• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.155-170
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• 2000

This study was aimed at preparing basic data required for establishment of a cancer screening program by examining the status of cancer screenings performed by women in a city and the factors that had an influence on cervical and breast cancers screening behavior of women. In order to find out the status of cervical and breast cancers screening and the factors having an influence on cervical and breast cancers screening behavior, 1,113 women were selected as study area and subjects by a random cluster sampling method, and the subjects were answered by questionnaires. The major results were as follows: 1. In the cases of the breast and the cervical cancers, 16.7% and 55.7% of the subjects turned out to have had one or more screenings respectively in their life-time. Also the rate of screening group of cervical and breast cancers was 16.7%, the rate of screening group of only cervical cancer was 38.9%, and the rate of non-screening group was 44.4%. 2. As to the screening pattern of cervical and breast cancer, there were significantly for age, income, occupation, married status, spouse, the factors associated with health promotion (doctor visiting, exercising), married age, number of children, and breast feeding(p〈0.05). 3. The factors associated with screening behaviors for cervical and breast cancers were age, income, occupation, married status, doctor visiting, exercising, married age, number of children, and breast feeding(p〈0.05). Based on the above-mentioned results obtained by this study, it was anticipated that this study may be playa vital role as basic data for the development and execution of cervical and breast cancers screening program for women in a community. And the analysis, done on the basis of the status of the cancer screening, of the influence factors on cervical and breast cancers screening behavior showed that for the development of a cancer screening program, the factors like age, social-economic class, married status, health promotion behavior, and reproductive characteristics should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3363-3367
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major health issue worldwide as well as in Pakistan. All women belonging to any race, ethnicity or lineage are in danger of developing breast cancer. Significant factors influencing the development of breast malignancies are the genetic background, environmental conditions, reproductive parameters, the consequences of female hormones both intrinsic and extrinsic, alteration of immune status, and biologic determinants. Materials and Methods: Overall 150 biopsy proven patients were included in the study. Samples were submitted for histopathology and determination of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and HER-2/neu status. Associations with other characteristics like age, tumor stage, node involvement, histological grade were also studied. Results: Mean age at presentation was 46.7 years. The majority had invasive ductal carcinoma, 100 (84.7%), and were in stage pT3, 54 (45.7%). Important relationships (P<0.05) were found among ER, PR positivity, and Her 2 neu overexpression. However, no noteworthy link was identified amongst ER, PR, Her 2 neu and tumor grade, stage, age, lymph node involvement except for the menopausal status. Conclusions: In summary, breast cancer patients featured an advanced stage of disease, more lymph node involvement, and moderately high grade tumors and with more estrogen, progesterone receptor and HER-2 positive tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3587-3593
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• 2016

Purpose: To analyze risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. Methods: The present case-control study included 600 women treated at a cancer center reference hospital in a municipality in the South of Brazil. Results: Totals of 100 patients and 500 control subjects were evaluated. The mean age of the women was $52.5{\pm}11.9$ years; the average was $57.4{\pm}11.8$ years, and the average age of the control subjects was $51.5{\pm}11.7$ years. The risk factors for breast cancer that were considered included an age ${\geq}40$ years, postmenopausal status, a body mass index $(BMI){\geq}30kg/m^2$, and reduced physical activity. Variables like postmenopausal status and an obese BMI were associated with cases of breast cancer. Women who were postmenopausal or obese were 3.80 or 1.80 times more likely to develop breast cancer, respectively, and physically inactive women were 1.72 times more likely to develop breast cancer. Conclusions: Obesity and postmenopausal status are associated with the occurrence of breast cancer in this population. Being over 40 years of age was also a statistically significant factor for postmenopausal women.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2006

Hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) is used for evaluating the plasma membrane function and fertilizing ability in mammal spermatozoa. However, HOS solutions and experimental conditions have not been determined clearly for assessing canine spermatozoa. This study was conducted to examine the HOS solutions and assay conditions, including incubation time (30 to 120 min), storage temperature (4, 17 and $20^{\circ}C$), semen status (fresh and frozen). Maximum spermatozoal plasma membrane swelling was obtained in an 150 mOsm Na-citrate/Fructose solutions with an incubation time for 45 min. The storage temperature and semen status affected the percentage of HOS positive spermatozoa. The HOS test adapted to canine spermatozoa in this study was simple and highly consistent assay with good repeatability. The optimal condition of HOST in canine spermatozoa is an 150 mOsm Na-citrate/Fructose solutions with an incubation time for 45 min regardless of semen storage temperature and semen status.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2012

Many mammals in temperate zones are affected by the distinctive changes of the four seasons in these zones. Their reproductive status is active in the summer climate and inactive during severe winter weather. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is seasonal breeding animal whose sexual activities are regulated by photoperoidism. The reproduction and metabolism are activated by long summer days (LD) and inhibited by short winter days (SD). After several months of SD, animals become refractory to this inhibitory photoperiod and spontaneously revert to LD-like physiology. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) house the primary circadian oscillator in mammals. Seasonal changes in the photic input to this structure control many annual physiological rhythms via SCN-regulated pineal melatonin secretion, which provides an internal endocrine signal representing photoperiod. The aim of this study was to assess the variation in the morphology of the testis in relation to the natural photoperiod in male golden hamsters. The hamsters were castrated at different weeks (2, 5, 8, and 15). The cell numbers of tubules with spermatogonia (SG), spermatocyte (SC), spermatids (ST), and spermatozoa (SZ) were recorded in each sample. The results showed that testicular regression of golden hamsters occurred in the SD-treated animals. The present investigation determines that the effects of the photoperiod on the reproduction of male golden hamsters. It was also found that the circadian period increases the rate of reproductive inhibition in animals exposed to inhibitory photoperiods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1192-1198
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• 2011

Peri-partum metabolic profile was evaluated in winter and summer calving, with 15 Murrah buffaloes in each seasonal group. In summer calvers, significantly lower values were observed for blood plasma urea nitrogen (BUN) at day 30 pre-partum (p<0.05), on calving day (p<0.05) and at all other stages (p<0.01); plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) values were significantly lower on day 30 pre-partum (p<0.01) and on day 60 post-partum (p<0.05). This was associated with significant reduction in days to first service (DFS) and service per conception (SPC) and an overall better reproductive performance in terms of service period, risk to first service on days 60, 90 and >90, and pregnancy risk to first service up to days 60 and 90. This may be attributed to better pre-partum nutritional status. Cervical and uterine involution were completed in fewer days, involutional changes took place at a faster pace and there were a lower number of abnormal involutional changes in winter compared to summer season. This may be attributed to better post-partum nutrition and less environmental stress. However, validation requires further targeted cohort investigation with a large sample size.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 1994

With the indirect immunobead antisperm antibody test(IBT) a prospective study was conducted to evaluate the immune status of 38 men before and after vasovasostomy. The pregnancy and postoperative semen analysis were evaluated. The results were compared between pregnant (n=14) and non-pregnant(n=24) group. The postoperative sperm motility was inversely correlated with the titer of the preoperative and postoperative IgG(p<0.01). The preoperative and postoperative titer of IgG were significantly higher than the titer of IgA or IgM(p<0.05). The mean percentage of the positive IBT(20 per cent binding or more) of the pregnant group was significantly lower than non-pregnant group in the preoprative and postoperative IgG(p<0.05). Immunobead binding restricted to the head and tail of a sperm in IgG was predominant and significantly lower in the pregnant group (p<0.05). In conclusion, IgG especially immunobead binding to the head and tail can be used as a sensitive screening assay for antisperm antibodies after vasovasostomy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2006

A large number of toxicological substances and pharmacological and physical agents can cause reproductive intervention at the cellular and molecular level. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mercury ($HgCl_2$) at 50 to $550{\mu}M$ concentration ranges, in vitro, on the sperm membrane and DNA integrity, viability, and acrosomal status of normal bull spermatozoa. The samples were processed for sperm analyses using semen-diluting fluid (PBS, pH 7.2). We recorded a sharp increase in the lipid peroxidation/LPO rate; the highest was at $550{\mu}M$ mercury concentration, indicating a deleterious effect of mercury on the sperm membrane intactness. There was also a strong negative correlation between LPO rate and % viable spermatozoa (R = 0.987, p<0.001). Data obtained from a comet assay technique revealed that mercury is capable of inducing DNA breaks in the sperm nuclei. Interestingly, 92% of DNA breaks were double-stranded. The correlation between LPO rate and % DNA breaks was 0.984. Performing the gelatin test indicates that mercury is able to alter the integrity of acrosomal membranes showing an abnormal acrosome reaction. In this regard, a strong link was found between LPO rate and % halos (R = 0.990, p<0.001). Collectively, mercury proved to be a potent oxidant in the category of environmental factors affecting bull spermatozoa. Hence, considering the wide spread use of mercury and its compounds, these metals should be regarded with more concern.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2007

The risk of an outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) was evaluated in relation to the vaccination and seroprevalence of antibodies. Blood samples were collected from 60 piggeries throughout Korea and information regarding CSF vaccination habits was also obtained via in-person interviews with pig farmers. The results of the survey indicated that 51 out of 60 farms were regularly performing CSF vaccinations in reproductive herds. Farmers preferred to vaccinate their reproductive pigs before weaning (41 farms) than on (9 farms) or after weaning (1 farm). In growing herds, however, double vaccinations as recommended were implemented for only 40 farms (66.7%) and vaccine schedules were identified as being frequently ignored. Moreover, many farms (18/40) were found to vaccinate earlier or later than the recommended time. According to antibody seroprevalence levels, only 36 farms (60%) were considered to be safe regarding potential risk for a CSF outbreak. Among the remaining pig farms, 6 were at low-risk (10%), 12 were at medium-risk (20%), and another 6 were at high-risk (10%). Antibody levels were found to be consistent with vaccination status obtained from personal interview surveys. Our findings demonstrate the importance of vaccinations regarding the prevention of a CSF outbreak, suggesting that vaccinations must be promoted toward pig raisers and practitioners.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1988

A syrnpatnc sample of Rana nigrnmaculata sand R plancyi (Anura) from Kwangu, Korea was investigated to clarify their taxonornic status and to estimate the degree of genic variation, genetic relatedness, and reproductive isolation between them, based on electrophoretic analysis, marphometric data, mating call, mating season, and habitat. All the characters measured including morphometric, genetic, behavioral, and ecological suggest that they are distinct species and R nigrnmaculata might have originated from R plancyi (tropical form about three and a half million years ago. An adult female was found to be Fl hybrid between two species The hybrid female possessed fettile eggs and morphologically intermediate to the parental species in head parts, hind limb, and web characters. The differences in mating call, mating behavior, breeding season, and habitat strongly suggest that postmating isolating mechanism is operating, even though very rare hybrid is found.