A Survey on the Understanding of Breast-feeding in Pregnant Woman

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the understanding of breast-feeding in pregnant woman and the proper way of encouraging breast-feeding. METHODS: Each questionnaire included items about demographic characteristics and the understanding of breast-feeding. The questionnaires were filled up by pregnant women visiting obstetric clinics in Seoul and its vicinities, Busan, Choongjoo and Chungjoo from July 2001 to August 2001. One thousand, two hundred ninety questionnaires were analysed by Chi square tests and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS:The majority of pregnant women(87.4%) planned breast-feeding. Forty three percent of them had plans to breast-feed for 4-6 months. There were no differences in the level of education, the family size and the source of information about breast-feeding in planning to breast-feed (P>0.05). The main reasons for not choosing to breast-feed were returns to work(41.3%), previous failures of breast-feeding(17.4%), concerns about insufficient amount of breast milk(10.9%), breast and nipple problems(10.3%) and maternal illness(9.4%). The average score on the test of the understanding about breast-feeding was 59.7/100. The average scores on the understanding about the methods and advantages of breast-feeding were 45.3/100 and 86.1/100, respectively. The maternal status of employment, previous history of breast-feeding, the time of decision to breast- feed, person advocating breast-feeding and the understanding on the advantages of breast-feeding were significant determinant factors in planning to breast-feed(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pediatricians should take steps to make an effort to increase the breast-feeding rate and to encourage breast-feeding by timely education. Beyond the medical field, political and social supports for breast-feeding are urgently needed.

Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in the Rat Remnant Kidney Model / 대한신장학회잡지

In the previous study, serial section analysis in the Adriamycin animal model of progressive glomerulosclerosis, diffuse, rather than focal glomerulosclerosis were reported. However, the study in patients with nephrotic syndrome and idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis by three-dimensional analysis demonstrated a focal pattern of sclerosis. The distribution of lesions, whether focal or diffuse, has important implications, not only for pathogenesis and potential therapeutic response, but also for relevance of animal studies to human disease. We therefore evaluated the distribution of segmental glomerulosclerosis in the rat remnant kidney model. We used male M nich-Wistar rats weighing 250 grams at the start of the experiments. Ten rats had 1-1/2 nephrectomy. At the 24th week after the surgical procedure, GFR and arterial BP were measured. Renal tissues were then perfused with 1% glutaraldehyde at physiologic pressures. Sixty serial sections(4 micrometer thick) per a rat were stained with PAS. An average of 19.2+2.4 glomeruli was examined. Sclerosis assessed on a single section involved 32.6+11.4%. After the serial section analysis, the percent of glomeruli involved by sclerosis increased to 57.6+15.0%. Our results show that single section examination of kidney tissue underestimates glomerulosclerosis in the renal ablation model. However, much more intact glomeruli were present in the renal ablation model compared to Adriamycin rat model after serial section analysis. This finding may reflect the different pathogenic mechanism between the two animal models.

Significance of Acute Phase Reactants (APR) Score for the Early Detection of Neonatal Bacterial Infection

PURPOSE: We performed acute phase reactants (APR) test to evaluate as an appropriate screening test for the early detection of neonatal bacterial infection. METHODS: We selected 174 neonates and divided into two groups; sepsis group and well-baby group. We performed APR test. RESULTS: There are no significant difference in total leukocyte count, immature to mature rentrophil ratio, toxic granules, and platelet count between two groups. Number over two and one point of APR score in group I were significantly high compared to group II. Over two point and one point of APR score in neonatal infection had sensitivity of 58.7% and 92.3%, respectively the specificity of 95.7% and 70.0%, respectively Twenty-four cases of three point and 37 cases of two point of APR score were proved neonatal sepsis. Twenty-eight cases of over two point of APR score were positive in blood culture. CONCLUSION: APR score could be regarded as an useful test method for early detection of neonatal bacterial infection.