• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 1991

To investigate the factors that affect the fertilization and cleavage rates of mature oocytes, 44 patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) with FSH/hMG/hCG regimen for IVF - ET were analyzed. During follicular phase, serum LH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and bioassay. Based on the mean follicular immunoactive LH(i-LH) and bioactive LH(b-LH) levels, patients were divided into 3 groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in basal serum FSH levels on menstrual cycle day 3, serum estradiol($E_2$) and progesterone ($P_4$) levels on the day of hCG administration, and the numbers of follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved among groups. In relation to the mean follicular i-LH levels, the fertilization and cleavage rates of mature oocytes did not show a significant difference among groups. However, in groups with higher mean follicular b-LH levels, the fertilization and cleavage rates were reduced significantly. During late follicular phase, day-to-day variance in b-LH levels was not significant, but there was a significant difference among groups. There was no significant correlation between serum P. and b-LH levels. These data suggest that the fertilization and cleavage rates of mature oocytes are adversely affected by the raised mean follicular b-LH levels, and monitoring of serum b-LH levels is more useful in COH when compared with i-LH. It appears that the reduced rates are not due to the attenuated endogenous LH surge.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.325-333
• /
• 1997

The use of hormonal stimulation in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) leads to increased production of embryos for ET. So to avoid high pregnancies and to allow conception in future, unstimulated cycles, cryopreservation of spare embryos is desirable. One of the improvement of cryopreservation methods is vitrification. We cryopreserved mouse day 3 embryos by vitrification using the three different vitrification solution (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). EFS40 solution is consisted of 40% (v/v) ethylene glycol, Ficol170 30% (w/v) and 0.5M sucrose and VS11 is 6.0M ethylene glycol and 1.8M glycerol. And VS3a is 6.5M glycerol and 6% (w/v) BSA (bovine serum albumin). First we tested the toxicity of three vitrification solution by exposure to these solution during 3 min. After washing by thawing solution, the survival rates of each groups are 95.5%, 90.9% and 84.4% (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). High percentages of them developed to expanded blastocyst and hatching embryos in culture 48hrs 94.2%, 97.7%, 100% and 97.4% (no treatment group, EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). So there is no significant differences among the each group. Second, after thawing of vitirfied embryos, the survival rates of each groups are 96.8% (slow freeze), 94.1% (EFS40), 85.5% (VS11) and 80.0% (VS3a, P vs. no freeze or EFS40 is 0.01). Vitrified embryos exhibited a high rate of development in vitro after 48hrs culture. The percentages of each group to blastocyst and hatching embryos are 88.7% (no freeze), 91.8% (slow freeze), 93.4% (EFS40), 87.7% (VS11) and 73.0% (VS3a, P vs. other group is 0.01). The results suggest that there is no significant differences in exposure of various vitrification solution and day 3 mouse embryos can be vitrified in solution EFS40 and VS11 by simple procedure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.213-221
• /
• 2008

Objective: To evaluate predictor of IVF outcomes following single embryo transfer in patients with decreased ovarian reserve. Methods: A retrospective review was performed in 919 IVF cycles with elevated basal serum FSH (${\geq}12\;mIU/mL$), the number of retrieved oocytes ${\geq}4$ and serum $E_2$ concentration on hCG day <500 pg/ml between Jan. 1996 and Dec. 2006. Two hundred thirty five IVF cycles following single embryo transfer were included. Pregnancy rates and live birth rates was evaluated according to maternal age, serum $E_2$ on hCG day, basal FSH level, the number of blastomere on day 3 ET, stimulation protocol, the number of cycles of ET. Statistical analysis was used SPSS 12.0 program. Results: OPU cancellation rates were 25.6% (235 cycles), OPU failure rates were 18.5% (170 cycles), embryo transfer cancellation rates were 14.0% (129 cycles). Pregnancy rates following single embryo transfer was 8.1% (19 cycles) and live birth rates was 4.7% (11 cycles). Pregnancy rates and live birth rates of women under 35 years old was statistically higher than those of women above 35 years old (20% vs. 3.5% (p<0.0001), 12.3% vs. 1.8%, (p=0.002)). There was no difference in basal FSH, serum $E_2$ on hCG day, and the number of blastomere on ET, and stimulation protocol. Cumulative pregnancy rates according to the number of cycles of ET were $1^{st}$ 8.1%, $2^{nd}$ 9.2%, $3^{rd}$ 9.7%, $4^{th}$ 9.0%, and $5^{th}$ 9.5%. Conclusion: Pregnancy rates and live birth rates of IVF-ET cycles following single embryo transfer in patients with decreased ovarian reserve are statistically increased in women under 35 yrs old. There is no difference in cumulative pregnancy rates. These data may be helpful for counseling women with decreased ovarian reserve in attempting IVF with their own eggs or when choosing donor oocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 1992

This study was designed to evaluate the responses of cardiovascular system to endothelin (ET) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in 12 week-old SHR treated with or without enalapril (ENP) for 6 weeks. The diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were lower in ENP-treated SHR than in control. The pressor response to intravenous, but not intracerebroventricular, ET or NPY was attenuated by ENP treatment. The chronotropic action induced by electrical stimulation was attenuated by ENP or ET. The negative chronotropic action of ET was blocked by yohimbine. The increase in aortic tension induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) was depressed in ENP-treated group as compared with non-treated group, and enhanced by ET, but not NPY, in the non-treated group. The ET-induced increase in tension was enhanced by removal of endothelium in the control group but not in ENP-treated group. The plasma concentration of norepinephrine and ET-induced increase in concentration of norepinephrine and epinephrine in plasma were decreased in ENP-treated group. These results suggest that preventive effect of enalapril on the development of hypertension may result from depressing vasoactive action of endothelin and neuropeptide Y, and sympathetic neurotransmission at peripheral nervous system.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.225-234
• /
• 2004

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of GnRH antagonist cetrorelix in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and to determine changes in serum hormone concentrations during cetrorelix administration. Methods: We performed a clinical trial on 30 patients undergoing COH with highly purified follicular stimulating hormone (HP-FSH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), cetrorelix. FSH was administrated from day 2 or 3 of cycle with fixed dose and adjusted according to individual response. 0.25 mg of cetrorelix was injected daily subcutaneously from stimulation day 5 until the day of hCG administration. Daily ultrasound monitoring was performed for growing follicles and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol ($E_2$) and progesterone were measured daily during cetrorelix administration. Up to 4 embryos were transferred. Results: Mean age of enrolled patients was $32.0{\pm}3.4$ years (mean $\pm$ S.D.). All of 30 patients underwent oocyte pick-up, and embryo transfer was done in 28 patients. The total and mean numbers of received oocytes were 196 and $6.5{\pm}4.7$, the number of fertilized eggs was 111, and the fertilization rate was 56.6%. Total duration of FSH administration was $9.2{\pm}2.2$ days and mean of $24.3{\pm}7.7$ ampules of HP-FSH was administered. Total duration of cetrorelix administration was $5.7{\pm}1.9$ days. Serum LH and progesterone levels were maintained in the range of $1.4{\sim}2.9\;mIU/mL$ and $0.3{\sim}0.6\;ng/mL$, which respectively reflected effective prevention of premature LH surge. Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 9 patients, and overall clinical pregnancy rate was 30.0% per oocyte retrieval, and 32.1% per embryo transfer. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist is safe and convenient for COH for IVF-ET and effective with optimal pregnancy rate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.74-74
• /
• 1997

Chicory is used popularly. We use leaves of the plant as ordinary mea1, and roots as a substitute of tea materials. It also has been asserted that it has clinical effects on weakness, hepatic disease, diabetes, etc. However, experimental evidences are so insufficient that we started these studies. For antiinflammatory activity, MeOH Ex. was orally administered to rats, and decreased amounts of paw edema induced by carrageenan injection were measured. For bile secretion increament, rats were administered total MeOH, EtOAc fraction, and BuOH fraction Ex. respectively. One hour later, bile ducts were cannulated, and we collected bile every 20 minutes for 4 hours. For hepatoprotective activity, CCl$_4$-intoxicated mouse were treated with MeOH Ex., then s-GPT, S-GOT, and liver weight were measured. For antidiabetic activity, rats were induced diabetes by streptozocin 45mg/kg(i.v) injection. One week later, 1000mg/kg of total MeOH Ex. of chicory root was orally administered. We divided rats into three groups. Group 1 rats were administered only once, group 2 ones once a day for one week, and group 3 ones for three weeks. The concentrations of serum glucose were measured before and after administration. For antihypertensive activity, SHR were administrated total MeOH Ex. of chicory once a day for 8 days, and were measured blood pressure on 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th day. Total MeOH, EtOAc fraction, and BuOH fraction Ex. increased bile secretion in rats, and decreased liver toxicity induced by CCl$_4$ in mouse. Total MeOH, Ex. of chicory roots has antiinflammatory effect, and decreased blood glucose concentration in group 2 and 3 rats. It was revealed not lowering blood pressure significantly in SHR.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.186-192
• /
• 2011

Objective: Since IVF program was first established, various types of media and culture systems have been developed either in-house or commercially. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of in-house Maria Research Center (MRC) media to that of commercially available Sydney IVF media in human day 3 embryo transfer cycles. Methods: Three hundred sixty nine couples were included in this prospective, randomized, and comparative study. All couples undergoing IVF treatment at the Maria Fertility Hospital were randomly assigned to either Sydney IVF (n=178) or MRC (n=191) media. Results: No difference was observed between the MRC media and Sydney IVF media groups with respect to fertilization rate (74.4% vs. 75.5%). The clinical pregnancy and implantation rates of MRC media (47.1% and 20.0%, respectively) were also similar to those of Sydney IVF media (44.4% and 19.4%, respectively). However, the proportion of embryos with good quality on day 3 was significantly higher in the MRC media group than the Sydney IVF media group (50.2% vs. 43.2%) ($p$ <0.05). Conclusion: MRC media were as effective as Sydney IVF media for sustaining embryo development and pregnancy rates. The present study implies that MRC media can be a suitable alternative to commercially available media for human IVF-ET program.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2002

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) characterized the cancer hazard of di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) as a B2 group (probable human carcinogen) and proposed "Guide-lines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment". This guidelines proposed alternative methods for analyzing carcinogen dose-response data and for extrapolating the effects of observed at high dose to predict that might occur at lower doses relevant to human exposure. This proposed guidelines state that "If in a particular case, the evidence indicated a threshold, as in the case of carcinogenicity being secondary to another toxicity that has a threshold, the margin of exposure analysis for toxicity is the same as is done for a non-cancer endpoint". DEHP is excellent candidate for reconideration under the new guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment (John Doull et al., 1998). This study is conducted about risk assessment for infant exposure on DEHP in powdered milk wing methodology in EPA's new guideline on carcinogenic risk assessment. Estimated cancer risk of DEHP in powdered milk and cow milk is 2.83$\times$$10^5$ (using cancer potency: 1.4$\times$$10^2$/ (mg/kg/day)) as mean and MOE is 12075 (using selected NOEL 20 mg/kg/day) as mean. mg/kg/day) as mean.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 1999

Objective: This study was performed to compare the clinical response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) according to the size of baseline ovarian cyst. Method: From February 1992 to March 1999, a retrospective analysis was done of 272 cases who underwent COH using mid-luteal phase long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) for IVF-ET. These cases were divided into four group; group 1 (n=63) had cysts with mean diameters between 20.0 and 29.0 mm on their baseline ultrasound on cycle day 3, group 2 (n=57, $30.0{\sim}49.0mm$), group 3 (n=68, >50.0 mm) and control group (n=84). Cases were excluded according to the following criteria; pure male factor infertility, the presence of only one ovary, high CA-125 level and previous endometriosis. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between cases with baseline ovarian cyst <50.0 mm in diameter and control group in any of the parameters. However, cases with baseline ovarian cyst>50.0 mm in mean diameter needed more amount of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), showed significantly lower estradiol ($E_2$) level, the number of follicle >15.0 mm on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration, the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of mature oocytes, and pregnancy rate compared with control group. Conclusion: This study suggests that cases with baseline ovarian cyst <50.0 mm in diameter do not adversely impact on IVF-ET outcome. However, cases with baseline ovarian cyst >50.0 mm in diameter had adverse effects on various parameters. Therefore, to improve the outcome of IVF-ET in these cases, ovarian cyst aspiration prior to initiating COH may be required.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.283-288
• /
• 1991

This work was carried out to determined the effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol(DNP) on in vivo nitrate reductase activity in the root of 6 day old rye (Secale cereale L.) seedlings. The nitrate reductase activity in the roots of 6 day old rye seedlings pretreated with 0.5 mM DNP was higher than that of the control group in all the experimental conditions. The optimal concentration of KNO3 for maximum nitrate reductase activity was 10 mM in both control and treated group. The nitrate reductase activity in the treatment of 10 mM KNO3 gradually increased for 4 h in both groups, and then maintained constantly. The nitrate reductase activity occurred per hour was highest at 1 h in both groups, while it was declined by large degrees as time goes on. The daily pattern of nitrate reductase activity was gradually decreased in both groups with the passage of day. The optimal pH for this experiment and a previous paper (Kwon et al., 1991), it was determined that the nitrate reductase activity in both roots and shoots of rye seedlings was increased by the treatment of 0.5 mM DNP, and particulary in both groups, the nitrate reductase activity in the roots of rye seedlings was higher than that in shoots of them.