• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.451-458
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the effectiveness of pre-weaning injection of gonadotropin and scheduled fixed-time insemination on sow fertility. Sows were randomly assigned to receive gonadotropin 2 days before weaning, 1 day after weaning or none as control. In gonadotropin treated groups, half of sows were inseminated twice at 24 and 36 hours after onset estrus and half of sows were inseminated twice at scheduled fixed-time. Weaning to onset of estrus was the shortest in lactating sows injected with gonadotropin prior to weaning. Liter size was significantly higher in AI groups after detection of estrus, compared to fixed-time AI group. Results of these experiments indicated that injection of gonadotropin in lactating sows could initiate the final follicular development, and has potential to enhance the reintegration of estrus. Further researches are needed to define the relationship between reduced interval of wean to onset estrus and enhanced fertility in lactating sows.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.362-370
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• 2023

Objective: To report the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with underlying B-cell lymphoma and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) showing migratory airspace opacities on serial chest computed tomography (CT) with persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to June 2022, of the 56 patients with underlying hematologic malignancy who had undergone chest CT more than once at our hospital after acquiring COVID-19, seven adult patients (5 female; age range, 37-71 years; median age, 45 years) who showed migratory airspace opacities on chest CT were selected for the analysis of clinical and CT features. Results: All patients had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma (three diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and four follicular lymphoma) and had received B-cell depleting chemotherapy, including rituximab, within three months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. The patients underwent a median of 3 CT scans during the follow-up period (median 124 days). All patients showed multifocal patchy peripheral ground glass opacities (GGOs) with basal predominance in the baseline CTs. In all patients, follow-up CTs demonstrated clearing of previous airspace opacities with the development of new peripheral and peribronchial GGO and consolidation in different locations. Throughout the follow-up period, all patients demonstrated prolonged COVID-19 symptoms accompanied by positive polymerase chain reaction results from nasopharyngeal swabs, with cycle threshold values of less than 25. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with B-cell lymphoma who had received B-cell depleting therapy and are experiencing prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistent symptoms may demonstrate migratory airspace opacities on serial CT, which could be interpreted as ongoing COVID-19 pneumonia.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.43.1-43.11
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• 2020

Capicua (CIC) is a transcriptional repressor that regulates several developmental processes. CIC deficiency results in lymphoproliferative autoimmunity accompanied by expansion of CD44^hiCD62L^lo effector/memory and follicular Th cell populations. Deletion of Cic alleles in hematopoietic stem cells (Vav1-Cre-mediated knockout of Cic) causes more severe autoimmunity than that caused by the knockout of Cic in CD4⁺CD8⁺ double positive thymocytes (Cd4-Cre-mediated knockout of Cic). In this study, we compared splenic CD4⁺ T cell activation and proliferation between whole immune cell-specific Cic-null (Cic^f/f;Vav1-Cre) and T cell-specific Cic-null (Cic^f/f;Cd4-Cre) mice. Hyperactivation and hyperproliferation of CD4⁺ T cells were more apparent in Cic^f/f;Vav1-Cre mice than in Cic^f/f;Cd4-Cre mice. Cic^f/f;Vav1-Cre CD4⁺ T cells more rapidly proliferated and secreted larger amounts of IL-2 upon TCR stimulation than did Cic^f/f;Cd4-Cre CD4⁺ T cells, while the TCR stimulation-induced activation of the TCR signaling cascade and calcium flux were comparable between them. Mixed wild-type and Cic^f/f;Vav1-Cre bone marrow chimeras also exhibited more apparent hyperactivation and hyperproliferation of Cic-deficient CD4⁺ T cells than did mixed wild-type and Cic^f/f;Cd4-Cre bone marrow chimeras. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CIC deficiency at the beginning of T cell development endows peripheral CD4⁺ T cells with enhanced T cell activation and proliferative capability.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2005

This study was comducted to examine the effects of culture medium, and the osmolarity and osmotic change of the culture medium on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes and developement of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. In Experiment 1, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in NCSU-23, mWM and mKRB, respectively, There was no difference in maturation rate($62.1\~71.3\%$) among groups. In Experiment 2, matured oocytes in each medium were activated and cultured for 6 days in the same media. Blastocyst formation rate was higher in NCSU-23($22.9\%$) than those of others($0\~0.6\%$, P<0.05). In Experiment 3, parthenogenetic embryos were cultured for 6 days in NCSU-23 with different osmolarity(300, 280 and 256 mOsmols) adjusted by NaCl. There were no differences in development rates to the blastocyst stage($11.0\~14.4\%$) among groups. In Experiment 4, activated oocytes were cultured for 2 days in NCSU-23 with 300, 280 and 256 mOsmols and then transferred to increased or decreased osmotic condition. Blastocyst formation rate was higher in a group which was transferred from the higher osmotic condition to the lowe. osmotic condition($21.0\%$) than a contrary group( $11.8\%$, (P<0.05). This result shows that the culture medium and the osmolarity of the culture medium affect the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos, and the change of osmolarity from the higher condition to the lower condition at a certain developmental stage can enhance the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to investigative the effects of amino acids supplementation on maturation, fertilization and embryo development of pig oocytes. Essential amino acids (EA), non-essential amino acids (NA) or both amino acids (EA + NA) were supple-mented to North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF). When the amino acids were supplemented to the maturation medium, the maturation rates were higher (p<0.05) in the NA group than control ($83.3{\pm}0.04\%\;versus\;70.0{\pm}0.05\%$, but the subsequent cleavage rates and development to morula and blstocyst stage between aminoacid supplement groups and control were not different. The developmental rates to morula and blastocysts stage were not significantly different regardless of amino acid supplementation to culture medium. In addition, supplementation of amino acids did not significantly affect the rate of fertilization and polyspermy. When the amino acids were supplement to culture medium, the number of trophectodermal (TE) cells was significantly (p<0.05) higher in amino acid supplement group than that of control ($18.6{\pm}0.5\;versus\;16.1{\pm}0.6$), whereas the numbers of inner cell mass (ICM) cells were not different among the treaonent groups and control ($29.0{\pm}0.9\~31.5{\pm}1.2$). Total cell number was also significantly (p<0.05) higher in EANA group ($50.0{\pm}1.0$) than that of control group ($44.2{\pm}1.1$). These results indicate that the amino acid supplementation to maturation and culture medium may not significantly stimulate early embryo development, but may improve the TE cell number of blastocyst stage in the pig.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 1997

Bypassing acrosome reaction and fusion process in intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI), most of injected spermatozoa still contain intact acrosome contents and plasma membrane. It Is not known yet what acrosome contents and plasma membrane of spermatozoa have effect on the development of embryo. For further understanding of fertilization process after ICSI, we studied the time of pronucleus formation, disappearance and first cleavage in human zygote, and pregnancy rate in relation to acrosome reaction rate of spermatozoa after ICSI. Seventy cycles undergoing ICSI program were randomly selected. Sperm suspension from 38 cycles were treated 50% human follicular fluid(hFF) for 3 hours in order to induce acrosome reaction, others were not treated as control. Acrosome reaction in hFF treated and non-treated group was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-conjugated Arachis hypogea(PNA) and Pisum sativum agglutinin(PSA). Oocytes were classified into 'good' and 'poor' according to their morphology. After ICSI, fertilization of oocytes were assessed by detection of two pronuclei at 16 hours. The pronuclei disappearance and first cleavage of zygotes were observed at 24 hours, and then embryos were transferred to uterus after culture for 72 hours. The rate of acrosome reaction of spermatozoa in hFF treated group was significantly higher than that in control(p<0.01). Fertilization rates of good oocytes were not different both control and hFF treated group(81.3%(174/206) vs. 72.1%(102/130)). But, in poor oocytes, the fertilization rates in hFF treated group(72.1%(149/183)) were increased compared than those of control group (63.6%(98/140), p<0.01). In either good or poor oocytes, the rates of pronuclei disappearance in hFF treated-spermatozoa injected oocytes were higher than control (59.1%(103/174), 56.4%(84/149) vs. 32.4%(33/102), 37.8%(37/98), p<0.01). Also, the rates of thirst cleavage were increased in hFF treated group (31%(54/174), 24.1%(36/149)) compared than those of control group (10.8%(11/102), 13.2%(13/98), p<0.01). The pregnancy rates of hFF treated group (42.1%(16/38)) were slightly higher than control group (28.1%(9/32), p>0.05). But, the pregnancy rate of group which possessed more than one cleavaged zygote at 24 hours was higher than group which did not (45.2%(19/42) vs. 21.4%(6/28), p<0.05). From these results, the development of zygotes were faster in higher acrosome reacted sperm group than lower acrosome reacted sperm group after ICSI. Our results may be explained that acrosomal membrane and plasma membrane are easily detached from spermatozoa in acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with acrosome intact sperm in the cytoplasm of oocyte during pronuclear formation. We conclude that the injection of acrosome reacted spermatozoa will increase the pregnancy rate as they can induce fast embryonic development in ICSI.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develop a serum-free, defined medium of IVM of pig oocytes. The TCM-199 with supplemented with polyvinylalcohol(PVA), polyvinylpyrrollidone(PVP) and porcine follicular fluid(pFF) were used as basal medium. The effects of the these additives on the rates of maturity and development under in-vitro fertilization and in vitro culture were examined and subsequently considered on the possibilities be sustituted for the bovine serum albumin(BSA). Maturation rate of pig oocytes in IVM media containing PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than that of PVP(78.6％). Cleavage rate after IVF of PVP(64％) was significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of PVA(73％), pFF(77％) and BSA(73％) supplements. in vitro development rates to morulae and blastocyst on PVP(54％) were also significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of the supplements of PVA(63％), pFF(69％) and BSA(65％). In comparison of maturation and fertilization rates of pig oocytes in each supplements, the maturity rates of PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly lower(P<0.05) than that of PVP(72.4％) and while, the fertilization rates of pFF(87.1％) and BSA(89.1％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than these of PVA(78.0％) and PVP(70.6％). It may be concluded that PVA and pFF can be substituted far BSA in medium for culturing pig oocytes; however, it may be considered that PVP were limited to for BSA in the in vitro culture of the embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

This study was conducted to examine the role of intact cumulus cells during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on sperm penetration, male pronuclear (MPN) formation and subsequent embryo development of oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained from the slaughtered gilt ovaries were matured for 44 h in TCM199 containing 10% porcine follicular fluid, epidermal growth factor and hormones. After maturation culture, denuded oocytes or oocytes with intact cumulus cells were coincubated with frozen-thawed boar semen for 8h in a modified tris-buffered medium containing 5mM caffeine and 10mM calcium chloride. Putative zygotes were fixed and examined for sperm penetration and MPN formation (Experiments $1{\sim}3$), or cultured in North Carolina State University-23 medium fo. 156 h (Experiment 3). In Experiment 1, sperm penetration was examined after insemination of denuded oocytes and oocytes with intact cumulus cells at the concentration of $7.5{\times}10^5$ sperm/ml. Optimal sperm concentration for IVF of cumulus-intact oocytes was determined in Experiment 2 by inseminating intact oocytes with $2{\sim}5{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml. In Experiment 3, denuded or intact oocytes were inseminated at the concentrations of $7.5{\times}10^5$ and $4.0{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml, respectively, and in vitro embryo development was compared. Sperm penetration was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in cumulus-intact oocytes compared to denuded oocytes (35.2% vs. 77.4%). Based on the rates of sperm penetration and normal fertilization, the concentration of $4.0{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml was optimal for the IVF of intact oocytes compared to other sperm concentrations. The presence of intact cumulus cells during IVF significantly (p<0.05) improved embryo cleavage (48.8% vs. 58.9%), blastocyst (BL) formation (11.0% vs. 22.8%) and embryo cell number $(22{\pm}2\;vs.\;29{\pm}2\;cells)$ compared to denuded oocytes. In conclusion, these results suggest that intact cumulus cells during IVF inhibit sperm penetration but improve embryo cleavage, BL formation and embryo cell number of porcine embryos produced in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigative the effects of retinol supplement to IVM and/or IVC medium on maturation, fertilization and development of pig oocytes. North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF) was used as base medium. Each 1 uM, 5 uM and 10 uM concentration of retinol was supplemented to IVM and /or IVC medium. When the retinol was supplemented to maturation medium, the maturation rates were not different (p>0.05) among treatment groups ($66.7{\pm}6.0{\sim}69.2{\pm}5.3%$), but the developmental rate to blastocyst stage was higher (p<0.05) in $5{\mu}M$ group ($20.4{\pm}2.6%$) than in 0 uM ($13.6{\pm}2.1%$) and 10 uM groups ($9.7{\pm}1.7%$). Moreover, total cell number was significantly greater (p<0.05) in the 5 uM group ($37.0{\pm}1.6$) than in the other groups ($29.8{\pm}1.0{\sim}33.2{\pm}1.0$). Retinol supplement to maturation medium did not significantly affect the rates of fertilization and polyspermy (p>0.05). When the retinol was supplemented to culture medium or both maturation and culture medium, the rates of cleavage, and develop to morula and blastocyst stage were not affected, while those of 10 uM group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). These results indicate that 5 uM retinol supplement in maturation medium significantly stimulates embryo development, also improves the total cell number of blastocyst stage in pig.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2002

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of antioxidants and growth factors on early development of porcine follicular oocytes fertilized in vitro. The embryos without cumulus cells were transferred into NCSU 23 medium and cultured for 5~6 days. The proportions of embryos developed to morula and blastocyst stages were significantly higher (P＜0.05) in medium with 1.0(21.1%) and 2.0mM(22.3%) NAC than in control (14.7%) and 0.5mM NAC (12.2%). When the embryos were cultured in medium with ebselen, the highest proportion(36.9%) of embryos developed to morula or blastocyst stages was obtained in medium with 10 $\mu$M ebselen. Higher proportions of embryos were developed to rnorula and blastocyst stages during culture with 100$\mu$M than control, 50 and 200$\mu$M glutathione. The EGF and PDGF were evaluated as growth factors supplemented to the culture medium for in vitro development of porcine embryos. The proportions of embryos developed to morular and blastocyst stages were significantly higher (P＜0.05) in medium with 100ng/m1 ECF than control, 10 and 50ng/$m\ell$ EGF. However, the proportions of embryos developed to morular and blastocyst stages were not significantly different among concentrations of PDGF. In conclusions, these results indicate that NAC, ebselen and glutathione or EGF and PDGF can increase the proportion of embryos that develop beyond morula stage.