• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2021

Objective: As clinicians and patients await consensus on intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, this project evaluated contemporary research trends in the literature. Methods: A PubMed/NLM search aggregated all ovarian PRP-related publications (n=54) to evaluate their scope, abstract utility, submission-to-publication interval, journal selected, article processing charge (APC), free reader access to full-text manuscripts, number and nationality of authors, and inclusion of international collaborators. The NIH Clinical Trials database was also audited. Results: Published output on intraovarian PRP has increased consistently since 2016, especially among investigators in Greece, Iran, USA, and Turkey. Between 2013 and 2021, 42 articles met the relevancy criteria, of which 40.5% reported clinical studies, small series, or case reports, 33% described experimental animal models, and 23.8% were opinion/review papers. Only two works included a placebo control group. The submission-to-publication interval (mean±standard deviation) was 130±96 days, there were 5.9±3.2 authors per project, and journals invoiced US $1,613±1,466 (range, $0-$3,860) for APCs. Conclusion: There was no correlation between APC and time to publish (Pearson's r=-0.01). Abstract content was inconsistent; sample size and patient age were often missing, yet free full-text "open access" was available for most publications (59.5%). The NIH Clinical Trials portal lists eight registered studies on "ovarian rejuvenation," of which two are actively recruiting patients, while four have been terminated or have an uncertain status. Two studies have concluded, with results from one posted to the NIH website. PRP and its derivatives for ovarian treatment show early promise, but require further investigation. Research is accelerating and should be encouraged, particularly placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2019

Objectives Previous animal studies have shown that mixtures of Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa extract (IPLUS-CWPU) increases femur length and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) secretion. IPLUS-CWPU may thus be a promising ingredient in functional foods aimed at growing child's height. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of IPLUS-CWPU on height growth in children with short stature. Methods For this purpose, we recruited 90 children aged 4 to 12 years who had heights ranging from the 5th to 25th percentiles of Korean children's growth curve and randomized to either the IPLUS-CWPU or the placebo group. Results The IPLUS-CWPU group showed a significant increase in the change of the height growth compared to the placebo group after 20 weeks of administration (p=0.02). The height growth velosity also showed a statistically significant difference in the test group compared to the placebo group at 10 weeks (p=0.04). The IGF-1 levels showed a tendency to increase in the IPLUS-CWPU group (p=0.08). Moreover, the IPLUS-CWPU significantly increased IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (p=0.02). However, there were no significant differences in blood biochemical parameters including growth hormone, bone age, thyroid stimulating hormone, and osteocalcin levels. Conclusions In conclusion, the data of this trial indicate that IPLUS-CWPU is effective and safe, generally well-tolerated without severe adverse events, in the treatment of children with short stature over a 20 weeks period.

• Journal of the Health Care and Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of use of hospitalization/outpatient care of patients with addresses in Yeongbuk-gu, Gangwon-do to identify the medical demand and status of medical use in Yeongbuk-do. The National Health Insurance Corporation (www.data.go.kr) conducted an analysis of health insurance and medical benefits (inpatient/outpatient) claims data from 2003 to 2017. The order of the highest frequency of chronic disease was ranked from 1st to 60th according to 'Healing Case and %'. In addition, the use of patients at Sokcho Medical Center, the only hospital in the Yeongbuk region, was analyzed at the same time. According to the analysis, the use of outpatient treatment and In-patients in the Yeongbuk area of Gangwon-do is increasing due to chronic non-infectious diseases from the past acute diseases. In particular, it is necessary to expand the functions of schizophrenia and obstetrics and gynecology and to carry out specific health projects necessary for the health care of the local community. Through this, we should improve the quality of life in Yeongbuk, Gangwon Province.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2022

Objective: This study examined whether the addition of triple antioxidants (3A)-10 µM acetyl-L-carnitine, 10 µM N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and 5 µM α-lipoic acid-in freezing-thawing medium during human sperm cryopreservation using the sucrose vitrification (SuV) and liquid nitrogen vapor (Vapor) techniques could improve post-thaw survival of spermatozoa. Methods: We analyzed 30 samples from healthy human sperm donors. Each sample was allocated into one of five groups: fresh control, SuV, SuV+3A, Vapor, and Vapor+3A. The sperm motility, morphology, viability, intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) were evaluated. Results: The cryopreserved spermatozoa had significantly reduced percentages of motility (p<0.05) and viability (p<0.05). Antioxidant supplementation non-significantly improved these parameters (p>0.05). No significant differences were found in sperm morphology between the fresh and frozen-thawed groups (p>0.05). After freezing, the extracellular ROS levels in the frozen-thawed groups were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the fresh group. However, we did not find any differences in intracellular ROS parameters among these groups (p>0.05). The SDF was higher in the SuV and Vapor groups than in the fresh group, but without statistical significance (p=0.075 and p=0.077, respectively). Conclusion: Cryopreservation had detrimental effects on sperm motility, viability, and extracellular ROS levels, without changing the morphology or intracellular ROS levels. Antioxidant supplementation was slightly effective in preventing SDF in frozen-thawed spermatozoa.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.601-608
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• 2022

Background: Various treatments are used to relieve menopausal symptoms for women. However, herbal substances are frequently used as complementary and alternative therapies as other treatments can increase ovarian and breast cancer risk. While the herbal substances' therapeutic effect is essential, the safety of their use is considered more important. This study aims to confirm the safety of red ginseng and herb extract complex (RHC), which are used to relieve menopausal symptoms. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study recruited and divided 120 women experiencing menopausal symptoms into the RHC and placebo groups (60 women per group). Subjects were administered with 2 g RHC or placebo daily for 12 wk. Adverse reactions, female hormonal changes, and uterine thickness were observed and recorded on wk 0, 6, and 12. Hematologic and blood chemistry tests were also conducted. Results: The reactions of the subjects who received RHC or placebo at least once were analyzed. A total of six adverse reactions occurred in the RHC group, while nine occurred in the placebo group; common reactions observed in both groups were genital, subcutaneous tissue, and vascular disorders. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the administration groups (p = 0.5695), and no severe adverse reactions occurred in both groups.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.370-379
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• 2022

Human pregnancy is a delicate and complex process where multiorgan interactions between two independent systems, the mother, and her fetus, maintain pregnancy. Intercellular interactions that can define homeostasis at the various cellular level between the two systems allow uninterrupted fetal growth and development until delivery. Interactions are needed for tissue remodeling during pregnancy at both fetal and maternal tissue layers. One of the mechanisms that help tissue remodeling is via cellular transitions where epithelial cells undergo a cyclic transition from epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) and back from mesenchymal to epithelial (MET). Two major pregnancy-associated tissue systems that use EMT, and MET are the fetal membrane (amniochorion) amnion epithelial layer and cervical epithelial cells and will be reviewed here. EMT is often associated with localized inflammation, and it is a well-balanced process to facilitate tissue remodeling. Cyclic transition processes are important because a terminal state or the static state of EMT can cause accumulation of proinflammatory mesenchymal cells in the matrix regions of these tissues and increase localized inflammation that can cause tissue damage. Interactions that determine homeostasis are often controlled by both endocrine and paracrine mediators. Pregnancy maintenance hormone progesterone and its receptors are critical for maintaining the balance between EMT and MET. Increased intrauterine oxidative stress at term can force a static (terminal) EMT and increase inflammation that are physiologic processes that destabilize homeostasis that maintain pregnancy to promote labor and delivery of the fetus. However, conditions that can produce an untimely increase in EMT and inflammation can be pathologic. These tissue damages are often associated with adverse pregnancy complications such as preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (pPROM) and spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). Therefore, an understanding of the biomolecular processes that maintain cyclic EMT-MET is critical to reducing the risk of pPROM and PTB. Extracellular vesicles (exosomes of 40-160 nm) that can carry various cargo are involved in cellular transitions as paracrine mediators. Exosomes can carry a variety of biomolecules as cargo. Studies specifically using exosomes from cells undergone EMT can carry a pro-inflammatory cargo and in a paracrine fashion can modify the neighboring tissue environment to cause enhancement of uterine inflammation.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2022

Korean medicine has traditionally provided a lot of medical care for the treatment of infertility. The combination treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine can be effective for infertility to improve the problems caused by the extremely low fertility rate and the aging of pregnant women. In relation to female infertility, we reviewed the evidence for Korean medicine treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, which has recently been increasing interest in female infertility, and the evidence for the collaboration between Korean and Western medicine in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. Because polycystic ovary syndrome is closely related to metabolic diseases related to endocrine abnormalities, hormone treatment alone has limited therapeutic effects and has side effects. In domestic and international research, herbal medicine and acupuncture in the treatment of infertility have shown good clinical effects based on the hypothesis of various mechanisms of effect, and many cases of successful pregnancy have been reported. Although continuous research through large-scale randomized clinical studies is needed to prove efficacy, the importance of combined treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine in infertility treatment is increasing in order to solve the extremely low fertility rate. Combining artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization with Korean medicine treatment is highly likely to be effective in increasing pregnancy success and fertility rates. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which is recognized as a metabolic disease due to endocrine abnormalities among the causes of female infertility, Korean medicine treatment can increase the pregnancy rate with herbal medicines and acupuncture, etc. Although well-designed large-scale clinical studies are currently lacking and meta-analysis has not provided sufficient evidence, the combination treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine is more active to increase the pregnancy rate for solving the problem of low fertility.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.213-220
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• 2022

We investigated the current status of research using extracorporeal shock waves on the basis of meridian and acupoint theory. By March 2022, five foreign databases (CAJ, Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) and six Korean databases (Dbpia, RISS, KMBASE, scienceON, KISS, NDSL) were searched with the terms using 'Extracorporeal shock wave' and '(Acupoint or Acupuncture point)'. The search terms were adapted according to the language of the database. There were no restrictions on the study design. As a result of the search, twenty-seven papers were selected for analysis. One study was searched in English database, and the remaining twenty-six studies were searched in Chinese database. There were nineteen pain-related diseases, four obsterics and gynecology diseases, two bone-related diseases, and two other diseases. The most frequently used acupoints were GB34, ST36, and KI3. A total of six adverse events were reported in five papers. The use of extracorporeal shock wave on the basis of meridian and acupoint theory is considered to have sufficient meaning in Korean Medicine. It is expected to use extracorporeal shock wave as a new treatment method for Korean Medicine doctors in the near future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2023

A variety of reduction labiaplasty techniques have been introduced to date, but no single technique will offer the optimal solution for every patient. Rather, the technique should be chosen based on anatomical, configurational, and technical considerations, as well as on patients' personal preferences regarded maintenance of the labial rim, maintenance of labial sensitivity, and prevention of iatrogenic thickening of the labium. We reviewed, defined, and assessed labial configurational variety, neurovascular supply, reduction techniques, and patient's preferences as the considerations relevant to the choice of labiaplasty technique. Based on this review, an algorithm was constructed that leads to a choice of reduction technique through five decisions to be made regarding (1) resection or (partial) retention of the labial free rim, (2) the measure of required labial width reduction, (3) labial vascular status, (4) prevention of iatrogenic labial thickening, and (5) preservation of labial sensibility. The choice of techniques includes edge trimming, central spindle form de-epithelialization or full-thickness resection, and three modifications of the wedge resection or de-epithelialization technique. These three modifications comprised a modified anterior resection or de-epithelialization combined with posterior flap transposition, a custom flask resection or de-epithelialization, and a modified posterior wedge resection or de-epithelialization combined with anterior flap transposition. Use of the five decisional steps and the inclusion of modifications of all three conventional reduction techniques offer an improved algorithm for the choice of labioplasty technique.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy in bulky stage IB, IIA-B uterine cervix cancers. Methods and Materials : Twenty four patients with bulky stage IB and IIA-B carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with extrafascial hysterectomy following radiation therapy due to doubts of residual disease at Department of therapeutic radiology, Keimyung University, Dongsan Hospital, from April 1986 to December 1997 According to FIGO staging system, there were 7 patients with stage IB, 9 patients with IIA and 8 patients with IIB stage whose median age was 45. Pathologic distribution showed 16 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 8 patients with adenocarcinoma. Seven patients had tumors that are less than 5cm in size and 17 patients had tumors with larger than 5cm. The mean interval between radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy was 57 days. The radiation therapy consisted of external irradition to the whole pelvis (180 cGy/fraction, mean 4100 cGy) and parametrial boost (for a mean total dose of 5000 cGy) with midline shield (4H 10 cm), followed by intracavitary irradiation up to 7500 cGy to point A (maximum 8500 cGy). The maximum follow up duration was 107 months and mean follow up duration was 42 months. Results :Ten out of 24 patients (41.7%) had residual disease found at the time of extrafascial hysterectomies. Five year overall survival rate (5Y OSR) and five year disease free survival rate (5Y DFSR) were 63.6% and 62.5% respectively. Five year overall survival rate for stage IB and IIA was 71.4% and 50% for stage IIB. There was a significant difference in 5Y OSR and 5Y DFSR between patients with and those without residual disease (negative vs positive, 83.3% vs. 40% (P=0.01), 83.3% vs 36% (P=0.01) respectively). There was a notable tendency of better survival with adenocarcinoma than with squamous cell carcinoma (adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma, 85.7% vs. 53.3% (P=0.1), 85.7% vs. 50.9% (P=0.1) of 5Y OSR and 5Y DFS respectivey). Total dose to A point did not make a significant difference in survival rate or the existence of residual lesion (< 7500 cGy, ${\geq}$ 7500 cOy). It was also noted that significantly more frequent local failures have occurred in patients with positive residual disease compared with negative residual disease (5/10 vs. 0/14, p=0.003), There was no death related to the treatment. Conclusion : There was no improvement of residual disease and to the overall survival rate in spite of increased total dose to point A. We conclude that there is a possible beneficial effect of radiation therapy followed by extrafaseial hysterectomy in survival for adenocarcinoma of bulky stage IB and IIA-B uterine cervix. We need to confirm this with longer follow up and with large number of patients.