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. RESULTS: The rate of positive responses to CAGE increased 16.0% in 2008 and 16.3% in 2017 compared to 11.8% in 1997 (P = 0.046). Blackout history rate was keep increasing from 1997 to 2017 (8.8% versus 27.7% versus 36.3%, P < 0.001). The rate of family history of alcohol was nearly doubled in 2017 (30.3%) compared to 1997 (17.6%) and 2008 (16.3) (P < 0.001). The rate of pregnant women who drink alcohol during pregnancy decreased from 57.5% in 1997 to 39.5% in 2008 and decreased to 25.6% in 2017 (P < 0.001). The rate of pregnant women who drink alcohol after knowing the pregnancy was decreased in 2017 (6.9%) compared to 2008 (23.5%) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study in 2017, the rate of pregnant women who drink alcohol after pregnancy was decreased compared to 1997 and 2008. However drinking behavior severity has increased in 2017.

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). GCP-2 and SDF-1α gene-edited AMM (AMM/GS) were used for quantitative (q)-PCR, Matrigel tube formation, cell migration, Matrigel plug assays and in vivo therapeutic assays using hindlimb ischemia mouse model. RESULTS: AMM/GS-derived culture media (CM) induced significantly higher tube lengths and branching points as compared to AMM/S CM and AMM CM. Interestingly, Matrigel plug assays revealed that significantly higher levels of red blood cells were found in AMM/GS than AMM/S and AMM Matigel plugs and exhibited micro-vascular like formation. Cells was transplanted into ischemic mouse hindlimbs and compared with control groups. AMM/GS injection prevented limb loss and augmented blood perfusion, suggesting that enhances neovascularization in hindlimb ischemia. In addition, transplanted AMM/GS revealed high vasculogenic potential in vivo compared with transplanted AMM/S. CONCLUSION: Taken together, genome-edited MSCs that express dual chemokine GCP-2 and SDF-1α might be alternative therapeutic options for the treatment of ischemic vascular disease.

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. The severity of NVP was evaluated by the PUQE scale and maternal well-being status was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Statistical analyses were performed to determine the risk factors associated with NVP and the associations between the severity of NVP and QOL. RESULTS: Among the 472 eligible pregnant women, 381 (80.7%) were suffering from NVP during pregnancy. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in any of the variables between the 2 study groups, with the exception of smoking, alcohol consumption, and history of NVP. NVP history was found to be the most powerful risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 11.6; 95% confidence interval, 4.7-28.7). The correlation coefficient (r) between the VAS scores of maternal well-being status and PUQE severity was -0.25 (r2=0.062; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, an explicit decline in maternal well-being status was observed according to severity of NVP. The PUQE scale may be of help to clinicians, healthcare providers, and researchers because of its simplicity and usefulness as a tool for NVP evaluation.

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. Based on the GDM tests, comparative analyses of the ages of the subjects, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and weight gain during pregnancy were conducted. RESULTS: The ages of the subjects and weight gains during pregnancy were not correlated to the GDM of the second trimester of pregnancy, but the pre-pregnancy BMIs (22±3.3 kg/m²) and the ASFT (1.9±0.5 cm) measurements between the control group and subjects during the first trimester of pregnancy were found to show significant differences (P<0.001). The cut-off value of the ASFT for predicting GDM was determined to be 2.4 cm (area under the curve=0.90, sensitivity 75.61%, specificity 91.78%, P<0.001). The odds ratio was 2.91 (95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 7.92; P=0.034), which was higher than the 2.4 cm ASFT. CONCLUSION: It was determined that ASFT as measured by US during the first trimester of pregnancy can be used to predict the risk of developing GDM during the second trimester of pregnancy and for prognosis.

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. RESULTS: The best indicators for spina bifida ranged from 1.00±0.24 mm to 4.70±0.46 mm for the BS and from 2.90±0.36 mm to 8.50±0.92 mm for the BSOB. For the gestational period, BS (R=0.70) and BSOB (R=0.81) values were considered statistically significant (p<.0001). The value of the BS to BSOB ratio was <1.0 in normal fetuses, and was not correlated with the gestational age. CONCLUSION: Measurement of BS and BSOB diameter in the first trimester is thought to provide the best reference marker for evaluating the posterior brain for diagnosis of spina bifida.

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 1.02 ± 1.39 µg/dL, 0.61 ± 1.51 µg/L, 2.97 ± 1.45 µg/L, and 2.39 ± 1.45 µg/L, respectively, and in the newborns, these levels at birth were 0.71 ± 1.42 µg/dL, 0.01 ± 5.31 µg/L, 4.44 ± 1.49 µg/L, and 3.67 ± 1.51 µg/L, respectively. The mean ratios of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury levels in the newborns to those in the mothers were 0.72, 0.04, 1.76, and 1.81, respectively. The levels of most heavy metals in pregnant women and infants were higher in this study than in studies from industrialized western countries. The placenta appears to protect fetuses from cadmium; however, total mercury and methylmercury were able to cross the placenta and accumulate in fetuses.

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. AMMs expressed significantly higher levels of representative proangiogenic genes, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, angiopoietin-1, hepatocyte growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) than adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, the anti-apoptotic factor Akt-1 was highly expressed in the AMMs. Cells were directly transplanted into the ischaemic hindlimbs of mice to evaluate their angio-vasculogenic and therapeutic effects. They spontaneously differentiate into vascular-like structures and exhibit endothelial-specific genes and proteins. In an in vivo study on hindlimb ischaemia, implantation of AMMS augmented blood perfusion and capillary density, indicating AMM-augmented neovascularization. The engraftment rate of AMMs was high, and the transplanted AMMs showed vasulogenic potential. CONCLUSION: AMMs are not only markedly angiogenic but also vasculogenic, thus ameliorating hindlimb ischaemia. Our data suggest that AMMs have considerable therapeutic effects on ischaemic hindlimb through high angiogenic and engraftment abilities.