• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1996

This study was carried out to select the best cryoprotectant and to establish optimal concentration of the cryoprotectant in ultrarapid freezing of mouse 4-cell embryos and morulae, respectively. We investigated survival of ultrarapid frozen embryos according to various cryoprotectants such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Suvival of the embryos frozen at different concentrations (3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 M) of indivisual cryoprotectant was also tested. Preimplantation developmental rate (96.3%, 83/86) of 4-cell mouse embryos treated with 4.0 M ethylene glycol after ultrarapid freezing and thawing was higher than those of other cryoprotectants (glycerol, propylene glycol and DMSO). In the ultrarapid freezing of mouse morulae, the highest developmental rate (98.8%, 89 /90) of the embryos to blastocysts was shown in the group of 5.0 M glycerol. Thus, these results demonstrate that 4.0 M ethylene glycol and 5.0 M glycerol are optimal for ultrarapid freezing of 4-cell mouse embryos and morulae, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of concentration and equilibration time of cryoprotective agents on the survival rate of slowly and ultrarapidly frozen porcine embryos. The porcine embryos following dehydration by cryoprotective agents and a various concentration of sucrose were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen and thawed in 38$^{\circ}C$ water bath. Survival rate was defined as development rat to the morula and blastocyst stage after in vitro culture or by FDA test. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The survival rates of porcine embryos after ultrarapid frozen-thawing in the freezing medium of 0.25M sucrose added 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0M glycerol was 65.3, 61.8, 64.3, 59.4 or 39.4%, respectively. Addition of 0.25M sucrose into the freezing medium containing 2.0M glycerol showed higher survival rate than those of 2.5~4.0M glycerol. 2. The survival rates of porcine embryos after ultraradpid frozen-thawing in the freezing medium of 0.25M sucroese added 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 or 4.0M DMSO was 65.6, 67.6, 68.6, 60.6 or 23.6%, respectively. However, addition of 0.25M sucrose into the freezing medium containing 3.0M DMSO showed higher survival rate than those of 2.0, 2.5, 3.5 or 4.0M DMSO. 3. The survival rates of porcine embryos after ultrapid frozen-thawing in the freezing medium of 0.25M sucrose added 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 or 4.0M propanediol was 63.2, 60.3, 62.1, 52.3 or 24.3%, respectively. Addition of 0.25M sucroese into the freezing medium containing 2.0M propanediol showed higher survival rate than those of 2.5~4.0M glycerol. 4. The survival rates of porcine embryos after ultrarapid frozen-thawing the freezing medium of 2.0M glycerol added 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 or 0.75M sucrose was 61.8, 70.8, 67.6 or 52.2%, respectively. Addition of 2.0M glycerol into the freezing medium containing 0.25M sucreose showed higher survival rate than that those of 0.10, 0.50 or 0.75M sucrose. 5. The higher suvival rate of porcine embryos were attained at short period of equilibration time 92.5~5min.) in the freezing medium added 0.25M sucreose and 3.0M compared to those of 10 or 20min. equilibration time in the same condition.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2002

Purpose : This study analyzed the prognostic factors affecting the survival rate and evaluated the role of radiation therapy in muscle-invading bladder cancer. Materials and Methods : Twenty eight patients with bladder cancer who completed planned definitive radiotherapy in the Departments of Therapeutic Radiology and Urology, Chonnam National University Hospital between Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1998 were retrospectively analyzed. The reviews were peformed based on the patients' medical records. There were 21 males and 7 females in this study. The median of age was 72 years old ranging from 49 to 84 years. All patients were confirmed as having transitional cell carcinoma with histological grade 1 in one patient, grade 2 in 15, grade 3 in 9, and uninformed in 3. Radiation therapy was peformed using a linear accelerator with 6 or 10 MV X-rays. Radiation was delivered daily with a 1.8 or 2.0 Gy fraction size by 4 ports (anterior-posterior, both lateral, alternatively) or 3 ports (Anterior and both lateral). The median radiation dose delivered to the isocenter of the target volume was 61.24 Gy ranging from 59 to 66.6 Gy. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was peformed on the prognostic factors affecting the survival rate. Results : The survival rate was $76\%,\;46\%,\;33\%,\;33\%$ at 1, 2, 3, 5 years, respectively, with 19 months of median survival. The potential factors of age (less than 70 years vs above 70), sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hydronephrosis, 1-stage (T3a vs T3b), TUR, chemotherapy, total duration of radiotherapy, radiation dose (less than 60 Gy vs above 60 Gy), and the treatment response were investigated with uniand multivariate analysis. Un univariate analysis, the T-stage (p=0.078) and radiation dose (p=0.051) were marginally significant, and the treatment response (p=0.011) was a statistically significant factor on the survival rate. Multivariate analysis showed there were no significant prognostic factors affecting the survival rate. Conclusion : The treatment response and radiation dose are suggested as th은 statistically significant factors affecting the survival rate of muscle invasive bladder cancer. A Further prospective randomized study is needed to confirm these prognostic factors.