• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2003

연구목적: 본 연구에서는 정상 환자와 습관성 유산 질환 환자에서 유래된 융모막 조직 내에서의 면역억제유전자들의 발현 양상에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 임신 6주와 8주의 습관성 유산 질환 환자와 정상 환자로부터 융모막 조직을 채취하였다 (Normal N=6; RSA N=6). 면역조직화학적 분석을 통해서 조직을 관찰하고 세포가 살아있음을 확인한 후에, 역전사 중합효소연쇄반응을 통해서 면역억제유전자인 placenta protein 14 (PP14), indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) 그리고 mucin1 (MUC1) 유전자의 발현 정도를 비교하였다. GAPDH 발현에 기준한 면역억제유전자 발현을 정량 분석하여 Student's t-test를 시행하였고, p<0.05를 유의성이 있는 것으로 판정하였다. 결 과: 습관성 유산 질환 환자의 경우, 임신 6주와 8주의 융모막 조직에서의 면역억제유전자 (PP14, IDO, MUC1) 발현이 현저하게 낮은 양상을 보이고 있었다. 습관성 유산과 면역억제유전자의 발현이 통계학적으로 유의성 있는 연관성을 가지고 있다는 것이 확인되었다. 결 론: 면역억제유전자 (PP14, IDO, MUC1)의 발현이 습관성 유산 질환 환자에서 특이적으로 낮게 나타나는 것으로 보아 습관성 유산 질환의 진단과 치료 연구 방안에 이 유전자들의 발현이 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2014

Objective: To study the effect of body composition on reproduction in women with unexplained infertility treated with a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 308 unexplained infertile women who were scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme and were grouped as pregnant and non-pregnant. Anthropometric measurements were performed using TANITA-420MA before the treatment cycle. Body composition was determined using a bioelectrical impedance analysis system. Results: Body fat mass was significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women ($15.61{\pm}3.65$ vs. $18.78{\pm}5.97$, respectively) (p=0.01). In a multiple regression analysis, body fat mass proved to have a stronger association with fecundity than the percentage of body fat, body mass index, or the waist/hip ratio (standardized regression coefficient${\geq}0.277$, t-value ${\geq}2.537$; p<0.05). The cut-off value of fat mass, which was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 16.65 with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 70.2%. Below this cut-off value, the odds of the pregnancy occurrence was found to be 2.5 times more likely. Conclusion: Body fat mass can be predictive for pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2016

Objective: Growth hormone and its mediator, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), have been suggested to exert gonadotropic actions in both humans and animals. The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between serum IGF-1 concentration, seminal plasma concentration, and sperm parameter abnormalities. Methods: A total of 79 men were enrolled in this study from December 2011 to July 2012 and were prospectively analyzed. Patient parameters analyzed included age, body mass index, smoking status, urological history, and fertility history. Patients were divided into four groups based on their semen parameters: normal (A, n=31), abnormal sperm motility (B, n=12), abnormal sperm morphology (C, n=20), and two or more abnormal parameters (D, n=16). Patient seminal plasma and serum IGF-1 concentrations were determined. Results: Patient baseline characteristics were not significantly different between any of the groups. The serum IGF-1 levels in groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than the levels in group A; however, the seminal plasma IGF-1 levels were not significantly different between any of the groups. Conclusion: Men with abnormal sperm parameters had significantly lower levels of serum IGF-1 compared with men with normal sperm parameters. Seminal plasma IGF-1 levels, however, did not differ significantly between the groups investigated here. Further investigations will be required to determine the exact mechanisms by which growth hormone and IGF-1 affect sperm quality.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2006

Micro-deletions at specific loci of the Y chromosome have been observed frequently in male infertility patients, suggesting that genes in these regions are involved in male germ cell development. DAZ is a representative male infertility gene at the AZFc locus of the Y chromosome. Since DAZ contains an RNA binding motif along with so-called a DAZ domain, it was proposed to participate in RNA metabolism during spermatogenesis. A mouse gene homologous to the human DAZ gene has been cloned and named Dazl (DAZlike). Dazl is autosomal and expressed in the testis and also at a low level in the ovary. Male mice homozygous for the Dazl null allele have small testes with a few spermatogonia and almost complete absence of germ cells beyond the spermatogonial stage, suggesting the requirement of Dazl for entry or progression through meiosis. However, its exact cellular functions have not been understood yet. In order to investigate cellular functions of Dazl, we decided to isolate candidate interacting protein genes of the mouse Dazl, using yeast two-hybrid screening. A number of candidate Dazlinteracting proteins have been isolated, such as Bprp, Acf, Hgs, Murr1, Nbak3 and Ranbp9, but dynein light chain 1 (Dlc1) was most predominant. A strong interaction of Dazl with Dlc1 suggests that Dazl might function as an mRNA adaptor to the dynein motor complex.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.21-30
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• 2003

As a result of the technological advance provided by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 1992, the evaluation and treatment of the infertile male has changed significantly. Many men who were previously thought to be irreversibly infertile have the potential to initiate their own biologic pregnancy. However, not all men having impaired semen parameter are ideal candidates for ICSI for numerous reasons including a lack of addressing the underlying problem causing the male infertility, unknown genetic consequences, and cost-effectiveness issues. In this era of ICSI, the fundamental approach to the male with suspected subfertility is unchanged and is based on a history, physical examination, and focused laboratory testing. The urologist should approach the patient with an intent to identify remediable causes of subfertility given the specific clinical situation. For instance, should a gentleman have his varicocele repaired or vasectomy reversed, or should he proceed directly with ICSI? If no factors can be improved in a timely manner, then ICSI should be considered using the available sperm. Examples of recent advances include the diagnosis and treatment of ejaculatory duct obstruction, indications and techniques for performing testis biopsy, and technique for sperm harvesting. In addition, potential genetic causes of male subfertility should be diagnosed and discussed with the patient. Cystic fibrosis gene mutation, karyotype abnormallities, and Y-chromosome microdeletions all have recently been identified as causative for male infertility in otherwise phenotypically normal men. With recently evolved diagnostic and therapeutic techniques now available for the infertile couple, even the most severe male factor problems in patients previously considered irreversibly infertile are now potentially treatable. The physician should be aware of the availability and limitations of these new and exciting reproductive technologies because they will allow him to provide timely and more effective therapy for the infertile couple. An understanding of these advances by all physicians is important as we progress into the $21^{st}$ century

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 1994

We studied the role of assisted fertilization(subzonal insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection) in enhancing fertilization and pregnancy rate in obstructive azoospermia. MESA was performed in the patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens and unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia. Sperm were aspirated microsurgically from various sites along the epididymal stump. Sperm were then washed on a mini-PercoH gradient or swim-up method and treated by 2-deoxyadenosine and pentoxifylline. Conventional IVF(group I, 14 cycles), SUZI(group II, 13 cycles) and ICSI(gruop III, 28 cycles) were carried out in 55 treatment cycles. The clinical results are as follows: 1. Fertilization rates for group I, II and III were 16.1 %,31.4% and 48.6%, retrospectively (p<0.05). 2. Clinical pregnancy rates for group I, II and III were 7.1 %,7.7%, and 32.1 'Yo, retrospectively. 3. In 5 of MESA-ICSI cycles, epididymal sperm from alloplastic spermatocele were used and 2 clinical pregnancies (40%) were obtained. According to our results the combined MESA-ICSI procedure is highly effcient in improving fertilization and pregnancy rate in congenital absence of the vas deferens and unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2021

Objectives: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) treatment is advised for all women due to its symptoms and complications. In this study, the standard treatment, clotrimazole, was compared with chamomile extract cream in outpatient clinics. Methods: We recruited 73 women with VVC, who were randomly allocated into two groups, clotrimazole versus chamomile extract cream. After two weeks of treatment with the same criteria, cheese-like vaginal discharge, itching and burning sensations, strawberry cervix, and recovery percentage was evaluated. Results: Thirty patients in each group were analyzed. There was no significant difference in age and number of pregnancies between groups (p = 0.85 and 0.09, respectively). Comparing before and after treatment, cheese like discharge (p < 0.001), itching (p < 0.001), burning (p < 0.001) had significantly improved in both groups. Further, the recovery percentage was not significantly different between groups (88.9% vs 75% in the chamomile vs clotrimazole groups, respectively). Conclusion: Chamomile is as effective as clotrimazole in VVC treatment; a higher percentage of women who used this medication recovered, although this did not reach significance. In addition, no complications were reported in either group.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and explore the relationship between semen parameters and SDF between 2 and 7 days of abstinence and a short abstinence period (within 4 hours) in oligozoospermic infertile patients. Methods: Two semen samples were collected from infertile oligozoospermic men (n=34) after an abstinence period of 2 to 7 days and within 4 hours, respectively. Sperm parameters were compared between the two abstinence duration groups, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, total motile sperm count (TMSC), morphology, and SDF. Results: The semen volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly decreased after 4 hours of abstinence than after 2 to 7 days of abstinence, with median differences of 1.2 mL (p<0.001), 2×10⁶/mL (p=0.011), and 9.6×10⁶/ejaculation (p<0.001), respectively. TMSC was significantly lower after a short abstinence, with a median difference of 4.24×10⁶/ejaculate (p<0.001). However, there were no significance differences in the percentage of motility, the SDF, and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology. Interestingly, volume, concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and SDF, but not TMSC, exhibited significant linear correlations between the two abstinence groups in univariate regression analysis, except for TMSC. Conclusion: In oligozoospermic men, the volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly lower after a short abstinence period, but without adverse effects on sperm motility and SDF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) technique compared with conventional ICSI and previous ICSI attempts in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) patients. Methods: The sperms were selected under high magnification ($6,600{\times}$) and used to induce fertilization in previous ICSI patients by IMSI. These results were compared with previous conventional ICSI cycles in patients with OAT infertility. Results: These results demonstrated no significant difference in the fertilization rate between IMSI and previous ICSI cycles (67.7% vs. 65.0%). However, the pregnancy and implantation rates with IMSI were significantly higher than those of the ICSI cycles (33.3% vs. 12.5% and 14.6% vs. 5.4%, respectively; p<0.05). The miscarriage rate among pregnant patients (18.2% vs. 37.5%) showed no statistically significant difference between groups. Conclusion: Compared to conventional ICSI, this study found that IMSI increased the IVF-ET success rates in patients with OAT.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2008

Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the distribution of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genotypes in infertile Korean women and to evaluate the relationship between FSHR genotypes and clinical outcomes of IVF-ET cycles. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood in 1, 020 of infertile Korean women. Genotypes of FSHR at Thr307Ala (T/A) and Asn680Ser (N/S) were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Clinical outcomes related to the genotypes of FSHR were evaluated in IVF-ET cycles (n=302) with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of infertile women under 40 years old. Results: In a population of 1, 020 infertile Korean women, the frequency of TT/NN, TA/NS and AA/SS for the major variant Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser was 44.80%, 41.96% and 10.49%, respectively. There was no significant difference in characteristics of ovarian response and clinical pregnancy rate among the major genotypes of FSHR in IVF-ET cycles with COH. However, implantation rate of AA/SS patients was significantly higher than that of TT/NN patients (24.5% vs 15.7%, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that FSHR genotype was not directly associated with ovarian response in IVF-ET cycles with COH. The relationship between clinical outcomes and FSHR genotypes of patients should be substantiated by further studies.