• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to investigate correlation between the morphology by microscopic assessments of surplus blastocysts produced in human IVF program and their cell number obtained by differential labelling method. For these experiments, 76 surplus human blastocysts were obtained from 36 patients on day 5 after IVF, the embryos were classified to early (ErB), early expanding (EEB), middle expanding (MEB), expanded blastocyst (EdB) according to their blastocoel expansion and zona thickness. When the ovum size and zona thickness of the classified blastocysts were measured using micrometer, although the embryos were produced in the same culture condition, there were significant variances in ovum size ($148.8 217.6{\mu}m$) and zona thickness ($1.2-14.4{\mu}m$). Total blastomere cell number counted after hoechst staining was increased by two to three fold during the transition period from ErB ($39.1{\pm}3.6$) to EdB ($(89.6{\pm}3.3)$) stage on day 5 after IVF. ICM ($11.9{\pm}1.8-22.2{\pm}4.3$) and TE ($24.5{\pm}3.6-70.0{\pm}7.7$) cell numbers using differential labelling were also showed the increased pattern according to the developmental level. Especially, EdB which showed poor ICM morphologically also indicated the low ICM cell number after differential labelling. This demonstrated that there is good correlation between the morphological assessment and the cell number. The count of ICM and TE nuclei using differential labelling can be used as an important criterion, if it is accompanied with morphological assessments, in selecting the better embryos for improving the pregnancy rates in human blastocyst transfer program.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.347-353
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• 1997

This study was to test whether in vitro/in vivo survival of vitrified mouse blastocysts was influenced by culture conditions and ET method. Mouse blastocysts were obtained from in vitro fertilization and cultured for 4 days in M16 medium, and they were vitrified in EFS40 which contained 40% ethlyene glycol, 18% Ficoll and 0.5 mol sucrose in PBS. In experiment I, in vitro and in vivo survival rate of these embryos were evaluated in different culture condition after thawing. When thawed embryos were cultured in M16 medium as a control, m-CR1 medium contained 20 amino acids (2% BME amino acis and 1% MEM non-essential amino acids solution) and 4 mg/ml BSA and cumulus monolayer cell co-cultured condition in mCR1 medium (10% FBS), their in vitro survival at 24 hr after thawing was not affected by culture condition (75.6, 83.1, 82.4%). However, in vivo survival rates of implantation in m-CR1 medium (80.4%) were significantly higher than those of M16 medium (51.2%), co-culture (57.1%) condition, although there was no difference in live fetuses rates on day 15 gestation (39.0, 49.0, 38.1%). In experiment II, the in vivo development potential of embryos by ET methods was examined. When blastocysts were transferred to the day 2, 3 pseudopregnant recipient without culture soon after thawing, no pregnant recipient was obtained on the day 2 pseudopregnancy, and 50% of pregnancy rates and 15.4% of live fetus rates were obtained on the day 3 pseudopregnant recipients. These results were significantly lower than those of transferred group (day 3 pseudopregnant recipients) after culture for 16 hr post thawing (73.5, 57.1%) (p<0.05). In experiment III, to elevate usability of delayed embryos in vitro/in vivo survival of vitrified embryos (day 4 early, day 5 early and expanding blastocyst) were examined. in vivo survival rates (live fetus, total implantation) were higher in day 4 early blastocysts (33.3, 66.7%) than in day 5 expanding blastocysts (29.0, 38.7%), although the highest in vitro survival rates were obtained in the day 5 expanding brastocysts (78.3%). Therefore, these results suggest that the in vitro/in vivo survival rates of vitrified embryos could be improve by the culture condition and ET method and that the in vivo development rates of delayed embryos were decreased with longer culture duration in vitro. It means that more effective cryopreservation was obtained in day 4 early blastocysts than in day 5 expanding blastocysts.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.168-174
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• 1997

Alphafetoprotein(AFP) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the fetus early in gestation by the yolk sac and later by the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The concentration of AFP is highest in fetal serum and amniotic fluid around 13th week, and 32nd week in maternal serum. Some conditions are associated with abnormal maternal serum AFP concentration. For examples, neural tube defects, omphalocele, renal anomalies are associated with elevated maternal serum AFP and fetal death, chromosomal trisomies are associated with low level of maternal serum AFP. So maternal serum AFP screening plays a significant role in assessing candidates for prenatal diagnosis and prenatal counselling in pregnant women. This study evaluates the normal ranges of AFP using enzyme immunoassay in normal pregnant women. We studied 500 normal pregnant women who visited the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Yeungnam Medical Center, Yeungnam University during the period through January, 1993 to September, 1996. The group of the study were selected randomly at various gestational ages from 8 to 41 weeks. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The lowest level of AFP in our study group was 2.1ng/ml at 8 weeks of gestation. Thereafter serum alpha-fetoprotein concentrations rose rapidly to reach a peak value at 32nd week. 2. The mean levels of AFP in the primipara and multipara were $166.37{\pm}12.06ng/ml$, and $223.78{\pm}14.00ng/ml$, respectively, showing stastiscally significant difference between these two groups(p<0.01). 3. The mean levels of AFP between mothers who delivered male and female babies were $192.96{\pm}13.00ng/ml$, and $194.29{\pm}13.84ng/ml$, respectively, without statistically significant difference(p>0.05). 4. The normal ranges of maternal serum AFP according to each gestational week were evaluated.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1996

Controlled Ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) is generally used to obtain synchronous high quality oocytes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Many investigators have studied the relationship between serum hormone levels and outcomes of IVF-ET because there is no accurate estimation method of oocyte quality. Early premature luteinization of follicles before oocyte retrieval is the most troublesome problem in COH for IVF-ET. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists(GnRH-a) are used as adjuncts with gonadotropins for COH in patients undergoing in IVF. The possible benefits of GnRH-a pretreatment include improving oocyte quality, allowing a more synchronous cohort of follicles to be recruited, and preventing premature lueinization hormone surges. In COH of IVF cycles, we investigated whether an elevated progesterone(P4) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration indicates premature luteinization and is associated with a lower fertilization rate. Many investigators have studied that the lower fertilization rates seen in patients with elevated P4 levels might result from an adverse effect of P4 on the oocytes. We hypothesizes that serum P4 levels around the day of hCG may be helpful prediction of out come in IVF-ET cycles. Success rates after COH of IVF-ET cycles are dependent upon many variable factors. Follicular factors including the number of follicles, follicular diameters and especially serum estradiol(E2) levels as an indirect measurement of follicular function and guality have been thought to influence the outcomes of IVF-ET. To assess whether serum P4 and E2 levels affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate, we reviewed the stimulation cycles of 113 patients (119 cycles) undergoing IVF-ET with short protocol with GnRH-a, from March 1993 to August 1994 retrospectively. The serum P4 and E2 levels were compared on the day of hCG in the pregnant group, 45 patients(47 cycles) and in the non-pregnant group, 68 patients (72 cycles) respectively. The serum E2 level in non-pregnant group was $1367{\pm}875.8$ pg/ml which was significantly lower than that of pregnant group, $1643{\pm}987.9$ pg/ml( p< 0.01 ). And the serum P4 level in non-pregnant group was $2.1{\pm}1.4$ ng/ml which was significantly higher than that of pregnant group, $1.0{\pm}0.7$ ng/ml( p< 0.001 ). The fertilization rate was $61.3{\pm}21.3%$ in pregnant group which was higher than that of non-pregnant group, $41.1{\pm}20.2%$ (p< 0.01). We suggest that the serum levels of P4 and E2 on the day of hCG administration are additional parameters that predict the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.467-481
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• 1998

The purpose of this survey, in which 2754 students from 35 middle schools from Taegu city participated, was to identify the degree and the relationship of sexual knowledge, sexual attitude and need for sex education. This information will provide useful data, and promote a more systematic, desirable and practical sex education. The data was collected from September 1 to November 8, 1997. Data was analyzed using the statistical computer package, SPSS to manipulate the data along with percentage, mean, $X^2$-test. t-test, F-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results from this study were summarized as follows: 1. The mean score of sex related knowledge showed significant differences between boys and girls in general knowledge(boys: 10.85 girls: 11.71, p=0.000), in the area of physical development(boys : 5.29 girls: 5.72, p=0.000), pregnancy & physiology (boys: 3.23 girls: 3.57, p=0.000) and venereal disease (boys: 2.33 girls: 2.42, p=0.000). 2. The mean score of sex related attitudes showed a significant differences between boys and girls on the whole(boys : 57.68 girls: 58.92, p=0.000), in the area of psychological differences of the other sex (boy: 26.13, girls: 28.08, p=0.000), and sexual delinquency and its prevention(boy: 14.28, girls: 13.68, p=0.000). However, in the area of other sex friendships (boy: 17.28, girls: 17.16, p=0.274). There were no significant differences between boys and girls. 3. Those who had a higher sex related knowledge score showed more positive attitudes towards sex, but was of no statistical significance(r= 0.312, p=0.000). 4. The majority of subjects wanted to learn about friendship with the other sex(40.1%), about physical and psychological differences in adolescence(24.0%), about prevention of sexual violence(15.0%), about pregnancy and delivery (7.5%), about venereal disease and medical cures(7.3%), about contraception methods (4.3%), as well as other aspects of sexual knowledge (1.8%), 5. The mean score of sex related knowledge generally was higher when one paid a lot of attention to health (F= 3. 148, p=0.014), when one's father was alive(t=3.930, p=0.000), and when one's mother was alive(t=2.807, p=0.005), Hobby activities also showed a significant difference(F=9.092, p=0.000). The mean score of sex related knowledge generally according higher when one had sex education(F=9.470, p=0.000), when one obtained sexual knowledges from a teacher (F = 5. 742, p=0.000), and when one had middle grade problems with sex(F=13.58 4, p=0.000). 6. The mean score of sex related attitudes generally showed significant differences when re ligion(F=2.691, p=0.03), hobbies (F= 3.499, p= 0.002) were considered. Those who had a father also had higher scores(t=2.538, p= 0.011). The mean score of sex related attitudes generally with respect to a subject's sex was higher when one had sex education(t=5.338, p= 0.000), when one had high grade problems with sex(F=6.023, p=0.002), and when one had the experience of friendship with the other sex(t= 8.106, p=0.000), The following suggestions are based on the above results, 1. Systematic sex education must be performed in middle schools in order to establish responsible attitudes toward sex, 2. Sexual knowledge, attitude, and general sex education classes must be performed seperately for early, middle, and late adolescents, In other words sex education programs are needed for each adolescent development stage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to compare retrospectively the survival and pregnancy rates(PR) of cryopresered-thawed embryos obtained from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Ninety-six cycles of cryopresered-thawed embryo transfer (ET) were performed in 79 patients from June, 1996 to September, 1997 and grouped as followings: 20 cycles (16 patients) inseminated by ICSI (ICSI Group) and 76 cycles (63 patients) by conventional IVF (IVF Group). Slow-freezing and rapid-thawing protocol was used with 1.5M propanediol (PROH) and 0.1M sucrose as cryoprotectant. All embryos were frozen-thawed at the two pronuclear (2 PN) stage excluding four cycles in which the early cleavage stage embryos were frozen, and allowed to cleave in vitro for one day before ET. The duration from freezing to thawing was comparable in both groups ($mean{\pm}SD$, $112.1{\pm}80.0$ vs. $124.8{\pm}140.1$ days). The age of female ($31.2{\pm}3.4$ vs. $32.6{\pm}3.3$ years) and the endometrial thickness prior to progesterone injection ($9.4{\pm}2.0$ vs. $9.3{\pm}1.8$ mm) were also comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference in the outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed ET between two groups: survival rate ($85.2{\pm}16.1%$ vs. $82.2{\pm}19.7%$), cleavage rate ($96.9{\pm}6.7%$ vs. $94.7{\pm}13.0%$), cumulative embryo score (CES, $54.5{\pm}31.1$ vs. $49.0{\pm}20.0$), preclinical loss rate (5.0% vs. 5.3%), clinical miscarriage rate (0% vs 29.4%), clinical PR per transfer (35.0% vs. 22.4%), implantation rate (9.9% vs. 5.6%), and multifetal PR (42.9% vs. 17.6%). In conclusion, human embryos resulting from ICSI can be cryopreserved-thawed and transferred successfully, and the survival rate and PR are comparable to conventional IVF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2010

Objective: To evaluate whether T helper 1 (Th1) immune response is predominant in women with reproductive failures (recurrent spontaneous abortion and recurrent implantation failure) and the activation of T cell is related to Th1 propensity. Methods: Women with a history of recurrent implantation failure or recurrent spontaneous abortion comprise the study group (n=37). Controls are normal fertile women without a history of infertility or pregnancy losses (n=11). Th1/Th2 ratios of interferon (INF)-$\gamma$/interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$/IL-10 expression on $CD3^+/4^+$ cells, CD154, and CD69 expression on T cells are measured by flow cytometric analysis. Results: The ratios of TNF-$\alpha$ to IL-10 expressing on $CD3^+/4^+$ cells (Th1/Th2 cell ratios) are significantly higher in study group ($42.1{\pm}2.3$) as compared with that of controls ($28.7{\pm}2.7$) (p=0.002). The overall trend of CD154 and CD69 expression on T cells are elevated in study group than those of controls. The proportion (%) of $CD3^+/4^+/154^+$ cells ($1.7{\pm}0.5$ vs. $0.3{\pm}0.2$, p=0.038) and the % of $CD3^+/8^+/154^+$ cells ($0.6{\pm}0.2$ vs. $0.1{\pm}0.0$, p=0.024) are significantly higher in study group. The % of $CD3^+/69^+$ cells ($5.6{\pm}1.9$ vs. $1.3{\pm}5.4$, p=0.046) and % of $CD3^+/8^+/69^+$ cells ($4.8{\pm}1.3$ vs. $1.8{\pm}0.2$, p=0.035) among $CD3^+/8^+$ cells are significantly increased in study group. Conclusion: Women with reproductive failures have Th1 propensity with increased T cell activation. These finding means that activated T cell has a harmful effect on early pregnancy and implantation by induction of Th1 immunity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2007

Objective: To determine whether the presence of Y-chromosome microdeletion affects the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program. Methods: Fourteen couples with microdeletion in azoospermic factor (AZF)c region who attempted IVF/ICSI or cryopreserved and thawed embryo transfer cycles were enrolled. All of the men showed severe oligoasthenoteratoazoospermia (OATS) or azoospermia. As a control, 12 couples with OATS or azoospermia and having normal Y-chromosome were included. Both groups were divided into two subgroups by sperm source used in ICSI such as those who underwent testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and those used ejaculate sperm. We retrospectively analyzed our database in respect to the IVF outcomes. The outcome measures were mean number of good quality embryos, fertilization rates, implantation rates, $\beta$-hCG positive rates, early pregnancy loss and live birth rates. Results: Mean number of good quality embryos, implantation rates, $\beta$-hCG positive rates, early pregnancy loss rates and live birth rates were not significantly different between Y-chromosome microdeletion and control groups. But, fertilization rates in the Y-chromosome microdeletion group (61.1%) was significantly lower than that of control group (79.8%, p=0.003). Also, the subgroup underwent TESE and having AZFc microdeletion showed significantly lower fertilization rates (52.9%) than the subgroup underwent TESE and having normal Y-chromosome (79.5%, p=0.008). Otherwise, in the subgroups used ejaculate sperm, fertilization rates were showed tendency toward lower in couples having Y-chromosome microdeletion than couples with normal Y-chromosome. (65.5% versus 79.9%, p=0.082). But, there was no significance statistically. Conclusions: In IVF/ICSI cycles using TESE sperm, presence of V-chromosome microdeletion may adversely affect to fertilization ability of injected sperm. But, in cases of ejaculate sperm available for ICSI, IVF outcome was not affected by presence of Y-chromosome AZFc microdeletion. However, more larger scaled prospective study was needed to support our results.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.373-393
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• 2006

This study aimed at understanding the experience in deciding for childcare of unmarried lone mother and searching for intervention methods through in-depth examination of the essence of the experience. To achieve this, the Colazzi analysis of phenomenological research was applied. The subjects of study were 7 unmarried lone mothers in early age of the twenties and thirties, who resided in an institution for unmarried lone mothers. An in-depth interview was held individually with them with question of "What is the experience in deciding for childcare as a unmarried lone mother" twice on the average from Nov. 2003 to Feb. 2005. The results found that a unmarried lone mothers' experience in childcare meant 'resurrection' through analyzing 22 themes and 7 theme clusters(confusion due to pregnancy, harsh feeling for reality suffering alone, feeling of love for a baby, mental conflict about childcare, decision toward childcare, firm in decision, hope for resurrection). Although the results of this study have the limitation of generalization due to phenomenological study, it will contribute to accepting and understanding mother-and-child families as one type of family rather than regarding them as being difficult or alienated in family and society, to recognizing the need of taking back their rights, and to suggesting intervention methods for unmarried lone mothers.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 1984

It has been well known that ovarian steroids, estradiol and progesterone play an important role in the endometrial preparation for the implantation process. The present investigation was undertaken to correlate function of ovarian steroids with cAMP concentrations in uterine tissues of rat during the various stages of the preimplantation period. Rats ovariectomized on day 2 were treated with estradiol or/and progesterone on day 3 or on day 4 and cAMP concentrations in uterine tissues were determined by competitive protein - binding assay in control - and steroid treated - ovariectomized rats. The results obtained are as follows; 1. In control rats, cAMP concentrations in uterine tissues were decreased with preimplantation period proceeded whereas cAMP concentrations were increased and showed the highest levels on day 6 in ovariectomized rats. 2. In rats treated with progesterone only or progesterone with estradiol after ovariectomy, cAMP concentrations on day 6 were lower than those of ovariectomized control but higher than those of intact control rats while estradiol only treatment decreased cAMP concentrations on day 3 and day 6, compared with those from intact- and ovariectomized-controls. It is, therefore, concluded that the concentrations of cAMP in uterine tissues were lower in estrogen-treated rats than in ovariectomized rats, suggesting the involvement of cAMP in the regulation of uterine tissue differentiation.