BackgroundThis cross-sectional study sought to identify factors associated with antenatal depression in pregnant Korean females, including sociodemographic parameters, social support, social conflict, and bipolarity.MethodsEighty-four pregnant women were recruited to complete questionnaires on sociodemographic factors, obstetric history, depressive symptoms, and bipolarity. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Korean version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Bipolarity was assessed using the Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire.ResultsNineteen participants (22.6%) had positive Mood Disorder Questionnaire scores, suggesting the presence of bipolarity, and were significantly more likely to score high on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Antenatal depression was associated with bad marital communication and marital dissatisfaction.ConclusionThese results suggest that spousal interactions play a significant role in antenatal depression, and pregnant women with bipolarity may be more depressed than those without bipolarity.

In this study, the effect of degree of the grafting and crosslinking on the morphology of the crystalline domain in poly(vinylbenzyl chloride)-grafted poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) [ETFE-g-PVBC] films was investigated using a SANS (small-angle neutron scattering) analysis. The grafted films can be used as a precursor for ion-exchange membrane. ETFE-g-PVBC films with various degrees of cross-linking were prepared by a simultaneous irradiation grafting of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and divinylbenzene (DVB) onto an ETFE film. The SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) results of a cross-sectional distribution of ETFE-g-PVBC films showed that the chlorine atoms were well-distributed throughout the films. SANS profiles of the PVBC-grafted films in the absence of a DVB crosslinker showed that the crystalline domain peaks were observed and the peak maximum position shifted significantly from 0.032 Å-(-1) to 0.02 Å(-1) with an increase in the degree of grafting. However, peak maximum positions of the PVBC-grafted films in the presence of a DVB crosslinker shifted slightly from 0.02 Å(-1) to 0.024 Å(-1) with an increase in the amount of DVB monomer at same degree of grafting. These results indicate that the degree of grafting and crosslinking affect the morphology of the crystalline domain in the ETFE-g-PVBC films.

In this study an immuno-array for Abeta42 based on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was developed using conjugated gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) and antibody (Ab) complex. Fragmented monoclonal Ab against Abeta42 was allowed to immobilize on the Au-dot arrays followed by its target protein Abeta42 and Au NP and Ab complex. The surface structure of Au-NP and Ab complex on Au-dots was investigated with Atomic Force Microscopy and the current profile of fabricated immunosensing element was investigated with STM. The power spectrum derived from the current profile was found to be increasing with higher concentrations of Abeta42 having a detection limit of 100 fg/ml. The proposed technique can be a promising method to construct the highly sensitive and efficient protein chip of immunosensors arrays.