• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.200-205
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• 2004

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common tumor in the female genital tract. Although the tumor is benign, it is of paramount importance since it often causes profuse menstrual bleeding, pressure symptoms, and infertility. Nevertheless, the etiology and patholphysiology of this abnormality remain poorly understood. The traditional definitive treatment for uterine leiomyomas is hysterectomy and, even today, symptomatic leiomyomas are the leading cause of hysterectomy in Korea. Clearly, the development of a safe, effective, and nonsurgical method of treatment for leiomyoma would be of great benefit to many women. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Rhubarb on apoptosis in uterine leiomyoma cells. Results demonstrate that Rhubarb inhibited cell growth in dose-dependent manner. Cell growth significantly decreased to 60% of control in the treatment of Rhubarb (300㎍/㎖). Associated with the decreased response, there was a concomitant and significant delay of subG1 8.32% above baseline in the treatment of Rhubarb (300㎍/㎖). The delay of subG1 showed a dose-dependent manner, as evidenced by the flow cytometry. The reduced cellular viability on exposure to Rhubarb may represent the induction of apoptosis, at least in part, as concomitantly evidenced by enhanced DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and caspase 9 and decreased pro-caspase 3. In addition, Rhubarb decreased clAP1 expression levels in dose-dependent manner. Talcen together, there results suggest that Rhubarb can produce a potent inhibition effect of apoptosis and implicate the delay of G1 phase in the cell cycle and pathways of caspase 3 and 9 in the mechanism underlying inhibitory apoptosis effect of Rhubarb.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.231.2-231.2
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• 2003

One of the possible mechanisms of multi-drug resistance found in cancer cells is the over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Studies have shown that compounds found in plants including vegetables and fruits not only have anticancer activities but may also modulate P-gp activity. The effect of flavonoids and organic isothiocyanates on P-gp activity was studied in human uterine sarcoma cell lines, MES-Sa (sensitive) and MES-SD/DX5 (resistant). The accumulation of daunomycin (DNM), a P-gp substrate, was approximately 10 times greater in the sensitive cell as compared to the resistant cells over the entire time course (up to 2 hrs). (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

Functional defects in mitochondria are involved in the induction of cell death in cancer cells. We assessed the toxic effect of camptothecin against the human cervical and uterine tumor cell line SiHa with respect to the mitochondria-mediated cell death process, and examined the combined effect of camptothecin and anticancer drugs. Camptothecin caused apoptosis in SiHa cells by inducing mitochondrial membrane permeability changes that lead to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased Bcl-2 levels, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs (carboplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin and mitomycin c) or signaling inhibitors (farnesyltransferase inhibitor and ERK inhibitor) did not enhance the camptothecin-induced cell death and caspase-3 activation. These results suggest that camptothecin may cause cell death in SiHa cells by inducing changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, which leads to cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. This effect is also associated with increased formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination with other anticancer drugs (or signaling inhibitors) does not appear to increase the anti-tumor effect of camptothecin against SiHa cells, but rather may reduce it. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs does not seem to provide a benefit in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancer compared with camptothecin monotherapy.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.1992-1998
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• 2007

It is important to obtain conn cytodiagnosis to classify background, cytoplasm, and nucleus from the diagnostic image. This study mose an algorithm that detects and classifies carcinoma cells of the uterine cervix in Pap smear using features of cervical cancer. It applies Median filter and Gaussian filter to get noise-removed nucleus area and also applies Kapur method in binarization of the resultant image. We apply 8-directional contour tracking algorithm and stretching technique to identify and revise clustered cells that often hinder to obtain correct analysis. The resulted nucleus area has distinguishable features such as cell size, integration rate, and directional coefficient from normal cells so that we can detect and classify carcinoma cells successfully. The experiment results show that the performance of the algorithm is competitive with human expert.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

Uterine cells carry out proliferation and differentiation for preparation the embryonic implantation during pregnancy. Therefore regulation of the cell proliferation is an essential step for uterine preparation, but there is not much information about the proliferation related genes in pregnant uterus. To identify these implantation specific genes, a PCR-select cDNA subtraction method was employed and got a few genes. One of the identified genes is a novel gene encoding oral tumor suppressor doc-1. To detect the doc-1 expression on the pregnant uterus, dot blotting, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization were employed. Dot blotting revealed that doc-1 mRNA expression increase after implantation. During normal pregnancy, doc-1 mRNA expression was detected as early as day 1 of pregnancy with RT-PCR. Its expression was increased about 15 times after embryonic implantation. doc-1 transcript was localized in luminal epithelial cells but it was very faint during preimplantation. After starting the implantation, it localized in the stromal cells; heightened expression of doc-1 correlates with intense stromal cell proliferation surrounding the implanting blastocyst on day 6 morning. However in the decidualized cells, the intensity of localized doc-1 mRNA was weak. From those results, it is revealed that doc-1 express at pregnant uterus of the mouse. In addition it is suggested that doc-1 is the gene regulating the proliferation of the luminal epithelial cells and stromal cells during early implantation and decidualization.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 1994

Morphological features of the interaction between the hatching blastocyst and implantation in pig were studied by electron microscopy. The observations extended from late blastocyst stage to the completion of trophoblastic erosion of the epithelium and early decidual transformation of the epithelium and early decidual transformation of the stromal cells. Between day 7 and 17 of pregnancy, blastocysts from 0.3 to 12 mm in diameter were flushed from the uterine horns of Dutch Landrace pigs. On the 7th of development in the pig blastocyst, the blastocyst shedded of the zona pellucida established the tips of microvilli and with bleb-like cytoplasmic protrusions of the epithelial cells. From day 11 on in pig embryo, the bilayered trophoblast undergoes a dramatic phase of elongation so that the initially spherical expanded blastocyst becomes tubular. In pig, close apposition to the uterine wall beg-ins at about 12 $^1$/$_2$ days and then attachment occurred during the afternoon of the 16th or 18th day post coitum. At this stage, embryonic loss compared with corpus luteum number is up to 40% of ovulated oocytes. Therefore, the implantation failture of these embryos may be mainly caused by morphological abnormality and failture of zona shedding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.643-652
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• 2017

Objective: Prostaglandins (PGs) function in various reproductive processes, including luteolysis, maternal pregnancy recognition, conceptus development, and parturition. Our earlier study has shown that PG transporters ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C, member 4 (ABCC4) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 2A1 (SLCO2A1) are expressed in the uterine endometrium in pigs. Since several other PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 are known to be present in the uterine endometrium, this study investigated the expression of these PG transporters in the porcine uterine endometrium and placenta. Methods: Uterine endometrial tissues were obtained from gilts on day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and days 12, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 114 of pregnancy. Results: ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs were expressed in the uterine endometrium, and levels of expression changed during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Expression of ABCC1 and ABCC9 mRNAs was localized mainly to luminal and glandular epithelial cells in the uterine endometrium, and chorionic epithelial cells during pregnancy. Conceptuses during early pregnancy and chorioallantoic tissues from mid to late pregnancy also expressed these PG transporters. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ increased the expression of ABCC1 and SLCO5A1, but not ABCC9 and SLCO4C1 mRNAs and increasing doses of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ induced the expression of ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs in endometrial explant tissues. Conclusion: These data showed that several PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 were expressed at the maternal-conceptus interface, suggesting that these PG transporters may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating PG transport in the uterine endometrium and placenta in pigs.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.104-127
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Dangguijakyaksan on the development of experimentally-induced endometriosis in rats. Methods: Endometriosis was induced in rats by autotransplanting uterine tissue to the peritoneum and divided them into three groups: (1) sham-operated group(n=8). (2) surgically induced endometriosis and untreated control group(n=8). (3) surgically induced endometriosis and Dangguijakyaksan treated group. Dangguijakyaksan was orally administrated for 15 days after operation. Then we measured the body weight. the volume of endometriotic implants. the weight of uterus and ovary. and analysed the concentration of cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6) in peritoneal fluids. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and VEGF. and histochemistry for mast cell in transplanted uterine tissue were also performed. Results: - The volume($mm^3$) of endometriotic implants in Dangguijakyaksan treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group. - The concentration(pg/ml) of MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-l$\alpha$ in peritoneal fluids in Dangguijakyaksan treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group. - Histopathologically, proliferation of endometriotic epithelia. infiltration of inflammatory cells and angiogenesis in transplanted uterine tissue of Dangguijakyaksan treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The percentage of positive epithelial layers for COX-2 in Dangguijakyaksan treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group. - The VEGF expression of endometriotic epithelia, neovascular endothelia and stromal cells in transplanted uterine tissue of Dangguijakyaksan treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. - The number of mast cells in transplanted uterine tissue in Dangguijakyaksan treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group. Conclusion: On the basis of these results. we concluded that Dangguijakyaksan has inhibiting effects on the development of transplanted uterine tissue. And these effects may be related with decreased production of MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$, and decreased expression of COX-2 and VEGF, and inhibition of mast cell infiltration by administration of Dangguijakyaksan.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 1998

Despite the rapid development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in recent years, implantation rates after replacement of embryos into the uterine cavity remains low. Several techniques such as culture conditions based on formulations of human tubal fluid and various ART techniques as GIFT, ZIFT, TET have been adopted in recent years to improve embryo viability in vitro and implantation rates. Also, coculture of human IVF-derived embryos have been used in an effort to increase the number of viable embryos following IVF and to improve synchrony between the developing embryo and the uterine environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of co culture with autologous cumulus cells has a significant beneficial effect on the development of embryos in vitro and its relation to the pregnancy rates in 120 patients with previous failed IVF-ET from September, 1995 to January 1998. We obtained the results from which significant improvement in the quality of viable embryos were observed using a coculture system with autologous cumulus cells, but pregnancy rates in this group of patients did not differ from the rate in the standard IVF group during the same period. Our study shows that a simplified short-term coculture system with autologous cumulus cells may help rescue moderate quality embryos to cleave regularly.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.316-319
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• 2016

A 12-year-old thoroughbred mare with four days history of anorexia and high fever was submitted to the Equine Hospital. She failed to conceive in the following the breeding season in spring. In rectal palpation, mass could be palpable surrounding ovary. Because of the poor prognosis, full necropsy for mare was decided. The mass is located between right large and small colon, cranial to ovary using ultrasonography. Grossly, the mass was about $5{\times}3.5{\times}4cm$ in size, and the cut surface of mass showed brownish yellow in color with red-to orange granular areas Histopathologically, neoplastic cells were mixed with well differentiated spindle shape cells arranged in interlacing, interwoven pattern and poorly differentiated spindle cells. Neoplastic cells had abundant pink cytoplasm and bland and cigar-shaped nuclei with low mitotic figures. Many arteriole-like blood vessels with thick muscular wall were present throughout the mass. Masson's trichrome staining revealed muscle origin tumors in this case. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic spindle cells showed positive reactions for smooth muscle actin and desmin. In our best knowledge, this is the first report of uterine angioleiomyoma in mare in Korea.