• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.513-521
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• 1995

Background: Nucleolar organizer regions(NORs) are chromosomal segments encoding for ribosomal RNA and associated with argyrophilic nonhistone protein. Ribosomal RNA genes ultimately direct ribosome and protein synthesis, and it has been suggested the numbers of NORs detected in the cell may reflect nuclear and cellular activity. This study was performed to evaluate the applicability of AgNORs to the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Method: The one step silver methods(AgNORs) was used to stain NORs in the routinely processed, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of 36 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung obtained by surgical resection of primary tumor. In each specimen, 100 tumor cells and 100 normal cells adjacent to the tumor chosen at random were examined under an oil immersion lens at a magnification of ${\times}1000$. The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus was calculated for each specimen. Results: The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus(mAgNORs) of normal bronchial epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung was $1.74{\pm}0.25$ and $4.05{\pm}0.80$, respectively. The difference of mAgNOR between normal and tumor tissue was statistically significant(p<0.001). There was no statistical difference among tumors of different stages. The difference of mAgNOR between normal and tumor tissue was statistically significant in each TNM stage(p<0.05). Conclusion: Mean AgNOR count may be used as a useful marker for the differential diagnosis of benignancy and malignancy, and proliferative activity of the cell in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. But there was no statistical difference in mean AgNOR count among tumors of different surgical stages. Further studies for the application of mAgNORs to the diagnosis of other histologic types and cytologic specimens of the lung cancer are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.122-128
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• 2018

Objective: To determine whether fragment removal on in vitro fertilization (IVF) day 2 improved the subsequent development and pregnancy outcomes of fragmented embryos compared to similar-grade embryos without fragment removal. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis involving 191 IVF cycles in which all embryos had over 10% fragmentation (grade 3 or 4) on day 2 of the IVF-embryo transfer cycle from March 2015 to December 2017. IVF cycles were divided into the fragment removal group (n = 87) and the no fragment removal group (n = 104) as a control cohort. Before fragment removal, embryos with fragmentation on day 2 were incubated in $Ca^{2+}$- and $Mg^{2+}$-free biopsy medium under paraffin oil for 30 minutes. Microsurgical fragment removal was performed with later-assisted hatching and a handmade suction micropipette that had an outer diameter of $30{\mu}m$. Results: There were no significant differences in the characteristics of the patients between the control and the fragment removal groups. After fragment removal and subsequent in vitro culture for 24 hours, the number of blastomeres ($7.1{\pm}1.7$ vs. $6.9{\pm}1.6$) was comparable between the transferred embryos in the two groups, but the morphological grade of the embryos in the fragment removal group ($1.9{\pm}0.7$) was significantly higher than that of the control group ($3.1{\pm}0.5$, p< 0.01). The clinical pregnancy (43.7%) and implantation rates (25.8%) in the fragment removal group were significantly higher than those in the control group (28.8% and 14.0%, respectively; p< 0.05). Conclusion: Early fragment removal on day 2 significantly improved the subsequent development and pregnancy outcomes of fragmented embryos.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1004-1009
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• 2021

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) has been used in Korean herbal medicine for various pharmacological activities, such as to create antioxidant and skin whitening effects. Decursin and decursinol angelate of AGN extracts can be used as potential active drugs and cosmetic ingredients. This study investigated the possibility of topical delivery of AGN extracts using a manufactured emulsion system. Lotion was formulated by using Tefose^® and paraffin for the oil phase, Kolliphor RH 40 for the surfactant and solubilizing agent-which showed high solubility in water (0.82 mg/ml)-and a water phase with a carbomer. In vitro skin permeation of decursin and decursinol angelate was determined using a Strat-M^® membrane in Franz diffusion cells. Lotion samples as the experimental group (248.08±19.72 ug/cm²) significantly increased the permeation of decursin and decursinol angelate for up to 24 hr compared to the control group (119.18±19.23 ug/cm²). The permeability was also characterized by the flux (penetration rates) and Kp (permeability coefficient) values. The experimental group (17.20±1.23 ug/h/cm² and 5.73±1.39 cm/h^*10^-3) had higher flux and Kp than the control group (8.22±1.24 ug/h/cm² and 2.74±0.51 cm/h^*10^-3). Lotion with decursin and decursinol angelate of AGN extracts could be used for the topical application of drug and cosmetic products.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1999

To investigate the maturational and development competece of porcine oocytes of different diameter groups, oocytes were obtained by aspiration from slaughterdhouse ovaries. After washing three times in NCSU23 medium, each cumulus-oocyte complex was transferred into a $8{mu}ell$ drop of the maturation medium (one oocyte per drop) under paraffin oil. The diameter without zona pellucida of oocytes was measured with micor-calibrator (Mikrometer, E. Leitz) on a screen connected to a VCR on an inverted microscope $(200\times)$. After being measured, the oocytes were divided into 6 groups according to their diameter size : <105, 105 to < 110, 110 to < 115, 115 to < 120, 120 to < 125 and > $125{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and in vitro maturation (IVM), fertillzation (IVF) and production (IVP) of oocytes / embryo was performed. The rates of in vitro maturation on oocytes in the greater 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups(91.8~100%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the < 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group(66.7%). The rates of sperm penetration were significantly (P<0.05) low in < $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group (50.0%) than others groups (81.6~85.5%). But the plyspermic fertilization rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in < $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ oocytes groups than in the $110\leq{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups. The rates of cleavage and development to blastocysts rose as oocytes diameter increased, however, while oocytes over $120{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter failed to develop to blastocysts. There results suggest that porcine oocytes have acquired full meiotic competece at a diameter of $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ but not yet attended full development competence to blastocyst and that oocytes have acquired full development competence at a diameter of $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.8
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• pp.45-50
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• 1990

This study was carried out ot investigate the effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) and gonadotropins supplemented to the medium on maturation and fertilization in vitro of porcine follcular oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from gilts at local slaughter-house. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were recovered by puncturing the ovarian follicles(3~5 mm in diameter). The complexes from individual ovaries were pooled in a $0.4m{\ell}$ droplet of medium covered with paraffin oil, then washed twice in fresh droplet and cultured for 36hrs in culture media according to experimental conditions. Boar epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by preincubation for 4hrs in m-KRB medium and the preincubated spermatozoa were insemenated in the fertilization medium containing the cultured oocytes. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The maturation rates of oocytes cultured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS were 82 and 37%, respectively. When PMSG, hCG. and PMSGt hcG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to the media supplemented to 10% FCS, the maturation rates were 66, 58 and 68%, respectively. 2. Expansion of cumulus cells was not occured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS. However, when PMSG, hCG and PMSG+hCG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS, the expansion rates of cumulus cell layers were 92, 13 and 91%, respectively. 3. When oocytes were mltured in m-KRB, the rates of penetration and formation of male pronucle: were 93 and 7%, respectively. By adding FCS and gonadotropin to m-KRB, the penetration and formation of male pronuclei were 100 80%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to determine effects of $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME) and cyst-eine (CYS) on the development of bovine em-bryos obtained from in vitro matured and fertil-ized oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COC-s) were matured in micro-drop of TCM-199 medium containing 10% FBS, 17$\beta$-Estradiol and FSH-p under paraffin oil at 39$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs. The fertilization of COC were induced in Fert-TALP medium supplemented with PHE, heparin, BSA and then the fertilized oocytes were cultured in CR1aa medium for 24 hrs. To investigate the effects of the agents on the development of the embryos, the embryos developed to the late 2-cell stage were cultured in the media with and without $\beta$-ME, CYS for 9 days. In experiment 1, to select appropriate concentration of $\beta$-ME and CYS during whole culture period (9 days), various concentrations of $\beta$-ME and CYS were add ded to the CR1aa medium. Addition of 25TEX>$\mu$M of $\beta$-ME and O.1mM of CYS to the culture medium 1 increase the incidence of embryos developed to the blastocyst. In experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of 25$\mu$M of $\beta$-ME and O.1mM of CYS addition on the blastocyst formation when emb bryos at different stages were exposed to 25$\mu$M $\beta$-ME and O.1mM of CYS. $\beta$-ME and CYS enhanced in vitro development of embryos to the blastocyst stage. The effect was greater in 8-ceII to morula embryos than in embryos fewer than 2-cells at the initiation of treatment. These results suggested that the addition of 25$\mu$M B-ME and O.1mM cysteine enhanced development to the blastocyst and hatching stage of in vitro derived bovine embryos, also addition of $\beta$-ME and cysteine were effective later stage embryo than early embryo development.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

This study was carried out to improve of effective culture system on development of IVM/IVF/IVC bovine embryos. The cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) collected from Korean cattle ovaries harvested at a local abattoir were matured in 50 ${mu}ell$ of TCM199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and hormones (35 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ FSH, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ LH, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ estradiol 17 $\beta$ under paraffin oil at 39$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$in air. At 24 hrs after culture, matured oocytes were fertilized in vitro for 22~24 hrs with motile semen in which obtained by centrifugation of a frozen thawed semen on Percoll-density gradients (45% vs. 90%) at 500 g for 20 min. The presumptive zygotes were divided into three experimental groups. Single egg (Group 1), 25 (Group 2) or 50 eggs (Group 3) were cultured on cumulus cell in 50 ${mu}ell$ TCM199 supplement with 10% FBS for 6~9 days after fertilization. In vitro developmental rates into the blastocysts in the groups 2 and 3 were significantly (P＜0.05) higher than those of group 1 (37,27 vs. 6%, respectively). Cell number of blastocysts obtained in groups 2 and 3 at day 8 were significantly (P${mu}ell$) resulted in higher developmental competence and cell number of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro than those the culture of single embryos with cumulus cells.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determine the distribution of cat follicles among varying ages and produce oocytes from preantral follicles cultured in vitro. We used ovaries from 41 cats ranging in age from 0.3 to 5 years. Ovaries were obtained from cats undergoing routine ovariectomy at local veterinary clinics. As a prelude to in vitro culture of preantral follicles, the length and the width and the weight of ovaries among cats of varying ages were measured. Ovaries were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, cut into $3{\mu}m$-sections, mounted on slides and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Follicles were evaluated at 200X and 400X magnification. Distribution of follicles among cats of varying ages were evaluated according to follicle classification: primordial, primary, transitional, preantral and antral follicles. Preantral follicles were isolated by the simple mechanical procedure. Each follicle was cultured in a well containing $100{\mu}l$ of medium 199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or polyvinylalcohol (PVA) for 16 days. Follicle diameters were measured under inverted microscope every 4 days. The length, the width and the weight of ovaries were increased gradually according to ages but there was not significant difference among cats of varying ages. Majority of follicles were primordial follicles (84%) regardless of cat ages (p<0.05). Follicle diameter increased until 4 days of culture. However, period longer than 4 days of culture in vitro had a deleterious effect on follicle survival regardless of supplement (FBS or PVA). A few oocytes were collected from preantral follicles cultured in vitro. These basic reproductive techniques in domestic cats can be a useful tool to save endangered feline species.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2001

Cellular proliferation is an intricately regulated process mediated by the coordinated interactions of critical growth control genes. Two of these factors in mammalian cells are the p53 and mdm-2 genes. A protein product of the mem-2 oncogene has been recently shown to associate with the protein encoded by the tumor suppressor gene p53. The p53 tumor suppressor protein is stabilized in response to DNA damage and other stress signals and causes the cell to undergo growth arrest or apoptosis, thus preventing the establishment of mutations in future cellular generations. Mutation or loss of p53 is a very common event in tumor progression. It occurs in about 50% of all tumors analysed including of colon, lung, breast and liver. The cellular mdm-2 gene, which has potential transforming activity that can be activated by overexpression, is amplified in a significant percentage of human sarcoma and in other mammalian tumors. Proteins encoded by the mdm-2 gene are able to bind to the p53 protein and, when overexpressed, can inhibit p53's transcriptional activation function, thus mdm-2 can act as a negative regulator of p53 function. Experimental study was performed to observe the relationship between p53 gene mutation and mdm-2 protein expression and apply the results to the clinical activity. 36 golden syrian hamster each weighing $60{\sim}80g$ were used and painted with 0.5% DMBA by 3 times weekly on the right buccal cheek(experimental side) for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. Left buccal cheek(control side) was treated with mineral oil as the same manner to the right side. The hamsters were sacrificed on the 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks. Normal and tumor tissues from paraffin block were examined for histology and immunohistochemistry observation, and were completely dissected by microdissection and DNA from both tissue were isolated by proteins K/phenol/chloroform extraction. Segments of the hamster p53 exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 were amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotide primers, and then confirmational change was observed by SSCP respectively. The results were as follows : 1. Dysplasia at 6 weeks, carcinoma in situ at 8 weeks and invasive carcinoma from 10 weeks could be observed in experimental groups. 2. p53 mutations were detected in 10 of the 36(28%) and the exons 6(6 of the 10 : 60%) was the most hot spot area among the highy conserved region(exons 5, 6, 7 & 8). 3. Immunohistochemical study confirmed 22 of the 36(61%) of p53 expression involving 10 of p53 mutations. 4. mdm-2 expression of was showed in 3 of the 36(8%) involving 1 of the 22 of p53 expression and 2 of the 14 of p53 non-expression. From the above results, mutation of p53 gene or expression of p53 protein may have the influence of the DMBA induced carcinoma of hamster buccal pouch but the expression of mdm-2 protein may not have relationship with tumorigenesis.