• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2007

Objective: Pathogenesis of the endometriosis is very complex and the etiology is still unclear. Our hypothesis is that there may be some difference in gene expression patterns between eutopic endometriums with or without endometriosis. In this study, we analyzed the difference of gene expression profile with cDNA microarray. Methods: Endometrial tissues were gathered from patients with endometriosis or other benign gynecologic diseases. cDNA microarray technique was applied to screen the different gene expression profiles from early and late secretory phase endometria of those two groups. Each three mRNA samples isolated from early and late secretory phase of endometrial tissues of control were pooled and used as master controls and labeled with Cy3-dUTP. Then the differences of gene expression pattern were screened by comparing eutopic endometria with endometriosis, which were labeled with Cy5-dUTP. Fluorescent labeled probes were hybridized on a microarray of 4,800 human genes. Results: Twelve genes were consistently over-expressed in the endometrium of endometriosis such as ATP synthase H transporting F1 (ATP5B), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (NADP+), mitochondrial ribosomal protein L3, ATP synthase H+ transporting (ATP5C1) and TNF alpha factor. Eleven genes were consistently down-regulated in the endometriosis samples. Many extracellular matrix protein genes (decorin, lumican, EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, fibulin 5, and matrix Gla protein) and protease/protease inhibitors (serine proteinase inhibitor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1), and insulin like growth factor II associated protein were included. Expression patterns of selected eight genes from the cDNA microarray were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR or real time RT-PCR. Conclusion: The result of this analysis supports the hypothesis that the endometrium from patients with endometriosis has distinct gene expression profile from control endometrium without endometriosis.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early structural marker of the atherosclerotic process and is the only non-invasive test that is currently recommended by the American Heart Association for evaluation of the risk. However, use of this parameter has a limitation because it assumes uniform thickness throughout the blood vessel, whereas atherosclerosis is a focal phenomenon that is confined to intima. In fact, plaque can be found along the atherosclerotic blood vessels even though its value is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the carotid plaque and IMT in the stroke patients. We investigated the patients with ischemic stroke, who were admitted to the department of neurology at the Stroke Special Hospital from January to March 2008. After the carotid IMT and plaque were assessed by B-mode ultrasonography, IMT and carotid plaque to risk variables (age, sex) were analyzed. The distribution of CCA IMT was significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.004). Likewise, the distribution of carotid plaque was also significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.006). Carotid plaque was 69 and 92% in normal and abnormal CCA IMTs respectively. The results showed that the CCA IMT was closely associated with carotid plaque.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1999

The pathogenesis of endometriosis is unknown, but retrograde menstruation is widely accepted as an etiology. Refluxed endometrium from endometriosis patients is more prone to implant and invade peritoneum possibly through the action of extracellular proteolysis. This proteolytic action may involve plasminogen activators and the collagenase system. Plasminogen activators (PAs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a critical role in the breakdown of extracellular matrix components and basement membrane in the processes of implantation and tumor invasion. PAs are inhibited by plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and MMPs activity is inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP). To test the hypothesis that lower expression of PAI-1 and TIMP-3 in endometrium from women with endometriosis, we investigated their PAI-1 and TIMP-3 expression by quantitative competitive RT PCR in endometrium from women with and without endometriosis. Endometrial tissues were obtained from 14 patients with severe endometriosis and 14 patients without endometriosis. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into cDNA, and quantitative competitive PCR (QC PCR) was performed to evaluate PAI-1 and TIMP-3 mRNA expression. Endometrium from patients with endometriosis showed decreased expression of PAI-1 and TIMP-3 mRNA compared to endometrium from control in luteal phase (p<0.05). Our results suggest that endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses lower levels of PAI-1 and TIMP-3 than endometrium from normal women. Endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation than control because of higher PA and MMP enzymatic activity. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one of the reasons for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.227-240
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• 1995

착상은 정상적으로 발육한 건강한 배아와 자궁내막과의 만남으로 이루어진다. 따라서 착상을 이해하려면 배아의 발달 과정 및 배아가 착상시 극복해야 하는 정상적인 과정, 즉 배아와 자궁조직과의 접촉, 혈관 연결, 착상 내막 조직의 변화 및 모체 면역체계의 변화 등에 대한 이해가 필요하다. 배아에 염색체 이상 등이 동반되는 경우 건강한 signal로 자궁내막을 변화시킬 수 없으며 결과적으로 착상의 실패를 가져오게 된다. 착상과정에 있어 배아는 스스로의 정상적인 발달과정을 통하여 자궁내막의 변화를 일으킬 뿐 아니라, 또한 모체의 면역기전으로 부터 스스로를 보호할 능력을 갖추게 되므로 건강치 못한 배아는 자연도태된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.219-227
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• 2006

Objective: To evaluate the impact of endometriosis on IVF-ET cycles and to compare IVF outcomes between stage I/II and stage III/IV endometriosis. Methods: We analyzed 697 patients (1,199 cycles) with endometriosis (stage I-II:638 cycles, stage III-IV: 561 cycles) and 325 pts (459 cycles) with tubal factor as controls between January 1994 and April 2004. Pts with endometriosis were diagnosed by laparoscopy and medical and surgical treatment were done in 353 cycles (55.3%) and 466 cycles (83.1%) of stage I-ll/stage III-IV endometriosis. Cycles with age>35 years or FSH>20 miU/mL or severe male factor infertility were excluded. Results: The number of retrieved oocytes ($9.97{\pm}7.2$ vs. $13.4{\pm}7.9$ (p<0.0001 )), total number of embryos ($6.5{\pm}4.8$ vs. $9.1{\pm}5.6$ (p<0.0001)), and good quality embryos ($2.43{\pm}1.6$ vs. $2.74{\pm}1.7$ (p=0.013)) significantly decreased in stage III-IV endometriosis than in control. But pregnancy rate of stage III-IV endometriosis was comparable with control (35.7% vs. 36.8%). Fertilization rate and number of total embryos were lower in stage I-II endometriosis than in control ($64.8{\pm}22.9$ vs. $70.8{\pm}20.8$ (p<0.0001), $7.6{\pm}5.0$ vs. $9.1{\pm}5.6$ (p<0.0001)). In patients with medical and surgical treatment of endometriosis, pregnancy rate and live birth rate was significantly lower in stage I-II than in stage III-IV endometriosis (29.2 vs. 36.2 (%), p=0.045, 23.9 vs. 31.5 (%), p=0.043). There was no difference in the mean age, but the duration of infertility was significantly longer ($56.5{\pm}26.3$ vs. $46.9{\pm}25.8$ (mon), p<0.0001) and fertilization rate was lower ($64.7{\pm}23.3$ vs. $70.5{\pm}22.7$ (%), p=0.001) in stage I-II than stage III-IV endometriosis. Conclusion: We suggest that IVF should be considered earlier in patients with minimal to mild endometriosis because of significantly decreased fertilization rates.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2002

연구목적: 전반적인 자궁내막증이 체외수정시술에 미치는 영향을 알아보고, 특히 stage III-IV 자궁내막증을 갖는 불임환자 체외수정시술 결과에 대하여 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 1998년 9월부터 2001년 9월까지 진단복강경을 통해 자궁내막증으로 진단된 환자 중 체외수정시술을 시행 받은 91명 131주기를 대상으로 하였으며 이중 stage III-IV의 자궁내막증을 갖는 환자는 27명 34주기였다. 비교군은 이시기에 진단된 순수 난관원인으로 체외수정시술을 시행한 40명 56주기를 대상으로 하였다. 통계학적 검사는 Student's t-test와 Chi-square test를 시행하였고, p<0.05를 유의성이 있는 것으로 판정하였다. 결 과: 전체 자궁내막증 환자와 난관인자의 체외수정시술에서 두 군간의 나이는 $31.6{\pm}3.3$, $32.6{\pm}3.6$세로 비슷하였다. 채취된 난자의 수 ($10.3{\pm}6.6$ vs $11.7{\pm}5.1$), 성숙난자 수 ($7.4{\pm}4.7$ vs $7.7{\pm}4.9$), 수정율 ($70.2{\pm}32.4%$ vs $73.7{\pm}20.0%$), Good embryo quality rate (8세포 (G1+G2)를 2PN의 개수로 나눈 값) (32.6% vs 32.4%) 및 배아이식 수 ($4.6{\pm}1.4$ vs $4.8{\pm}1.1$)로 두 군간에 차이는 없었다. 또한 임상적 임신율의 경우도 각각 30.7%, 42.8%로 비슷하였다. 중등도 및 중증의 자궁내막증과 난관인자의 비교에서 성숙난자 및 채취된 난자의 개수는 각각 $8.8{\pm}4.9$, $7.7{\pm}3.9$, $11.3{\pm}7.0$, $11.7{\pm}5.1$개로 두 군간에 차이는 없었다. 수정율은 stage III와 IV 군에서 감소되는 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다 ($66.2{\pm}30.0%$ vs $73.7{\pm}20.0%$). Good qulity embryo rate (GQER)는 stage III-IV 자궁내막증 환자군에서 22.0%로 순수 난관인자의 32.4%에 비하여 감소하는 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다 (p=0.15, Chi-square test). 배아이식 수의 경우는 각각 $4.7{\pm}1.5$, $4.8{\pm}1.1$개로 차이가 없었다. 배아이식 주기당 임상적 임신율의 경우는 stage III-IV군에서 25.0% (8/32), 난관인자 군의 42.8% (24/56)로 통계학적인 유의성은 없었으나 (p=0.06, Chi-square test), 중등도 및 중증의 자궁내막증을 갖는 환자에서 임신율이 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 결 론: 체외수정시술시 자궁내막증이 임신율에 나쁜 영향을 미치지 않지만, 중등도 및 중증의 자궁 내막증을 갖는 불임환자의 체외수정시술에서는 임신율에 나쁜 영향을 끼칠 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.243-252
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among disease-related characteristics, symptom stress, quality of life in women with endometriosis, and then to identify predictors of quality of life in them. The self-reported questionnaires were administered to 99 women in one general hospital. As results of multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting quality of life in women with endometriosis were sick leave (${\beta}=-.27$, p=.000) and symptom stress (${\beta}=.59$, p=.000), explained women's quality of life with 57.0% (F=11.39, p<.001). Based on the findings, there is a need to develop a self-care program for chronic pain and a nursing intervention for enhancing a quality of life in women with endometriosis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2007

This study was carried out to examine gene expression altered in endometrium of Korean cattle (Hanwoo) with endometritis using microarray. In this study, 4,560 diferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the endometrium of Hanwoo. Of 4,560 DEGs, 2,026 genes were up-regulated, while 2,536 genes were down-regulated in endometritis. Of them, top 10 regulated genes were listed. Filamin A, pancreatic anionic trypsinogen, Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha, collagen type VI alpha 1, butyrate response factor 2, aggrecanses-2, annexin 14, aminopeptidease A, orphan transporter v7-3, and epithelial stromal interaction 1 were up-regulated, while MHC class II antigen, integrin-binding sialoprotein, uterine milk protein precursor, down-regulated in colon cancer 1, glycoprotein 330, dickkopf-1, cfh protein, $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ secretion activator, UL16 binding protein 3, and proenkephalin were down-regulated in the endometritis. Our results suggest that these genes could be useful biomarkers for diagnosis Hanwoo's endometritis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.292-294
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• 2007

Endometrial biopsy in the horse is an important technique for maintaining breeding soundness by detecting changes related with reduced fertility and monitoring response to specific uterine therapy. A 13-year-old thoroughbred mare had been in trouble with repeated breeding for getting pregnant before the sample of endometrial biopsy was offered to investigate the possibility of pregnancy in the future. Based on the tissue sections examined, the prognosis for this mare to conceive and successfully carry a foal to term was estimated to be 10 to 50%.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2006

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Methods: This study is prospective and case-control study in University hospital, enrolled thirty-four women with laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and thirty-seven women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ levels in peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. Results: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were higher than in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. The concentrations were higher than among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in patients with endometriosis in the peritoneal fluid may be relate to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.