• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

This study was performed to the expressions of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($20{\alpha}$-HSD) in bovine corpus luteum during early pregnancy. To determine the function of PAPP-A gene during early pregnancy, we collected corpus luteum samples on 30, 60 and 90 days of pregnancy in bovine. The mRNA expression of PAPP-A, $20{\alpha}$-HSD, progesterone-receptor (PR) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein4 (IGFBP4) gene was conducted by Real-time PCR. In parallel with mRNA levels, The protein expressions of PAPP-A and $20{\alpha}$-HSD were detected by immunological analysis. The mRNA expressions $20{\alpha}$-HSD and PAPP-A significantly increased on day 90 in the corpus luteum during pregnancy. The mRNA expression of PR and JGFBP4 in the corpus luteum progressively was enhanced at 30 to 60 day, but decreased on 90 day of pregnancy in the corpus luteum. The expression patterns of these genes, PAPP-A and $20{\alpha}$-HSD were similar pattern in these tissues. In conclusion, PAPP-A and $20{\alpha}$-HSD activity in corpus luteum could be played a role for early pregnancy manifestation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 1994

This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of splenectomy on the hematology and maintenance of pregnant rats. Those animals that had shown regular 4 or 5 day estrous cycles for more than two cycles were used. The day after mating ws designated Day 0 of pregnancy. Spleen was removed from Day 0(early), 6(middle) and 13(late) of pregnant rat, respectively. Blood was collected on Day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of the pregnancy. 1. The total serum protein was increased significantly (P<0.05) to the progress of pregnancy in control rat. All rats that splenectomized groups were decreased significantly(P<0.05) at Day 21 of pregnancy than control rats. 2. Albumin was not significantly changed. 3. Globulin was decreased significantly(P<0.05) between contol and middle treatment at Day 7, 14 of pregnancy. 4. Glucose was increased for the due to the pregress of pregnancy. It was no significance differences among the each groups. 5. Rate of abortion was increased in groups of early and middle of splenectomy compared with control. 6. Period of pregnancy was delayed in middle and late splenectomized gruops companed with control. 7. Litter size was lowed significantly (P<0.05) in early and middle splenectomized groups compared with control.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.817-826
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• 2017

We analyzed how foraging area use changed in female Pipistrellus abramus during the breeding season. Radio tracking was used to follow 12 female P. abramus in Gyeongju City, from 2013 to 2015. We followed three bats in each of four stages of reproduction: early pregnancy, late pregnancy, lactation, and post-lactation. Our data showed that the usable area of a foraging site and the area that was actually used by bats in that site were different, and foraging site use also differed according to stage of reproduction. The bats used arable land the most, with use rates of 57%, 40.4%, and 73.2% during early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and lactation, respectively. Bats in a post-lactation state did not use arable areas at all and instead foraged over bodies of water 90% of the time. There was no difference in the use of each foraging environment between bats in early pregnancy and late pregnancy. However, bats in late pregnancy and those that were lactating did use arable land to different extents, and bats that were lactating and those that were post-lactation also used arable land and bodies of water to different extents.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 1990

A simple and sensitive microplate enzyme immunoassay(ELISA) was developed for progesterone, based on progesterone monoclonal antibody as anti-progesterone, horseradish peroxise(HRP) as enzyme-label and tetramethylbenzidine(TMB) as substrate. The assay has a sensitivity of 5pg-120pg/well and intra- and inter assay coefficients of variation for progesterone standard curve(0.1ng-3.2ng/ml) were ranged 4.4-10.6% and 5.-12.6%, respectively. They assay is performed in less than two hours and provide reliable values to differentiate among samples from day 0(A.I.), day 14 and day 19. The discriminatory levels for early pregnancy diagnosis are [>10ng(day 19) & decreasing rate <1.5 : pregnancy] and [ 7ng & decreasing rate 1.5 : non-pregnancy]. The accuracy of the pregnancy diagnosis for cows classified as positive(pregnancy) and negative(non-pregnancy) were 96% and 100%, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.128-137
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• 1999

Plasma progesterone (P$_4$) concentrations were measured for confirming the estrus observation and for the early pregnancy diagnosis in 130 cows of small farmers. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed from day 30 after artificial insemination to establish the characteristic ultrasonographic appearances of gestational structures in each pregnant stages. Of the 130 cows inseminated, 111 cows (85.4%) were an ovulatory estrus, 12 cows (9.2%) were an unovulatory estrus, and 7 cows (5.4%) were the error of estrus detection, respectively. The accuracy for early pregnancy diagnosis in 111 ovulatory estrus cows achieved when the discriminatory concentration at day 21 after artificial insemination was placed at 3.0 ng-/ml in plasma, was 86.7 % for positive diagnosis and 100% for negative diagnosis, respectively. Pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography were performed to evaluate gestational structures from day 30 after artificial insemination in 83 cows. Pregnant cows were 72 of 83 cows. The characteristic ultrasonography of gestational structures in each gestational stages was as follows. The embryo proper was observed within anechoic fetal fluid between 28 and 40 days after insemination, and amnion and embryonic heartbeat was also detected in this period. Between days 41 and 50, embryo proper was detected as an discriminated from head and body, and forelimb buds and hindlimb buds were also observed in this period. Between days 51 and 60, an embryo proper was clearly discriminated from head and body, and fetal movement, forelimb buds and hindlimb buds were observed in this period. Between days 61 and 70, fetus was completely developed, and fetal skeleton, organs and cotyledon were observed. After day 71, each organs of fetus were rapidly developed and a fetus was partially observed in screen because fetus was too big and larger, These results indicate that plasma P$_4$ determination at days 0,6 and 21 after artificial insemination can be utilized for confirming the estrus observation and for early pregnancy diagnosis. Also, ultrasonography was reliable method for early pregnancy diagnosis at day 30 after artificial insemination.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 1996

Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured by using radjoimmunoassay for early diagnosis of pregnancy in Cheju-native mares. A total of 226 pony mares were examined for pregnancy during breeding and non breeding seasons. Plasma progesterone levels 20~23 days after the onset of oestrus were 4.67+O.67ng /rnl and O.55+O.O4ng /ml for mares becornrning pregnant and not pregnant after the estrus, respectively, and there was a significant differences (p<0.01) between the two groups. Progesterone concentration of pregnant mares gradually increased in 30 days andreached a peak (10.3ng /ml) during the third month of gestation. However, the concentration decresed to the base line (1.llng /rnl) at 7 months and gradually increased again as foaling approached (2.lng /ml). Early diagnosis for pregnancy of Cheju mares by progesterone level at 20~23 days after onset of oestrus was 88% accurate when 4.6ng /ml was used to classify mares as pregnancy and below 1.3ng /rnl was used to determine nonpregnant mares. However, the accuracy of the diagnosis was improved to 96% when a progesterone level of above 2ng /mi was used to classify mares for pregnancy. Diagnosis for pregnancy was 69.6% accurate when mares were classified as pregnancy by horse owners during breeding season. The progesterone levels of pregnant and non-pregnant mares during non-breeding season varied greatly between individual animals, Plasma progesterone levels of pregnant animals ranged from 3.5ng /mi to above 6.2ng /mi whereas similar values were observed in non-pregnant animals. Radioirnrnunoassay technicjues can be applied for the early pregnant diagnosis of Cheju native mares when progesterone levels are measured during the early gestation period (18~23 days after onset of oestrus). However, progesterone concentration of mares in non-breeding season is conisidered unsuitable as a indicator of pregnant diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.95-101
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to detect longitudinal alterations on lumbar vertebral trabecular bone quality (microarchitecture and degree of mineralization) and bone mineral density (BMD) during pregnancy Virginal eighteen mice were used. Then, twelve mice were mated. Mice lumbar vertebrae were scanned before mate, at 7 days of pregnancy (early pregnancy, 6 mice) and immediately after delivery (late pregnancy, 6 mice) by using in-vivo micro-computed tomography Structural parameters, degree of mineralization and BMD were measured. During early pregnancy, there were no significant alterations on structural parameters, degree of mineralization and BMD. At late pregnancy, Tb.Th (11.8%) and BMD (12.7%) were significantly decreased and Tb.N (6.3%), Tb.Pf (43.0%) and BS/BV (15.1%) were significantly increased (p<0.05). Additionally, the lower degree of mineralization was increased, although, the higher degree of mineralization was decreased. These results indicated that the quality and BMD might be not affected during early pregnancy. At late pregnancy, however the bone quality and BMD were likely to be negatively affected.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2011

Peritoneal pregnancy is an implantation in the peritoneal cavity exclusive of tubal, ovarian, or intra-ligamentary implantations. This is a rare obstetric complication with high maternal mortality and even higher perinatal mortality, and secondary type was most common. Risk factors for peritoneal pregnancy are previous history of extrauterine pregnancy or tubal surgery pelvic post-inflammatory status or presence of an intrauterine device. As it is a life-threatening condition, expectant management carries a risk of sudden life-threatening intra-abdominal bleeding and a generally poor fetal prognosis. So, when it is recognized, immediate termination of pregnancy is usually recommended. Early diagnosis of peritoneal pregnancy is difficult, but is important by their life threatening progress course to patients. Recently, we experienced primary peritoneal pregnancy which meets both the original and modified criteria. In this paper, we reported the case of early diagnosed and successfully treated peritoneal pregnancy despite of their diagnosis was incidentally.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.63-71
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• 1987

Interviews of 208 women concerning dietary changes during pregnancy were under-rtaken from September 1986 to January 1987 at the medical centers in Seoul and Kyung Ki. 84% of the total subjects felt the morning sicksnes such as nausea and vomiting within the first trimester of pregnancy. There was a significant correlation between the experience of moring sickness and some environmental factors such as school carreer, food intake in early pregnancy, the number of meals and taking of medicines for promoting nutrition. Foods for which specifie cravings were frequently cited were fruits, meats, cold noodle, noodle and chinese food. Foods of aversions were Kimchi, meats, fish and fatted foods. With regard to beverage, there were the increase in milk and fruint juices consumption and the decrease in coffee ingestion during early pregnancy primarily attributed the concern for feto-maternal health. Possible explanation for these changes associated with pregnancy discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

Objective: Evaluation of embryos using early cleavage to 2-cell stage has been proposed, but a critical time-point for selecting embryos is unclear. The aim of the present study is to provide a guideline including critical time-point in the selection of early cleaving embryo for the reduction of multiple pregnancies as well as the increase of pregnancy rate in human IVF. Methods: This prospective study was performed in 116 cycles from 85 patients who underwent conventional IVF or ICSI at the infertility clinic of Good Moonhwa Hospital from January 2002 to December 2003. Early cleavage (EC) of embryos to 2-cell stage was assessed at 25 h and 27 h postinsemination/microinjection. Embryos that had early cleaved at each time point were designated as EC-1 and EC-2, respectively, while others were designated as non-early cleavage (NEC). Results: At least one early cleavage embryo was observed in 54 (46.6%) for the EC-1 and 84 (72.4%) for the EC-2 of the 116 cycles assessed. Clinical pregnancy rates (PR) were significantly higher in the EC-1 group (66.7%) compared to the EC-2 group (53.6%) or the NEC group (31.2%) (p<0.05). Significant improvement of the pregnancy rate was found when at least two or more embryos were early cleaved at 25 h postinsemination or when the proportion of early cleavage embryo at 25 h postinsemination was higher than 20% (p<0.05). Conclusion: The critical time-point for the selection of early cleavage embryos with high implantation potential is more effective in 25 h postinsemination/microinjection compared to 27 h. The proportion as well as number of early cleavage embryos is also an important factor for the prediction of pregnancy outcome and the chance of multiple pregnancies. These results demonstrated that the evaluation of early cleavage embryos to 2-cell stage is an easy, simple, and objective method for the selection of good quality embryos suitable for embryo transfer.