• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2010

The aim of the present study was to describe whether abnormal cervical mucus discharge (A-CMD) or pathogens in cervical mucus discharge (CMD) have effects on reproductive performance of cows and heifers in estrus. Animals having clear discharges (68 cows, 38 heifers) with normal viscosity and without bad odor were grouped as normal cervical mucous discharge (N-CMD) group. The other animals (84 cows, 32 heifers) were grouped as A-CMD group. Microorganisms isolated from samples were divided into three groups as uterine pathogens (UP), potential uterine pathogens (PUP) or opportunistic uterine pathogens (OUP). Presence of PUP was associated with A-CMD for both cows (p<0.01) and heifers (p<0.02). First service conception rates (FS-CR) were lower in cows positive for PUP (p<0.01). Moreover, presence of PUP and OUP affected FS-CR in heifers (p<0.01). Although A-CMD significantly affected FS-CR in cows (p<0.04), it did not affect FS-CR in heifers. Differences in average open day for cows (p<0.02) and first service age for heifers (p<0.01) were significant between N-CMD and A-CMD groups, respectively. The current study suggested that CMD should be evaluated more carefully when there are infertility problems. In addition to the known microorganism that causes sterility and infertility in the UP group, pathogens in the PUP group should be considered for their potential to cause infertility.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.381-388
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• 1999

These investigations were performed to determine the causes of the reproductive disorders of the sows in a pig farm which was located at the distance 36m away from the detonation spot. The reproductive problems of the sows such as abortion and infertility occurred after consecutive detonation and use of heavy equipments to build 6 piers of the bridge for the expressway between Jinju and Taeieon during the period from July 1997 to October 1998. 1. The management condition of the farm, microorganism in the feed, inbreeding, hematological conditions, and viral agent causing abortion were not proved as the factors of the occurrence of abortion and infertility in the pig farm. 2. Theoretical concussion values according to the average amount of explosive per detonation were 1.16 kine for minimum amount (3.6 kg) and 3.45 kine for maximum amount(12.5 kg) of explosive, and the theoretical sound values were accordingly 92.29 decibel for minimum amount and 101.76 decibel for maximum amount of explosive, respectively, in the case of 36m distance between the detonation spot and pig farm. The frequency of detonation in a day was 7 times with interval of 15 minutes. 3. The occurence of infertility in the farm was 57.3% during the period of construction from July 1997 to August 1998. 4. In comparison of body weight of piglets between the damaged and not damaged farms, growth of piglets at the damaged farm was shown to be delayed over 30 days than those of not-damaged farm. In conclusion, abortion of 40 sows, delivery of whole still births of 22 sows, and infertility of 122 sows in the pig farm were assumed to be caused by the concussion or sound stress after consecutive detonation and use of heavy equipments.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2014

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether there was a correlation between catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism, which is believed to play a role in the etiology of psychotic disorders, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: Fifty-three women with regular menstrual cycles, aged between 18 and 46 years and diagnosed with PMS according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology criteria were included in this study as the study group, and 53 healthy women having no health problems were selected as the controls. Venous blood was collected from all patients included in the study and kept at $-18^{\circ}C$ prior to analysis. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic features such as age, body mass index, number of pregnancies, parity, and number of children. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of COMT gene polymorphism (p=0.61) between women in the PMS and the control groups. However, a significant difference was found between arthralgia, which is an indicator of PMS, and low-enzyme activity COMT gene (Met/Met) polymorphism (p=0.04). Conclusion: These results suggested that there was no significant relationship between PMS and COMT gene polymorphism. Since we could not find a direct correlation between the COMT gene polymorphism and PMS, further studies including alternative neurotransmitter pathways are needed to find an effective treatment for this disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1991

We compared fertilizing potential measurements by the zona-free hamster egg penetration assay with the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program was evaevulated for their ability to fertilize zona free hamster egg. Spermatozoa from 12 presumeably fertile donors and from the male partners of 56 infertile couples were evaluated for their ability to fertilizing potentials. Penertration rates of fertile donors were $36.2{\pm}27.7%$ ; Fertilization rates of infertile couples between with normal semen parameters and with abnormal semen parameters were $28.7{\pm}19.1$, $5.7{\pm}8.9%$, respectively. Sperm motility of couples with penetration rates between on 15-30% and on 30> were $54.1{\pm}4.6$, $55.5{\pm}8.3%$ respectively. Hamster penetration rates of couples participating in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program was $38.9{\pm}29.9%$. But in one case, a positive fertility assessment was obtained in the absence of fertilization of the wife's eggs attributable to egg immaturity. This method may have potential value as a diagnostic tool in evaluation human sperm fertilization capacity which avoids the ethical and logistical problems associated with fertilizing of human eggs in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 1994

Down syndrome is one of the major chromosomal anomalies in Korea. To decrease incidence of Down syndrome, antenatal diagnosis is essential. At present, antenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome is done by karyotyping from chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and cordocentsis. All these methods have some problems such as a risk of abortion, a long waiting time, difficulties in sampling, and so on. The aim of study was to confirm that PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction) using D21S11 primer could be a diagnostic tool for Down syndrome. PCR using D21S11 primers with $^{32}P$ labeling at 5' end was done in 21 cases of DNA from 21 Trisomy and 20 cases of DNA from normal karyotype. PCR product was running for 10 hours on the 6% polyacrylamide gel under 1,000 V or for 8 hours under 1,500 V. After X-ray film exposure, it was read by densitometry. Normal group showed 1: 1 band or single band. 21 Trisomy group showed 1.3-2: 1 band or 2.3 times of density compared to normal single band or 3 bands. This method gave the result within 24 hours. It can be an useful diagnostic tool to detect 21 Trisomy antenatally, especially in late pregnancy, and in preimplantation diagnosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.519-522
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• 1997

Buffalo heifers weighing from 400 - 500 kg and having a history of reproductive problems like anestrus, irregular estrus or failure to conceive after repeated inseminations were administered subcutaneously with estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone in two dosage rate 0.1 mg and 0.25 mg, respectively, per kg body weight per day for 7 days in experiment-I and 0.1 mg and 0.125 mg, respectively, per kg body weight per day for 7 days in experiment II. In experiment-I, 9 out of 10 buffaloes responded positively to the hormonal treatment. Milk secretion started between 14-20 days after the start of the treatment. The total milk yield in the successfully induced animals varied from 471.98-625.40 kg. The average daily milk yield varied from 2.08-2.76 kg and peak yield from 3.6-5.3 kg. The time taken to reach peak yield varied from 12-14 weeks. In experiment - II, the established lactation response was absent, although milk secretion process was initiated, the yield could not reach more than 50 - 100 gm at each milking. In experiment - I, the first estrus occurred between days 87 - 231 following the hormonal treatment. Four animals in which lactation was established successfully got pregnant after one or two services. In experiment - II the first estrus occurred between 85 - 173 days following the treatment and only one animal got pregnant.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.467-484
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• 1999

The main objectives of this study were to investigate the concept of family function from the perspective of the contemporary Korean family, and to construct model of change of family function with chronic illness. The hybrid model approach was applied in which three phases(theoretical phase, empirical phase, and analytic phase) of concept development were explored for family functioning. The study was conducted from 1997 to 1998. In empirical phase, two groups of purposive samples were drawn : normal family group composed of six families without ill family member, and ill family group composed of seven families of which wives have rheumatoid arthritis. Only families with child(or children) in primary or secondary schools were included in the study. The results were as follows : In theoretical phase, six dimensions of family concept were emerged : affective, structural, control, cognitive, financial, and reproductive dimension. In order to analyse the Korean normal family function in middle class with middle-aged women, financial and reproductive dimension were not included. In empirical phase, five dimensions(affective, structural, control, cognitive, and external relationship) were found from the normal family data. External relationship dimension is very important factor as a resource of the support, especially when their parents or siblings had no help or support to them. In the affective dimension, Korean family emphasized harmony and balance rather than affective expression between couples and between parents and children. They also showed common goals of the families to solve their problems to control the family members. The priority of the goals was getting into the higher education of their children or helping their unhealthy parents or family members. Six dimensions (affective, structural, control, cognitive, external relationship, and financial) of family functions were emerged from the ill family data. From the analysis of ill family data, types of restructuring house chore after wives illness were developed : (a) negociated, (b) accomodated, and (c) isolated, enduring types. Although the dimensions of family functioning identified in this study are similar to the conceptualizations that exist in the western literature, there were distinct differences in the nature of major themes and subconcepts under these family function dimensions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 1976

The human semen ejaculated in a form of liquid state, coagulates immediately after ejaculation, and then liquefies again. However, the mechanisms of neither coagulation and liquefaction of semen have not been explained clearly so far, and very limited numbers of report are available, although the spermatology and andrology made rapid progress. This clinical study has been undertaken to investigate the liquefaction phenomena and practicability of the results might be applied to fertility and infertility problems. As a preliminary study, in this report the liquefaction time of various semen groups is measured and analysed. The following results are obtained: 1. An average liquefaction time of semen of a total of 60 subjects: 25 minutes. 2. An average liquefaction time of semen according to sperm count: 1) Normospermia group (20 cases): 34 minutes. 2) Oligospermia group (20 cases): 21 minutes. 3) Azoospermia group (20 cases): 20 minutes. 3. An average liquefaction time of semen according to abstinence period: 1) Less than 3 days group (30 cases): 22 minutes. 2) More then 5 days group (30 cases): 28 minutes. In conclusion: 1. The liquefaction time of semen of the normospermia group is longer than oligospermia group or azoosermia group. 2. The liquefaction time of semen may not be greatly influenced by the various factors such as abstinence period, semen volume, semen pH, age of the subjects and so on. 3. In routine semen analyses, it is recommended to begin the analysis at least 25 minutes after the ejaculation. 4. Further studies are required in conjunction with practical application of liquefaction mechanism in infertility and fertility control.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 1998

It was reported that the etiologies of recurrent spontaneous abortion are immunologic factors, endocrinologic problems, anatomical abnormalities, genetic abnormalities, infection, and unexplained factors. Among those etiologic factors, genetic abnormalities occur in about 5% of the couples who experience recurrent spontaneous abortions, and most common parental chromosomal abnormality contributing to recurrent abortion is balanced translocation. The advent of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the development of skills associated with the handling of human embryo, and an explosion of knowledge in molecular biology have opened the possibility of early diagnosis of genetic disease in preimplantation embryos. Therefore preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is indicated for couples, infertile or not, at risk of transmitting a genetic disease. A case of successful pregnancy and term delivery by PGD using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in patient with recurrent spontaneous abortion due to balanced translocation is presented with brief review of literatures.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.253-268
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• 1974

A total of 331 dairy cattle in Jeonnam area were examined for the breeding status and hematological values during the period from June to August. 1971 and 1974. The data obtained were analysed according to the status of breeding and the type of farm management. The results obtained in this work were summarized as follows: 1. 331 dairy cows were grouped as pregnant (63.81%) anestrus after parturition (12.45%), pregnancy unknown (11.48%), repeat breeder (10.32%), and others (1.94%). 2. The summery of reproductive histories and clinical examination were as follows. Average of calving interval was 16.5 months, interval from parturition to first breeding 97 days and postpartum interval to first estrus 72 days. Services per conception was 1.6 rate of postpartum estrus (60 days) 12.0%, and the rate of repent breeder 10.3%. 3. Generally, the blood values of RBC, Hb, serum total protein and A/G ratio were lower than those normal values, especially, the cows which showed abnormal values belonged to the repeat breeder and the unknown to conception group. The mean value for serum inorganic phosphorus was the normal value or hyperphosphatemia, on the other hand, the mean value for serum calcium of the repeat breeder group was the lowest than the other group. 4. Follow-up evaluations on the results of the laboratory tests strongly suggest that the problems of repeat breeder had a tendency to occur more frequently in the large herd (A and B type farm), and the Ca/P ratio of almost all the cows showed abnormal values.