• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

Objective: The present study was done to clarify the effects of nicotine and nicotine tartrate on the mouse oocyte maturation in vitro. Methods: GV (germinal vesicle) oocytes were isolated from Graafian follicle of ovaries with sharp needles under a stereomicroscope from female mouse of ICR strain (4 weeks old). Collected oocytes were cultured for 17 hours at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air and 100% humidified condition in incubator. New MHBS was the basic medium used in which nicotine, nicotine tartrate, and mecamylamine (antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor) were added depending on the experimental group. GV oocytes were cultured in one of these media. Results: Nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) had no effects on GVBD (germinal vesicle breakdown) compared to the control, but increasing concentration of nicotine led to an decrease in the first polar body formation. However, nicotine ($10{\sim}500{\mu}M$) induced GVBD in a dose-dependent manner of GV oocytes in a medium containing dbcAMP. Nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) had no effects on GVBD compared to the control but, increasing concentration of nicotine tartrate led to an decrease in the first polar body formation. Mecamylamine $10{\mu}M$ added to the medium containing nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) showed higher percentage of the first polar body formation compared to the nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) treatment group. Mecamylamine $10{\mu}M$ added to the medium containing nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) showed higher percentage of the first polar body formation compared to the nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) treatment group. Conclusion: The present study suggest that nicotine and nicotine tartrate have the harmful effects on the meiotic maturation of the mouse oocytes in vitro. However, mecamylamine block harmful effects of nicotine and nictine tartrate.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.293-304
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• 2005

This experiment was carried out to investigate effects of honeybee venom treatment on the body weight gain, feed conversion and growth rate' in pigs. One hundred twenty nine piglets(LY) from 12 sows were allocated into two groups; honeybee venom-treated group (66 piglets from 6 sows) and non-treated control group (63 piglets from 6 sows). Natural honeybee venom was administrated at 0, 3, 14, 30, and 74 days after birth. The acupoints were Hai-men(ST-25), Du-kou(CV-8) and liao-chao(GV-I) points at 0 day, the regions of castration and tail ampution at 3 days, liao-chao(GV-1) and Bai-hui(GV-20) points at 14(weaning), 30(move into piglet stall) and 74(move into grower stall) days after birth. Control group was injected 1 ml of saline to the same site. Average body weight at 150 days after birth was 98.44 kg in bee venom treated group and 86.24 kg in control group, respectively. Average body weight of treated group was significantly increased by 14.15%(P < 0.0001). Average daily gain of bee venom treated group and control group were 649 g and 569 g, respectively, increased by 14.06%(P< 0.0001). Feed conversion of the treated group was 2.21 and control group was 2.49, increased by 11.25% in control group(P < 0.001). Survival rate at weaning was 95.5 % in treated group and 92.0% in control group, at growing(74 days after birth) was 92.4% in treated group and 85.7% in control group and survival rate at finishing(l50 days after birth) was 89.5 % and 79.4 %, respectively. Collecting together, the results in this study showed that growth performance and feed conversion were increased by treatment of natural honeybee venom to pigs. These results suggested that the treatment of bee venom could be used effectively for the increase productivity of livestock industry.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.35-57
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze literature on oriental medicine to investigate the pathology, acupuncture, and moxibustion therapy applicable to alopecia Methods : We searched for the causes of alopecia in the bibliographic data from 41 sources of literature and the acupunctural treatments for alopecia in the bibliographic data from 49 sources of Chinese and Korean literature and from the journals of the acupunctural treatments for alopecia which have been published since 2000. Results : 1. The main causes of alopecia are blood deficiency, blood heat, static blood, depletion of kidney's water, wind excess, seven emotional damage, dietary damage, etc. 2. The acupuncture points frequently used are $GV_{20}$, $GB_{20}$, $ST_{36}$, $SP_6$, $SP_{10}$, $BL_{17}$, $BL_{18}$, $BL_{23}$, $GV_{23}$, $GV_{14}$, $CV_6$, $ST_8$, $KI_3$, $LR_3$, $HT_7$, $LI_{11}$, EX-$HN_1$, and ouch point. 3. New acupuncture therapies, including herbal acupuncture therapy, ear acupuncture therapy, dermal needle therapy, needle-embedding therapy and scalp acupuncture therapy are frequently used to treat alopecia. Conclusions : The acupuncture points frequently used for treating alopecia have characteristics such as tonifying blood, tonifying the liver and kidney, extinguishing wind, activating blood, clearing heat and draining dampness, so they are highly associated with the causes and the mechanisms of alopecia.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2004

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of morphology, reproductive cycle, incubation time and activation of oocytes on in vitro maturation of cat oocytes and development of IVM/IVF embryos. The results were summarized as follows: 1. When recovered from ovaries collected at different stages of the reproductive cycle (inactive, follicular and luteal stage), the developmental rates of oocytes to GV and MI stage were 72.5% and 27.5%, 57.5% and 7.5%, 62.5% and 17.5%, respectively. 2. The developmental rates of oocytes with cumulus cells to GV and MI stage in different conditions of incubation (5% $CO_2$ , 95% $O_2$ and 10% $CO_2$, 90% $O_2$) were 70.0% and 27.5%, 52.5% and 20.0%, 55.0% and 12.5%, respectively. 3. The developmental rates to GV and MI oocytes when cultured at different time of incubation (17∼20, 21∼24, 25∼28 and 29∼32 h) were 67.5% and 20.0%, 67.5% and 30.0%, 62.5% and 22.5%, 65.0% and 15.0%, respectively. 4. The fertilization and cleavage rates of freshly collected oocytes with and without cumulus cells were 72.5% and 25.0%, 37.5% and 7.5%, respectively. The rates were greater in oocytes with cumulus cells than those without cumulus cells. 5. The fertilization and cleavage rates of oocytes recovered from ovaries collected at different stages of the reproductive cycle (inactive, follicular and luteal stage) were 75.0% and 25.0%, 40.0% and 7.5%, 50.0% and 15.0%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

Objective : This report is written to inform of the 3rd WHO Informal Consultation on Development of International Standard Acupuncture Points Locations, held in Kyoto, Japan, on October 12-14, 2004. Results : Eight experts from China, Japan and Korea, participated in this meeting discussed the locations and the point finding methods of 92 controversial points based on the fundamental principles established through the 1st and 2nd meetings. Through the discussion in this meeting, agreements were made on most of 92 controversial points, but 8 points(LI12, ST31, PC8, PC9, TE18, LR8, GV1, GV26) still need to be researched in the next meetings. Conclusion : A reasonable and practical International Standard of Acupuncture Point Location for acupuncture education, research and practice is expected to be accomplished in the near future.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2021

We studied steroid metabolites produced from red-spotted grouper ovarian follicles during maturation. Oocytes with 350-500 ㎛ diameter were in vitro incubated in the presence of [³H] 17α-hydroxyprogesterone as a precursor. Steroid metabolites were extracted from incubated media and oocytes. The extracts were separated and identified using thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identified metabolites were androstenedione (A₄), testosterone (T) and estrone (E₁). The metabolites of A₄ was dominant in all size of oocytes and it was the highest in 480 ㎛ diameter oocytes. The metabolites of two progestins, 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 17α,20α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were detected in the oocytes less than 480 ㎛ diameter although they were not identified definitely. In the oocytes of 480 ㎛ diameter, metabolite of progestin was the highest, and germinal vesicle (GV) was still in the middle of cytoplasm. In the oocytes of 500 ㎛ diameter, GV was began to migrate and the major metabolites were A₄ and E₁. The metabolite of E₁ was detected in all size of oocytes and it was higher than that of E₂. These results suggest that oocytes of 480 ㎛ diameter are the transitional stage involving steroidogenic shift to final oocyte maturation and potential function of E₁ during maturation process.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.311-314
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• 2001

To elucidate the effect of dorsal acupoints for canine electroacupuncture anesthesia, mongrel dogs(6 heads: 2.6-10.5kg, 3 males and 3 females) were used. After needling perpendicularly to Tian-Ping(GV-5) and Bai-Hui(GV-20), the electrodes were connected with positive to Tian-Ping and negative to Bi-hui, respectively using with veterinary electroacupuncture apparatus(TEC AM-3000). The electric conditions were 2-4V and 30 Hz. The pain of body surface was checked by hemostatic forceps. The effect of electroacupuncture andesthesia was appreciated by application of laparotomy(2 heads), ear trimming and tail amputation(1 head), castration(2 heads) and enterotomy(1 head), respectively. Induction time, clinical findings and operation findings were investigated under the electroacupuncture anesthesia. The induction time of electroacupuncture anesthesia was very rapid, approximately 1 minute and the pain of body surface including the extremities was not detected. As for clinical findings during electroacupuncture anesthesia, consciousness was evident, pupil reflex was weak and blepharoreaction was existed. As for operation findings, pain was not detected during incision and suture, and bleeding was relatively small volume. The grade of electroacupuncture anesthesia was excellent in all cases applied with ear trimming and tail amputation, laparatomy, castration and enterotomy. Considering above all findings, it was thought that electroacupuncture stimulation at Tian-Ping and Bai-hui examined in the present study induced excellent electroacupuncture anesthesia for dogs.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2019

This study aimed to recover the ovarian function through in vitro culture of preantral follicles from aged mice. First, we isolated the preantral follicles from ovaries of sixty-seven-week old B6D2F1 mice with decreased fecundity to know how many follicles were present in them, which was 6 preantral follicles including 2 primary, 2 early secondary and late secondary follicles from 8 aged mice. It was confirmed that a few follicles (~2) were present in aged mice through histological analysis compared to adult mice as control. The 9 days of in vitro culture of preantal follicles showed in vitro growth and induced maturation after treatment with hCG (2.5 IU/mL) and EGF (5 ng/mL). Cumulus cells in the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were removed using hyaluronidase and oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) and GV breakdown (GVBD) were obtained from preantral follicle culture of aged mice in vitro. In conclusion, these observations demonstrated that there still were a few preantral follicles in the ovaries of 67 week-old mice, which we were able to culture in vitro and oocytes were obtained from them. This study proposed an in vitro culture system using preantral follicle as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation in humans for assisted reproductive medicine.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of human follicular fluid and gonadotropin (FSH+HCG+rhEGF) on in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of human immature oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected following for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles of the patients. At the time of oocytes collection, oocytes were classified into MII, MI and GV in accordance with their appearance (MII: Fully mature oocyte at metaphase II of meiosis; MI: Nearly mature oocytes at metaphase I of meiosis; GV: Immature oocytes at prophase I of meiosis). After controlled ovarian stimulation using gonadotropin(FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in 70 ICSI cycles, 158 MI to MII matured oocytes were intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ${\sim}4$ h after in vitro culture and 553 MII oocytes were ICSI after denudation. The aspirated MI and GV oocytes were cultured in culture medium containing 10% (v/v) serum protein substitute (SPS), 10% (v/v) human follicular fluid (hFF) and 10% (v/v) serum protein substitute (SPS)+1 IU/ml FSH+10 IU/ml HCG+10 ng/ml recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF). The maturation rate of immature oocytes was similar among the three group. When maturation medium was supplemented with 10% SPS, 10% hFF or gonadotropins, the fertilization rate of in vitro matured oocytes was higher in 10% SPS (80.0%), but there was no statistical significance (78.2%; hFF, 76.9%; gonadotropin, p>0.05). The development rate of human embryos developed to $6{\sim}8$ cells were not significant difference in the medium containing SPS, hFF and gonadotropins (65.6%, 65.9% and 66.7%). The results of these study suggest that human follicular fluid and gonadotropins supplemented in the culture medium was not effected on the in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of human immature oocytes.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.1 no.3 s.3
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• pp.42-50
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• 2005

This paper deals with the economic feasibility model and analysis of a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle [FCV] against two similar types of non-business vehicles fueled with gasoline [GV] and diesel [DV] considering greenhouse gas [GHG]. Considering the price of vehicles and annual operating cost, we build a classical economic feasibility model. Since the economic feasibility could be affected by many input factors such as the prices of vehicles, the price of fuels, annual driving distance and so on, we estimate the average future values of input factors, which is defined as "the average case". Based on the average case, we assess the representative economic feasibility of a FCV with/without GHG, and by changing various annual driving distances, we assess its economy in terms of net-present value, internal rate of return, and payback period. In addition, we make some sensitivity analysis of its economic feasibility by changing the values of the critical input factors one at time. Based on the average case, it turns out that the consumer of a FCV could save 25,000 won/year for a GV, but the consumer could pay 120,000 won/year more for a DV. This indicates that gasoline vehicles could be replaced gradually by FCVs in Korean market which might be formed by those consumers driving annually more than approximately 14,800 km. As the results of our sensitivity analysis, it turns out that a FCV is no more economical if the difference of the prices between FCV and GV is more than 10,130,000 won or the price of hydrogen fuel could be more than 5,136 won/kg.