• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effects of oriental medicine on 2 patients with premature ovarian failure. Methods: The patients who had amenorrhea caused by premature ovarian failure were treated by oriental medicine such as herb medication, acupuncture and moxibustion. We evaluated the results of treatments by change of symptoms, serum hormone assay, basal body temperature and Kupperman's Index. Results: After oriental medicine, the patients could have their normal menstrual cycle. Also serum hormone assay, basal body temperature and Kupperman's Index were improved. Conclusions: This study shows that oriental medicine has effects on patients with premature ovarian failure. And serum hormone assay, basal body temperature and Kupperman's Index would be valid measurement to evaluate the effect of treatments for premature ovarian failure.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of these cases is to report the effects of oriental medicine on two patients with premature ovarian failure. Methods: Two patients who had amenorrhea and hot flashes caused by premature ovarian failure were treated by oriental medicine such as herb medication. We estimated the effects of treatments by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level, menstrual cycle and symptoms. Besides, follicle and endometrium were checked by ultrasonography for academic research.Results After treatments, their symptoms of premature ovarian failure were improved and the menstrual cycle resumed. And the level of serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone decreased and the level of serum E₂ increased.Conclusions Two cases shows that oriental medicine has effects on patients with premature ovarian failure by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level, menstrual cycle and symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to asses the effects of oriental medicine on premature ovarian failure. Methods: The patient in this case was 30-year-old female. The chief complain is oligomenorrhea. By serum hormone assay and history interview, we diagnosed premature ovarian failure. She was treated by oriental treatments, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture. And then we estimated the results of treatment by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level. Results: After treatments, symptoms of premature ovarian failure was improved, level of serum gonadotropin decreased and level of serum $E_2$ increased. We confirmed the improvement of case by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level. Conclusions: This results of serum hormone assay showed how medically effective oriental treatments of premature ovarian failure.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of oriental medicine on secondary amenorrhea & hypomenorrhea objectively. Methods: By serum hormone assay and history interview, we classified the causes of each patient having secondary amenorrhea & hypomenorrhea. We also diagnosed and treated each patient according to them. And then we estimated the results of treatment by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level. Results: 1. We diagnosed case I as hypothalamic-pituitary disfunction, case II, III as PCOS and case IV as ovarian failure by classifying the causes from western medical scientific angle. 2. We also diagnosed and treated the cases from oriental medical scientific angle. 3. We confirmed the improvement of cases by follow-up measurements of serum hormone level. Conclusion: These results of serum hormone assay showed how medically effective oriental medical therapies of secondary amenorrhea & hypomenorrhea were.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.2 s.138
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• pp.167-169
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• 2006

After infection of male mice with the plerocercoids (spargana) of Spirometra mansoni, serum levels of estrogen and testicular weight were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and weighing machine, respectively. The serum level of estrogen increased progressively in infected mice compared with normal controls, whereas the testicular weight of infected mice decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest that certain substances from spargana change the steroid hormone metabolisms in the host by unknown pathways, and chronic infection may contribute to change of the function of steroid hormone target organ, i.e., testis, in male mice.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2013

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a member of the TGF-${\beta}$ (transforming growth factor-${\beta}$) family whose members play key roles in development, suppression of tumour growth, and feedback control of the pituitary-gonadal hormone axis. MIS is expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner in which it is restricted to male Sertoli cells and female granulose cells. The serum levels of MIS in prenatal and postnatal ICR mice were measured using the enzyme-linked immuno-solvent assay (ELISA) using the MIS/AMH antibody. Mice were grouped by age: the significant periods were at the onset of development. During sex organ differentiation, no remarkable difference between female and male foetus MIS serum levels (both<0.1 ng/ml) was observed. However, MIS serum levels in pregnant mice markedly changed (4.5~12.2 ng/ml). After birth, postnatal female and male mice serum MIS levels changed considerably (male: <0.1~138.5 ng/ml, female: 5.3~103.4 ng/ml), and the changing phase were diametrically opposed (male: decreasing, female: fluctuating). These findings suggest that MIS may have strong associations with not only develop-ment but also puberty. For further studies, establishing the standard MIS serum levels is of importance. Our study provides the basic information for the study of MIS interactions with reproductive organ disability, cancer, and the effect of other hormone or menopause. We hypothesise that if MIS is regularly injected into middle-age women, meno-pause will be delayed. We detected that serum MIS concentration curves change with age. The changing phase is different between males and females, and this difference is significant after birth. Moreover, MIS mRNA is expressed during the developmental period (prenatal) and also in the postnatal period. This finding indicates that MIS may play a significant role in the developmental stage and in growth after birth.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.176-181
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• 2012

Objective: In 2009 anti-M$\ddot{u}$llerian hormone (AMH) assay was approved for clinical use in Korea. This study was performed to determine the reference values of AMH for predicting ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using the clinical assay data. Methods: One hundred sixty-two women who underwent COH cycles were included in this study. We collected data on age, basal AMH and FSH levels, total dose of gonadotropins, stimulation duration, and numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilized. Blood samples were obtained on cycle day 3 before gonadotropin administration started. Serum AMH levels were measured at a centralized clinical laboratory center. The correlation between the AMH level and COH outcomes and cut-off values for poor and high response after COH was analyzed. Results: Concentration of AMH was significantly correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved (OPU; r=0.700, p<0.001). The mean${\pm}$SE serum AMH levels for poor ($OPU{\leq}3$), normal ($4{\leq}OPU{\leq}19$), and high ($OPU{\geq}20$) response were $0.94{\pm}0.15$ ng/mL, $2.79{\pm}0.21$ ng/mL, and $6.94{\pm}0.90$ ng/mL, respectively. The cut-off level, sensitivity and specificity for poor and high response were 1.08 ng/mL, 85.8%, and 78.6%; and 3.57 ng/mL, 94.4%, and 83.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Our data present clinical reference values of the serum AMH level for ovarian response in Korean women. The serum AMH level could be a clinically useful predictor of ovarian response to COH.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2000

Recently, there is a worldwide concern that a great number of man-made chemicals have a hormone-like action both in humans and in animals. EPA and OECD are developing screening programs using validated test systems to determine whether certain substances may have an effect on humans. In the present study, the establishment of in vivo short-term test system for pubertal female assay with thyroid to detect endocrine disrupting chemicals was tried using a model substance, methoxychlor (MC), a chlorinated hydrocarbon insencticide. Forty female rats were assigned to four groups. MC was administered at dose levels of 0, 8, 40 and 200mg/kg by gavage to female rats from day 21 post partum to the completion of vaginal opening. We evaluated body weight change, age at vaginal opening, onset of estrous cyclicity, age at first esturs, ovary weight, and serum concentrations of thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone in female rats. The age at vaginal opening of females receiving 40 200mg/kg was significantly younger than control. The onset of estrus cyclicity and age at first estrus of females receiving 200mg/kg was also younger than controls. There was no effect of treatment on body weight, ovary weight, and hormone concentration. Based on these results, it can be concluded that application of MC at dose level of 40mg/kg affects the vaginal opening and application of MC at dose level of 200mg/kg accelerates the vaginal opening and the onset of estrus cylicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.313-317
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• 2001

The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan has set up six research groups concerning the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One of these projects was "A study on development of testing methodology for health effects due to exposure of environmental endocrine disruptors". In this paper, three topics are described. In OECD collaboration for pre-validation of uterotrophic assay, the most sensitive response to ethnyl estradiol was noted in the ovarectomized rats treated subcutaneously for 7 days. Secondly, it was suggested that changes of the serum $\alpha_{2u}$-globulin level may be a sensitive parameter for detecting the estrogenic activities of chemicals. Finally, development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of preoptic area in the brain oj male rats was inhibited by the treatment with estrogenic chemicals, and their masculine behaviors and reproductive abilities were impaired after sexual maturation. In conclusion, these parameters are considered to be sensitive endpoints for testing estrogenic chemicals.chemicals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.244-253
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• 2022

Background: The indiscriminate use of pesticides in Nigeria may have harmful effects on reproductive health of farmers. Objectives: This study assessed the awareness of reproductive health, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and sperm characteristics of male farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides. Methods: Eighty four male farmers were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data. Blood and semen samples were collected from the subjects in the morning for hormonal assays and semen analysis using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and SQAV sperm quality analyzer. Data were analyzed using chi square, Student's-t-test, and Regression analysis. Results: Serum FSH (p<0.01), LH (p<0.005) and Estradiol (p<0.001) were significantly higher while prolactin (p<0.02) and testosterone (p<0.001) were significantly lower among pesticides exposed farmers than nonexposed subjects. Some 34/84 (40.5%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had serum testosterone levels below the lower limit of the reference range. Those with low testosterone levels (p<0.001), also had FSH (p<0.05), LH (p<0.001) and Estradiol (p<0.002) significantly lower than those with normal testosterone levels. The sperm count among pesticides exposed farmers; total motility and percentage morphology were significantly lower than non-pesticides exposed subjects. Some 14/84 (16.7%) of the pesticides exposed farmers had sperm count below 15 million/mL (oligozoospermia). More than 70% of the farmers were not aware of the reproductive health risks associated with pesticides and only 23.8% of the farmers were using protective devices. Conclusions: Deliberate efforts to improve awareness, knowledge, personal hygiene, and interventions necessary to lessen both pesticides exposure and health risks by adopting safe practices are suggested.