service claims database between 2019 and 2021. Univariate analysis was performed to compare the obstetric outcomes of pregnant women (ICD-10 O00-O94) and their newborns (ICD-10 P00-P96) with and without COVID-19.

Correction: Kim et al. The Value of Posterior Cervical Angle as a Predictor of Vaginal Delivery: A Preliminary Study. 2021, , 1977.

In the original publication [...

The Value of Posterior Cervical Angle as a Predictor of Vaginal Delivery: A Preliminary Study.

Accurate prediction of failure to progress and rapid decision making regarding the mode of delivery can improve pregnancy outcomes. We examined the value of sonographic cervical markers in the prediction of successful vaginal delivery beyond 34 weeks of gestation. A retrospective chart review was carried out.

Women with multiple gestations have an increased risk of development of hypertension in the future.

Background: Multiple gestations are associated with an increased incidence of preeclampsia. However, there exists no evidence for an association between multiple gestations and development of hypertension(HTN) later in life. This study aimed to determine whether multiple gestations are associated with HTN beyond the peripartum period.

Pre-Pregnancy Risk Factors for Severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Korean Population Based Cohort Study.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is known to be associated with poor perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to identify pre-pregnancy risk factors for hospital admission in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. We enrolled women who had delivered between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015, and had undergone a national health screening examination through the National Health Insurance Corporation 1-2 years before their first delivery.

Prepregnancy hemoglobin levels and gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy.

Aim: To identify the influence of prepregnancy hemoglobin levels on gestational diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: Korean women who had given birth between January 1st, 2006 and December 31st, 2015 and who had undergone a biannual national health screening examination within 6 months prior to pregnancy were enrolled. Subjects were divided into three groups according to their hemoglobin levels.