• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.173-177
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• 2019

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics of men with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)-induced hypogonadism and its effect on assisted reproductive technology (ART) in infertile couples. Methods: This study examined the records of 20 consecutive male patients diagnosed with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia (< 5 × 10⁶/mL) who visited a single infertility center from January 2008 to July 2018. All patients were treated at a primary clinic for erectile dysfunction or androgen deficiency symptoms combined with low serum testosterone. All men received a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor and TRT with testosterone undecanoate (Nebido^®) or testosterone enanthate (Jenasteron^®). Patients older than 50 years or with a chronic medical disease such as diabetes were excluded. Results: The mean age of patients was 37 years and the mean duration of infertility was 16.3 ± 11.6 months. At the initial presentation, eight patients had azoospermia, nine had cryptozoospermia, and three had severe oligozoospermia. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were below 1.0 mIU/mL in most patients. Three ongoing ART programs with female factor infertility were cancelled due to male spermatogenic dysfunction; two of these men had normal semen parameters in the previous cycle. After withholding TRT, serum hormone levels and sperm concentrations returned to normal range after a median duration of 8 months. Conclusion: TRT with high-dose testosterone can cause spermatogenic dysfunction due to suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, with adverse effects on infertility treatment programs. TRT is therefore contraindicated for infertile couples attempting to conceive, and the patient's desire for fertility must be considered before initiation of TRT in a hypogonadal man.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Propose: To analyze the indications and cytogenetic results of midtrimester amniocentesis. Material and Methods: This study reviewed 2,523 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocentesis performed at MizMedi Hospital between January 2000 and December 2007. Results: The most frequent indication for midtrimester amniocentesis was advanced maternal age (45.9%), followed by positive serum markers (29.9%). Chromosomal aberrations were diagnosed in 110 cases (4.4%), for which numerical aberration accounted for 38 cases (34.5%), structural aberration accounted for 65 cases (59.1%), and mosaicism accounted for 7 cases (6.4%). Among the autosomal aberrations, there were 20 cases of trisomy 21 and 8 cases of trisomy 18. With respect to structural aberrations, there were 14 cases of reciprocal translocation and 8 cases of robertsonian translocation. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations according to the indication were highest in individuals with a family history of chromosome abnormality 14.0% (8/57) followed by previous congenital anomaly 5.9% (2/34). Conclusion: Midtrimester amniocentesis is an effective tool for prenatal diagnosis. Indications such as advanced maternal age, maternal serum markers, and ultrasound are important for predicting abnormal fetal karyotypes.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.63-74
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Oriental medical treatment in patients with Spondylolisthesis and lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc(HIVD). Methods : This clinical study was carried out on 39 patients with Spondylolisthesis and lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc(HIVD), who had been admitted from Jan. 2012 to Nov. 2012. All of 39 patients were treated with acupuncture, Chuna treatment and herbal medicine during the whole admission period. Verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were used to evaluated the effectiveness of the Oriental medical treatment. Results : 1. Significant improvement of the symptoms of low back pain and leg pain on 39 patients with Spondylolisthesis and lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc(HIVD) was seen when evaluated with VNRS and ODI. 2. There was no significant difference of improvement by herniated type when evaluated with VNRS and ODI.. 3. There was no significant difference of improvement by spondylolisthesis type(degenerative and spondylolytic) when evaluated with VNRS and ODI. Conclusions : These results suggest that in the case of low back pain and lower limb numbness caused by Spondylolisthesis and HIVD, conservative treatments can be considered as one of the options of treating the symptoms beside surgical way.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2018

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The heavy incidence and severe or lethal damage caused by T. gondii infection clearly indicate a need for the development of an effective vaccine. T. gondii GRA8 is a member of the dense granules protein family and is used as a marker of acute infection. In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination based on a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pDsRed2-GRA8, against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the pDsRed2-GRA8 plasmid and then challenged by infection with the highly virulent GFP-RH strain of T. gondii. The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii of this vaccine were analyzed by measuring cytokine and serum antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation assays, and the survival times of mice after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pDsRed2-GRA8 demonstrated specific humoral and cellular responses, induced higher IgG antibody titers with predominant IgG2a production; increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 (p70), $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and splenocyte proliferation; and prolonged survival times compared to those of control mice. The present study showed that DNA immunization with pDsRed2-GRA8 induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and all immunized mice showed greater Th1-type immune responses and longer survival times than those of control mice. These results indicated that T. gondii GRA8 DNA immunization induces a partial protective effect against acute toxoplasmosis.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 2009

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has become an assisted reproductive technique for couples who are at risk that enables them to have unaffected baby without facing the risk of pregnancy termination after invasive prenatal diagnosis. The molecular biology and technology for single-cell genetics has reached an extremely high level of accuracy, and has enabled the possibility of performing multiple diagnoses on one cell using whole genome amplification. These technological advances have contributed to the avoidance of misdiagnosis in PGD for single gene disorders. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based PGD will lead to a significant increase in the number of disorders diagnosed and will find more widespread use, benefiting many more couples who are at risk of transmitting an inherited disease to their baby. In this review, we will focus on the molecular biological techniques that are currently in use in the most advanced centers for PGD for single gene disorders, including biopsy procedure, multiplex PCR and post-PCR diagnostic methods, and multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and the problems in the single cell genetic analysis.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.262-264
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• 2010

A case of bladder prolapse through a patent urachus is reported in a female infant born with a large, red, tubular mass inferior to the umbilical cord. A cystic mass communicating with fetal bladder was detected by prenatal ultrasound performed at $20^{+2}$ weeks of gestation. A fetal MRI was also performed to confirm the diagnosis and to exclude associated fetal anomalies. At $40^{+4}$ weeks, the cystic mass was no longer present and a new small solid mass was noted at the fetal abdominal wall. After birth, a protruded mucosal mass inferior to the umbilical cord was noted, and catheterization confirmed communication between the protruded mass and the urinary bladder. On the second day of life, reduction of the bladder and partial resection of the urachus was performed. A voiding cystourethrogram showed good bladder capacity and no vesicoureteral reflux. The patient voided well and was discharged after 10 days. Here, we present a case of urinary bladder prolapse through a patent urachus, diagnosed by fetal sonography and this is the first case reported that was treated by simple excision without complication.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2017

Purpose: From the early 1990's, use of Tandem mass spectrometry in neonatal screening test, made early stage detection of disorders that was not detectable by the previous methods of inspection. This research aims to evaluate the frequency of positive results in national neonatal screening test by Tandem mass spectrometry and its usefulness. Methods: A designated organization for inherited metabolic disorder executed neonatal screening test on newborns using Tandem mass spectrometry from January 2006 to December 2015, followed by the investigation of these data by the Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK), and this research analyzed those inspected data from the PPFK. Results: Among total childbirth of 4,590,606, from January 2006 to December 2015, 3,445,238 were selected for MS/MS and conduction rate was 75.1%. 261 out of the selected 3,445,238 were confirmed patients and for last decade, detection rate of total metabolic disorder was 1/13,205. In 261 confirmed patients, 120 had an amino acid metabolic disorder and its detection rate was 1/28,710 and 110 had an organic acid metabolic disorder and detection rate was 1/31,320. Also, 31 had a fatty acid metabolic disorder and detection rate was 1/13,205. Conclusion: Inherited metabolic disorder is very rare. Until now, it was difficult to precisely grasp an understanding on the national incidence of inherited metabolic disorder, due to lack of overall data and inconsistent and incomplete long-term result analysis. However, this research attempted to comprehensively approach the domestic incidence, by analyzing previous 10 years of data.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2009

Objective: This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA and telomerase activity in early bovine embryos. Methods: The amount of telomeric DNA in early bovine embryos at the 8 cell, morula and blastocyst stages was analyzed by Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using a bovine telomeric DNA probe. Telomerase activity was analyzed by Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP assay). Results: The relative amount of telomeric DNA in early bovine embryos was gradually increased from 8 cell to blastocyst stage. It was not significantly associated with the grade of embryo quality. While telomerase activity was detected in the early bovine embryos at these stages, it significantly increased at morula stage and showed maximum activity at the blastocyst stage. Conclusion: The amount of telomeric DNA and the telomerase activity of bovine embryos increase during the progression of early embryogenesis, suggesting a positive correlation between telomeric DNA and telomerase activity. The telomerase activity seems to increase to maintain the levels of telomeric DNA through embryo development which are required for extensive cell division.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-206
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate microRNAs (miRNAs) related to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness using miRNA microarrays and to identify their target genes to determine the molecular regulatory pathways involved in FSH signaling in KGN cells. Methods: To change the cellular responsiveness to FSH, KGN cells were treated with FSH receptor (FSHR)-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) followed by FSH. miRNA expression profiles were determined through miRNA microarray analysis. Potential target genes of selected miRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics tools, and their regulatory function was confirmed in KGN cells. Results: We found that six miRNAs (miR-1261, miR-130a-3p, miR-329-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-144-5p and miR-4463) were differentially expressed after FSHR siRNA treatment in KGN cells. Through a bioinformatics analysis, we showed that these miRNAs were predicted to regulate a large number of genes, which we narrowed down to cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) as the main targets for miR-4463. Functional analysis revealed that miR-4463 is a regulatory factor for aromatase expression and function in KGN cells. Conclusion: In this study, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs related to FSH responsiveness. In particular, upregulation of miR-4463 expression by FSHR deficiency in human granulosa cells impaired 17β-estradiol synthesis by targeting CYP19A1 and ESR1. Therefore, our data might provide novel candidates for molecular biomarkers for use in research into poor responders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.