• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer between embryos cultured in a time-lapse monitoring system (TLS) and those cultured in a conventional incubator (CI). Methods: The medical records of 250 fertilized embryos from 141 patients undergoing infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technology at a tertiary hospital from June 2018 to May 2020 were reviewed. The study population was divided into TLS and CI groups at a 1 to 1 ratio (125 embryos per group). The primary outcome was the live birth rate. Results: The TLS group had a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate (46.4% vs. 27.2%, p=0.002), implantation rate (27.1% vs. 12.0%, p=0.004), and live birth rate (32.0% vs. 18.4%, p=0.013) than the CI group. Furthermore, subgroup analyses of the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in the different age groups favored the TLS group. However, this difference only reached statistical significance in the live birth rate in women aged over 40 years and the clinical pregnancy rate in women aged 35-40 years (p=0.048 and p=0.031, respectively). The miscarriage rate, cleavage rate, and blastocyst rate were comparable. Conclusion: TLS application improved the live birth rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy rate, particularly in the advanced age group in this study, while the other reproductive outcomes were comparable. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to further explore the ramifications of these findings, especially in different age groups.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the insemination method on the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture performed between January 2011 and December 2014. Results: There were 2,003 cycles of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 336 cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), including 25,652 and 4,164 embryos that underwent sequential blastocyst culture, respectively. No significant differences were found in the female patients' age, basal follicle-stimulating hormone level, basal luteinizing hormone level, body mass index, number of oocytes, maturity rate, fertilization rate, or good-quality embryo rate. However, the blastocyst formation rate and embryo utilization rate were significantly higher in the conventional IVF group than in the ICSI group (54.70% vs. 50.94% and 51.09% vs. 47.65%, respectively, p<0.05). The implantation/pregnancy rate (IVF, 50.93%; ICSI, 55.10%), miscarriage rate (IVF, 12.57%; ICSI, 16.29%), and live birth rate (IVF, 42.12%; ICSI, 44.08%) were similar (p>0.05). No cycles were canceled due to the formation of no usable blastocysts. Conclusion: Although the fertilization method had no effect on clinical outcomes, the blastocyst formation rate and embryo utilization rate in the ICSI group were significantly lower than those observed in the conventional IVF group. Therefore, more care should be taken when choosing to perform blastocyst culture in ICSI patients.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive status and the effect of progesterone treatment on the recovery of reproductive disorders in Hanwoo. Hanwoo farms were surveyed the general management status, such as the type of barn, the feed intake, the incidence of reproductive disorders. The reproductive disorder cattle were treated 7 days insertion of control internal drug releasing for cattle (CIDR) and injection of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ at 1 day before removal. The recovery of reproductive disorders was assessed by determining the pregnancy following artificial insemination. The total number of surveyed Hanwoo farms was 127, and the total incidence rate of reproductive disorders was 19.7% (209/1,061). Compared to the herd size, the incidence rates of reproductive disorders in less than 10 heads (37.5%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in 10 to 20 heads (14.7%) and more than 20 heads (13.6%) of herd size per farm. The incidence rate of reproductive disorders in tie stall barn was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in free stall barn (30.4% vs. 14.7%), and even in free stall barn, that tended to decrease as the floor area was larger. The incidence rate of reproductive disorder by the parity was highest in heifer (50.7%), and that tended to decrease as the parity was increased. The distribution rate of the case of reproductive disorder in anestrus, recovery rate of reproductive disorders fellowing CIDR treatment was 75.1% (157/209). In the recovery rate of reproductive disorders by body condition score (BCS), BCS 1, 2 and 3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate (85.7, 84.9 and 86.8%), and gross recovery rate in emaciated cattle was better than in obese cattle (BCS 4, 5). In conclusion, the incidence rate of reproductive disorders in Hanwoo raised in Youngju province area was 19.7%, and that tended to decrease as the herd size was increase because of increased farmer's attentions, and the floor area was larger. The majority of the case of reproductive disorders was anestrus. The recovery rate of reproductive disorders following CIDR treatment was 75.1%, and to optimize the recovery rate of reproductive disorders, cows and heifers were maintained BCS 1, 2 and 3 by moderate management.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.163-174
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• 1986

The 587 Holstein cows which calved from January 1983 to December 1984 at an integrated dairy farm in Chung-nom province were examined for the incidence of reproductive disorders and their conception rate after treatment. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The incidence of reproductive disorders was 47.9% (281 heads) among 587 heads which calved. 1) As number of calvings increased, the incidence of reproductive disorders decreased. 2) The cows which calved in spring and summer showed significantly higher incidence of reproductive disorders than those which calved in autumn and winter (p<0.05). 3) Among reproductive disorders, ovarian, uterine, cervical and vaginal diseases figured 54.3%, 43.7%, 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. 4) Among individual genital diseases, endometritis (40.3%) occurred most frequently. 2. Among 281 heads with reproductive disorders, 216 heads(76.9%) conceived after treatment. 1) After treatment of reproductive disorders, the conception rate by number of calvings was in range from 69.6% to 87.5%. 2) The cows which calved in summer and winter showed significantly higher conception rate after treatment of reproductive disorders than those which calved in spring and autumn (P<0.05). 3) The conception rates after treatment of the cows with ovarian, uterine, cervical and vaginal diseases were 66.5%, 81.2%, 33.3% and 50.0% respectively. 4) The cows with endometritis showed the highest conception rate after treatment (85.9%).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.358-363
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• 1998

These studies were performed to investigate what genital diseases could be diagnosed by ultrasonography in the mares associated with infertility. Of 159 thoroughbred breeders(4 to 18 years old), 31 mares which had been considered as the mares with reproductive disorders were examined by ultrasonography during the breeding season. 1. Hematoma in ovarian disordersl endometritis and pyometra in uterine disorders could be diagnosed by ultrasonography. 2.The rate of infertility was 19.5% out of 159 breeders and the rate of uterine disordres was 71.0% among the whole reproductive disorders. 3.Of 31 mares considered as the mares with infertilityi 26 mares were diagnosed by ultrasonography denoting 83.9% of diagnosis rate. 4.The highest average age of mares among the mares with reproductive disorders was 11.7 years in the mares with uterine disorders. The average age of the mares diagnosed as concepted was 7.5 years, which was much lower than that of the mares with reproductive disorders.5.Crushing one of twin vesicles was confirmed by ultrasonography. In conclusions ultrasonography was feasible for diagnosis of the mares with reproductive problems.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2007

Ethanol extract of 20 botanicals in 3 concentrations i.e., 2.5%, 5% and 10% were evaluated for their efficacy to improve reproductive performance of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mod L.) through feeding botanical enriched mulberry leaves during $2^{nd}$ day of $4^{th}$ age as well as $1^{st}$ and $3^{rd}$ day of $5^{th}$ age larvae. The preliminary screening was done by ranking the botanicals based on influence in most important reproductive contributing parameters such as single cocoon weight, effective rate of rearing, pupation rate, fecundity and recovery of eggs/kg cocoon. Five botanicals viz., Asparagus recemosus, Achyranthes aspera, Tribulus terrestris, Withania somnifera, Parthenium histerophorus ranked first were further evaluated at 8% 5% and 3% concentrations to confirm their effectiveness and standardize effective concentration. Among the rearing parameters, mature larval weight, shell ratio and number of cocoons/kg were not significantly influenced by the treatments. However, reproductive parameters such as effective rate of rearing (wt), pupation rate (%), fecundity (No.) and egg recovery (g)/kg cocoon were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the botanicals. Higher fecundity and egg recovery were obtained on treatment with Withania somnifera irrespective of concentrations. However at 5% concentration, pupation rate, fecundity as well as egg recovery were found significantly higher than that of other concentrations, confirming its effectiveness for improving reproductive efficiency.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.187-204
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• 1989

This is a report concerning IVF-ET program and its outcomes of the reproductive center of the Ohio State University(OSU). The pregnancy rate/laparascopy in the OSU reproductive center was average 12.2%. However, the fertilization rate was lower than other reporters. The other problem of the OSU reproductive center was that there was no success in the field of cryopreserved embryo and donor embryo. Therefore, many aspects such as hyperstimulation protocol, culture systems, and embryo transfer technique should have to be reevaluated in order to enhance the outcome of IVF-ET program in the OSU reproductive center.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2023

Objective: This study compared the outcomes of single blastocyst transfer cycles, using day- 5 poor-quality blastocysts and day-6 high-quality blastocysts. Methods: We analyzed 462 frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles performed at our center from January 2014 to December 2019. The cycles were divided into two groups: a day-5 poor-quality blastocyst transfer group (group A) and a day-6 high-quality blastocyst transfer group (group B). The clinical outcomes were tested. Results: In groups A and B, respectively, the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR; 61.65% vs. 67.17%, p=0.258), implantation rate (IR; 61.65% vs. 67.17%, p=0.258), and live birth rate (LBR; 69.51% vs. 77.83%, p=0.134) showed no significant differences. Moreover, when day-3 embryo quality was considered, the CPR, IR, and LBR were also similar in group A and group B (p>0.05). Conclusion: The clinical outcomes of day-5 poor-quality blastocysts and day-6 high-quality blastocysts were similar, suggesting that the developmental speed of the embryo might be more important than embryo quality for the clinical outcomes of single blastocyst transfer in FET cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.166-171
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• 2012

Objective: We compared the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with IVM, conventional IVF, GnRH agonist, and GnRH antagonist cycles. Methods: The prospective study included a total of 67 cycles in 61 infertile women with PCOS. The women with PCOS were randomized into three IVF protocols: IVM/IVF with FSH and hCG priming with immature oocyte retrieval 38 hours later (group A, 14 cycles), GnRH agonist long protocol (group B, 14 cycles), and GnRH antagonist multi-dose flexible protocol (group C, 39 cycles). IVF outcomes, such as clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate (MR), and live birth rate (LBR), were compared among the three groups. Results: Age, BMI, and basal FSH and LH levels did not differ among the three groups. The number of retrieved oocytes and 2 pronucleus embryos was significantly lower in group A compared with groups B and C. The CPR, IR, MR, and LBR per embryo transfer showed no differences among the three groups. There was no incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in group A. Conclusion: The IR, MR, and LBR in the IVM cycles were comparable to those of the GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist cycles. The IVM protocol, FSH and hCG priming with oocyte retrieval 38 hours later, is an effective ART option that is comparable with conventional IVF for infertile women with PCOS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of breeding conditions on reproductive efficiency of thoroughbred broodmares by ultrasonography. The mean age and breeding career of 120 mares used in this study were 11 years old and 6 years, respectively. The average pregnancy rate and embryonic loss rate were 87.5%, 11.8%. The groups that were 8-10 years old, 4-6 years, maiden and mated on May showed the highest pregnancy rate. While mares mated on 1st estrus post partus had the highest ovulation rate but showed the highest embryonic loss rate and he lowest pregnancy rate. And broodmares that had more intrauterine foreign bodies such as cyst and fluid with age and breeding career had represented lower pregnancy rate and higher embryonic loss rate than those having normal uterine condition. These results suggest that the breeding condition and uterine environment of mares had a significant influence on reproductive efficiency.