• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.99-111
• /
• 2022

Akey factor in evolution is reproduction, which is also a major concern in medicine. Evolutionists have proposed many theories and hypotheses to explain the low fertility rates of modern industrial societies, which are contrary to maximization of biological fitness. Given that childbirth is the most significant factor affecting reproductive fitness, it is likely that a variety of psychological modules related to childbirth behavior and intention evolved over time. Several evolutionary psychological modules have been proposed in relation to reproduction, including sexual desire, status-seeking, a need for nurturing, and the desire for children. Previously adaptive psychological modules may now be expressed maladaptively due to the discrepancy between the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA) and the environment of modern industrial society. Several evolutionary ecological factors influence childbirth intention in modern society, including individual personality factors, childhood life history experiences, and socioecological factors throughout reproductive life. By focusing on mental, social, and ecological factors, this review examines several hypothetical models relating to evolutionary psychological factors and childbirth decisions in modern industrial society, as well as a possible explanation for the low birth rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.247-268
• /
• 1996

It has been known for a long time that gonadotropins and steroid hormones play a pivotal role in a series of reproductive biological phenomena including the maturation of ovarian follicles and oocytes, ovulation and implantation, maintenance of pregnancy and fetal growth & development, parturition and mammary development and lactation. Recent investigations, however, have elucidated that in addition to these classic hormones, multiple growth factors also are involved in these phenomena. Most growth factors in reproductive organs mediate the actions of gonadotropins and steroid hormones or synergize with them in an autocrine/paracrine manner. The insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system, which is one of the most actively investigated areas lately in the reproductive organs, has been found to have important roles in a wide gamut of reproductive phenomena. In the present communication, published literature pertaining to the intrauterine IGF system will be reviewed preceded by general information of the IGF system. The IGF family comprises of IGF-I & IGF-II ligands, two types of IGF receptors and six classes of IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) that are known to date. IGF-I and IGF-II peptides, which are structurally homologous to proinsulin, possess the insulin-like activity including the stimulatory effect of glucose and amino acid transport. Besides, IGFs as mitogens stimulate cell division, and also play a role in cellular differentiation and functions in a variety of cell lines. IGFs are expressed mainly in the liver and messenchymal cells, and act on almost all types of tissues in an autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine mode. There are two types of IGF receptors. Type I IGF receptors, which are tyrosine kinase receptors having high-affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II, mediate almost all the IGF actions that are described above. Type II IGF receptors or IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors have two distinct binding sites; the IGF-II binding site exhibits a high affinity only for IGF-II. The principal role of the type II IGF receptor is to destroy IGF-II by targeting the ligand to the lysosome. IGFs in biological fluids are mostly bound to IGFBP. IGFBPs, in general, are IGF storage/carrier proteins or modulators of IGF actions; however, as for distinct roles for individual IGFBPs, only limited information is available. IGFBPs inhibit IGF actions under most in vitro situations, seemingly because affinities of IGFBPs for IGFs are greater than those of IGF receptors. How IGF is released from IGFBP to reach IGF receptors is not known; however, various IGFBP protease activities that are present in blood and interstitial fluids are believed to play an important role in the process of IGF release from the IGFBP. According to latest reports, there is evidence that under certain in vitro circumstances, IGFBP-1, -3, -5 have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. This may add another dimension of complexity of the already complicated IGF system. Messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins of the IGF family members are expressed in the uterine tissue and conceptus of the primates, rodents and farm animals to play important roles in growth and development of the uterus and fetus. Expression of the uterine IGF system is regulated by gonadal hormones and local regulatory substances with temporal and spatial specificities. Locally expressed IGFs and IGFBPs act on the uterine tissue in an autocrine/paracrine manner, or are secreted into the uterine lumen to participate in conceptus growth and development. Conceptus also expresses the IGF system beginning from the peri-implantation period. When an IGF family member is expressed in the conceptus, however, is determined by the presence or absence of maternally inherited mRNAs, genetic programming of the conceptus itself and an interaction with the maternal tissue. The site of IGF action also follows temporal (physiological status) and spatial specificities. These facts that expression of the IGF system is temporally and spatially regulated support indirectly a hypothesis that IGFs play a role in conceptus growth and development. Uterine and conceptus-derived IGFs stimulate cell division and differentiation, glucose and amino acid transport, general protein synthesis and the biosynthesis of mammotropic hormones including placental lactogen and prolactin, and also play a role in steroidogenesis. The suggested role for IGFs in conceptus growth and development has been proven by the result of IGF-I, IGF-II or IGF receptor gene disruption(targeting) of murine embryos by the homologous recombination technique. Mice carrying a null mutation for IGF-I and/or IGF-II or type I IGF receptor undergo delayed prenatal and postnatal growth and development with 30-60% normal weights at birth. Moreover, mice lacking the type I IGF receptor or IGF-I plus IGF-II die soon after birth. Intrauterine IGFBPs generally are believed to sequester IGF ligands within the uterus or to play a role of negative regulators of IGF actions by inhibiting IGF binding to cognate receptors. However, when it is taken into account that IGFBP-1 is expressed and secreted in primate uteri in amounts assessedly far exceeding those of local IGFs and that IGFBP-1 is one of the major secretory proteins of the primate decidua, the possibility that this IGFBP may have its own biological activity independent of IGF cannot be excluded. Evidently, elucidating the exact role of each IGFBP is an essential step into understanding the whole IGF system. As such, further research in this area is awaited with a lot of anticipation and attention.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.97-106
• /
• 1990

1. Background Women's health and their involvement in health care are essential to health for everyone. If they are ignorant, malnourished or over-worked, the health &-their families as well as their own health will suffer. Women's health depends on broad considerations beyond medicine. Among other things, it depends upon their work in farming. their subordination to their families, their accepted roles, and poor hygiene with poorly equipped housing and environmental sanitation. 2. Objectives and Contents a. The health status of rural women : physical and mental complaints, experience of pesticides intoxication, Farmer's syndrome, experiences of reproductive health problems. b. participation in and attitudes towards housework and farming c. accessibility of medical care d. status of maternal health : fertility, family planning practice. induced abortion, and maternal care 3. Research method A nationwide field survey, based on stratified random sampling, was conducted during July, 1986. Revised Cornell Medical index(68 out of 195 items). Kawagai's Farmers Syndrome Scale, and self-developed structured questionnaires were used to rural farming wives(n=2.028). aged between 26-55. 4. Characteristics of the respondents mean age : 40.2 marital status : 90.8% married mean no. of household : 4.9 average years of education : 4.7 yrs. average income of household : \235,000 average years of residence in rural area : 36.4 yrs average Working hours(household and farming) : 11 hrs. 23 min 5. Health Status of rural women a. The average number of physical and mental symptoms were 12.4, 4.7, and the rate of complaints were 22.1%, 38.8% each. revealing complaints of mental symptomes higher than physical ones. b. 65.4% of rural women complained of more than 4 symptoms out of 9, indicating farmer's syndrome. 11.9 % experienced pesticide overdue syndrome c. 57.6% of respondents experienced women-specific health problems. d. Age and education of respondents were the variables which affect on the level of their health 6. Utilization of medical services a. The number of symptoms and complaints of respondents were dependent on the distance to where the health-care service is given b. Drug store was the most commonly utilized due to low price and the distance to reach. while nurse practitioners were well utilized when there were nurse practitioner's office in their villages. c. Rural women were internalized their subordination to husbands and children, revealing they are positive(93%) in health-care demand for-them but negative(30%) for themselves d. 33.0% of respondents were habitual drug users, 4.5% were smokers and 32.3% were alcohol drinkers. and 86.3% experienced induced-abortion. But most of them(77.6%) knew that those had negative effects on health. 7. Maternal Health Care a. Practice rate of contraception was 48.1% : female users were 90.9% in permanent and 89.6% in temporary contraception b. Induced abortions were taken mostly at hospital(86.3%), while health centers(4.7%), midwiferies(4.3%). and others(4.5%) including drug stores were listed a few. The repeated numbers of induced abortion seemed affected on the increasing numbers of symptoms and complaints. c. The first pre-natal check-up during first trimester was 41.8%, safe delivery rate was 15.6%, post-natal check-up during two months after delivery. Rural women had no enough rest after delivery revealing average days of rest from home work and farming 8.3 and 17.2. d. 86.6% practised breast feeding, showing younger and more educated mothers depending on artificial milk 8. Recommendations a. To lessen the multiple role over burden housing and sanitary conditions should be improved, and are needed farming machiner es for women and training on the use of them b. Health education should begin at primary school including health behavior and living environment. c. Women should be encouraged to become policy-makers as well as administrators in the field of women specific health affairs. d. Women's health indicators should be developed and women's health surveillance system too.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2007

In our previous study, overexpression of extracellular proteinase inhibitor (Expi) gene accelerated apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells, and induced expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) gene. In this study, we found induction of BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) gene expression in the Expi-transfected cells. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) gene is another TNF family member and the closest known relative of BAFF. We found induction of APRIL gene expression in the Expi-overexpressed apoptotic cells. NF-${\kappa}$B gene was also induced in the Expi-overexpressed cells. Expression patterns of BAFF and APRIL pathway-related genes were examined in in vivo mouse mammary gland at various reproductive stages. Expression levels of BAFF gene were very low at early pregnancy, increased from mid-pregnancy, and peaked at lactation, and thereafter decreased at involution stages of mammary gland. Expression of BAFF-R gene was highly induced in involution stages compared to lactation stages. Thus, expression patterns of BAFF-R gene were correlated to apoptotic status of mammary gland: active apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells occurs at involution stage of mammary gland. Expression levels of NF-${\kappa}$B gene were higher in involution stages compared to lactation stages. We analyzed mRNA levels of bcl-2 family genes from different stages of mammary development. Bcl-2 gene expression was relatively constant during lactation and involution stages. There was a slight increase in bcl-xL gene expression in involution stages compared to lactation state. Bax gene expression was highly induced in involution stage. Our results suggest that signaling pathways activated by both BAFF and ARRIL in mammary gland point towards NF-${\kappa}$B activation which causes upregulation of bax.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.503-513
• /
• 2008

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a sensory organ that influences social and/or reproductive behavior and, in many cases, the survival of an organism. The VNO is believed to mediate responses to pheromones; however, many mechanisms of signal transduction in the VNO remain elusive. Here, we examined the expression of proteins involved in signal transduction that are found in the main olfactory system in the VNO. The localization of many signaling molecules in the VNO is quite different from those in the main olfactory system, suggesting differences in signal transduction mechanisms between these two chemosensory organs. Various signaling molecules are expressed in distinct areas of VNO sensory epithelium. Interestingly, we found the expressions of groups of these signaling molecules in glandular tissues adjacent to VNO, supporting the physiological significance of these glandular tissues. Our finding of high expression of signaling proteins in glandular tissues suggests that neurohumoral factors influence glandular tissues to modulate signaling cascades that in turn alter the responses of the VNO to hormonal status.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.176-179
• /
• 2003

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide that has the function of regulating the expression of steroid hormones through endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine actions in reproductive organs. Moreover, IGF-I is involved in ovulation, implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, and development of fetuses in animals. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of serum IGF-I concentration on progesterone ($P_4$) concentration and pregnancy rates in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo). Blood was collected at estrus (Day 0) and Day 11. Artificial insemination was performed at Day 0. Serum IGF-I and $P_4$ concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Overall, $P_4$ concentration was higher at Day 11 than Day 0, whereas the pattern of IGF-I concentration was reversed. When animals were divided into two groups depending on the pregnancy status, $P_4$ concentrations of the pregnant group was significantly higher than that of the non-pregnant group at Day 0 (p<0.05) and Day 11 (p<0.05). But, lower IGF-I concentrations were detected in the pregnant group at Day 0 (p<0.05) and Day 11 (p<0.05) compared to the non-pregnant group. In conclusion, these results indicated that serum IGF-I is inversely associated with $P_4$ concentration during early pregnancy in Hanwoo.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.19
• /
• pp.8499-8502
• /
• 2014

The incidence rate of breast cancer in developed countries is almost three-fold higher than in developing countries. Iran has had one of the lowest incidence rates for breast cancer in the world, but during the recent decades a marked increase has been seen. The purpose of this study was to investigate some established risk factors of breast cancer in Iranian women. A study of 11,850 women participating in abreast screening program was conducted. The 197 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 11,653 healthy women were compared. Logistic regression was performed to investigate associations of reproductive and anthropometric factors with breast cancer risk. Family history of breast cancer (OR=1.94, 95%CI=1.35-2.78), occupation (OR= 1.65,95%CI=1.20-2.25), education level (OR=0.50,95%CI=0.28-0.91), parity (OR=0.27, 95%CI=0.12-0.59), menopausal status (OR=3.15, 95%CI=2.35-4.21), age at menarche (OR=0.33, 95%CI=0.15-0.70), and age at the first pregnancy (OR=4.10, 95%CI=1.13-14.77) were related to the risk of breast cancer. Decrease in parity may to some extent explain the rising trend of incidence of breast cancer incidence in Iranian women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.369-384
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze anxiety and depression among infertile women at different time points during the first In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Seven out of 3,011 studies were included for meta-analysis. To estimate the effect size, a meta-analysis of the studies was performed using the RevMan 5.3 program. We compared the measurement outcomes at three time points: before the start of treatment (T0), cancellation of treatment after pregnancy detection (T2), one to six months after treatment (T3). The effect size used was the standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: In comparing the different time points of the pregnant women from their cycle, significantly lower levels of depression were found at T2 than at T0. In non-pregnant women, anxiety at T2 and depression at T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those at T0. At T2 and T3, the non-pregnant women reported higher levels of anxiety and depression compared with the pregnant women. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression in infertile women undergoing the first IVF or ICSI are associated with the time points and pregnancy status after treatment. These findings suggest that attention should be paid to helping infertile women prepare for and cope with treatment and treatment failure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.59 no.12
• /
• pp.25.1-25.7
• /
• 2017

Background: Rabbit breeding with high performance imported ones would be of benefit for genetic diversity and improvement of performance in domestic rabbit breeds. The rearing of more productive rabbit breeds could be pathway to improve the productivity and reduce the production cost. Maternal nutritional status exert a great influence on reproductive functions of does, which may expand from conception, through gestation and parturition and development of kits to puberty. Methods: Four breeds of rabbit were evaluated for their parturition, weaning and pubertal differences among the rabbit population in Ibadan, Nigeria. The breed consist of Fauve De Bourgogne (FDB), Chinchilla (CHA), British Spot (BS) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. A total of 60 bucks and 360 does consisting of 15 bucks and 90 does per breed were mated in 6 mating cycles, three each of natural mating and artificial insemination. All does were synchronized for estrus with 20 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin 48 h prior to mating. The does after parturition were assessed for milk yield (g) and kit survival rate (%) till weaning, weight changes of kits from birth to puberty. At puberty, the pubertal age (days) and weight (g) of the offspring were assessed. Result: Results obtained reveals that British Spot doe had highest milk yield among the breeds which significantly increased growth of kit and weight at weaning in British Spot rabbits. Survival rates of Chinchilla kits were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than Fauve de Bourgogne, British Spot and New Zealand White kits. Puberty attainment of the rabbits indicates that British spot does and Fauve de Bourgogne bucks are early maturing. Conclusion: Chinchilla shows high kit survivability and British spot has highest milk yield among the four breeds of rabbit.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.903-916
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to discover practical health problems which hemodialysis clients experienced so as to present basic data for development of a health assessment tool. The research subjects were 70 clients receiving hemodialysis in Seoul and Inchon from Mar. 1996 to Sep. 1996. Data were collected by researcher's informal indepth interview and nurses' open ended question. Content analysis was applied to collect similar contents and common experiences in order to derivate concepts and categories for better understanding of hemodialysis clients' experiences. As a result, 9 categories derivated to identify the health problems of clients receiving hemodialysis were as follows : 1) They experienced 'the decreased digestive function' which contained the changed appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. 2) They experienced 'the decreased respiratory and circulatory function' which contained dyspnea, changed blood pressure, tingling sensation and the fear of aggrevated vascular condition. 3) They experienced 'the aggrevated oral condition' which contained dry mouth and destruction of teeth and their soft tissue. 4) They experienced 'the decreased sensory function' which contained visual disturbances, sensation difficulty, and hearing loss. 5) They experienced 'the aggrevated skin condition' which contained dark brown skin color, dry skin (and hyperpigmentatic freckle, seborrheric keratosis, scale), itching sense, and alopethia. 6) They experienced 'the decreased urinary reproductive function' which contained anuria or oliguria, dysmenorrhea, sterility and decreased libido. 7) They experienced 'the restricted activity' which contained decreased activity, muscle cramp and stiffness of joint. 8) They experienced 'the changed mental status' which contained memory disturbance, decreased cognition, disorientation, neurosis and psychosis. 9) They experienced 'the aggrevated general condition' which contained kyphosis, weight loss, fatigue, sleep disturbance, bleeding tendency, inflammation, generalized edema and foul oder of uremia.