• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the research trends in the treatment of acupuncture on schizophrenia in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: Articles in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from September 2008 to August 2018 were reviewed. The selected articles were evaluated by the Jadad Scale. Results: 11 articles were selected from a total of 33 articles. 1 study was single group before-and-after study while the other 10 studies were randomized controlled trial studies. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 was most frequently used as a diagnostic criterion. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was most commonly used as an outcome measurement. From Jadad Quality Assessment Scale of the 11 articles, the quality of the studies generally was low. Conclusions: BaekHoi (GV20) and YinDang (EX-HN3) are most commonly used in acupuncture treatment. According to this study, acupuncture treatment in addition to western medication on schizophrenia is more effective as compared to the controls. In future, this study could be primary data for development of more clinical research on the treatment of schizophrenia in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2022

Objectives: Primary dysmenorrhea is a representative disease that causes intestinal pain, and it has long been known that acupuncture treatment is effective. In this study, a network analysis was conducted using acupuncture points reported in the existing systematic literature review, and the combination of acupuncture points used to treat primary dysmenorrhea was analyzed. Methods: Among of a total of 60 papers, excluding those that used ear acupuncture, the analysis results indicated that combinations of BL23, BL40, BL25, BL60, BL30, Ashi-points, BL26, GB34, and GV3 were used in combination. Results: Through this, it can be seen that previous studies to reveal the effectiveness of acupuncture on back pain mainly used the acupoints of the bladder meridian (BL), local acupoints group, and distal acupoints group. Conclusion: In order to reveal the correlation between acupoints and therapeutic effects through future studies and to provide guidelines on the principles of selecting and combining acupoints, it is necessary to employ a quantitative analysis method for therapeutic effects and to provide detailed reports on acupoints.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.206-215
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• 2024

Objectives: The current in vitro study aimed to assess the effects of ascorbic acid augmented albumin platelet-rich fibrin (AA Alb-PRF) on the wound healing activity of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) purported to be a regenerative biomaterial in surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: All assays were performed on three HGF groups, group I: complete media; group II: Alb-PRF, and group III: AA Alb-PRF. Alb-PRF was prepared following the protocol by Fujioka-Kobayashi et al. (2021). For preparation of AA Alb-PRF, 2,500 ㎍ AA was added to the blood pre-centrifugation. All groups were subjected to 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to estimate cell viability and proliferation, scratch assay for migration (0, 4, 12, and 24 hours) and transwell migration assay for chemotactic migration assessment (24 hours). Outcome variables were optical density (OD) for MTT assay, percentage of wound closure in scratch assay, and number of migrated cells in transwell migration assay. One-way ANOVA for MTT and transwell migration assays and two-way ANOVA for scratch assay with Bonferroni correction were performed with significance set at P<0.05. Results: Cell viability and proliferation (OD: 0.684±0.003 and proliferation: 28%) and wound closure (49.92%±1.62% at 4 hours and 61.39%±0.88% at 12 hours) were significantly higher in group III, while group II demonstrated the maximum number of HGFs migrating across the transwell membrane (9.25±2.49) with P<0.05. Conclusion: HGFs demonstrated a significant increase in viability and proliferation along with rapid wound closure in the presence AA Alb-PRF compared to Alb-PRF alone, indicating additional beneficial effects of AA. Thus, AA Alb-PRF potentiates the wound healing activity of HGFs and could be employed in oral, maxillofacial, and periodontal surgeries as a regenerative biomaterial.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

To investigate the role of interleukin-l$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) in the embryonic development, in vivo and in vitro expression patterns of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the preimplantation mouse embryos were examined by RT-PCR, and the effects of explanted mouse ovi-duct and uterine epithelial cells on the expression of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the pleimplantation mouse embryos were examined by co-culture. IL-1$\beta$ mRNA was detected in the embryos from 4-cell stage to blastocyst stage in vivo and from morula stage to hatching blastocyst stage in vitro. This transcript was not detected from the GV stage to late 2-cell stage in vivo, and not at the 4-cell and 8-cell stages in vitro. For the co-culture of late 2-cell embryos with the explanted mouse oviduct and uterine epithelial cells, oviducts and uterine epithelial cells were isolated at 48 hour alter the hCG injection. The explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells in co-culture groups facilitated the IL-1$\beta$ gene expression of the mouse embryos in comparison with the control. Taken together these results suggest that the presence of IL-1$\beta$ plays an important role in preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, the up-regulation of IL-1$\beta$ gene expression by the explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells demonstrates that embryonic expression of IL-l$\beta$ gene may be regulated by the interaction with oviductal and uterine factor (s).

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2019

Morphology of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) at germinal vesicle (GV) stage as one of the evaluation criteria for oocyte maturation quality after in vitro maturation (IVM) plays important roles on the meiotic maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in pigs. When cumulus cells of COCs are insufficient, which is induced the low oocyte maturation rate by the increasing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in porcine oocyte during IVM. The ROS are known to generate including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from electron transport system of mitochondria during oocyte maturation in pigs. To regulate the ROS production, the cumulus cells is secreted the various antioxidant enzymes during IVM of porcine oocyte. Our previous study showed that Mito-TEMPO, superoxide specific scavenger, improves the embryonic developmental competence and blastocyst formation rate by regulating of mitochondria functions in pigs. However, the effects of Mito-TEMPO as a superoxide scavenger to help the anti-oxidant functions from cumulus cells of COCs on meiotic maturation during porcine oocyte IVM has not been reported. Here, we categorized experimental groups into two groups (Grade 1: G1; high cumulus cells and Grade 2: G2; low cumulus cells) by using hemocytometer. The meiotic maturation rate from G2 was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased (G1: $79.9{\pm}3.8%$ vs G2: $57.5{\pm}4.6%$) compared to G1. To investigate the production of mitochondria derived superoxide, we used the mitochondrial superoxide dye, Mito-SOX. Red fluorescence of Mito-SOX detected superoxide was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in COCs of G2 compared with G1. And, we examined expression levels of genes associated with mitochondrial antioxidant such as SOD1, SOD2 and PRDX3 using a RT-PCR in porcine COCs at 44 h of IVM. The mRNA levels of three antioxidant enzymes expression in COCs from G2 were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than COCs of G1. In addition, we investigated the anti-oxidative effects of Mito-TEMPO on meiotic maturation of porcine oocyte from G1 and G2. Meiotic maturation and mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) recovered in G2 by Mito-TEMPO ($0.1{\mu}M$, MT) treatment (G2: $68.4{\pm}3.2%$ vs G2 + MT: $73.9{\pm}1.4%$). Therefore, our results suggest that reduction of mitochondria derived superoxide by Mito-TEMPO may improves the meiotic maturation in IVM of porcine oocyte.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 1993

In the previous study, we observed that Purine has a time dependent effect in maintaining the oocytes in meiotic arrest, and human fetal cord serum(HFCS) and human mature follicular fluid(HMFF) reverse the GVBD suppressed by purines. And it was reported that purine has a harmful effect on the development of oocytes or embryos, when they were cultured for a long time, in vitro. Therefore this study was performed to investigate the effects of purine on extrusion rates of 1st pb and viability of oocytes cultured for a long time, in vitro. Immature oocytes(GV stage) were collected from ovaries of 25~28 day old ICR mice at 48 hrs after PMSG injection. Cumulus-enclosed and denuded oocytes collected were assigned randomly to one of several culture conditions. Some of the oocytes were cultured in 4mM hypoxanthine for 24hr, and the extrusion rates of 1st pb and viability of the oocytes were assessed at every 12 hrs. In the viability, the oocytes showed granulation, pigmentation of cytoplasm or lysis of 1st pb extruded were regarded as degenerating oocytes. Also some of the oocytes were cultured in hypoxanthine for 12 hrs then the resulting oocytes were transferred to hypoxanthine-free medium and cultured for 12 hrs to determine whether the inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine on the 1st pb extrusion was reversible. The rest of the oocytes were cultured in medium containing hypoxanthine and adenosine for 18 hrs to compare the 1st pb extrusion be attendant upon hte concentration of HFCS or HMFF supplemented. Hypoxanthine suppressed the extrusion of 1st pb and viability of the oocytes significantly, when they were cultured for more than 12 hrs and the harmful effect of hypoxanthine was showed in denuded oocytes, prominently. The suppressive effect of hypoxanthine was reversed by just removal of the hypoxanthine from the cultrue medium. Also there was no difference in reverse the pb extrusion rate suppressed between HFCS and HMFF. The extrusion rate of 1st pb in medium containing adenosine and hypoxanthine was increased in line with the concentration of HFCS or HMFF supplemented. Hypoxanthine suppressed the extrusion of 1st pb and viability of the oocytes significantly, when they were cultured for more than 12 hrs and the harmful effect of hypoxanthine was showed in denuded oocytes, prominetly. The suppressive effect of hypoxanthine was reversed by just removal of the hypoxanthine fromthe culture medium. Also there was no difference in reverse the pb extrusion rate suppressed between HFCS and HMFF. The extrusion rate of 1st pb in medium containing adenosine and hypoxanthine was increased in line with the concentration of HFCS or HMFF supplemented.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.540-545
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• 2006

T-DNA-mediated transformation is a common method for generating transgenic plants with insertional mutagenesis. In order to identify important genes involved in shoot development, a system of promoter trap insertional mutagenesis was employed in Arabidopsis thaliana. For this system, an efficient promoter trap vector, pFGL561 was developed. The pFGL561 includes a basta-resistant gene, an intron with multiple splicing donor and acceptor sites, and a promoter-less GFP reporter gene. Using floral-dipping method, we made total 300 $T_1$ promoter-trap lines which were screened for GFP expression. GFP signals in the $T_1$ plants were detected with high frequency, 26.7%, and the signals were reconfirmed in $T_2$ plants. To isolate the genes that are involved in shoot development, phenotypes were analyzed in $T_2$ plants of the 19 $T_1$ lines that had GFP signals in shoot apex, and 6 $T_1$ lines were selected that had abnormal shoot development. These lines will be very useful for the investigation of shoot development.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2011

Objective: The objectives of this study were to analyze efficacy of immature and mature mouse oocytes after vitrification and warming by applying various combinations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and/or super-rapid cooling using slush nitrogen ($SN_2$). Methods: Four-week old ICR female mice were superovulated for GV- and MII-stage oocytes. Experimental groups were divided into two groups. Ethylene glycol (EG) only group: pre-equilibrated with 1.5 M EG for 2.5 minutes and then equilibrated with 5.5 M EG and 1.0 M sucrose for 20 seconds. EG+dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) group: pre-equilibrated with 1.3 M EG+1.1 M DMSO for 2.5 minutes and equilibrated with 2.7 M EG+2.1 M DMSO+0.5 M sucrose for 20 seconds. The oocytes were loaded onto grids and plunged into $SN_2$or liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$). Stored oocytes were warmed by a five-step method, and then their survival, maturation, cleavage, and developmental rates were observed. Results: The EG only and EG+DMSO groups showed no significant difference in survival of immature oocytes vitrified after warming. However, maturation and cleavage rates after conventional insemination were greater in the EG only group than in the EG+DMSO group. In mature oocytes, survival, cleavage, and blastocyst formation rates after warming showed no significant difference when EG only or EG+DMSO was applied. Furthermore, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of MII oocytes vitrified using $SN_2$ were increased in both the EG only and EG+DMSO groups. Conclusion: A combination of CPAs in oocyte cryopreservation could be formulated according to the oocyte stage. In addition, $SN_2$ may improve the efficiency of vitrification by reducing cryoinjury.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of EGF on meiotic maturation and pronuclear (PN) formation of porcine oocytes. Prepubertal gilt cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) aspirated from $2\~6mm$ follicles of abbatoir ovaries were matured in TCM199 containing 0.1mg/ml cysteine, $0.5{\mu}/ml$ FSH and LH, and EGF (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) for 22 hr at $39^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of $5\%$ $CO_2$ in air. They were then cultured for an additional 22hr without hormones. In Experiment 1, to examine the nuclear maturation at 44hr of culture, the expanded cumulus cells were removed by vortexing for 1 min in 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase. The oocytes were fixed in acetic acid: methanol (1:3, v/v) at least for 48 hr and stained with $1\%$ orcein solution for 5 min. Nuclear status was classified as germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), prophase-metaphase I (PI-MI), and PII-MII under microscope. In Experiment 2, to investigate PN formation, oocytes were fertilized with Percoll-treated freshly ejaculated sperm $(1\times10^5\; cells/ml)$ in mTBM with $0.3\%$ BSA and 2mM caffeine for 5hr, and cultured in NCSU-23 medium with $0.4\%$ BSA. At 6hr of culture, the embryos were fixed in $3.7\%$ formaldehyde for 48hr and stained with 10ug/ml propidium iodide for 30 min. PN status was classified as no or one PN (unfertilized), 2 PN (normal fertilized) and $\geq3$ PN (polyspermy). Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of the proportional data. The rate of oocytes that had reached to PII-MII were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all groups added EGF than that of non-treated group $(67\%)$, but it did not differ among the all added groups $(86\%,\;85\%,\;79\%\;and\;81\%$, in 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). No differences on the incidence of 2PN were observed in all treated groups $(25\%,\;30\%,\;33\%,\;29\%\;and\;29\%$, in 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively), however, in non-treated group, polyspermy tended to be increased ($66\%\;vs\;. 58\%,\;54\%,\;52\%\;and\;55\%$, 0 vs. 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). These results suggest that EGF can be effectively used as an additive for enhancing oocyte maturation and reducing the incidence of polyspermy in pig.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2003

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of morphology, reproductive cycle, incubation time and activation of oocytes in vitro maturation of canine oocytes and development of canine IVM/IVF embryos. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The developmental rates to 16 cells of fresh, salts and 4$^{\circ}C$-stored oocytes with and without cumulus cells were 14.3%, 5.0% and 7.5%, 2.8% and 5.7%, 0.0%, respectively. The rate of oocytes with cumulus cells(5.7%~14.3%) was higher than that of denuded oocytes(0.0%~5.0%). 2. The developmental rate to If cells of in vitro cultured oocytes recovered from ovaries collected at different stages of the reproductive cycle were 0.0%, 10.7%, 1.5%, respectively. 3. The developmental rate to 16 cells of fresh oocytes with cumulus cell cultured for 24, 32 and 48 hrs in $CO_2$ incubator were 0.0%, 5.3%, 11.8%, respectively. The rate of oocytes cultured for 48 hrs was higher than that oocytes cultured for 24 and 32 hrs. 4. The development to If cells treated activation and non-activation oocytes were 15.0%, 6.7%, respectively. The rate of oocytes treated activation was higher than that oocyte treat non-activation.