• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제46권2호
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2019

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare clinical pregnancy rates in intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment cycles with transabdominal ultrasound guidance during intrauterine catheter insemination (US-IUI) versus the "blind method" IUI without ultrasound guidance (BM-IUI). The secondary objective was to compare whether US-IUI had better patient tolerability and whether US-IUI made the insemination procedure easier for the clinician to perform compared to BM-IUI. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial done at the Reproductive Medicine Unit of General Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We included women aged between 25 and 40 years who underwent an IUI treatment cycle with follicle-stimulating hormone injections for controlled ovarian stimulation. Results: A total of 130 patients were recruited for our study. The US-IUI group had 70 patients and the BM-IUI group had 60 patients. The clinical pregnancy rate was 10% in both groups (p> 0.995) and there were no significant difference between the groups for patient tolerability assessed by scores on a pain visual analog scale (p= 0.175) or level of difficulty for the clinician (p> 0.995). The multivariate analysis further showed no significant increase in the clinical pregnancy rate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.34; p= 0.558) in the US-IUI group compared to the BM-IUI group even after adjusting for potential covariates. Conclusion: The conventional blind method for intrauterine catheter insemination is recommended for patients undergoing IUI treatment. The use of ultrasound during the insemination procedure increased the need for trained personnel to perform ultrasonography and increased the cost, but added no extra benefits for patients or clinicians.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$) ligand, pioglitazone, on production of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome in infertile patients with endometriosis. Sixty-four infertile patients with stage III or IV endometriosis undergoing IVF were randomly allocated to the study or the control group. The long protocol of GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) was used for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in all patients. Patients in the study group were treated with pioglitazone at a dose of 15 mg/day orally from the starting day of GnRH-a treatment to the day of hCG injection. Blood samples were drawn for serologic assay of RANTES on the first day of GnRH-a treatment and the day of hCG injection. There were no differences between the study and control groups in patient characteristics. There were also no differences between the two groups in COS duration, and the numbers of retrieved oocytes, fertilized oocytes and embryos transferred. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was higher in the study group, but this difference was not statistically significant. However, embryo implantation rate was significantly higher in the study group of 12.5% compared with 8.6% in the control group (P<0.05). The serum RANTES levels after pioglitazone treatment were significantly lower than those before pioglitazone treatmen in the study group (P<0.05). Our data suggest that pioglitazone treatment can suppress RANTES production and improve the embryo implantation rate in patients with endometriosis undergoing IVF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.22-27
• /
• 2012

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol applied during early and late follicular phase (MDP-EL) in comparison with standard GnRH agonist luteal long protocol (LP) in each non-obese and obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women undergoing IVF. Methods: Two hundred eleven infertile women with PCOS were recruited and randomized to undergo either GnRH antagonist MDP-EL (antagonist group) or standard GnRH agonist luteal LP (agonist group). IVF cycle outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Total dose and days of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) administered were significantly fewer in the antagonist group than in the agonist group. Incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was significantly lower in the antagonist group. However, IVF and pregnancy outcomes were similar in the two groups. When all subjects were divided into non-obese and obese subgroups, in non-obese PCOS subgroup, IVF and pregnancy outcomes were comparable in the antagonist and agonist groups but total dose and days of rhFSH were also significantly fewer in the antagonist group. Similar findings were also observed in obese PCOS subgroup. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist MDP-EL is at least as effective as GnRH agonist LP and may be a more patient-friendly alternative in controlled ovarian stimulation for PCOS patients undergoing IVF, independent of body mass index.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum progesterone (P4) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and the pregnancy rate among women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) using a flexible antagonist protocol. Methods: This prospective study included 200 IVF and ICSI-ET cycles in which a flexible antagonist protocol was used. The patients were divided into five distinct groups according to their serum P4 levels at the time of hCG administration (0.80, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 1.00 ng/mL). The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) was calculated for each P4 interval. Statistically significant differences were observed at a serum P4 level of 0.9 ng/mL. These data suggest that a serum P4 concentration of 0.9 ng/mL may represent the optimal threshold level for defining premature luteinization (PL) based on the presence of a significant negative impact on the CPR. Results: The CPR for each round of ET was significantly lower in the PL group defined using this threshold (25.8% vs. 41.8%; p=0.019), and the number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher than in the non-PL group ($17.3{\pm}7.2$ vs. $11.0{\pm}7.2$; p=0.001). Elevated serum P4 levels on the day of hCG administration were associated with a reduced CPR, despite the retrieval of many oocytes. Conclusion: Measuring serum P4 values at the time of hCG administration is necessary in order to determine the optimal strategy for embryo transfer.

• 한국환경생태학회지
• /
• 제32권6호
• /
• pp.582-590
• /
• 2018

기후변화에 따른 양서류 번식계절학 및 양서류 군집다양성 변동에 대한 연구는 다수 수행되었지만, 개별 종의 번식개체군 크기의 변동에 대한 연구결과는 여전히 부족하다. 본 연구에서는 기후변화가 국내 산간계곡에서 번식하는 무미류인 계곡산개구리(Rana huanrenensis)와 유미류인 도롱뇽(Hynobius leechii) 번식개체군 크기에 영향을 미치는지를 평가하기 위하여 2005년부터 2012년 사이 8년간의 야외개체군 변동과 주변 기후변화 요인들과의 관련성을 분석하였다. 야외에서 두 종은 각각 약 3.5년을 주기로 번식개체군의 크기가 증감하고 있었다. 특별히, 도롱뇽 번식개체군의 크기는 8년에 걸쳐 유의하게 감소하였다. 기후요인들 중, 기온은 계곡산개구리, 강수량은 도롱뇽 번식개체군의 크기와 더 밀접한 관련성을 가지고 있었다. 특별히, 해당지역에서는 8년에 걸쳐 년간평균최고기온 및 봄철평균일교차가 일관되게 감소하였으며, 후자는 도롱뇽 번식개체군 크기의 의미 있는 감소와 관련되었다. 이러한 결과는 최근의 기후변화가 산간계곡에서 번식하는 국내 양서류, 특별히 도롱뇽, 번식개체군 크기의 감소로 직접적으로 이어질 수 있음을 보여준다.

• 수산해양기술연구
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.194-202
• /
• 2011

Maturation and spawning of the Shotted halibut, Eopsetta grigorjewi was investigated based on the samples captured in South Korean waters from January 2008 to December 2009. Gonadosomatic index began to increase in December, and reached maximum between January to March. After spawning it began to decrease from May. Reproductive season was estimated to January-April, with peak in February. Fecundity was proportional to the size of the female, with the clutch size varying from 170,000 eggs in the smallest female (total length, 28.9cm) to 1,300,000 eggs in the largest (total length, 41.5cm). Size at 50% sexual maturity (TL50), determined from mature females, was 28.8cm. Annual reproductive cycles of this species could be divided into six successive stages; immature stage (May-October), nucleolus stage (November-January), yolk vesicle stage (January-February), vitellogenic and ripe stage (January-April) and spent stage (April-May).

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2002

Historical control data have been shown to be valuable in the proper interpretation and validation of reproductive toxicology studies. The present data were compiled from rat fertility and early embryonic development studies conducted at Korea Institute of Toxicology during the 1994∼2001 period. These data were assembled in order to provide background information for the general and reproductive data collected in 11 fertility and early embryonic development studies using Sprague-Dawley rats obtain-ing from the Breeding Facility, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Korea. A total of 274 males and 274 females were used in these studies during the eight-year period. Parameters of fertility and early embryonic development included clinical sign, body weights, food consumption, organ weights, estrus cycle, copulation index, precoital time, fertility index, pregnancy index, sperm parameters, and early embryonic development parameters. Most of the values were comparable to the previous historical control data reported by other investigators. These data can be wed not only as a historical data base for the meaningful interpretation of data from reproductive and developmental toxicity studies, but also as a contribution to biological characterization of Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제2권1호
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 1975

In summary, progesterone is probably the only naturallly occurring progestational agent of any significance. Small amounts may be synthesized by the cells of the follicle in the provulatory swelling phase; however, the major production is by the corpus luteum cells of the ovary during the luteal phase of the cycle. It is constantly produced in small amounts by the adrenal gland and by the testis in the male. In the adrenal and the testis, it probably serves as the precursor for corticoids and androgens. It is transported in the blood by a specific binding protein and metabolized and conjugated in the liver into sodium pregnanediol glucuronide which also circulates in the blood. Approximately 20% is excreted in the urine as sodium pregnanediol glucronide; pregnanolone represents a minor metabolic product. The pregnanediol which is excreted in the bile is enzymically hydrolyzed by the gut so that the pregnanediol recovered in the feces is in the free form.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2007

There is worldwide interest in buffalo as an animal for meeting the growing demands of meat, milk and work in the developing countries. One of the major constraints to full exploitation of the productive potential of buffalo has been its inherently low reproductive efficiency as reflected by late maturity, poor expression of oestrus, silent oestrus, irregular oestrous cyclicity, seasonality in breeding, anoestrus, low conception rate, long postpartum interval, repeat breeding etc. Ovarian cyclicity is regulated by endocrine and neuroendocrine mechanisms namely hypothalamic hormones, gonadotropins and ovarian steroids. Detailed endocrine investigations are suggested with special reference to the hypothalamo-hypophysial-ovarian axis to gain a better understanding of reproduction in buffalo and to modify it to derive the maximum benefit from this animal.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish whether differences in ovarian size exist between the right and the left ovary of the same individual in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: In total, 206 Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome were included in this study. In all participants, a transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound examination was conducted in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Results: A significant linear correlation was found between the two ovaries with regard to antral follicle count and ovarian volume. The mean antral follicle count in the right ovary (26.75 ± 11.72) was significantly higher than that in the left ovary (23.98 ± 10.85), and the mean volume of the right ovary (11.06 ± 5.17 cm³) was significantly different from that of the left ovary (9.12 ± 4.89 cm³). Conclusion: Ovarian size is different between the right and the left ovary in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.