• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 1998

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, or the lack of function of the testis or ovary secondary to the lack of pituitary and or hypothalamic trophic hormones, is also sometimes generally termed Kallmann's syndrome. Whether such deficiencies arise from an inborn error of hypothalamic organization and pituitary connection or damage to the hypothalamic pituitary system in prepubertal life, the manifestations of a eunuchoid or apubertal individual with potentially competent pituitary and gonadal function will result. Beyond the achievement of puberty, a similar situation can be recreated by the administration of a long-acting GnRH analog or by conditions of secondary hypothalamic dysfunction such as anorexia nervosa where shutdown of GnRH and its resultant effects cause cessation of gonadal function and even a regression of secondary sexual characteristics. Technically, these conditions are not Kallmann's syndrome but one must recognize the similarities. We have experienced a case of isolated gonadotropin deficiency which showed a negative KALIG-1 gene in infertile patient with primary amenorrhea. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2014

Objective: To study the effect of body composition on reproduction in women with unexplained infertility treated with a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 308 unexplained infertile women who were scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme and were grouped as pregnant and non-pregnant. Anthropometric measurements were performed using TANITA-420MA before the treatment cycle. Body composition was determined using a bioelectrical impedance analysis system. Results: Body fat mass was significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women ($15.61{\pm}3.65$ vs. $18.78{\pm}5.97$, respectively) (p=0.01). In a multiple regression analysis, body fat mass proved to have a stronger association with fecundity than the percentage of body fat, body mass index, or the waist/hip ratio (standardized regression coefficient${\geq}0.277$, t-value ${\geq}2.537$; p<0.05). The cut-off value of fat mass, which was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 16.65 with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 70.2%. Below this cut-off value, the odds of the pregnancy occurrence was found to be 2.5 times more likely. Conclusion: Body fat mass can be predictive for pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2019

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen conditions (20% [high O₂], 5% [low O₂] and 5% decreased to 2% [dynamic O₂]) on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development using a novel double-channel gas supply (DCGS) incubator (CNC Biotech Inc.) to alter the oxygen concentration during in vitro culture. Methods: The high-O₂ and low-O₂ groups were cultured from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage under 20% and 5% oxygen concentrations, respectively. In the dynamic-O₂ group, mouse embryos were cultured from the one-cell to the morula stage under 5% O₂ for 3 days, followed by culture under 2% O₂ to the blastocyst stage. To evaluate peri-implantation development, the blastocysts from the three groups were individually transferred to a fibronectin-coated dish and cultured to the outgrowth stage in droplets. Results: The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The total cell number was significantly higher in the dynamic-O₂ group than in the low-O₂ and high-O₂ groups. Additionally, the apoptotic index was significantly lower in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The trophoblast outgrowth rate and spread area were significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. Conclusion: Our results showed that a dynamic oxygen concentration (decreasing from 5% to 2%) had beneficial effects on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development. Optimized, dynamic changing of oxygen concentrations using the novel DCGS incubator could improve the developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos in a human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2001

Orius strigicollis Poppies is an indigenous natural enemy of thrips pests in Korea To develop an efficient mass rearing system for Ο. strigicollis, effects of hatchability, egg numbers and egg harvesting time of Ο. strigicollis were measured in cylindrical cage (251 ㎤) under the conditions of photoperiod 16L : 8D, $55\pm$10% RH and $25\pm$$2^{\circ}C$. The hatchability and developmental period of eggs were 88.5% and 5.7 days, respectively. The highest emergence rate (50.8%) was achieved when the number of eggs laid was ranged from 50 to 100 per arena. The proper harvesting time of newly produced adults was 17 days postoviposition. Relationship between the number of resulting adults per female and the number of female adults per arena was Y : -10.7971n (X) +44.659 ($R^2$=0.7619). The generation time (T), the net reproductive rate ($R_{0}$ ) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase ($r_{m}$ ) were 26.5 days, 6.18 and 0.0687, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.95-99
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• 1991

Swim-up and Wang's tube system are known methods of motile sperm selection and aerobic bacterial removal from the raw semen. This study was designed to evaluate the recovery rate of motile sperm, % normal morphology of sperm, the efficiency of bacterial removal after sperm preparation by the above two methods. The results were as follows. 1. There was more significant increase of sperm concentration in preparation by swim-up than Wang's tube (p<0.05). The concentration of sperm by swim up was changed from $82.5{\times}10^6/ml$ to $6836{\times}10^6/ml$, and Wang's tube was changed from $82.5{\times}10^6/ml$ to $36.0{\times}10^6/ml$. 2. There was significant increase in sperm motility after preparation by two methods in comparison with initial sperm motility (p<0.05), but no statistical difference between two methods was noted. The % motility of sperm by swim-up was increased from 66.1% to 95.7% and Wang's tube from 66.1% to 98.1%. 3. There was significant increase of % normal morphology of sperm in the samples prepared by two methods (p<0.05), from 49.2% to 85.3% in swim-up and from 49.2% to 92.1% in Wang's tube, but there was no statistical significance between them. 4. There was no bacterial growth in aerobic culture after preparation by two methods.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 1994

ICR female mice aged 3 to 4 weeks, were stimulated with 7.5 IU PMS injection. At 48-52h post-PMS injection, ovaries were dissected out and oocytes-cumulus complexes(OCCs) were divided into three groups, cumulus-free oocytes(O), cumulus-free oocyte cocultured with cumulus cells(O+C) and OCC. The oocyte were cultured in TCM199 containing various protein sources, FCS, BSA or PVP with gonadotropins(Gns) for 24h. Spermatozoa were collected from cauda epididymis and capacitated in T6 + BSA for 2h. After oocyte maturation in vitro(IVM) in different experimental groups, matured oocytes were inseminated with the capacitated spermatozoa in T6 + BSA for 6h. In the groups of IVM in TCM + BSA or PVP, fertilization(IVF) did not occur efficiently. However, increased fertilization was found in TCM+ FCS group. The oocytes groups, with cumulus cells showed decreased polyspermy in FCS group (O; 31.8 %, O + C; 12.2 %, OCC; 16%), the addition of Gns did not prevent polyspermy in all three groups. The rates of fertilization increased in zona-free oocytes in PVP group. This results showed that culture system for IVM and IVF could be improved. Furthermore, PVP can be used for the substitution of protein source during maturation, and its low rate of fertilization has been found due to zona hardening which occurred in FCS-free medium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

Objective: Smoking has been reported to harm nearly every organ of the body, but conflicting results have been reported regarding the effects of smoking on assisted conception. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of positive urinary cotinine tests in infertile couples and whether cotinine positivity was associated with infertility treatment outcomes. Methods: A qualitative urinary cotinine test was administered to 127 couples who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF, n=92) or intrauterine insemination (IUI, n=35). Results: The overall prevalence of positive urinary cotinine test was 43.3% (55/127) in the male partners and 10.2% (13/127) in the female partners with similar prevalence rates in both genders in the IUI and IVF groups. Semen characteristics, serum markers of ovarian reserve, and number of retrieved oocytes were comparable among cotinine-positive and cotinine-negative men or women (with the exception of sperm count, which was higher among cotinine-positive men). The results of urinary cotinine tests in infertile couples were not associated with IVF and IUI outcomes. Conclusion: The presence of cotinine in the system, as indicated by a positive urinary cotinine test, was not associated with poorer outcomes of infertility treatment.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2009

Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly used in the production of pharmaceutical, industrial, and housing epoxy, as well as polycarbonate plastics. Owing to its extensive use, BPA can contaminate the environment either directly or through derivatives of these products. BPA has been classified as an endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), and the primary toxicity of these EDCs in males involves the induction of reproductive system abnormality. First, in order to evaluate the direct effects on the Y chromosome associated with reproduction, we evaluated Y chromosome abnormalities using a Y chromosome microdeletion detection kit. However, we detected no Yq abnormality as the result of BPA exposure. Secondly, we performed high-density oligonucleotide array-based comparative genome hybridization (CGH) to assess genomic alteration as a component of our toxicity assessment. The results of our data analysis revealed some changes in copy number. Seven observed features were gains or losses in chromosomal DNA (P-value<1.0e-5, average log2 ratio>0.2). Interestingly, 21 probes of chr7:7312289-10272836 (qA1-qA2 in cytoband) were a commonly observed amplification (P-value 3.69e-10). Another region, chr14:4551029-10397399, was also commonly amplified (P-value 2.93e-12, average of log2 ratios in segment>0.3786). These regions include many genes associated with pheromone response, transcription, and signal transduction using ArrayToKegg software. These results help us to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive effects induced by BPA.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.107-124
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to identify Yangsaeng level and pattern identification of subfertility in childbearing aged women according to the pregnancy experience. Methods : Data was collected by structured questionnaire distributed to 217 women(125 women experienced pregnancy, 92 subfertile women) in I city from Nov. to Dec. 2014. For data analysis, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients were performed using SPSS version 19.0. Results : Drinking rate and stress level of subfertile group were higher than pregnancy experience group. Subfertile women group have more disease related to reproductive system, irregularities of the menstrual cycle and dysmenorrhea than pregnancy experience group. Subfertile women showed lower scores for Yangsaeng level but higher scores for all types of pattern identification of subfertility more than those in the women experiencing pregnancy. Conclusions : The results of this study indicate that reproductive health program for the childbearing aged women is necessary before serviced by western or oriental medical treatment for subinfertile(infertile) women. These results can be used for a program based on oriental medicine in order to improve women's health.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 2011

Sildenafil citrate (SIL) a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) has been used for long time as a first line oral drug for erectile dysfunction. Though it has beneficial effects on erectile organ it also has some adverse effects in other cells and/or tissues related to reproductive system when exposed to longer duration. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the long term effect of SIL on sperm parameters in Wistar albino rat. The animals are divided into two groups, for group I - rats were treated with saline (vehicle alone) and group - II oral administration of 5 mg/kg b.w. of SIL was administrated orally once in a day for 120 days. At the end of the trial period animals were sacrificed and epididymal sperm were subjected to various analysis. Results showed significant reduction in sperm count, motility, viability and morphologically intact sperm in long term PDE5I exposed animals when compared to control. Acrosomal status and fertility test also showed significant reduction in long term PDE5I exposed animals. The present study clearly indicated that long term SIL has shown to induce alteration in sperm quality and quantity, leading to decline in fertility rate. Indicate that SIL impinge on spermatogenesis as well as epididymal function. Understanding the molecular down-stream events involved in long-term exposure to PDE5 inhibitor can be valuable to supervise on related infertility issues and to suggest corrective measures.