• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects on bovine abortion and stillbirth in Korea. Three hundred thirty eight bovine fetuses were collected from farms and submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University. Submitted fetuses were evaluated for season, parity and gestation stage on abortion during a 3 years period (June, 1999 to April, 2002). Out of four seasons, incidence of bovine abortion was significantly higher in summer than other seasons (P＜0.05) due to high temperature and humidity. After surveying of incidence of abortion according to parity, it was concentrated in low parity (1, 2 and 3 parity). However, this result was not caused by parity but because most of surveyed cow was low parity. For surveying the distribution of abortion incidence according to days of gestation, we divided the days of gestation into 3 stages including with early (0∼150 days), middle (151∼250 days) and late (251days∼term). Out of 319 aborted fetuses, incidences of abortion were significantly higher in the middle and late stage than early stage (P＜0.05). A high rate (75％) of stock farms did not vaccinate animals, therefore most of cows in Korea were found to have a high risk of becoming infected upon exposure to pathogens. Many of abortions occurred in stock farms where animals of other species were being bred. More studies will be needed to investigate possible linkages between bovine abortion and the breeding of other animal species.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.294-307
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to find out how married women who had had an abortions experience a change through Family Constellation. The consequent changes will occur in the perception of an abortion experience and in the relation between married women themselves and their family. The participants in the study were 9 married women aged 40~60 who have experienced an abortion, and data collection was carried out over 3 periods which were before, right after and one month after the Family Constellation experience through individual in-depth interviews. The chief methodology of this study is based on the one by Colaizzi's phenomenological research, and by using the methodology to analyze the data 15 theme collections and 3 categories were deducted. According to the result of the analysis, the experience of abortion was having negative influence on the whole spectrum of the life of married women who experienced an abortion even though they did not consciously recall the relevant experiences. In the married women's Family Constellation, the agent visualizes the restrained relation which is hidden in unconsciousness and thereby offers an opportunity for married women to untie "knot". Moreover through this opportunity, married women are able to have new perception of their abortion experience and the relation between their family. Furthermore, not only will they be able to recover the relationship with their family, but also emotional stability.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2013

Hypochondroplasia (HCH) is an autosomal dominant inherited skeletal dysplasia, usually caused by a heterozygous mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3). A 27-year-old HCH woman with a history of two consecutive abortions of HCH-affected fetuses visited our clinic for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). We confirmed the mutation in the proband (FGFR3:c.1620C>A, p.N540K), and established a nested allele-specific PCR and sequence analysis for PGD using single lymphocyte cells. We performed this molecular genetic analysis to detect the presence of mutation among 20 blastomeres from 18 different embryos, and selected 9 embryos with the wild-type sequence (FGFR3:c.1620C). A successful pregnancy was achieved through a frozen-thawed cycle and resulted in the full-term birth of a normal neonate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a successful pregnancy and birth using single-cell allele-specific PCR and sequencing for PGD in an HCH patient.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.555-561
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• 2003

Incidence of estrum or abortions in pregnant cows may be affected by large follicles developed together with corpus luteum in pair ovaries of pregnant cows. But the follicles of pregnant phase were not assessed about histological findings. Determination of the healthy and atretic follicles by presence of proliferative cells or apoptotic cells and histological compositions of follicles would be used as important data on measurements of ovarian functions. This study was focussed mainly to investigate macroscopical, histological and immunohistochemical findings of ovarian follicles of pregnant Korean native cows and dairy cows (Holstein). In immunohistochemical methods, assessments of proliferative cells using PCNA antibody and apoptotic cells using TUNEL methods were performed. The follicles were observed on all 24 pregnant cows (17 Korean native cows and 7 Holstein cows). Follicles of greater than 10 mm in daimeter were developed in 37.5% (9/24 heads) of these pregnant cows. largest follicles from in these cows were $16.0{\times}15.0mm$ in diameter in a Korean native cow(l20 days of gestation), $13.4{\times}10.1mm$ in a Korean native cow(50 days of gestation), $12.9{\times}11.5mm$ in a Holstein cow (120 days of gestation). 40.5% among all follicles having diameter of greater than 1.0 mm in pregnant cows were assessed as atretic follicles and in addition, healthy follicles also showed less in number and smaller in size and thinner in wall layer compared with those of cyclic phase ovaries. In immunohistochemical findings, also proliferative positive cells and apoptotic positive cells on the granulosa cell layers in the healthy follicles of pregnant cows appeared less than on those of cyclic follicles. So these follicles were assessed as weakly active follicles. In large follicles, above positive cells were not nearly appeared but granulosa cell debris were more appeared among the granulosa cells. So these large follicles were assessed as inactvie or atretic follicles. The above findings suggest that small follicles of pregnant phase were weakly active or atretic and large follicles were inactive or atretic.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.333-342
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• 1974

In September 1974, a survey was conducted towards 900 women respondents, each representing a household, residing in 18 selected Myuns(townships) of 18 Guns(counties) in Kyunggi-Do. Fifty households were selected randomly in each Myun and the sample Myuns were also randomly selected from the 18 Guns home-visiting interviews were carried out by Myun level maternal and child health workers with questionnair forms designed to measure the maternal and child health status at each household. Major findings obtained from this survey can be summarized as follows: 1. Of the women responents who were investigated in this survey, 13.1% of them were comprised in the illiterates, indicating no difference in literacy rate from that in most urban areas. 2. Most(93.8%) of the respondents were found to have married at ages of 20-24 years old. 3. Most(85.8%) of the respondents were found to have delivered their first babies at ages of 20-24, while only 13.4% had their first babies at 25-29. 4. About 22% of the respondents had 2 children, while 19% and another 19% had 2 and 4 children, respectively. 5. A great majority of the respondents (78%) experienced not a single death of a child within the family, while about 17% experienced death of one child. 0.7% of the women experienced deaths of 4 or more children. 6. 18% and 17% of the women experienced 4 and 3 pregnancies, respectively, and 12% of them experienced 7 or more pregnancies. 7. About 29% of the women experienced an induced abortion at least once. Nearly 2% of them were found to have experience of 4 or more induced abortions. 8. One half (51%) of the women were found to have received prenatal guidances in the latest pregnancies by (Ub(town) and Myun (township) level maternal and child health workers at least once or more times. 9. 52% women received professional prenatal care in the latest pregnancies: 24% at hospitals or clinics and 20% at health centers. 10. Most (89%) of the last-born children were delivered at home, while only 8.7% were delivered at hospital or clinics. 11. Materials used at delivery comprise vinyl (40%), cement bags (32%) ana gauzed or absorbent cottons (19%). 12. The largest preportion of the attendants at delivery comprises mothers in-law (48). Only 24% were found to be attended by either doctors, midwives or maternal and child health workers. 13. In most (90%) of the deliveries scissors were used to cut the umbilicus. But most (7%) of them used unsterilized scissors, 6 while only 20% of them used sterilized ones. 14. About 68% of the last-born babies were breast-fed for 12 months or more. Those who weaned during 6-12 months were 21%. 15. During 12 months after birth, 65% of the last-born babies were breast-fed, while 24% were given a combination of breast milk and cooked rice. 16. About nine out of the 10 births were found to be registered. 17. 71% of babies received BCG vaccination, while 79% and 56% received samllpox and DPT vaccinations, respectively within a year after birth. Those who were vaccinated against poliomyelitis were about 50%. 18. About 87% of the respondents recogninized the existence of government-sponsored maternal and child health guidance program.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.666-671
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• 2017

Objective: Aim of the current comparative study was to evaluate production outputs, reproduction efficiency and functional traits in dual-purpose Fleckvieh and Braunvieh cows, reared under temperate European conditions. Methods: A data-set from 414 Fleckvieh and 42 Braunvieh cows and 799 lactations was analysed. ID tag number, milk yield per milking session, number of steps/interval and milk conductivity were recorded and collected daily using AfiMilk 3.076 A-DU software (Afimilk Ltd., Kibbutz, Israel). Production and milk quality data were taken from the results of the official performance recordings and the reproductive outputs of cows were recorded by the research stations veterinarians. Comparisons between the two genotypes were carried out using the one way analysis of variance protocol, with categorical factor being considered the breed of cows. All the statistical inferences were carried out using Statistica software (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). Results: Fleckvieh cows significantly outperformed ($p{\leq}0.05$) the Braunvieh herd, with average milk yields of $5,252.1{\pm}35.79kg$ and $4,897.6{\pm}128.94kg$, respectively. Age at first calving was significantly ($p{\leq}0.01$) influenced by the breed, with Fleckvieh heifers being more precocious ($32.8{\pm}0.29mo$) compared to those of Braunvieh breed ($35.7{\pm}0.84mo$). Reproduction efficiency as defined by the number of inseminations per gestation, calving interval, dystocia, days dry and days open, was not influenced by genotype (p>0.05). Incidences of sub-clinical mastitis, clinical mastitis, lameness and abortions were not influenced by the breed factor (p>0.05). Stay-ability of cows was significantly ($p{\leq}0.001$) influenced by genotype, with Braunvieh cows having an average age at culling of $117.88{\pm}11.78$ months compared to $90.88{\pm}2.89$ months in Fleckvieh. Conclusion: Overall, results have shown that genotype significantly influenced milk yield, age at first calving and longevity.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2004

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence and its correlation to the underlying diseases of women in Daegu. Materials and Methods: Urinary incontinence questionnaire regarding age, body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), parity, delivery mode, menopausal status, history of hormonal replacement therapy, abortion history, and any underlying diseases were administered from May to November, 2001 to 412 women over 20 who had been randomly selected from the Outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Yeungnam University. The clinical characteristics of women who experience, and those who do not experience urinary incontinence were compared by means of the Student's t-test for continuous variables and by the Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the urinary incontinent group (N=193) was 44.2 years. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of incontinence with the increase of age (p=0.000). The prevalence of urinary incontinence was significantly related to the number of deliveries and the mode of delivery (p=0.007, p=0.001) No significant relationship was demonstrated between urinary incontinence and BMI (body mass index); the number of abortions; hormonal status; or any underlying diseases such as thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory disease. Also, most of the urinary incontinent women didn't recognize their incontinence as pathological and consequently, didn't consult a physician. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the prevalence of urinary incontinence is significantly correlated to age, parity, and the mode of delivery. Most of the middle-aged women who suffered from urinary incontinence didn't recognize their incontinence a pathological. Those results suggest that women in this age group need more information and more education about urinary incontinence.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2001

Sertoli cells in the normal adult testis are nondividing cells, which are relatively inconspicuous on cross section of the seminiferous tubule and comprise about 10% to 15% of the tubular cellular elements. Ultrastructurally, Sertoli cells have characteristic nucleoli, plasma membrane, and cytoplasmic components. The plasma membrane has two types of intercellular junctions which are developed at puberty: junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell-germ ceil junction. However, the ultrastructural findings of Sertoli cells in human fetus is not fully elucidate yet. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformation were studied using transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human. In human fetal testes from 14 weeks to 27 weeks, the cell junctions of Sertoli-germ cells and Sertoli-Sertoli cells are desmosome like structure and not tight junction or desmosome. The Overall intracytoplasmic organelles of Sertoli cells are relatively sparse. The mitochondrias are relatively abundant but no developed cristae. And the rough endoplasmic reticuli are abundant and smooth endoplasmic reticuli are sparse. The amount of lipid droplets are regularly observed in human fetal Sertoli cells. No microfilaments or Charcot-Bottcher's crystalloids are present. From the results, Sertoli cells in human fetal testes are somewhat different ultrastructural findings with puberty or adult. However, to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human, further study for 28 weeks to puberty is required.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.511-522
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• 1999

The Leydig cell found within the interstitium of the testis is important in the spermatogenesis. The differentiation of Leydig cell, even though relatively well known in animals, is not fully elucidated yet in human. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformations were studied using light and transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Leydig cells in humans. Leydig cells could be classified as 4 types: fusiform, light, dark, and degenerating cells. The most immature cell was the fusiform cells found frequently at 14 weeks, which seemed to differentiate successively into light and dark cells. Light cells were most frequently found at 17 weeks and dark cells at 24 weeks. Light cells were found to have mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticuli (sER) most prominently than any other cell types. The lumen of sER became to be expanded with age. Some electron-dense inclusions were observed in the mitochondrial matrix of the dark cells. Lipid droplets found more in light cells than dark cells were most prominent at 16 weeks and gradually decreased after 20 weeks. Glycogen particles were rich in dark cells. Degenerating cells were most frequently found at 27 weeks. From the results, it is suggested that Leydig cells in human fetal testes undergo similar differentiation process af in animals.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-96
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• 1997

The main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of sex ratio imbalance at birth in Taegu which has experienced the extremely imbalanced sex ratio at birth since mid-1980s. This paper attempts to compare the determinants of sex ratio imbalance at birth, such as sex discrimination against women, son preference, prenatal sex identification followes by sex-selective induced abortions, among married women aged 25 to 44 in Taegu with those in Bay area, California in USA. The research is based on the survey data which were conducted in Taegu, Repulic of Korea and Bay area, California in USA. The findings of this analysis suggest that married women in Taegu are more likely to feel sex discrimination against women than married women in Bay area. Furthermore, the percentage of married women's effort for son bearing before pregnancy is much higher than that of married women in Bay area. We also have found that the percentage of sex-selective induced abortion in Taegu is six times higher than that of married women in Bay area. According to the logistic regression analysis, the determinants of sex-selective induced abortion among married women in Taegu are discrimination against women, son preference, prenatal sex identification. On the other hand, age is the only variable which has an important impact on sex-selective induced abortion among married women in Bay area. From the findings of this study, we can conclude that son preference based on Cofucianism is the most important impact on sex ratio imbalance at birth in Taegu where son preference is much stronger than other regions in Korea. The phenomenon of extremely imbalanced sex ratio at birth in Taegu is the result of combination of these factors, such as strong son preference, seeking to have at least one son within small family size, and prenatal sex identification followed by sex-selective induced abortion.