• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the association between endometriosis and polymorphisms of N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 genes in Korean infertile patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 303 infertile patients who had undertaken diagnostic laparoscopy during January, 2001 through December, 2003 at Samsung Cheil Hospital enrolled in this study. The patients were grouped according to laparoscopic findings: minimal to mild endometriosis (group I: n=147), moderate to severe endometriosis (group II: n=57), normal pelvic cavity (n=99). Peripheral blood was obtained and genomic DNA was extracted. The genotypes of each genes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). For NAT2, RFLP was used to detect the wild type (wt) and mutant (mt) alleles, enabling classification into slow (mt/mt) or fast (wt/wt or wt/mt) acetylation genotypes. For GSTM1, PCR was used to distinguish active (+/- or +/+) from null (-/-) genotypes. For CYP1A1, MspI digestion was used to detect the wild type (A1A1), heterozygote (A1A2) or mutant (A2A2) genotypes. Result: The genotype frequencies of NAT2 slow acetylator was 12.8%, 10.9%, 12.8% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of GSTM1 null mutation was 55.3%, 41.8%, 53.2% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism was 16.3%, 9.1%, 18.1% in group I, group II and control, respectively. No significant difference was observed between endometriosis and normal controls in the genotype frequencies of the NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism. Conclusion: The NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 gene polymorphism may not be associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in Korean women.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.78-95
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the results of the 2022 Gyeonggi-do Oriental Medicine Fertility Treatment Support Project, review the outcomes and satisfaction of Oriental Medicine fertility support initiatives, and propose progressive fertility treatment support strategies by comparing them with the results of the past three years. Methods: Total of 242 women and 205 spouses participated in the Korean Medicine fertility treatment support project, which encompassed herbal medicine, acupuncture, and counseling treatments over a 3-month period, followed by a 3-month post-treatment follow-up. Data pertaining to patients' general, demographic, and fertility-related characteristics were collected before treatment initiation. During treatment, information regarding the treatments administered by Korean medical doctors was recorded, along with post-treatment outcomes and satisfaction levels. Safety assessments included pre- and post-treatment blood tests and monitoring for adverse events. Results: Among the 242 female subjects, 209 successfully completed the treatment program. Of these, 35 (16.7%) achieved pregnancy, with 30 (15%) attaining pregnancy through herbal monotherapy. Out of the 35 pregnancies, 17 were maintained, while 10 resulted in miscarriage. Notably, 83.8% of patients expressed satisfaction with the treatment outcomes. An analysis spanning three years revealed a continuous increase in the average age of patients, surpassing 38 years in 2022, a critical point in fertility decline age. Additionally, there was a notable rise in the prevalence of patients with a history of gynecological issues, advanced spouse age, and semen abnormalities, which is assumed to have contributed to the decrease in the pregnancy success rate. Conclusions: This study compares the clinical results of the 2022 Gyeonggi-do Korean Medicine Fertility Treatment Support Project with those of the past three years. Based on these findings, recommendations are made to enhance the project, including stricter age criteria for patient selection, enhanced specialized treatment tools for medical doctors, and combining Korean Medicine treatment and medical assisted reproductive technologies, all aimed at increasing pregnancy success rates. These results provide a foundation for the development of fertility support projects and related policies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.211-216
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• 1997

본 연구는 Vero cell을 이용한 사람 배아의 공동배양술이 배아의 질을 향상시킬 수 있거나 또는 반복적 착상 실패를 극복하여 임신을 가능케 할 수 있는지 알아 보고자 시행되었다. 1996년 일년 동안, 반복적 착상 실패를 경험한 환자 (group I)와 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자 (group II)를 포함한 총 202례를 분석하여 대조군과 공동배양군 간의 배아의 질, 임신률, 임신유지율 및 착상률을 비교하였다. Group I 93례 가운데 34례는 공동배양을, 나머지 59례는 기존의 체외수정을 시행하였다. Group II 109례에서는 공동배양 36례, 기존의 체외수정 73례를 시행하였다. Group I에서 공동배양군의 임신률, 임신유지율 및 착상률은 각각 14/34 (41.2%), 9/34 (26.5%), 16/81 (19.8%)로 대조군 (11/59 (18.6%), 8/59 (13.6%), 12/152 (7.9%))에 비하여 높았으며, 특히 임신률과 착상률은 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p=0.028, p=0.015). Group II에서는 공동배양군의 임신률과 임신유지율 및 착상률이 각각 8/36 (22.2%), 5/36 (13.9%), 8/87 (9.2%)로 대조군 (5/73 (6.8%), 3/73 (4.1%), 3/158 (1.9%))에 비하여 높았고, group I의 결과에서와 마찬가지로 임신률과 착상률의 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p=0.028, p=0.022). 이상에서 Vero cell을 이용한 공동배양술은 위의 두가지 주소를 가진 환자군에서 좋은 결과를 나타내었다. 또한 group II에서 3일-공동배양군의 임신률 역시 향상되어 (4/15 (26.7%)), 보조부화술을 겸비한 3일-공동배양이 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자군에 적용될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로 Vero cell을 이용한 공동배양술은 반복적 착상 실패를 경험한 환자나 또는 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자에게 적용하여 임신률을 향상시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

Objectives: We have previous reported that thawed testicular sperm and sperm extracted from seminiferous tubule could achieved optimal fertilization and pregnancy in azoospermic patients. However, thawed testicular sperm did not show motility in many cases. Therefore we studied viability of immotile sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule using hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test and eosin-Y test. Materials and Methods: After sperm extraction using for ICSI, the remained sections of seminiferous tubules were frozen with a computerized freezer. For thawing and preparation of testicular sperm, the seminiferous tubules were thawed by removing from $LN_2$ and letting them at room temperature for 10 min followed by %37^{\circ}C$ water bath for 10 min. The prepared samples were washed for free of preservation medium and sperm preparation method described previous. Sperm was suspended in 0.1 ml hypoosmotic solution. After 30 minutes, the type of distally coiled sperm were assessed. Results: In 44 cases of cryopreservation of seminiferous tubules in obstructive azoospennic patients, the fertilization rates with 2PN were 71.4% and pregnancy rates were 34.1%. The presence of motile spermatozoa on subsequent post-thaw testicular sperm remarked 15.1% and were increased to 77.3% just before ICSI. After sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule, 3 hrs later in in vitro culture, the cases of presence of motile sperm, reaction of hypo-osmotic swelling test and viable sperm were 63.6% (28/44), 93.2% (41/44), and 77.3% (34/44), respectively. Conclusions: Just after post-thawed testicular sperm did not showed motility. Although motility was gained after in vitro culture, many cases showed non-motile sperm until optimal insemination time. However, HOS test showed positive reaction in non-motile sperm. Therefore, HOS test is an alternative method for the selection of viable sperm for ICSI.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2007

목 적: 본 연구에서는 생리혈에 존재하는 탈락된 자궁내막조직에서의 자궁내막증 관련 유전자들의 발현 양상과 자궁내막증 병태생리와의 관련성을 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 자궁내막증으로 확진된 환자 (n=16)와 정상 대조군 (n=26)에서 생리주기 2$\sim$3일째 Wallace catheter로 채취한 생리혈로부터 탈락된 자궁내막조직을 분리하였다. 기존의 연구들에서 보고된 12종류의 자궁내막증 관련 유전자들의 mRNA 발현 양상을 semi-quantitative RT-PCR 방법으로 비교, 분석하였다. 결 과: 생리혈에서 분리한 탈락된 자궁내막조직은 조직학적 관찰을 통해 자궁내막조직임을 확인하였다. 총 12가지 종류의 자궁내막증 관련 유전자에 대한 RT-PCR 분석에서 telomerase, c-kit, aromatase등의 mRNA 발현이 관찰되지 않았다. 세포사멸 (apoptosis)과 관련성이 있는 fas, fas ligand, bcl-2, bax 유전자와 stem cell factor, ER-$\alpha$/$\beta$, endometriosis protein-I, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor 등의 mRNA 발현 양상은 자궁내막증으로 확진된 환자군과 대조군에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 결 론: 결론적으로 자궁내막증과 관련된 다양한 유전자들의 발현 양상을 생리혈에 존재하는 탈락된 자궁내막조직에서 분석하였지만 의미성이 있는 유전자를 동정하지는 못하였다. 이는 자궁내막조직의 생리학적 특징인 생리주기에 따른 유전자 발현의 역동적인 변화와 관련이 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.158-166
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to report the spontaneous pregnancy of Jokyung-san-gagam treatments on two infertile patients who were failed to in intrauterine insemination (IUI) by three times. Methods: Two patients, in this case, were who failed three times IUI were treated with Jokyung-san-gagam, acupuncture and moxibustion. Results: The two infertile women achieved spontaneous pregnancy after taking Jokyung-san-gagam without assisted reproductive technology. Conclusions: These cases suggest that Jokyung-san-gagam is effective in treating infertile female after failure in IUI and can be an effective option for patients who were failed in IUI. For further study, the clinical approach on infertile patients that is based on Korean medicine treatment including Jokyung-san-gagam would be sustained.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.168-174
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• 2022

Refractory thin endometrium and recurrent implantation failure are among the most challenging infertility-related factors hindering successful pregnancy. Several adjuvant therapies have been investigated to increase endometrial thickness and the pregnancy rate, but the treatment effect is still minimal, and for many patients, these treatment methods can be quite costly and difficult to approach. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of platelets in plasma and has recently been elucidated as a better treatment option for these patients. PRP is rich in cytokines and growth factors, which are suggested to exert a regenerative effect at the level of the injured tissue. Another advantage of PRP is that it is easily obtained from the patient's own blood. We aimed to review the recent findings of PRP therapy used for patients with refractory thin endometrium and recurrent implantation failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2006

목 적: 자궁내막증이 체외 수정에 미치는 영향에 대하여 알아보고, 자궁내막증의 체외 수정 결과의 차이에 대해 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 1994년부터 2004년까지 제일병원 아이소망센타에서 자궁내막증으로 체외 수정을 시술 받은 697명의 환자 (총 1,199주기)를 후향적으로 연구하였다. 경증의 자궁내막증은 638주기, 중증의 자궁내막증은 561주기였으며, 난관 요인을 가진 325명 (459주기)를 대조군으로 하였다. 제외 기준으로는 여성의 나이가 35세 이상, basal FSH level이 20 mIU/ml 이상인 경우, 심각한 남성 요인의 경우를 제외하였다. 결 과: 중증의 자궁내막증은 난관 요인 보다 획득된 난자의 수 ($9.97{\pm}7.2$ vs. $13.4{\pm}7.9$ (p<0.0001)), 총 배아 수 ($6.5{\pm}4.8$ vs. $9.1{\pm}5.6$ (p<0.0001)), 양질의 배아 수 ($2.43{\pm}1.6$ vs. $2.74{\pm}1.7$ (p=0.013))가 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았다. 하지만, 중증의 자궁내막증의 임신율은 난관 요인과 유사하였다 (35.7 vs. 36.8 (%)). 경증의 자궁내막증은 중증의 자궁내막증과 난관 요인보다 불임 기간이 길었으며 ($55.4{\pm}25.7$ vs. $47.6{\pm}25.6$ vs. $44.4{\pm}30.9$ (개월) p<0.0001)), 수정률이 의미 있게 낮았으나 ($64.8{\pm}22.9$ vs. $69.9{\pm}22.5$ vs.$70.8{\pm}20.8$ (%) (p<0.0001)), 임신율에 유의한 차이는 없었다 (31.1 vs. 35.7 vs. 36.8 (%)). 또한, 체외 수성 이전에 치료 받은 병력이 있던 경증과 중증의 자궁내막증 (363주기 vs. 470주기)은 경증의 자궁내막증에서 중증의 자궁내막증보다 불임 기간이 길고 ($56.5{\pm}26.3$ vs. $46.9{\pm}25.8$ (개월), p<0.0001), 수정률이 낮았으며 ($64.7{\pm}23.3$ vs. $70.5{\pm}22.7$ (%), p=0.001), 임신율과 태아 생존율이 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았다 (29.2 vs. 36.2 (%), p=0.045, 23.9 vs. 31.5 (%), p=0.043). 결 론: 체외 수정 시 이전에 치료를 받았던 경증의 자궁내막증은 중증의 자궁내막증보다 임신율과 태아 생존율이 낮았고, 이는 현저한 수정률 감소와 긴 불임 기간이 관련이 있다고 생각된다. 따라서, 장기간의 불임 기간을 가진 경증의 자궁내막증을 가진 불임 여성은 체외 수정을 좀 더 일찍 고려해 볼 수 있겠다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.37-47
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the current characteristics and prescriptions of outpatients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Methods: We searched medical records from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 and found out 31 patients who first visited with PCOS. Results: The average age of PCOS patients was $26.48{\pm}5.15years$ old, average height was $162.16{\pm}5.56cm$, average weight was $55.27{\pm}9.34kg$, and average BMI was $21.01{\pm}3.48kg/m^2$ A total of 24 patients who had received western treatment for PCOS in the past, 13 people received oral contraceptions, 4 hormones, 2 metformin, one hormone and metformin, also 4 people were treated for assisted reproductive technologies due to infertility. There were only two patients who combined Korean and Western treatments. The most common menstrual-related symptoms of PCOS patients were oligomenorrhea (48.4%) and dysmenorrhea (22.6%). Other symptoms were the highest in the cold symptoms (54.8%), followed by infertility (9.7%). The average number of patients visiting the hospital was $6.26{\pm}7.2$, with 22 (71.0%) coming from 1 to 5. The average treatment period for patients was $10.1{\pm}10.8weeks$, with 41.9% the largest for 1 to 4 weeks. Acupuncture (93.5%), moxibustion (96.8%) herbmed (96.8%) was treated to most PCOS patients. The most commonly used herbal medicines were Ongyeong-tang (35.5%), Ijin-tang-gami (19.4%), Dodam-tang-gami (12.9%), and Jogyeongjongok-tang-gami (12.9%). Conclusions: These results could be helpful to treat PCOS patients in Korean gynecologic clinical fields.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.143-151
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• 1997

The present study was designed to investigate if antithyroid antibodies (ATA) could affect the pregnancy outcome in euthyroid women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). From October 1995 to September 1996, 28 euthyroid women with ATA who underwent IVF-ET were studied. Fifty-one euthyroid women without ATA who underwent IVF-ET served as control. Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOA) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGA) were assayed using radio ligand assay kits as ATA. All patients included in study and control groups had only tubal factor in infertility. Long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in all patients. There were no significant differences between study and control groups in patient characteristics such as age, infertility duration and hormonal profile. There were also no significant differences between two groups with respect to the clinical response to COH and IVF results such as number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, number of embryos frozen and number of embryos transfered. There were no correlations between ATA (TPOA and TGA) titers and fertilization rate. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the study group than in the control group (26.3% vs 39.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The biochemical pregnancy rate per cycle and miscarriage rate were significantly higher in the study group at 18.4% (7/38) and 40.0% (4/10) compared with 5.6% (5/89) and 11.4% (4/35) in the control group. In the study group, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the biochemical pregnancy group than in the clinical pregnancy group or non-pregnancy group. In 10 women with ATA who achieved pregnancy following IVF-ET, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the miscarriage group than in the ongoing or delivery group. In conclusion, euthyroid women with ATA appear to represent a less favorable subset within other tubal factor patients when treated with IVF-ET.