• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.293-300
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• 2009

목 적: 본 연구는 배아이식일의 자궁동맥혈류가 인간 체외수정술에서 임신예후의 예측인자가 될 수 있는지 알아보기 위해 시행되었다. 연구방법: 51회의 체외수정술 주기에 대해 전향적인 임상 관찰로 시행되었으며 혈청 estradiol 농도는 hCG 투여일에 측정되었고, 자궁동맥 박동율 (PI)과 저항율 (RI)은 배아이식 3일째에 측정되었다. 결 과: 51회의 주기 중 22주기에서 임상적으로 임신이 확인되었고 (43.1%), 착상률은 14.7%였다. 자궁동맥 PI와 RI는 혈청 estradiol 농도과 의미 있는 음의 상관관계 (p<0.05)를 보였으며 자궁혈류량은 임신된 그룹과 임신 되지 않은 그룹에서 차이가 없었다. 임신율은 PI가 3.0 이상인 군에서 PI가 3.0 이하인 군보다 조금 높게 측정되었으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다. 결 론: 배아이식일의 자궁동맥 PI와 RI는 체외수정술에서 임신의 예측인자로는 효용성이 떨어지지만 estradiol 농도와는 음의 상관관계를 보여 자궁혈류와 estradiol 농도가 상관관계가 있음을 알 수 있다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.309-317
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• 2008

목 적: 체외수정을 위한 과배란유도 시 난소 반응성의 예측 인자로서 항뮬러리안 호르몬 (AMH)의 효용성을 FSH와 비교하여 알아보고, 체외수정 결과와의 관계도 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 2007년 1월부터 2007년 8월까지 단기 요법이나 GnRH antagonist 요법을 이용하여 체외수정을 시행하는 111명을 대상으로, 생리주기 3일째 혈중 AMH 및 FSH를 전향적으로 측정하였다. 과배란유도 후 채취된 난자 개수와 AMH 또는 FSH의 상관관계를 분석하였고, 채취된 난자 수 및 AMH 수치에 따라 과배란유도 결과와 체외수정 결과를 비교하였다. 저반응군 및 과반응군의 예측을 위한 AMH의 임계치를 알아보기 위해 ROC curve 분석을 시행하였다. 결 과: AMH는 채취된 성숙 난자 수와 밀접한 양의 상관관계를 나타냈으며 (r=0.792, p<0.001), FSH (r=-0.477, p<0.001) 보다 더 높은 상관관계를 보였다. 난소 반응성에 따라 저반응군 (성숙난자수 ${\leq}2$), 정상반응군 ($3{\sim}16$), 과반응군 (${\geq}17$)으로 나누어 AMH와 FSH 수치는 유의한 차이를 보였으며, 저반응군 (채취된 성숙 난자 수${\leq}2$) 및 과반응군 (채취된 성숙 난자 수${\geq}17$)을 예측하는데 ROC curve 상 AMH의 임계치는 각각 <0.50 ng/ml (sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 89.5%), 및 ${\geq}2.60\;ng/ml$ ((sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 87.0%)였다. AMH level에 따라 low AMH group (${\leq}0.60\;ng/ml$), normal AMH group ($0.60{\sim}2.60\;ng/ml$), high AMH group으로 구분하여, 각 군간 채취된 성숙 난자 수와 ($2.7{\pm}2.2$, $8.1{\pm}4.8$, $16.5{\pm}5.7$, p<0.001), 투여된 성선자극호르몬제의 용량에 ($3530.5{\pm}1251.0$, $2957.1{\pm}1057.6$, $2219.2{\pm}751.9\;IU$, p<0.001) 유의한 차이를 보였다. 성숙 난자의 비율과 수정율에 유의한 차이는 없었으며 임신율도 23.8%, 34.0%, 37.5%로 각 군간 유의한 차이는 없었다. 결 론: 혈중 기저 AMH는 과배란유도 시 채취되는 성숙 난자 수와 높은 상관관계가 있어 난소 반응성의 예측 인자로서 유용할 것으로 생각된다. AMH 수치에 따라 체외수정 결과에는 차이가 없었으나, 저반응군 및 과반응군의 예측에 유용하여 체외수정 시 주기의 취소나, 환자별 적정 용량의 결정 및 난소과자극 증후군의 위험을 감소시키는데 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.71-79
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• 1992

In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF & ET) is widely used for the males with subnormal or abnormal semen quality, as this was recommended in view of the relatively small numbers of spermatozoa required for fertilization and subsequent pregnancies could be obtained. The aim of this study is to know how the various functional parameters of spermatozoa in semen analysis affect the outcome IVF. This study was carried out between 1988-1989, with male factor patients selected on the basis of the semen quality. The selection criteria was based upon the mean values of concentration,% motility and % normal morphology from at least two semen analysis. There is a significant decrease in the fertilization and embryo transfer rates in the study group compared with control group (35.9% vs. 68% and 48.6% vs. 85.5% respectively), however, there was no significant difference in the pregnancy or delivery rates (19.6% vs. 21.4% and 60.0% vs. 62.5% respectively) per embryo transfer cycles. Fertilization rate is variously affected by the type and degree of sperm defect. No pregnancy was occurred in triple defect group and asthenoteratospermia group. There is no significant increase in the abortion rate in the male factor group. Improvement have to be made with the fertilization rate, as the pregnancy rate per OPU cycle in male factor group is still lower than that of normal group (9.5% vs. 18.3%). In conclusion, IVF can be used as a treatment for male factor infertility and the preparation of the semen sample can be modified to improve sperm recovery and obtain fertilization from abnormal semen samples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.81-91
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• 1989

It has been suggested that the prognosis for fertility of the infertile patients with healed pelvic tuberculosis is very poor. Total 60 patients(77 cycles) with previous history of pelvic tuberculosis who underwent IVF-ET from January 1988 to March 1989 at SNUH were classified into three groups according to the principal histopathological lesions : tuberculous endometritis group(N=20, 28 cycles), tuberculous salpingitis group(N=32, 37 cycles) and pelvic peritoneal tuberculosis group(N=8, 12 cycles). To evaluate the effects of previous pelvic tuberculous lesions on ovarian follicular growth and development in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET and its final outcome, serum E2 levels on the day of hCG administration(Day 0) and the day after hCG administration(Day +1), the number of ovarian follicles with mean diamete ${\geqq}$ 12 mm on Day 0, the number of oocytes retrieved by transvaginal aspiration, and pregnancy rate per cycle were measured and compared with control group(N=123, 161 cycles). There were no significant differences in cancellation rate during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, total dosage of FSH and hMG administrated, menstrual cycle date(MCD) of hCG injection, serum E2 levels, the number of ovarian follicles with mean diameter ${\geqq}$ 15 mm, and the number of oocytes retrieved between pelvic tuberculosis group and control group. But in pelvic tuberculosis group, the number of ovarian follicles with mean diameter 12-14 mm, total number of ovarian follicles(${\geqq}$ 12 mm), and pregnancy rate per cycle were significantly decreased. These data suggest that previous pelvic tuberculous lesions have no significant adverse effects on the ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation. IVF-ET proved to be an useful treatment modality for infertile patients with previous history of pelvic tuberculosis in spite of its relatively lowered pregnancy rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.13-20
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• 1994

Status of endometrium is a very important factor which influences the implantation of fertilized embryos. In this study, we evaluated the possibility that the endometrial depth and pattern assessed by vaginal sonography on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles could be used to predict the IVF outcome. A total of 112 cycles using gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for ovulation induction were evaluated. We classified all patients into group A(<9mm) or group B(${\geq}$ 9mm) according to endometrial depth, and into group l(hyperechogenic), group 2(isoechogenic) or group 3(hypoechogenic and triple line) according to endometrial pattern. The other classification was made considering both endometrial depth and pattern. There was no significant correlation between serum estradiol level and endometrial sonographic findings(depth and pattern)(p>0.05). The pregnancy rate of group A(31.3%) did not differ significantly from that of group B(43.7%), but no pregnancies were found in any patients with endometrial depth less than 6mm. The pregnancy rate was 40%, 35.7%, and 44.6 % for group 1, gorup 2, and group 3, respectively, but there was no statistically significant difference between these groups(p>0.05). In combined classification, there was a trend of higher pregnancy rate in case of endometrial depth greater than 9mm and hypoechogenic triple line pattern, but there was no statistically significant differences between these groups(p>0.05). The conclusion from the present data is that endometrial ultrasonography on the day of hCG administration had no predictive value for conception in IVF cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.10-17
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• 2011

Objective: To explore potential relationships between sperm DNA integrity and both semen parameters and clinical outcomes. Methods: Semen analysis of 498 samples was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the World Health Organization. The sperm DNA fragmentation Index (DFI) of the semen samples was assessed using a neutral comet assay. Results: Sperm DFI showed a significant correlation with semen parameters, including the patient's age, sperm viability, motility, morphology, and number of leukocytes (p<0.05). The sperm DFI values for asthenozoospermic (15.2%), oligoteratozoospermic (18.3%), asthenoteratozoospermic (17.5%), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic semen samples (21.3%) were significantly higher than that observed in normozoospermic semen samples (10.5%, p<0.05). A sperm DFI value of 14% was used as a threshold of sperm DFI in assessing whether DNA was highly damaged. In 114 IVF-ET cycles, the fertilization rate of the sperm DFI <14% group (70 cycles, 61.7%) was significantly higher than that observed for the ${\geq}14%$ group (44 cycles, 55.3%), but there was no difference in the other clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the ${\geq}14%$ group, the pregnancy rates of the ICSI cycles (40.0%) and half-ICSI (44.0%) were higher than conventional IVF cycles (30.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Along with the conventional semen analysis, the sperm DFI assessed using the comet assay was shown to improve the quality of the semen evaluation. To evaluate the precise effect of ICSI on pregnancy rates in the patients who demonstrate high sperm DFI values, further study is necessary.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.207-213
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) ligand, pioglitazone, on production of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome in infertile patients with endometriosis. Sixty-four infertile patients with stage III or IV endometriosis undergoing IVF were randomly allocated to the study or the control group. The long protocol of GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) was used for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in all patients. Patients in the study group were treated with pioglitazone at a dose of 15 mg/day orally from the starting day of GnRH-a treatment to the day of hCG injection. Blood samples were drawn for serologic assay of RANTES on the first day of GnRH-a treatment and the day of hCG injection. There were no differences between the study and control groups in patient characteristics. There were also no differences between the two groups in COS duration, and the numbers of retrieved oocytes, fertilized oocytes and embryos transferred. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was higher in the study group, but this difference was not statistically significant. However, embryo implantation rate was significantly higher in the study group of 12.5% compared with 8.6% in the control group (P<0.05). The serum RANTES levels after pioglitazone treatment were significantly lower than those before pioglitazone treatmen in the study group (P<0.05). Our data suggest that pioglitazone treatment can suppress RANTES production and improve the embryo implantation rate in patients with endometriosis undergoing IVF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.239-244
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is compare IVF cycle outcome in poor responders between clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulated and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol. A total of 94 patients responding poorly in previous IVF cycles (estradiol<600 pg/ml or less than 3 oocytes retrieved) subsequently underwent either COH (COH group: 122 cycles, 68 patients) or CC-stimulated cycles (CC group: 43 cycles, 26 patients). CC was administered for five consecutive days starting on cycle day 3 at a dose of 100 mg daily. Serial transvaginal ultrasound examination was done from cycle day 8. Urine was collected $3\sim4$ times before hCG injection for the detection of LH surge. The hCG was administered when serum estradiol reached greater than 150 pg/ml and mean follicle diameter>16 mm. In COH group, ovarian stimulation was done using short protocol (GnRH-a/FSH/HMG/hCG). No difference in age or number of transferred embryos was found between CC group and COH group. COH group had significantly (p<0.05) higher mean peak level of $E_2$ ($810{\pm}112$ vs $412{\pm}55$ pg/ml) and greater number of retrieved oocytes ($3.0{\pm}0.2$ vs $2.0{\pm}0.2$) than CC group. CC group had transferred embryos $(1.8{\pm}0.2)$ compared with $(2.1{\pm}0.2)$ in COH group. However, CC group had higher pregnancy rate than COH group per retrieval [26.9% (7/26) vs 6.2% (6/97)], or per transfer [31.8% (7/22) vs 7% (6/86)]. Although cycle cancellation rate in CC group (48.8%) was higher than that of COH group (21.3%), the pregnancy rate per cycle in CC group was still higher (16.3%) than COH group (4.9%). In addition, implantation rate in CC group was 17.5% (7/40), which was significantly (p<0.01) higher than 3.9% (7/180) in COH group. These data suggest that oocyte and embryo quality are lower in COH cycles of poor responders than CC cycles. We suggest that clomiphene citrate stimulated IVF cycle may be more efficient than COH IVF cycle in poor responders in terms of lower costs and higher pregnancy performance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.166-171
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• 2012

Objective: We compared the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with IVM, conventional IVF, GnRH agonist, and GnRH antagonist cycles. Methods: The prospective study included a total of 67 cycles in 61 infertile women with PCOS. The women with PCOS were randomized into three IVF protocols: IVM/IVF with FSH and hCG priming with immature oocyte retrieval 38 hours later (group A, 14 cycles), GnRH agonist long protocol (group B, 14 cycles), and GnRH antagonist multi-dose flexible protocol (group C, 39 cycles). IVF outcomes, such as clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate (MR), and live birth rate (LBR), were compared among the three groups. Results: Age, BMI, and basal FSH and LH levels did not differ among the three groups. The number of retrieved oocytes and 2 pronucleus embryos was significantly lower in group A compared with groups B and C. The CPR, IR, MR, and LBR per embryo transfer showed no differences among the three groups. There was no incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in group A. Conclusion: The IR, MR, and LBR in the IVM cycles were comparable to those of the GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist cycles. The IVM protocol, FSH and hCG priming with oocyte retrieval 38 hours later, is an effective ART option that is comparable with conventional IVF for infertile women with PCOS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.45-56
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• 2002

Objectives: Recently, recombinant FSH (rFSH) has been manufactured using a Chinese hamster ovary cell line transfected with the gene encoding human FSH. Both rFSH and urinary gonadotropin (uFSH) could be used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). However, uFSH implies a number of disadvantages, such as batch-to-batch inconsistency, no absolute source control, dependence on large amounts of urine, low specific activity, and low purity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rFSH in human IVF-ET program. Materials and Methods: A total of 508 infertile women was enrolled in this study. They are classified into rFSH group (n=177) or uFSH group (n=331), and all of them were matched by age and cause of infertility in same period. The $Puregon^{(R)}$ (Organon, Holland) was used as rFSH, and the Metrodin-$HP^{(R)}$ (Serono, Switzeland) and $Humegon^{(R)}$ (Organon, Holland) was used as uFSH. We subdivided the patients into three age groups. The outcomes of IVF-ET program were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results: There was no significant differences in the level of estradiol on hCG injection day, the numbers of retrieved oocytes, matured oocytes, fertilized oocytes, transferred embryos, frozen embryos between the two groups. The total dose (IU) of gonadotropin for COH was significantly lower in the rFSH group compared to uFSH group ($1339{\pm}5491.1$ vs $2527.8{\pm}1075.2$ IU, p<0.001). Clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in the rFSH group showed increasing tendency, compared to the uFSH group, but there was no statistical significance (35.2% vs 29.3%). Our results demonstrated that the relative efficiency of rFSH compared with uFSH is higher in older patients. Conclusions: The ovarian stimulatory effect and clinical outcome of recombinant FSH was similar to that of the urinary gonadotropin. The IVF-ET cycles with significantly lower dose of gonadotropin in rFSH group showed comparable results. Therefore, we suggest that recombinant FSH is more potent and effective than urinary gonadotropin.