• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 1999

The present study was performed to improve the reproductive disturbance as well as the elimination of microbiological contamination for animals bred under conventional conditions followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer techniques including embryo and sperm freezing, using a mouse strain(M. m. molossinus-tt＠Kist) showing the abnormal behavior disorder derived from Korean wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus). Moreover, hematological and serum biochemical analyses were also carried out to obtain the basic data of this mouse strain The results are summarized as follows: 1. In comparison with hematological data, the numbers of RBC and platelet of this mouse strain were appeared as the higher value those that of the same aged inbred strains such as BALB/c, DBA/2, C57BL/6 and C3H /Hen. However, no differences were found in values of WBC, Hb and Ht. Moreover, total cholesterol of this strain showed a low value but triglyceride, total protein and albumin values were similar as in inbred strains. 2. The average numbers of superovulated oocytes treated with 2.5/2.5 IU and 5.0/5.0 IU of PMSG/hCG were 11.6 and 12.7, respectively. The fertilization rates of 2.5/2.5 IU PMSG /hCG treatment(87.9%) was higher than 5.0/5.0 IU treatment(52.0%) (p＜0.05) and the developmental rate of 2 cell stage embryos were 외 so appeared as higher value 99.0% and 90.6%, respectively. 3. The rates of in vitro fertilization treated with frozen sperm(24.8%) was significantly lower than of that fresh sperm(87.9%), (p＜0.05). 4. The five, six and ten heads of offspring were obtained from frozen-thawed 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilized, 2 cell embryos from in vitro fertilized by frozen-thawed spermatozoa. and 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilization, respectively. These offspring developed the expected disease about 2 weeks after birth, which was confirmed that the disease character of this mutant mouse strain was reliably reproduced. 5. MHV(Mouse hepatitis virus) and Staphylococcus aureus were successfully eliminated from conventional animals by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and the use of SPF recipient animals.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.5 no.1 s.9
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• pp.93-123
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• 2005

This work has following two research goals. First, IVF treatments that have been recently going on in Korea are reexamined from the perspective of women's reproductive rights. Second, the intimate connection between IVF and therapeutic cloning research, in that remnant embryos and eggs that have been secured through IVF treatments have served as a main source of supply for therapeutic cloning research, has been emphasized. The fact that the influencing power of tradition on Korean families and women and IVF techniques eventually joined their hands in support of therapeutic cloning research is noted. Analysis of experiences of infertility by women in the realms of family, medical care during IVF treatment, and therapeutic cloning research that requires continuous supply of eggs leads to following conclusions. First, in the realm of family, infertile women were not only relegated to the status of abnormality but pressured to question their own womanhood. Under this circumstance, IVF treatment helped to reinforce the traditional concept of biological motherhood, thus categorizing married women giving birth to babies and married women who can't or refuses to do so to 'normal ones' and 'abnormal ones' respectively. Second, in the realm of medical care an infertile woman could rediscover her own body during the process of IVF treatment. By going through the processes of hormone treatment, implantation, conception, miscarriage, and so on, she could realize that her own body is understood in diverse ways to her, her family, and the medical profession. Third, in the realm of the state, IVF treatment that was serving as the main supplier of research materials for therapeutic cloning research has been able to avoid controversy in public discourses since the latter has emerged as a signifier of new national economic workhorse for the 21st century. As therapeutic cloning research went into high gear, the status of women as egg providers began to assume a political dimension. Women as egg providers are called upon to take on a paradoxical role as patriotic contributors to national economy on the one hand and as guardians of sacred 'life' on the other hand. The direction and progress of the research will depend on the ways that women comply, compromise, and/or resist the contradiction brought about by being assigned to assume these two identities: the one as a member of the nation requested to serve as a part of national economic development project, even though considered ineligible for financial recompense, and the other one as a guardian of sacred 'life,' even though she have to serve the research that is allowed to create a 'life' to destroy a 'life.'

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Although IVF-ET is widely applied in the treatment of couples with male factor infertility, it may fail in many infertile couples with normal semen parameters, and certain couples cannot be accepted for standard IVF-ET due to unfertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes. Recently, several procedures of microassisted fertilization (MAF) using micromanipulation have been introduced, and pregnancies and births have been obtained after partial zona dissection (PZD), subzonal insertion (SUZI), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This clinical study was performed to develop and establish ICSI as an effective procedure of MAF in infertile couples who could not undergo standard IVF-ET repetitively because of failure in fertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes with the conventional fertilization technique in the previous IVF-ET cycles. From March, 1995 to May, 1996, 27 cycles of IVF-ET with ICSI in 19 infertile patients were included in study group, and the outcomes of ICSI were analyzed according to fertilization rate, cumulative embryo score (CES), and pregnancy rate. The number of oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was $10.50{\pm}6.13$ in 30 previous cycles, and $10.57{\pm}5.53$ in 27 ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the number of oocytes optimal for ICSI procedure was $7.89{\pm}4.30$, and the fertilization rate of $67.9{\pm}20.2%$ could be obtained after ICSI. The number of embryos transferred was $1.43{\pm}2.40$ in previous cycles, and $4.36{\pm}1.77$ with the mean CES of $41.8{\pm}27.4$ in ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the overall pregnancy rate was 29.6% (8/27) per cycle and 42.1% (8/19) per patient with the clinical pregnancy rate of 22.2% (6/27) per cycle and 31.6% (6/19) per patient. In conclusion, MAF of human oocytes with ICSI is a promising fertilization method for IVF-ET patients, especially with the past history of failure in fertilization or low fertilization rate of oocytes in the previous IVF-ET cycles, and ICSI using micromanipulation procedures applied to human oocytes will provide a range of novel techniques which may dramatically improve the pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program and contribute much to effective management of infertile couples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 1997

In spite of much progress in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program, the pregnancy rate remains at 20-30%, and the endometrial implantation rate per embryo transferred at 10-15%. As a result, about 90% of embryos may fail to implant to the endometrium, and many attempts such as optimization of follicular development, improvement of in vitro culture system including coculture, and micromanipulation of zona pellucida have been made to improve embryonic implantation after IVF-ET. Recently, several procedures of assisted hatching (AH) using micromanipulation have been introduced, and pregnancies and births have been obtained after AH. To develop and establish AH as an effective procedure to improve embryonic implantation, AH with partial zona dissection (PZD) was performed in 116 cycles of 89 infertile couples who had previous repeated failures of standard IVF-ET more than two times (Group I: 71 cycles in 54 patients), or who had implantation failure of embryos with good quality (Group II: 15 cycles in 13), or who had undergone AH without specific indication (Group III: 30 cycles in 22) from January, 1995 to Februry, 1996, and the outcomes of AH were analyzed according to pregnancy rate. The number of oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was $9.9{\pm}7.1$ in Group I, $11.5{\pm}4.5$ in Group II, and $7.9{\pm}6.4$ in Group III. The number of embryos transferred after AH was $4.7{\pm}1.8$ in Group I, $5.3{\pm}1.3$ in Group II, and $3.5{\pm}2.4$ in Group III. The mean cumulative embryo score (CES) was $56.8{\pm}30.0$ in Group I, $76.1{\pm}35.9$ in Group II, and $38.5{\pm}29.9$ in Group III. The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle and per patient was 12.7% (9/71) and 16.7% (9/54) in Group I, 33.3% (5/15) and 38.5% (5/13) in Group II, and 6.7% (2/30) and 9.1% (2/22) in Group III, respectively. There were significant differences in the numbers of oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred, CES, and the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle among three groups. There was a significant inverse correlation between basal serum FSH level and CES, and no pregnancy occurred in patients with CES less than 20. In conclusion, AH of human embryos with PZD prior to ET has improved the implantation and pregnancy rates in IVF-ET patients with the past history of repeated failures, especially in spite of transfer of embryos with good quality, and AH will provide a range of novel techniques which may contribute much to effective management of infertile couples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 1977

Anderson(1937), Power and Barnes(1941) reported a study concerning a method of tubal sterilization in association with peritoneoscopy or laparoscopy in which they cauterized the tubes. There appears to have been a hiatus of interest in sterilization (cold or hot) associated with laparoscopy until reintroduction by Palmer(1963), Frangenheim(1964) and Steptoe(1967). On the other hand, for interval female sterilization, however, minilaparotomy is relatively new. By Saunder and Munsick(1972), John Lyle(1974), Frank Stubb(1974), Vitoon(1973) and B.C. Bai(1975), their own technique for interval female sterilization requires 2.0 to 2.5cm, incision at the margin of the mons pubis. In Korea, female sterilization by means of minilaparotomy firstly reported by B.C. Bai using Bai's uterine elevator, of his own device, early in 1975. Recently inteval female sterilization by laparoscopy and minilaparotomy are widely accepted throughout the world especially in Asian countries. Minilaparotomy is carried out from 1974, laparoscopic sterilization from 1976, and in this study each of 250 cases of those were analysed and discussed for the comparison at Seoul Red Cross Hospital. (1) In the age distribution, numerous clients were in their age of $31{\sim}35$ in laparoscopy as well as minilaparotomy. Average 33.7 years in L and 33.2 years in M. (M=minilaparotomy, L=laparoscopic sterilization) (2) As regarding living children, women having 3 children represented the greatest number, 113 cases out of 250 in M group and 102 cases out of 250 in L group. Average No. of child are 2.9 in Land 3.1 in M. (3) Concidering the operation day in the menstrml cycle, the greatest number of cases, those who underwent tubal sterilization during the days of $26{\sim}$, next during the $6{\sim}10$ days of the cycle in both group. (4) Concidering the operation time, 188 cases by laparoscopy were performed in $6{\sim}10$ minutes, 33 cases within 5 minutes and 24 cases in $11{\sim}15$ minutes. Maximum 50 minutes, minimum 4 minutes and average 8.3 minutes. The majority of cases (154 cases) by minilaparotomy required $6{\sim}10$ minutes and 67 cases $11{\sim}15$ minutes, 6 cases within 5 minutes. Maximum 30 minutes, minimum 4 minutes and average 10.4, minutes. In both groups, most of the reasons for the extra length were surgical difficulties such as thick abdominal wall, pelvic adhesion, less cooperation of patients in early period of this study. (5) Hospital stay after operation in L group required $3{\sim}4$ hours in 125 cases, $2{\sim}3$ hours in 41 cases, $4{\sim}5$ hours in 32 cases out of 250. Maximum 8 hours, minimum 1 hour and average 3.8 hours. In M group hospital stay required $6{\sim}7$ hours in 100 cases, over 7 hours in 85 cases, $5{\sim}6$ hours in 46 cases and so on. Maximum 14 hours, minimum 2 hours and average 6.5 hours. (6) The time between operation and gas passing in the majority cases of both groups, were $12{\sim}36$ hours. A veragetime 20.3 hours in L and 27.2 in M. (7) Laparoscopic sterilization coincident with induced abortion were carried out in 27 cases, laparoscopy with minilaparotomy to control for mesosalpingeal hemorrhage in 1 case. Minilaparotomy coincident with induced abortion were performed in 65 cases, D and C whit polypectomy, menstrual regulatian, and remaval of IUD in 1 case respectively. (8) In L group, 1 case of mesosalpingeal hemorrhage, 1 case of abdominal wall infection were complicated during operation. In M group, 1 case of uterine perfaration, 1 case of abdominal wall infection, 1 case of hemorrhage from omentum and 1 case of bloody vaginal discharge were complicated. No intensive medical treatment was required for those minor complications in both groups. (9) No failure has been recognized and these two sterilization techniques might be the simple, safe and the most effective method for permanent contraception at present time. There is no significant clinical defference between L and M group in this study.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 1981

Clomiphene citrate. antiestrogen, was given to 39 infertile males whose spermatogenesis were disturbed and the efficacy of the drug was evaluated at the Department of Urology in 1980. (Table 1). Patients were divided into 3 clinical observation groups such as group I composed of 19 cases of idiopathic azoospermia, group II consisted of 15 cases of oligospermia following the vasovasostomy, and group III comprised 5 cases of testicular azoospermia. (Table 2). Clinical characteristics of these patients were as follows: Age of the patients ranged from 26 to 43 years old with mean of 34, and that of their wives ranged from 24 to 41 years old with mean of 31. Duration of marital life ranged from 1 to 21 years with mean of 5 years. Sizes of testis ranged from 6 to 25 ml with mean of 16 ml. Coital frequency ranged from 0.5 to 6 per week with mean of 2.4 per week. Levels of plasma FSH ranged from 3.15 to 23.06 lU/1 with mean of 8.15 lU/1, those of LH ranged from 2.98 to 19.89 lU/1 with mean of 8.18 lU/1 and those of testosterone ranged from 3.09 to 9.97 ng/ml with mean of 6.48 ng/ml. (Table 3). Clomiphene citrate was given in dosage of 50 mg per day (in d.) orally to 31 patients for 3 to 9 months and in dosage of 100 mg per day (b.i.d.) orally to 8 patients for 3 to 9 months. (Table 8). Semen samples were analysed monthly on each patient by routine analysis techniques. For the assessment of the efficacy of Clomiphene citrate on faulty spermatogenesis following empirical criteria were used: For semen quality: Improvement (I) represents that semen parameter increased more than 25% from basal level after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that semen parameter increased less than 25% of basal level or not changed after the treatment and Deterioration (D) means that semen parameter decreased from basal level after the treatment. For fertility unit (total counts ${\times}$ motility ${\times}$ morphology ${\div}10^6$): Improvement (I) represents that fertility unit increased more than 10 units after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that fertility unit increased less than 10 units or not changed after the treatment, and Deterioration (D) means that fertility unit decreased after the treatment. (Table 4). Results obtained from the Clomiphene therapy were as follows: Changes of spermiograme before and after the Oomiphene therapy shown in the Table 5. Sperm counts increased from 23 to 31 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group I, from 17 to 29 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group II. Other parameters of spermiogramme were not changed significantly after the treatment. Fertility units increased from 14 to 18 units after the treatment in group I, and from 16 to 18 units after the treatment in group II. Effectiveness of Clomiphene citrate on spermatogenesis was summarised in the Tables 6 and 7. After the treatment, sperm count increased in 11 patients, motility increased in 6 patients, morphology increased in 4 patients and fertility units increased in 9 patients. No sperm could be produced by Clomiphene citrate in group III of testicular azoospermia. Dosage of 50 mg of Clomiphene citrate per day for 3 to 6 months was proved to be the most effective in the present series. (Table 8). Pregnancy occurred in 2 patients after the treatment. No particular side effects were noted by the treatment. Pharmacologic compounds used for male infertility were shown in the Table 9. Reported results of Clomiphene citrate were shown in the Table 10.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2000

Objectives: The studies in biological, behavioral and psychosocial perspectives in nursing research are fundamental in the balanced development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing researchers have placed a strong emphasis on developing psychological and behavioral aspects of nursing knowledge as is evidenced by the large body of research in these areas. However, the paucity of nursing research using the principles of biological science for measurements and techniques have often invited open criticism by many nursing researchers. This study attempts to characterize the researches performed in master and doctoral thesis which used physiological variables. Methods: We analyzed masters' thesis from 1962 to 1996 and doctoral thesis from 1982 to 1996 listed in CD from Korean Nurses Association. Results: Out of 3060 masters' thesis from 1962 to 1996, 342 (11.2%) thesis used physiological variables whereas 43 (10.1%) doctoral thesis used physiological ones. Number of thesis with physiological variables was the highest in Seoul National University for masters' thesis whereas for the doctoral thesis the number was the highest in Yonsei University. The research subjects in these thesis with physiological variables were mostly patients (53.5% in masters' and 69.8% in doctoral). Master's thesis often conducted either nonexperimental or survey research (69.9%) whereas experimental research design prevailed vital signs(181 thesis), blood tests(133), body composition(124), microorganisms(74), gastrointestinal functions(36), lab test(33), drug(21), urinary functions(20), movement(17), Apgar Score(15), reproductive functions(9), skin related functions(6), body fluid and electrolytes(4), parasite(4), metabolism(3), and sensory(1), Among the 338 master' thesis which studied the common nursing concepts such as anxiety, pain, stress, and depression, 48(14.2%) thesis utilized physiological variables while 15 out of 35 doctoral thesis addressed these concepts using physiological variables. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that despite the large amount of nursing research performed over the last decades, there are a few nursing researches done with physiological variables either in masters' or doctoral thesis. To enrich nursing knowledge with different perspectives of nursing including especially biological ones, the efforts have to be made to conduct bionursing science research.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.415-418
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• 2008

The application of sludge wastes into agricultural fields has been increasing annually in Korea. In particular, sewage sludge application has been widely accepted in decades. Sewage sludge application aid in the recycling of essential nutrients and act as a source of organic matter improving the structure and water-holding properties of the soil. The efficient use of sludge wastes, however, requires an individual assessment of waste products. This study assessed the biological characteristics of organic waste-treated lysimeter soils and develop its indicator to assess the soil health of organic waste-treated lysimeter soils. Several analytical techniques more recently developed such as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), and community level substrate utilization (CLSU) fingerprints allow for detailed analyses of soil microbial communities. PLFA and RFLP was, therefore, used in the study to characterize the microbial communities in soil without the need to isolate individual fungi and bacteria. PLFA, RFLP and CLSU have been utilized to assess microbial characteristics of the lysimeter soils with four different sludge wastes for eight consecutive years. Each of these methods was analyzed for a different aspect of soil microbial characteristics. The study would disclose those methods yielded highly reproductive results for each soil and allow distinguishing the soils based on the structures of specific geneand PLFA-pools more than CLSU fingerprints. PLFA methods, especially, revealed the same relative similarities of the treated soils based on cluster analysis of the biological characteristics. Pig manure compost-treated soil, however, was only the same relative resemblance among the three methods. These results indicated that PLFA easily assessed the biological soil characterization.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 1975

Growth retardation and a variable degree of body disproportion are recognized features of malnutrition, and mild and moderate protein-calorie malnutrition(PCM). Among the various body measurements suggested to assess the prevalence of all grades of PCM as judged by growth retardation and by body disproportion, the 'mid-upper-arm circumference'-abbreviated to 'arm-circumference' has been suggested as a potential useful simple field index for the assessment of PCM showing that the measurement would give composite information simultaneously on three important effects on PCM-deficit in the muscle protein reservoirs, availability of calorie stores in the form of subcutaneous fat, and growth failure. And this is selected because of its easy accessibility, and less involvement with clinical edema. This study is conducted to make a comparison between the percentage of Korean weight for age standards and the percentage of mid-upper-arm circumference for age standards of 175 preschool children aged $3{\sim}72$ months who are selected among the low-income residents in Seoul. In this study, a comparison is made between the results obtained by expressing the observed weight of the child as a percentage of Korean standard, referred to as 'weight-for-age' and the observed arm-circumference expressed as a percentage of the age-specific arm standard of Jelliffe, referred to as 'arm-for-age'. All the measurements were taken following the techniques described by Jelliffe. The left mid upper arm was measured using a glass-fibre tape and the Fairbanks Morse beam balance was used for weighing. 80% level of weight for age Korean standard and 85% level of arm for are Jelliffe standard were used as an upper borderline limit for PCM. Comparing the 80% weight-for-age and the 85% arm-for-age standard as an upper limit for PCM, for children aged $3{\sim}72$ months, results in 84.6% agreement with the sensitivity of 86.4% and its specificity of 83.5%. If arm circumference alone had been measured and judgement made on this basis, then only 5.1% of the children would have been 'wrongly' classified. And there is a moderately close correlation between arm circumference and weight for age as the data in Table 4 shows. The problem therefore lies in the standard for arm circumference in normal children and in determining what is the lower limit of normal. Once this is clearly difined, one can rely more confidently on arm circumference measurements alone for the nutritional assessment of early childhood.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2008

The current study was designed to extend the technique of spermatogonial transplantation to economically important pig model We evaluated the efficiency of pig to pig transplantation. Donor testis cells were harvested from testes obtained at castration of 10- to 14-day-old boars and were labeled with fluorescent marker(PKH26) before transplantation. The presence of infused dye or labeled pig testicular cells was confirmed in the seminiferous tubules from recipient pig. The most effective procedure of intratubular germ cell transfer was to insert an fine needle ($21{\sim}25$ gauge) through the cauda epididymis and testis into the rete testis under ultrasound guidance. Infusion of $5{\sim}7ml$ of dye solution or cell suspension could fill the rete and up to 50% of seminiferous tubules of 14-week-old boars. Testis were examined for the presence and localization of labeled donor cells immediately after transplantation and labeled donor cells were found in numerous seminiferous tubules from recipient pig testes. These results indicate that germ cell transplantation is feasible in recipient pig testis. This study represents successful spermatogonial transplantation between individual animals in a livestock species.