• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to compare retrospectively the survival and pregnancy rates(PR) of cryopresered-thawed embryos obtained from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Ninety-six cycles of cryopresered-thawed embryo transfer (ET) were performed in 79 patients from June, 1996 to September, 1997 and grouped as followings: 20 cycles (16 patients) inseminated by ICSI (ICSI Group) and 76 cycles (63 patients) by conventional IVF (IVF Group). Slow-freezing and rapid-thawing protocol was used with 1.5M propanediol (PROH) and 0.1M sucrose as cryoprotectant. All embryos were frozen-thawed at the two pronuclear (2 PN) stage excluding four cycles in which the early cleavage stage embryos were frozen, and allowed to cleave in vitro for one day before ET. The duration from freezing to thawing was comparable in both groups ($mean{\pm}SD$, $112.1{\pm}80.0$ vs. $124.8{\pm}140.1$ days). The age of female ($31.2{\pm}3.4$ vs. $32.6{\pm}3.3$ years) and the endometrial thickness prior to progesterone injection ($9.4{\pm}2.0$ vs. $9.3{\pm}1.8$ mm) were also comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference in the outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed ET between two groups: survival rate ($85.2{\pm}16.1%$ vs. $82.2{\pm}19.7%$), cleavage rate ($96.9{\pm}6.7%$ vs. $94.7{\pm}13.0%$), cumulative embryo score (CES, $54.5{\pm}31.1$ vs. $49.0{\pm}20.0$), preclinical loss rate (5.0% vs. 5.3%), clinical miscarriage rate (0% vs 29.4%), clinical PR per transfer (35.0% vs. 22.4%), implantation rate (9.9% vs. 5.6%), and multifetal PR (42.9% vs. 17.6%). In conclusion, human embryos resulting from ICSI can be cryopreserved-thawed and transferred successfully, and the survival rate and PR are comparable to conventional IVF.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2018

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a global health concern and can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, and pelvic infection in pregnant women. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and information on the epidemiologic trends are critical. However, studies of STI trends in Cheonan, South Korea, have not been conducted since 2012. We examined the STI trends in the Cheonan area after 2012. From January 2011 to September 2017, 3,362 cervical swab specimens from female patients were sampled at the Dankook University Hospital and analyzed by multiplex PCR. Of the 3,362 specimens, 1,281 were positive for pathogens (38.92%). A total of 1,893 pathogens were detected. Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Chlamydia trachomatis were the most frequent pathogens, accounting for 36.29% (687/1,893), 30.16% (571/1,893), and 19.97% (378/1,893) of the pathogen-positive samples, respectively. In the 2009-2012 analysis, M. hominis was identified as the predominant pathogen in STI samples, whereas U. urealyticum was identified as the major pathogen in this study. In many countries, including South Korea and the United States, the rate of STIs is increasing, while a decreasing trend was observed in Cheonan.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2005

Objective: Rebamipide is a propionic acid derivative that has an action of the inhibition of superoxide production and removal of hydroxyl radical with the sperm incubation and cryopreservation. In the present study, to investigate whether rebamipide is useful to treat male infertility and sterility, the author observed the antioxidative effects in patient with male infertility and also examined its absorption and distribution in rat genital organ. Methods: To measure the distribution of rebamipide in reproductive organ in the rat, carbon indicated rebamipide, $^{14}C-OPC-12759$, was orally administered to 10 Spraque-Dawley rats and its organ concentration in serum, liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, colon, urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, epididymis and testicle were measured each time after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours by using HPLC fluorescent method. The concentrations in semen were measured by HPLC fluorescent method in a sample of 50 infertile males who took 900 mg of rebamipide daily for 3 months. To measure the antioxidative effect and fertility rate for 3 months, each month before and after the treatment, sperm motility, vitality, the oxygen free radical formation, level of peroxidation, fetilizing capacity of semen sample which were obtained from infertile male patients by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid method and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Simultaneously in a sample that wanted baby, both pregnancy and delivery were researched. Results: The $^{14}C-OPC-12759$ concentration in the body of white rats was highest in gastrointestinal organ like stomach, smal intestine and duodenum and followed by genital organ like seminal vesicle, testis and epididymis. The rebamipide concentration in semen of infertile males was $220.77{\pm}327.84ng/mL$ (SD) which showed a large deviation but it was higher than serum which was $126{\pm}76ng/mL$ (SD). In the infertile males, after the treatment with rebamipide, the level of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation have significantly decreased in duration of the treatment (p<0.05) and sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity except sperm motility significantly improved on post treatment of 2~3 months (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases who hoped for pregnancy, 15 cases (36.6%) became pregnant and 12 cases had childbrith, 2 cases had miscarriage and one case is ongoing. The side effect was observed in 1 case (2%) which experienced diarrhea but it was lost spontaneously. Conclusions: We conclude from this study that rebamipide showed relatively high tendancy of absorption and excretion in the genital organ. In infertile males who had elevated ROS in semen, by specifically inhibiting the cell damage from the antioxidation, a way to preserve sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity was confirmed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2010

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes between oral micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone as a luteal phase support in stimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 183 IUI cycles during January 2007 to August 2009. Superovulation was achieved by using gonadotropins combined with or without clomiphene citrate. The luteal phase was supported by oral micronized progesterone 300 mg/day (n=136 cycles) or dydrogesterone 20 mg/day (n=47 cycles) from day of insemination. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as age of female, infertility factors, number of mature follicles ($\geq$16 mm), total motile sperm counts, and endometrial thickness on triggering day between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were similar between the two groups (21.3% in the micronized progesterone group vs. 19.1% in the dydrogesterone group, p=0.92). The clinical miscarriage rate tended to be 3-fold higher in the micronized progesterone group (34.5% vs. 11.1%, p=0.36). Conclusion: Supplementation of oral dydrogesterone as a luteal support has similar clinical outcomes compared with oral micronized progesterone. Large-scaled randomized study would be required to confirm our findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2005

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical effect of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in unexplained recurrent spontaneous aborters (RSA) with elevated peripheral CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell levels and to determine the pre-conceptional NK cell percentage predictive of subsequent successful pregnancy outcome. Materials and Methods: Sixty four cases of unexplained recurrent miscarriage with elevated peripheral NK cells (>15%) were received low dose IVIg infusion at the dosage of 400 mg/Kg/month after confirmation of gestational sac and continued until 20 weeks. The patients were divided into two groups according to the pregnancy outcome: Group I was success of treatment defined as live birth at or after 25 gestational weeks and Group II was failure of treatment. The preconceptional levels of the peripheral blood NK cells were compared between two groups. Results: Fifty-three pregnancies resulted in live births after 25 weeks and 11 resulted in abortion (Overall success rate of IVIG treatment was 82.8%). Preconceptional CD56+ NK cell percentage in group II ($27.4{\pm}1.9%$) was higher than those in group I ($22.3{\pm}0.8%$). By using ROC curve, optimal discrimination between success and failure of treatment was achieved with ${\leq}27%$ of preconceptional NK cell percentage. Conclusion: In RSA patients with elevated NK cells, we suggest that preconceptional peripheral blood CD56+ NK cell level could be a useful marker for predicting successful treatment outcome of low-dose IVIg infusion.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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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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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2009

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of minimal stimulation using rhFSH and GnRH antagonist compared with GnRH antagonist multidose protocol (MDP) in IVF treated patients with aged 40 and above. Methods: Seventy-five patients with aged 40 and above were equally randomized to minimal stimulation group (n=37) or GnRH antagonist MDP group (n=38). For minimal stimulation group, ultrasound monitoring was started on cycle day 7 or 8. Daily injections of 0.25 mg cetrorelix together with 150 IU rhFSH were started from the day at 13${\sim}$14 mm of a leading follicle diameter. For GnRH antagonist MDP group, daily injections of 225 IU rhFSH were initiated from cycle day 2 and GnRH antagonist was started at a dose of 0.25 mg/day on rhFSH stimulation day 6 or the day at 13${\sim}$14 mm of leading follicle diameter. In both groups, transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval was performed. According to cleavage and morphologic characteristics of embryos, embryos were transferred 3 to 5 days after oocyte retrieval. Results: There were no differences in patients' characteristics and cycle cancellation rate between the two groups. Total dose and duration of rhFSH used were significantly fewer and shorter in minimal stimulation group than those in GnRH antagonist MDP group. The numbers of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes and transferred embryos were also lower in minimal stimulation group. However, there were no significant differences in the clinical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate between the two groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that minimal stimulation protocol provides comparable pregnancy rates to GnRH antagonist MDP with fewer dose and days of rhFSH used, and thus can be a cost-effective alternative in women aged 40 and above.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.1 s.84
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• pp.63-69
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• 2001

Cleft lip and/or palate(CLP) is the most common congenital deformity in the craniofacial region. For a practical public health system for these patients it is necessary to have an understanding on the prevalence of CLP. However, it was difficult to estimate the exact number of CLP patients due to problems in sample selection, higher miscarriage and still birth rate, difficulty in classification, and adoptions to foreign countries. Therefore this study was to estimate the prevalence of CLP and the rate of orthodontic treatment, which is usually necessary in cleft lip and/or palate patients. The samples consisted of 218,322 Korean male adults from Seoul, Kwangju, Taegu and Pusan, all born in 1979. The screening method for recognizing the CLP patients was proceeded in steps and the results are as follows. 1. The prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate in Korean male adults born in 1979 was 0.65 out of the 1000 samples. 2. In the anteroposterior aspect of the 1000 samples, the prevalence of cleft lip, cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate was 0.26, 0.36 and 0.03 respectively. 3. In the transverse aspect of the 1000 samples, the prevalence of left, right and bilateral cleft was 0.35, 0.16, 0.12 respectively. The cleft in the left showed a much higher prevalence than in the rirht, while bilateral cleft showed a lower prevalence than unilateral cleft. 4. The orthodontic treatment rate of Korean male adults among cleft lip and/or palate Patients was $35\%$, and it was in the order of cleft lip and Palate, cleft lip, and cleft Palate, being $67\%,\;29\%\;and\;29\%$ respectively. The orthodontic treatment rate in patients with the more severe cleft lip and palate was higher than in patients solely having cleft lip or cleft palate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of earlier oocyte retrieval in IVF patients with a premature LH surge on hCG day. Methods: One hundred forty IVF patients (164 cycles) with premature LH surge on hCG day were included, retrospectively. We divided them into 2 study groups: LH surge with timed ovum pick-up (OPU) 36 hours after hCG injection (group B, 129 premature cycles), and LH surge with earlier OPU within 36 hours after hCG injection (group C, 35 cycles). Control groups were tubal factor infertility without premature LH surge (group A, 143 cycles). Results: The mean age (year) was statistically higher in group C than in groups A or B ($38.2{\pm}5.4$ vs. $36.2{\pm}4.2$ vs. $36.8{\pm}4.9$, respectively; p=0.012). The serum LH levels (mIU/mL) on hCG day were significantly higher in group B and C than in group A ($22.7{\pm}14.9$ vs. $30.3{\pm}15.9$ vs. $3.2{\pm}2.9$, respectively; p>0.001). Among groups A, B, and C, 4.9%, 31.7%, and 51.4% of the cycles, respectively, had no oocytes, and the overall rates of cycle cancellation (OPU cancellation, no oocyte, or no embryos transferrable) were 15.4%, 65.9%, and 74.3%, respectively. The fertilization rate (%) was significantly higher in group B than in group C ($73.2{\pm}38.9$ vs. $47.8{\pm}42.9$, p=0.024). The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B (44.4% vs. 27.3% vs. 9.1%, respectively, p=0.021). However, the miscarriage rate was also higher in group C than in group B (22% vs. 0%, respectively, p=0.026). Conclusion: Earlier OPU may not be effective in reducing the risk of cycle cancellation in patients with premature LH surge on hCG day. A larger scale study will be required to reveal the effectiveness of earlier ovum retrieval with premature LH surge.