• 제목/요약/키워드: Maintenance Factor

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A Study on the Quality of Healthcare Services for Four Critical Illnesses and the Maintenance of Right to Protection and Dignity in a Senior General Hospital (상급종합병원의 4대 중증질환 의료 서비스 품질과 보호받을 권리 및 존엄성 유지에 관한 연구)

  • Woojin Lee;Minsuk Shin
    • Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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    • v.51 no.4
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    • pp.531-550
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    • 2023
  • Purpose: The unique nature of life-and-death healthcare services sets them apart from other service industries. While many studies exist on the relationship between healthcare services and customer satisfaction, most of them focus on mildly ill patients, ignoring the differences between critically ill and non-seriously ill patients. This study discusses the actual quality of healthcare services for patients who are facing life-threatening illnesses and are on life support, as well as their right to protection and dignity. Methods: The survey conducted to 149 patients with the four major illnesses: cancer, heart disease, brain disease and rare and incurable disease, those who have experiences with senior general hospitals. Results: The basic statistics of this study are adequate to represent the four major critical illnesses, and the reliability and validity of this study's hypotheses, which were measured by multiple items, were analyzed, and the internal consistency was judged to be high. In addition, it was found that the convergent validity was good and the discriminant validity was also secured. When examining the goodness of fit of the hypotheses, the SRMR, which is the standardized root mean square of residuals that measures the difference between the covariance matrix of the data variables and the theoretical covariance matrix structure of the model, met the optimal criteria. Conclusion: The academic implications of this study are differentiated from other studies by moving away from evaluating the quality of healthcare services for mildly ill patients and focusing on the rights and dignity of patients with life-threatening illnesses in four senior general hospitals. In terms of academic implications, this study enriches the depth of related studies by demonstrating the right to protection and dignity as a factor of patient-centeredness based on physical environment quality, interaction quality, and outcome quality, which are presented as sub-factors of healthcare quality. We found that the three quality factors classified by Brady and Cronin (2001) are optimized for healthcare quality assessment and management, and that the results of patients' interaction quality assessment can be used to provide a comprehensive quality rating for hospitals. Health and human rights are inextricably linked, so assessing the degree to which rights and dignity are protected can be a superior and more comprehensive measurement tool than traditional health level measures for healthcare organizations. Practical implications: Improving the quality of the physical environment and the quality of outcomes is an important challenge for hospital managers who attract patients with life and death conditions, but given the scale and economics of time, money, and human inputs, improving the quality of interactions and defining them as performance indicators in hospital quality management is an efficient way to create maximum value in the short term.

Management Plan and Analysis of the Characteristics of Naturalized Plants by Ecological Restoration of Gaeumjeong Stream, Changwon-si (창원시 가음정천의 생태복원에 따른 귀화식물 특성 분석과 관리방안)

  • You, Ju-Han;Park, Kyung-Hun;Choi, Jin-Hwan
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.48-59
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    • 2014
  • This study was carried out to present raw data on managing the restored urban stream by studying the naturalized plants distributed in Gaeumjeong Stream, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The results were as follows. The numbers of naturalized plants were summarized as 45 taxa including 17 families, 36 genera, 43 species and 2 varieties. The invasive alien plants were 2 taxa including Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Lactuca sativa. The following summarizes the attributes of the naturalized plants. Most of the plants commonly originated from Europe and North America. The 5 naturalized degree that was widely distributed and had many individual was the most common. Until 1921, after the opening of 1 period was the most common in the introduced period. Section 12 had the highest NI at 41.9%, and the lowest, at 20.5%, in sections 9 and 19 were analyzed. Section 1 had the highest UI at 6.2%, whereas, the lowest, at 2.5%, was calculated in sections 19 and 20. Section 2 showed the highest DI at 16.7%. The first results of the analysis of the causes for the invasion of naturalized plants on the riverside and waterways, and physical factors and maintenance are directly affected. Second, sewage, muddy water and sediment deposits this naturalized plant caused by a chemical factor. Third, it is thought that invasive alien plants are irregular as it happens in biological factor. The proposed management plan naturalized plants, the first, disturbance caused by species management is a young object is removed immediately before flowering scape to eliminate or suppress the propagation of physical methods will be needed. Second, the fact that the national spread of native plant species and planting management does not provide space for the growth is very important. Third, agricultural land is disturbed by agricultural practices by interfering with the action of naturalized plants because the source of the river should be prohibited in agriculture. In the future, if we studied the naturalized plants distributed in restored streams located in Changwon-si, the characteristics of change in the ecosystem impact is expected to be beneficial.

A study on the Physical, Mental and Social Factors Influencing the Health Status of Aged Women in Korea (여성노인의 건강상태와 신체적.심리적.사회적 요소들과의 관계연구)

  • Ro, Seung-Ok
    • Women's Health Nursing
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.53-67
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    • 1996
  • A total health state evaluation of Korean female elderlies was made by using the questionary scheme measuring the physical, mental and social functions of the elderlies, in order to investigate the critical factors for the health maintenance of female elderlies and to develop their preventive nursing program. A total of 280 subjects over 65 years old living in Seoul and the suburban area were selected and interviewed during the period of September and October in 1995. The materials collected were analyzed statistically by using SAS data processing program, and the results and recommendations are summarized as follows. 1. The physical health state of Korean elderly women was evaluated to be satisfactory by showing an average score of 3.722 in 5.0 full-score scale. But this score was lower than those evaluated for the elderlies combined both sexes(4.054). The mental health state of the subjects was also evaluated as high scoring 3.484, possibly due to the fact that 78% of the subjects lived together with their children's family. On the other hand, the social health state of the subjects was relatively low scoring 2.585, mainly due to that 80% of them was widows which was resulted by the 6-7 years longer life-expectancy of Korean women. 2. A significant differences in the physical health state scores between different age groups was observed, indicating the rapid ageing process occurring in this age group. The family structure was appeared to be an important factor influencing the physical health state of the female elderlies ; the physical health score of the women with her husband only was higher than that of those living with children's families, and the lowest score was obtained from those living alone. 3. The age was the most important factor determining the mental health state of the subjects, while the religion, educational status, marriage state and family structure did not significantly influenced the mental health state of the aged women. 4. The social health state of the subject was deeply influenced by the marriage state and family structure, showing significantly lower scores with widowers compared to the married couples. Those living with their married spouse only obtained the highest social health score, while those living along showed the lowest score. The parent and grandparentship of those living with their children and the religion, especially Catholic and Protestant, had positive influence on the social health state of the aged women. 5. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining the physical health, except for digestive system related ability and sexual ability and the highest extra home ability. 6. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining social health, especially with the parent and grandparentship and the family relative's role. From these results, the following recommendations are made. 1. Since the physical, mental and social health states of aged people are deeply influenced by the sex and the average values of the both sex can create misleading figures, the health evaluation of the elderlies should be made separately by sex. 2. Since the health state of aged women is highly influenced by their family structure, the spouse's role and living with married couple only should be emphasized in respect of preventive health care. 3. The social activity programs and grandparentship teaching programs should be prepared in the nursing care program for aged people.

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CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF GONIAL ANGLE CHANGE AFTER ORTHOGNATHIC SUGERY IN PATIENTS WITH THE MANDIBULAR PROGNATHISM (하악전돌증환자의 악교정수술후 하악각변화에 관한 임상적 분석)

  • Kwon, Yeong-Ho;Jang, Hyun-Jung;Lee, Sang-Han
    • Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.206-216
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    • 2000
  • Predictional study for lateral change between pre- and post-orthognathic surgery has been emphasized mainly on anterior area of lateral profile; upper lip, lower lip and chin et al. So interest for lateral profile change has been less in posterior area of lateral profile and literature analyzing gonial angle change is rare. The purpose of this study is to make prediction for gonial angle change possible and to offer somewhat treatment guidance for gonial angle to be improved by investigating overall gonial angle change between pre- and post-orthognathic surgery and inquiring into factors influencing on pattern of genial angle change. For this study 35 patients were selected retrospectively. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken in just pre-op time, pod 1 day, pod 1 year. They were analyzed and genial angles were measured. The results were as follows : 1. Gonial angle at pod 1 day was decreased about $9.3^{\circ}$ than pre-op and gonial angle at pod 1 year was increased about $4.0^{\circ}$ than pod 1 day. So genial angle at pod 1 year was decreased about $5.3^{\circ}$ than pre-op genial angle(p<0.01). 2. Mean pre-op gonial angle was $129.4^{\circ}$, showing significantly high value than normal and mean gonial angle at pod 1 year was $124.1^{\circ}$, showing value near to normal. 3. Mean gonial angle change between pre-op and pod 1 year was decreased about $5.4^{\circ}$ in female and $5.3^{\circ}$ in male. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female(p>0.05). 4. Principal factor influencing on decreased gonial angle in gonial angle change between pre-op and pod 1 year was amount of mandibular setback. 5. Principal factor influencing on increased gonial angle in gonial angle change between pod 1 day and pod 1 year was % horizontal relapse, and it was thought that resorption and bone remodelling on posterior area in mandibular distal segment also were related to increased gonial angle. 6. It is thought that sagittal split ramus osteotomy in mandibular prognathic patients with high value of gonial angle is effective to improvement of gonial angle, and In patients who have normal range of gonial angle and are required with excessive mandibular setback, short lingual cut method, additional resection of posterior margin of distal segment, Obwegeser II method will be considerd. 7. More prudent operation and careful post-op management will be responsible for maintenance of postoperative stable gonial angle.

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A Study on Organizational Strategy and Operational Elements of Community-based Agricultural Management Bodies (마을단위 농업경영체 조직전략 및 운영요소 도출 연구)

  • Kim, Jong An;Kil, Cheong Soon;Kim, Gi Tae;Kim, Won Gyeong
    • Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.777-822
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    • 2013
  • This study attempts to elicit the organizational strategy and operational elements of community-based agricultural management bodies as new main farm management. We analyzed the newest discussion trend, cooperated community management, between Republic of Korea and Japan based on theory of organizing regional agriculture, and also researched on the organization management and business management about cooperated management of community. In this study, the main conclusion of the organizational strategy and operational elements of community-based agricultural management bodies are as following. i) The community-based agricultural management bodies is the cooperation managed individual agriculture resources as joint stock for purposing compound goal, an expansion agricultural income, maintenance farm productivity and rural societies. ii) The domain of cooperative management focus on secondary and tertiary industry like food process, farm produce distribution, rural experience more than farm produce production. The study suggest business promotion system of village unit farmers groups, element of organization management as executive decision organization, business management, operating factor for each steps and management element of cooperation farm working. iii) The policy direction for invigoration community-based agricultural management bodies is to make facilitation for each steps instead of standardized support.

A Study on the Right Direction of Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design(G-SEED) from the Perspective of Landscape Architecture (조경관점의 녹색건축 인증기준에 대한 방향 정립)

  • Cha, Uk Jin;Nam, Jung Chil;Yang, Geon Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.45-56
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    • 2016
  • In this study, an analysis has been conducted on the evaluation criteria of current G-SEED(Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design) and on the 78 buildings, certified by G-SEED, for 3 years from November, 2012 to November, 2015. Based on the results of this analysis, four issues are driven and proposed hereinafter. Issue 1 : Nowadays, the psychological proportion of landscape architecture in building is getting greater than ever so that it shows reliable reduction of carbon dioxide. Therefore, so far as the eight kinds of buildings are concerned, the evaluation items of G-SEED must include those of landscape architecture mandatorily through its enlargement. Issue 2 : It is undesirable factor that inhibits precise evaluation on landscaping area to let other areas appraise landscape architecture because it requires outstanding professionalism. So, G-SEED should not only ensure landscaping professionalism for the correct evaluation but also let landscape area participate in assessing other areas. Issue 3 : Many previous researches turned out that landscape planting technique has excellent effect on saving energy and reducing temperature of buildings. Thus, landscape planting technique of landscape area is required to be one of the evaluation items of energy sector. Issue 4 : Tree management also has to be newly included as one of the evaluation factor for the maintenance relating to the landscape architecture. G-SEED, enacted and enforced by the Green Building Creation Support Act in 2013, surely is effective system to reduce carbon dioxide in buildings. This is a special Act in its nature that is superior to Construction Law and must be observed by all means to construct buildings. Under the umbrella of this legal system, various of researches and products are contributing to creating new jobs in construction area. However, it is a well-known fact that landscape architecture area has shown less interest on this Act than that of construction area. In conclusion, it is necessary that landscape industry should conduct continuous researches on G-SEED and pay more attention to the Act enough to harvest related products and enlarge its work area.

A Study on Damage factor Analysis of Slope Anchor based on 3D Numerical Model Combining UAS Image and Terrestrial LiDAR (UAS 영상 및 지상 LiDAR 조합한 3D 수치모형 기반 비탈면 앵커의 손상인자 분석에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Chul-Hee;Lee, Jong-Hyun;Kim, Dal-Joo;Kang, Joon-Oh;Kwon, Young-Hun
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.38 no.7
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    • pp.5-24
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    • 2022
  • The current performance evaluation of slope anchors qualitatively determines the physical bonding between the anchor head and ground as well as cracks or breakage of the anchor head. However, such performance evaluation does not measure these primary factors quantitatively. Therefore, the time-dependent management of the anchors is almost impossible. This study is an evaluation of the 3D numerical model by SfM which combines UAS images with terrestrial LiDAR to collect numerical data on the damage factors. It also utilizes the data for the quantitative maintenance of the anchor system once it is installed on slopes. The UAS 3D model, which often shows relatively low precision in the z-coordinate for vertical objects such as slopes, is combined with terrestrial LiDAR scan data to improve the accuracy of the z-coordinate measurement. After validating the system, a field test is conducted with ten anchors installed on a slope with arbitrarily damaged heads. The damages (such as cracks, breakages, and rotational displacements) are detected and numerically evaluated through the orthogonal projection of the measurement system. The results show that the introduced system at the resolution of 8K can detect cracks less than 0.3 mm in any aperture with an error range of 0.05 mm. Also, the system can successfully detect the volume of the damaged part, showing that the maximum damage area of the anchor head was within 3% of the original design guideline. Originally, the ground adhesion to the anchor head, where the z-coordinate is highly relevant, was almost impossible to measure with the UAS 3D numerical model alone because of its blind spots. However, by applying the combined system, elevation differences between the anchor bottom and the irregular ground surface was identified so that the average value at 20 various locations was calculated for the ground adhesion. Additionally, rotation angle and displacement of the anchor head less than 1" were detected. From the observations, the validity of the 3D numerical model can obtain quantitative data on anchor damage. Such data collection can potentially create a database that could be used as a fundamental resource for quantitative anchor damage evaluation in the future.

A study on inspection methods for waste treatment facilities(I): Derivation of impact factor and mass·energy balance in waste treatment facilities (폐기물처리시설의 세부검사방법 마련연구(I): 공정별 주요인자 도출 및 물질·에너지수지 산정)

  • Pul-Eip Lee;Eunhye Kwon;Jun-Ik Son;Jun-Gu Kang;Taewan Jeon;Dong-Jin Lee
    • Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.69-84
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    • 2023
  • Despite the continuous installation and regular inspection of waste treatment facilities, complaints about excessive incineration and illegal dumping stench continue to occur at on-site treatment facilities. In addition, field surveys were conducted on the waste treatment facilities currently in operation (6 type) to understand the waste treatment process for each field, to grasp the main operating factors applied to the inspection. In addition, we calculated the material·energy balance for each main process and confirmed the proper operation of the waste disposal facility. As a result of the site survey, in the case of heat treatment facilities such as incineration, cement kilns, and incineration heat recovery facilities, the main factors are maintenance of the temperature of the incinerator required for incineration and treatment of the generated air pollutants, and in the case of landfill facilities Retaining wall stability, closed landfill leachate and emission control emerged as major factors. In the case of sterilization and crushing facilities, the most important factor is whether or not sterilization is possible (apobacterium inspection).In the case of food distribution waste treatment facilities, retention time and odor control during fermentation (digestion, decomposed) are major factors. Calculation results of material balance and energy resin for each waste treatment facility In the case of incineration facilities, it was confirmed that the amount of flooring materials generated is about 14 % and the amount of scattering materials is about 3 % of the amount of waste input, and that the facility is being operated properly. In addition, among foodwaste facilities, in the case of an anaerobic digestion facility, the amount of biogas generated relative to the amount of inflow is about 17 %, and the biogas conversion efficiency is about 81 %, in the case of composting facility, about 11 % composting of the inflow waste was produced, and it was comfirmend that all were properly operated. As a result, in order to improve the inspection method for waste treatment facilities, it is necessary not only to accumulate quantitative standards for detailed inspection methods, but also to collect operational data for one year at the time of regular inspections of each facility, Grasping the flow and judging whether or not the treatment facility is properly operated. It is then determined that the operation and management efficiency of the treatment facility will increase.

Construction and Application of Intelligent Decision Support System through Defense Ontology - Application example of Air Force Logistics Situation Management System (국방 온톨로지를 통한 지능형 의사결정지원시스템 구축 및 활용 - 공군 군수상황관리체계 적용 사례)

  • Jo, Wongi;Kim, Hak-Jin
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.77-97
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    • 2019
  • The large amount of data that emerges from the initial connection environment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a major factor that distinguishes the Fourth Industrial Revolution from the existing production environment. This environment has two-sided features that allow it to produce data while using it. And the data produced so produces another value. Due to the massive scale of data, future information systems need to process more data in terms of quantities than existing information systems. In addition, in terms of quality, only a large amount of data, Ability is required. In a small-scale information system, it is possible for a person to accurately understand the system and obtain the necessary information, but in a variety of complex systems where it is difficult to understand the system accurately, it becomes increasingly difficult to acquire the desired information. In other words, more accurate processing of large amounts of data has become a basic condition for future information systems. This problem related to the efficient performance of the information system can be solved by building a semantic web which enables various information processing by expressing the collected data as an ontology that can be understood by not only people but also computers. For example, as in most other organizations, IT has been introduced in the military, and most of the work has been done through information systems. Currently, most of the work is done through information systems. As existing systems contain increasingly large amounts of data, efforts are needed to make the system easier to use through its data utilization. An ontology-based system has a large data semantic network through connection with other systems, and has a wide range of databases that can be utilized, and has the advantage of searching more precisely and quickly through relationships between predefined concepts. In this paper, we propose a defense ontology as a method for effective data management and decision support. In order to judge the applicability and effectiveness of the actual system, we reconstructed the existing air force munitions situation management system as an ontology based system. It is a system constructed to strengthen management and control of logistics situation of commanders and practitioners by providing real - time information on maintenance and distribution situation as it becomes difficult to use complicated logistics information system with large amount of data. Although it is a method to take pre-specified necessary information from the existing logistics system and display it as a web page, it is also difficult to confirm this system except for a few specified items in advance, and it is also time-consuming to extend the additional function if necessary And it is a system composed of category type without search function. Therefore, it has a disadvantage that it can be easily utilized only when the system is well known as in the existing system. The ontology-based logistics situation management system is designed to provide the intuitive visualization of the complex information of the existing logistics information system through the ontology. In order to construct the logistics situation management system through the ontology, And the useful functions such as performance - based logistics support contract management and component dictionary are further identified and included in the ontology. In order to confirm whether the constructed ontology can be used for decision support, it is necessary to implement a meaningful analysis function such as calculation of the utilization rate of the aircraft, inquiry about performance-based military contract. Especially, in contrast to building ontology database in ontology study in the past, in this study, time series data which change value according to time such as the state of aircraft by date are constructed by ontology, and through the constructed ontology, It is confirmed that it is possible to calculate the utilization rate based on various criteria as well as the computable utilization rate. In addition, the data related to performance-based logistics contracts introduced as a new maintenance method of aircraft and other munitions can be inquired into various contents, and it is easy to calculate performance indexes used in performance-based logistics contract through reasoning and functions. Of course, we propose a new performance index that complements the limitations of the currently applied performance indicators, and calculate it through the ontology, confirming the possibility of using the constructed ontology. Finally, it is possible to calculate the failure rate or reliability of each component, including MTBF data of the selected fault-tolerant item based on the actual part consumption performance. The reliability of the mission and the reliability of the system are calculated. In order to confirm the usability of the constructed ontology-based logistics situation management system, the proposed system through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which is a representative model for measuring the acceptability of the technology, is more useful and convenient than the existing system.

Roles of the Insulin-like Growth Factor System in the Reproductive Function;Uterine Connection (Insulin-like Growth Factor Systems의 생식기능에서의 역할;자궁편)

  • Lee, Chul-Young
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.247-268
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    • 1996
  • It has been known for a long time that gonadotropins and steroid hormones play a pivotal role in a series of reproductive biological phenomena including the maturation of ovarian follicles and oocytes, ovulation and implantation, maintenance of pregnancy and fetal growth & development, parturition and mammary development and lactation. Recent investigations, however, have elucidated that in addition to these classic hormones, multiple growth factors also are involved in these phenomena. Most growth factors in reproductive organs mediate the actions of gonadotropins and steroid hormones or synergize with them in an autocrine/paracrine manner. The insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system, which is one of the most actively investigated areas lately in the reproductive organs, has been found to have important roles in a wide gamut of reproductive phenomena. In the present communication, published literature pertaining to the intrauterine IGF system will be reviewed preceded by general information of the IGF system. The IGF family comprises of IGF-I & IGF-II ligands, two types of IGF receptors and six classes of IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) that are known to date. IGF-I and IGF-II peptides, which are structurally homologous to proinsulin, possess the insulin-like activity including the stimulatory effect of glucose and amino acid transport. Besides, IGFs as mitogens stimulate cell division, and also play a role in cellular differentiation and functions in a variety of cell lines. IGFs are expressed mainly in the liver and messenchymal cells, and act on almost all types of tissues in an autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine mode. There are two types of IGF receptors. Type I IGF receptors, which are tyrosine kinase receptors having high-affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II, mediate almost all the IGF actions that are described above. Type II IGF receptors or IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors have two distinct binding sites; the IGF-II binding site exhibits a high affinity only for IGF-II. The principal role of the type II IGF receptor is to destroy IGF-II by targeting the ligand to the lysosome. IGFs in biological fluids are mostly bound to IGFBP. IGFBPs, in general, are IGF storage/carrier proteins or modulators of IGF actions; however, as for distinct roles for individual IGFBPs, only limited information is available. IGFBPs inhibit IGF actions under most in vitro situations, seemingly because affinities of IGFBPs for IGFs are greater than those of IGF receptors. How IGF is released from IGFBP to reach IGF receptors is not known; however, various IGFBP protease activities that are present in blood and interstitial fluids are believed to play an important role in the process of IGF release from the IGFBP. According to latest reports, there is evidence that under certain in vitro circumstances, IGFBP-1, -3, -5 have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. This may add another dimension of complexity of the already complicated IGF system. Messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins of the IGF family members are expressed in the uterine tissue and conceptus of the primates, rodents and farm animals to play important roles in growth and development of the uterus and fetus. Expression of the uterine IGF system is regulated by gonadal hormones and local regulatory substances with temporal and spatial specificities. Locally expressed IGFs and IGFBPs act on the uterine tissue in an autocrine/paracrine manner, or are secreted into the uterine lumen to participate in conceptus growth and development. Conceptus also expresses the IGF system beginning from the peri-implantation period. When an IGF family member is expressed in the conceptus, however, is determined by the presence or absence of maternally inherited mRNAs, genetic programming of the conceptus itself and an interaction with the maternal tissue. The site of IGF action also follows temporal (physiological status) and spatial specificities. These facts that expression of the IGF system is temporally and spatially regulated support indirectly a hypothesis that IGFs play a role in conceptus growth and development. Uterine and conceptus-derived IGFs stimulate cell division and differentiation, glucose and amino acid transport, general protein synthesis and the biosynthesis of mammotropic hormones including placental lactogen and prolactin, and also play a role in steroidogenesis. The suggested role for IGFs in conceptus growth and development has been proven by the result of IGF-I, IGF-II or IGF receptor gene disruption(targeting) of murine embryos by the homologous recombination technique. Mice carrying a null mutation for IGF-I and/or IGF-II or type I IGF receptor undergo delayed prenatal and postnatal growth and development with 30-60% normal weights at birth. Moreover, mice lacking the type I IGF receptor or IGF-I plus IGF-II die soon after birth. Intrauterine IGFBPs generally are believed to sequester IGF ligands within the uterus or to play a role of negative regulators of IGF actions by inhibiting IGF binding to cognate receptors. However, when it is taken into account that IGFBP-1 is expressed and secreted in primate uteri in amounts assessedly far exceeding those of local IGFs and that IGFBP-1 is one of the major secretory proteins of the primate decidua, the possibility that this IGFBP may have its own biological activity independent of IGF cannot be excluded. Evidently, elucidating the exact role of each IGFBP is an essential step into understanding the whole IGF system. As such, further research in this area is awaited with a lot of anticipation and attention.

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