• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2005

연구목적: 정자의 첨체상태는 수정능과 상관관계가 있다. 본 연구는 사람 정자의 동결보존 시 Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP) 처리가 첨체 유지에 효과가 있는지를 알아보고자 실시하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 사람 정자는 정액검사를 의뢰한 시료를 사용하였으며, 적정농도를 조사하기 위하여 25, 50, 100 nM FPP를 신선정자에 처리한 뒤 시간별로 첨체의 변화를 조사하였다. 또한 적정화된 50 nM FPP를 정자의 동결-융해 시에 처리한 뒤 첨체 변화를 조사하였다. 첨체 변화는 FITC - pisum sativum lectin (PSA) 염색방법을 이용하여 조사하였다. 결 과: FPP 농도 변화와 처리시간에 따른 사람 정자의 첨체 변화를 조사하였던 바, 50 nM FPP 처리군에서 대조군보다 높은 온전한 첨체비율을 얻을 수 있었다. 정자의 동결-융해 시, 동결액과 융해액에 50 nM FPP 첨가가 온전한 첨체를 유지하는 비율을 조사하였던 바, 신선 정자의 결과보다는 유의하게 낮지만 무 처리군보다 유의적으로 높은 온전한 첨체를 얻을 수 있는 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 동결액에만 또는 융해액에만 50 nM FPP 처리를 하더라도 무 처리군보다 유의하게 높은 온전한 첨체 비율을 획득할 수 있음을 알 수 있었다 (p<0.001). 결 론: 사람 정자의 동결보존 시 50 nM FPP 첨가는 자발적으로 발생하는 첨체반응을 억제하고, 온전한 첨체를 유지할 수 있어 수정능 보유에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2021

Objective: As clinicians and patients await consensus on intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, this project evaluated contemporary research trends in the literature. Methods: A PubMed/NLM search aggregated all ovarian PRP-related publications (n=54) to evaluate their scope, abstract utility, submission-to-publication interval, journal selected, article processing charge (APC), free reader access to full-text manuscripts, number and nationality of authors, and inclusion of international collaborators. The NIH Clinical Trials database was also audited. Results: Published output on intraovarian PRP has increased consistently since 2016, especially among investigators in Greece, Iran, USA, and Turkey. Between 2013 and 2021, 42 articles met the relevancy criteria, of which 40.5% reported clinical studies, small series, or case reports, 33% described experimental animal models, and 23.8% were opinion/review papers. Only two works included a placebo control group. The submission-to-publication interval (mean±standard deviation) was 130±96 days, there were 5.9±3.2 authors per project, and journals invoiced US $1,613±1,466 (range, $0-$3,860) for APCs. Conclusion: There was no correlation between APC and time to publish (Pearson's r=-0.01). Abstract content was inconsistent; sample size and patient age were often missing, yet free full-text "open access" was available for most publications (59.5%). The NIH Clinical Trials portal lists eight registered studies on "ovarian rejuvenation," of which two are actively recruiting patients, while four have been terminated or have an uncertain status. Two studies have concluded, with results from one posted to the NIH website. PRP and its derivatives for ovarian treatment show early promise, but require further investigation. Research is accelerating and should be encouraged, particularly placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.48.1-48.18
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• 2020

Background: Mature oocytes at the metaphase II status (MII-stage oocytes) played an important role in assisted reproductive technology in non-human primates. Objectives: In order to improve the proportion of MII-stage oocytes retrieval, three different superovulation protocols were performed on 24 female cynomolgus monkeys. Methods: All the monkeys received once-daily injection of follicle-stimulating hormone (25 international unit [IU]) on day 3 of the menstruation, 3-day intervals, twice daily for 8-12 days until the time of human chorionic gonadotropin (1,500 IU) injection, on the 14-17th day of menstruation collecting oocytes. The difference between protocol I and protocol II was that 0.1 mg the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was injected on day 1 of the menstruation, while the difference between personalized superovulation protocol and protocol II was that oocytes could be collected on the 14-17th day of menstrual cycle according to the length of each monkey. Results: The total number of oocytes harvested using the personalized superovulation protocol was much higher than that using protocol I (p < 0.05), and the proportion of MII-stage oocytes was significantly greater than that from either superovulation protocol I or II (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 respectively), while the proportion of immature oocytes at the germinal vesicle was less than that from superovulation protocol I (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The personalized superovulation protocol could increase the rate of MII-stage oocytes acquired, and successfully develop into embryos after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and eventually generated fetus.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 2023

Objective: Polycystic ovary (PCO), a diagnostic component of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), requires either an ovarian volume (OV) criterion or a follicle number per ovary (FNPO) criterion. This study investigated the association of OV and FNPO criteria with various manifestations of PCOS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital among 100 patients newly diagnosed with PCOS (according to the revised Rotterdam criteria). Fasting blood samples were collected to measure glucose, total testosterone (TT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), lipid, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c levels. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound of the ovaries was done, depending on patients' marital status. All investigations were conducted in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. OV >10 mL and/or FNPO ≥12 indicated PCO. A homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (IR) value ≥2.6 indicated IR, and metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to the international harmonization criteria. Results: Seventy-six participants fulfilled the OV criterion, 70 fulfilled the FNPO criterion, and 89 overall had PCO. Both maximum OV and mean OV had a significant correlation with TT levels (r=0.239, p=0.017 and r=0.280, p=0.005, respectively) and the LH/FSH ratio (r=0.212, p=0.034 and r=0.200, p=0.047, respectively). Mean OV also had a significant correlation with fasting insulin levels (r=0.210, p=0.036). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that IR (odds ratio [OR], 9.429; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.701 to 52.271; p=0.010) and MS (OR, 7.952; 95% CI, 1.821 to 34.731; p=0.006) had significant predictive associations with OV alone, even after adjustment for age and body mass index. Conclusion: OV may be more closely related to the androgenic and metabolic characteristics of PCOS than FNPO.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2022

Objective: Oxidative stress is a key player in the development of idiopathic male infertility (IMI), and various antioxidants have been used for the treatment of IMI with inconsistent results. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a cofactor and an antioxidant that may improve semen parameters and reduce oxidative stress in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of CoQ10 on semen parameters and antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic OA. Methods: Fifty patients with idiopathic OA and 35 fertile controls were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. All participants underwent a comprehensive fertility assessment. All patients received CoQ10 (300 mg/day) orally once daily for 3 months. Semen parameters, seminal CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in patients and controls at the start of the study and after 3 months. Results: Treatment with CoQ10 resulted in increased sperm progressive motility (p<0.05), total motility (p<0.01), seminal TAC (p<0.01), SOD (p<0.05), GPx (p<0.001), and seminal CoQ10 (p<0.001) levels and reduced ROS (p<0.01) in patients as compared to baseline. Sperm concentration and motility were also significantly correlated with antioxidant measures and seminal CoQ10 levels (r=0.38-0.57). Conclusion: CoQ10 therapy (300 mg/day for 3 months) improved sperm motility and seminal antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic OA. Therefore, CoQ10 could be a promising treatment for patients with idiopathic infertility and may improve their fertility potential.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2024

Objectives: Chronic anaemia is a significant health concern, particularly among women of childbearing age. Factors such as menstrual blood loss, childbirth, inadequate nutrition, closely spaced pregnancies, and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding increase the risk of anaemia. This study investigated whether current contraceptive methods are associated with anaemia in Indian women of reproductive age. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey, conducted in 2019-2021, were used for this investigation. We included only non-pregnant and non-amenorrhoeic women in our analysis, resulting in a final analytical sample of 673 094 women aged 15-49. Bivariate cross-tabulations and multivariable logistic regression were employed to analyse the data. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 57%, and the adjusted regression models found no significant association between the use of any contraceptive methods and women's haemoglobin status. Women using traditional contraceptive methods had 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.11) times higher odds of having anaemia. Among the modern methods, other than injectables, all other methods-such as an intrauterine device, barrier use, and sterilisation-were associated with higher odds of anaemia compared to women who used contraceptive pills. Conclusions: This study explored the relationship between modern contraceptives and haemoglobin levels in India, revealing that injectables were associated with a notable reduction in the odds of anaemia, whereas traditional contraceptives and other modern methods exhibited positive associations with anaemia. These findings prompt policymakers to focus on anaemia reduction and safe contraceptives. More research is needed to inform decisions, given the scant literature.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.55-69
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• 1991

The objective of the study is to figure out the status of reproductive health and general characteristics related to maternal health for Korean-Americans living in Los Angeles. We collected data from the married women who wanted no more additional child birth and were attending the Family Planning Clinic of Koryo Health Foundation in Los Angeles during 1988. There were 494 women met the eligibility requirement for this study. The results are summarized below. 1. In the age distribution of the women who desired no more additional child birth, women 30-34 age group constituted the largest proportion at 36.6 percent ; the mean age of women was 35.1915.55. The mean number of child birth was 1.77, and the proportion of the women by number of child birth were 35.2 percent for one children, 50.1 percent for two children 10.5 percent for three children, and 2.6 percent for four children. All of the women experienced pregnancy at least once, and mean number of pregnancy was 3.42. The mean number of total experience of induced abortion was 1.56. and 76.7 percent of these women had experience with induced abortions. To prevent further pregnancies, 90.1 percent of the women were utilizing the contraceptive methods, and the highest proportion by the contraceptive methods was condoms(53.7%), 9.3 percent in spermicides, 8.7 percent in IUDs, 8.7 percent in rhythm method, and 6.9 percent in oral pills. 2. The mean age of women at each stage of reproductive life cycle were 14.74 years at time of menarche, 24.55 years at time of marriage, 26.60 years at time of the first child birth, and 28.75 years at time of the last child birth. In age distribution of the women by birth cohort (Group I : birth cohort 1940-1954, Group H : birth cohort 1955-1970), the mean menar-cheal age of the women was 14.96 years in group I , and 14.53 years in group H . Mean age at time of marriage was 25.01 years in group I and 24.08 years in group H . Mean child birth age of the women by birth cohort was 27.19 years In group I and 26.01 years in Group II for the first child birth and 30.07 years in group I and 27.45 years in group II for the last child birth. The total length of reproductive life cycle from menarche to menopause (presumed to be at 49 of age years) was 34.26 years. The len-gth of phase I (from menarche to marriage) was 9.81 years, while phase H (marriage to first birth) was 2.05 years, and phase Ill (first birth to last birth) was 2. 15 years, and the last phase of reproductive life cycle, phase IV (last birth to menopause) was 20.25 years. The proportion of each phase 10 total length of reproductive life cycle was 28.6 percent, 6.0 percent 6.3 percent, and 59.t percent respectively. In the tendency of each phase in reproductive life cycle by birth cohort (group I , U ), the length of phase I, II , III of birth cohort group II was diminished in comparison with those of birth cohort group I , but the length of phase IV was extended by 2.38 years. 3. Among the women, the mean number of total pregnancy by birth cohort group was 2.01 in group I and 1.10 in Group II, and mean number of child birth was 1.97 in group I and 1.58 in group II. In terms of pregnancy was-tage rate by birth cohort group, among the total pregnancy of birth cohort group I , 51.8 percent of the cases resulted in induced abortions or spontaneous abortions whils 48.2 percent resulted in live births, and 42.2 percent or total pregnancy in group II resulted in pregnancy wastage and 57.8 percent of the cases resulted in live births.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2002

Objective: To assess the difference of baseline hormonal status and pathophysio logy, and confirm the risk factors for long term complication according to Body Mass Index in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Materials and Methods: Serum level of LH, FSH, Estradiol, Prolactin, Testosterone, DHEA-S, fasting insulin were measured and 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test and endometrial biopsy were performed in total 75 chronic anovulation patients and 20 normal cycling infertility patients. 95 evaluated patients were divided into 3 groups including patients with chronic anovulation having BMI below 25, BMI beyond 25.1, normal cycling infertility patients, Group 1 (n=39), Group 2 (n=36), Group 3 (n=20), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed respect to relationship between BMI and measured hormone level, sum of glucose level during 100 gm OGTT, insulin resistance using t-test, ANOVA test, Post Hoc test, Mann-Whitney test. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Serum LH level and LH/FSH ratio was significantly higher in Group 1, compared than Group 2 or 3 (p<0.05), BMI and LH, LH/FSH ratio was negatively correlated (r=-0.351, r=-0.318). There was no significant difference according to BMI in FSH, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, DHEA-S level. Fasting insulin and sum of glucose level during 100 gm OGTT were significantly higher in Group 2 compared than Group 1 or Group 3 (p<0.05), there was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3. Insulin resistance was more frequently identified in Group 2 compared than Group 1 (p=0.001). Conclusions: BMI and LH, LH/FSH ratio were negatively correlated, so clinical significance of LH, LH/FSH ratio in diagnosis of PCOS may be attenuated by increasing body weight. Overweight patients with chronic anovulation may be the risk group for developing insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, later type 2 DM. Hyperinsulinemia may operate mainly in overweight chronic anovulation patients in development of hyperandrogenism.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1998

This study was performed to determine the effects of nitric oxide on human sperm cell function. Semen samples were obtained from normal healthy volunteers. Motile spermatozoas collected by swim-up method were incubated up to 24 hours in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with a various concentration of sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide releasing agent). Sperm motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction rate, and acrosin activity were determined. The results are as follows; 1. 1mM of SNP resulted in a significant decrease in sperm motility ($44.8%{\pm}8.9%:78.1%{\pm}6.3%$, and hyperactivation $(10.4%{\pm}6.4%:47.7%:{\pm}9.5%)$ after incubation for 3 hours compared with the control group (Ham's F-10 alone), but had no effect on acrosome reaction. 2. At $100{\mu}M$ SNP, sperm motility was reduced after incubation for 6 hours $(54.8%{\pm}3.2%)$ compared with that of the control group $(82.7%{\pm}8.9%)$, but hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were not affected. 3. However, a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$) of SNP had no effect on sperm motility and hyperactivation for 8 hours of incubation but significantly decreased them when incubation periods were increased up to 24 hours compared with the control group. On the other hand, $1{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$ SNP significantly increased the acrosome reaction rate in both acrosomal status ($17.3%{\pm}5.2%$, $23.5%{\pm}4.7%$, respectively) and acrosin activity ($34.3{\mu}IU{\pm}10.5{\mu}IU,\;45.6{\mu}IU{\pm}5.6{\mu}IU$, respectively) as compared with the control group $(7.0%{\pm}4.0%,\;9.5{\mu}IU{\pm}3.4{\mu}IU)$. These results indicate that SNP, NO releasing agent, has a dose-dependent effects on the sperm cell function. Therefore it may positively affect the fertilization by promoting acrosomal reaction at a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2007

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the attitude of Korean women towards IVF surrogacy which is not yet regulated by the law. Methods: We evaluated with a questionnaire, in how far IVF surrogacy was accepted in different groups of Korean women. Total 300 questionnaires were sent out to women who visited our infertility clinic, and to the nurses and office workers of our hospital. Among them, 246 questionnaires were returned, and 211 of them (85.7%) were complete and analyzed. The responders were 58 unmarried women and 153 married women including 60 infertile patients. Results: Only 17 (8.1%) women believed that IVF surrogacy was an acceptable treatment for infertile women without uterus (eg. MRKH or hysterectomized patients), and 125 (59.2%) women chose the adoption. There were no significant differences in response amongst different age group, marital status, or in relation to income level or educational level, or infertility status. A significantly higher level of acceptance was noted only in religious groups, especially in Christians. Most of responders (66.5%) chose unrelated and unknown women as a desirable host, and 28.4% of responders chose the sister or sister-in-law. Conclusions: Overall the different groups were critical towards IVF Surrogacy in Korea, irrespective of the infertile patient group. Despite the established clinical ability to have her own genetic child in women without uterus, this survey reveals that only minority supports the IVF surrogacy. So we need the survey with large, randomized population and then make a regulation about the IVF surrogacy in law.