• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1347-1354
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• 2006

The aims of this study were to establish a simple and effective method for isolating male germline stem cells (GSCs), and to test the possibility of using these cells as a new approach for male infertility treatment. Testes obtained from neonatal and adult mice were manually decapsulated. GSCs were collected from seminiferous tubules by a two-step enzyme digestion method and plated on gelatin-coated dishes. Over 5-7 days of culture, GSCs obtained from neonates and adults gave rise to large multicellular colonies that were subsequently grown for 10 passages. During in vitro proliferation, oct-4 and two immunological markers (Integrin ${\beta}1,\;{\alpha}6$) for GSCs were highly expressed in the cell colonies. During another culture period of 6 weeks to differentiate to later stage germ cells, the expression of oct-4 mRNA decreased in GSCs and Sertoli cells encapsulated with calcium alginate, but the expression of c-kit and testis-specific histone protein 2B(TH2B) mRNA as well as the localization of c-kit protein was increased. Expression of transition protein (TP-l) and localization of peanut agglutinin were not seen until 3 weeks after culturing, and appeared by 6 weeks of culture. The putative spermatids derived from GSCs supported embryonic development up to the blastocyst stage with normal chromosomal ploidy after chemical activation. Thus, GSCs isolated from neonatal and adult mouse testes were able to be maintained and proliferated in our simple culture conditions. These GSCs have the potential to differentiate into haploid germ cells during another long-term culture.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.28-40
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the satisfaction and features of patient groups treated with KMST. Methods: From December 4th 2013 to May 8th 2014, 94 outpatients and 37 inpatients were treated with KMST, and we analyzed their medical records and satisfaction level questionnaires. Results: Mean age of total inpatients and OB&GY inpatients, total outpatients and OB&GY outpatients treated with KMST was $50.84{\pm}9.72$ years, $46.86{\pm}8.43$ years, $44.39{\pm}12.16$ years and $44.01{\pm}11.20$ years respectively. Mean value of treatment numbers per person of each group was 14.70 times, 14.58 times, 3.29 times and 3.41 times respectively. Mean interval between treatments per person of each group was 1.32 days, 1.23 days, 10.90 days and 11.62 days each. Chief complaints of OB&GY inpatients in the order of frequency were lower abdominal pain, dyspepsia and vaginal discharge. As for OB&GY outpatients, they were cold hypersensitivity, vaginal discharge, dyspepsia and infertility. The satisfaction level questionnaires for KMST showed a mean value of $7.98{\pm}1.82$ out of 10-point scale in 6 multiple-choice questions. Conclusions: Most of the patients treated with KMST were female. Pain, dyspepsia and cold hypersensitivity, vaginal discharge were frequent chief complaints in OB&GY inpatients and outpatients group each. It was found that overall satisfaction level of patients treated with KMST was high and there was no reported side effect.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.875-881
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• 2007

Purpose : Chromosome analysis is important in genetic study and genetic counseling. This study was performed to evaluate the type and incidence of chromosome abnormalities in a single hospital for 25 years. Methods : Chromosome analyses were performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes, obtained from 4,856 patients with suspected chromosomal aberrations, referred to cytogenetic laboratory in Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital from May 1981 to October 2005. Results : We analyzed 4,567 cases. Children were 3,014 cases (66.0%) and adult were 1,553 cases (34.0 %). The most common purpose of the chromosomal analysis was growth and developmental abnormality in children and infertility in adults. Total chromosomal aberration rate was 16.9% (770/4,567). Among those cases, the numerical abnormalities were 12.2% (558 cases), the structural abnormalities were 4.1% (187 cases), and others were 0.5% (25 cases). The relative frequencies of autosomal abnormalities were 6.4% (294 cases) in Down syndrome; 0.2% (7 cases) in Edwards syndrome; 0.1% (4 cases) in Patau syndrome; 0.2% (10 cases) in other abnormalities, of sex chromosome, 2.9% (131 cases) in Klinefelter syndrome; 2.2% (99 cases) in Turner syndrome; 0.2% (8 cases) in 47, XXX; 0.1% (3 cases) in 47, XYY. Among the structural abnormalities, translocation was 1.8% (84 cases), inversion was 0.8% (37 cases), deletion was 0.4% (17 cases), and insertion was 0.3% (13 cases), in order of frequency. Conclusion : In this study, the type, incidence and distribution of cytogenetic abnormalities by karyotype were reviewed. We hope that our study could be used as a basic information on the diagnosis, treatment and genetic counseling for chromosome abnormalities in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of preoperative semen parameters on both seminal improvement and pregnancy rates following varicocelectomy. Methods: This survey was done in 278 patients who underwent microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy from January 2001 until October 2006. By the total motile sperm counts (TMSC) before operation, the patients were stratified into three groups. Group A (mild oligoasthenospermia) was defined as above 20 million, group B (moderate oligoasthenospermia) was defined as between 5 and 20 million, and group C (severe oligoasthenospermia) was defined as below 5 million. Improvement rates of TMSC and pregnancy rates following varicocelectomy of each groups were compared. Results: The average TMSC of all the patients was 25.75 million before operation and after operation, it was 80.24 million, showing an average increase of 54.49 million (211.6%). To take a look at mean absolute increase (mean relative increase proportion), group A showed 67.90 million (131.2%), group B 62.20 million (482.5%) and group C 26.33 million (1841.2%). The patients with varicocele whose semen parameter is in bad condition show relatively a low mean absolute increase but high mean relative increase proportion. There was no significant difference in natural pregnancy rate among each groups (p=0.119, p=0.059). Conclusions: Even in the varicocele patient whose semen parameter was in bad condition before surgical operation. varicocelectomy could be chosen as the first treatment to male infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Although IVF-ET is widely applied in the treatment of couples with male factor infertility, it may fail in many infertile couples with normal semen parameters, and certain couples cannot be accepted for standard IVF-ET due to unfertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes. Recently, several procedures of microassisted fertilization (MAF) using micromanipulation have been introduced, and pregnancies and births have been obtained after partial zona dissection (PZD), subzonal insertion (SUZI), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This clinical study was performed to develop and establish ICSI as an effective procedure of MAF in infertile couples who could not undergo standard IVF-ET repetitively because of failure in fertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes with the conventional fertilization technique in the previous IVF-ET cycles. From March, 1995 to May, 1996, 27 cycles of IVF-ET with ICSI in 19 infertile patients were included in study group, and the outcomes of ICSI were analyzed according to fertilization rate, cumulative embryo score (CES), and pregnancy rate. The number of oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was $10.50{\pm}6.13$ in 30 previous cycles, and $10.57{\pm}5.53$ in 27 ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the number of oocytes optimal for ICSI procedure was $7.89{\pm}4.30$, and the fertilization rate of $67.9{\pm}20.2%$ could be obtained after ICSI. The number of embryos transferred was $1.43{\pm}2.40$ in previous cycles, and $4.36{\pm}1.77$ with the mean CES of $41.8{\pm}27.4$ in ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the overall pregnancy rate was 29.6% (8/27) per cycle and 42.1% (8/19) per patient with the clinical pregnancy rate of 22.2% (6/27) per cycle and 31.6% (6/19) per patient. In conclusion, MAF of human oocytes with ICSI is a promising fertilization method for IVF-ET patients, especially with the past history of failure in fertilization or low fertilization rate of oocytes in the previous IVF-ET cycles, and ICSI using micromanipulation procedures applied to human oocytes will provide a range of novel techniques which may dramatically improve the pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program and contribute much to effective management of infertile couples.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.101-105
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• 2011

Purpose: Estradiol in the menstrual cycle and ovulation induction as an important test of currently national nuclear medicine laboratory in the normal patients and patients with infertility tests are being performed. For the diagnosis of menopause is an important test with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH). Currently participating in external quality control of the nation's hospitals that is 54 percent of 37 hospitals, 20 hospitals have been using A's reagent. The kit's test results are highly different from other kit comes with the test results of specimens have been found. And for the phenomenon is to study the problem. Materials and Methods: Estraiol test were referred to our hospital which results of samples as more than 100pg/ml 75 specimens measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA) test with company A company B company C company D Kit, Chemiluminescent assay (CMIA) to examine and compare to the results from april to August in 2010. Results: Kit for each manufacturing company as measured by the results obtained using the average value of the correlation coefficient (R2) and A company 0.8906 B 0.9527 C 0.9547 and D company correlation coefficient of 0.873 showed a good correlation that measuring the results of A company high concentrations when Company B Company C Company D with CMIA test concentrations measured low results that the two cases were discovered specimens. Conclusion: Most of the test results of 75 samples came up with a similar trend, but two cases were reported in the patients very differently. A company result reported higher than 700 pg/ml, while the rest of other test results report was approximately 10 pg/ml. The common point of two samples more than 50 years patients are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer in postmenopausal patients receiving treatment and levels of FSH were found to be greater than 50 mIU/ml. Did not identify the exact cause. I suggest if you are using A company kit that need to again check when Estradiol result and follicle stimulating hormone results is higher.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2010

Objective: To evaluate the significance and efficacy of trans-cervical fallopian tube catheterization (TFTC) in diagnosis and optimal treatment modality for tubal blockage. Methods: The retrospective study was performed in those underwent TFTC from January 2005 to December 2009. A total of 342 fallopian tubes in 215 patients which showed tubal blockage in hysterosalpingography (HSG), were subjected to TFTC. Recanalization rate (RR) was compared according to portion of tubal blockage; proximal, isthmic and distal portion and blockage type; tapering, concave, and convex type. Results: In total, RR was 72.5% (248/342 tube). According to the portion of tubal blockage, RR was 83.8% in proximal, 45.6% in isthmic and 100% in distal portion. RR was 92.3% in tapering, 80.2% in concave and 25.5% in convex type, respectively. There were 98 pregnancies in 156 patients after successful recanalization, which shows 62.7% pregnancy rate. Conclusio: TFTC were capable of recanalizing tubal blockage in 248 of 342 tubes in 156 of 215 patients (72.5%). The RR was increased with proximal portion and tapering type tubal blockage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to clarify the role of HomeoboxA (HOXA) and its related signaling molecules in the decidualization of primary cultured endometrial cells. Methods: Human endometrial tissues were obtained by curettage of hysterectomy specimens from patients with conditions other than endometrial diseases. Tissues were minced and digested with Trypsin-EDTA for 20 min, $37^{\circ}C$. Cells were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hrs. Cells were treated with HOXA10 siRNA and added transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ (10 ng/mL) for 48 hrs to induces decidualization in vitro. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was accomplished to observe the expression of HOXA10, prolactin, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR)-$\gamma$, and wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt). Results: HOXA10 expression was increased (1.8 fold vs. non-treated control) in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells. Decidualization marker, prolactin, was significantly increased in TGF-${\beta}1$ treated cells compared with HOXA10 siRNA treated cells. Endometrial cell differentiation marker, COX-2 was down-regulated by HOXA10 siRNA even if cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$. Wnt4 was down-regulated by treated with HOXA10 siRNA, this expression patters was not changed by TGF-${\beta}1$. Expression of PPAR-$\gamma$ was down regulated by TGF-${\beta}1$ in regardless of HOXA10 siRNA treatment. Conclusion: TGF-${\beta}1$ which is induced by progesterone in endometrial epithelial cells may induces stromal cell decidualization via HOXA10 and Wnt signaling cascade.