• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.239-249
• /
• 1999

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<$4{\times}10^6$ motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of $E_2$ on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively. The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2005

The crystal growth of calcite at a low temperature range was carried out by the hydrothermal method using amorphous calcium carbonate which has excellent solubility in water. Amorphous calcium carbonate was prepared by the wet chemical reaction of a stoichiometric mixture of $CaCl_2\;and\;Na_2CO_3$. An important factor was the reaction temperature and time taken in preparation of the amorphous calcium carbonate. From the solubility results calculated by the weight loss method, $NH_4NO_3$ solutions were found to be the most promising solvents to grow calcite single crystals. The hydrothermal conditions for high growth rates of calcite single crystals were as follows: starting material: amorphous calcium carbonate, solvent: 0.01 m $NH_4NO_3$, temperature: $180^{\circ}C$, duration: 30 days. And properties of calcite single crystals were follows: dislocation density: $10^6{\sim}10cm^{-2}$, UV-visible transmittance: about 80% from 190 to 400 nm and birefringence: $0.17{\sim}0.18$. Also, it can be known from the FT-IR results that the absorption peak by injection of $HCO_3^-\;and\;OH^-$ ions was not shown.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 1999

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of endogenous LH surge, GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as ovulation trigger on pregnancy rate by intrauterine insemination (IUI). Method: Patients received daily 100 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) for 5 days starting on the third day of the menstrual cycle followed by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for ovulation induction. Follicles larger than >16 mm in diameter were present in the ovary, frequent LH tests in urine were introduced to detect an endogenous LH surge. Final follicular maturation and ovulation were induced by GnRH-a 0.1 mg (s.c.) or hCG $5,000{\sim}10,000$ IU (i.m.) administration except natural ovulation. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. Results: There were no differences in age, duration of infertility and follicle size, but more ampules of hMG were used in GnRH-a group compared to hCG 10,000 IU treated group (p<0.05). Lower level of estradiol ($E_2$) on the day of hCG or GnRH-a injection was observed in hCG 10,000 IU group than other treatment groups (p<0.01). The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 19.8% per cycle (32/162) and 22.2% per patient (32/144). Pregnancy rate was higher in natural-endogenous LH surge group (37.5%, 9/24) than GnRH-a (18.8%) or hCG treated group (20.9% & 13.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation. Abortion rate was 22.2% (2/9) in hCG 5,000 IU group. Delivery or ongoing pregnancy rate was 37.5% (9/24), 18.8% (3/16), 16.3% (7/43) and 13.9% (11/79) in endogenous LH surge, GnRH-a, hCG 5,000 IU and hCG 10,000 IU treatment groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results support the concept that use of natural-endogenous LH surge in stimulated cycles may be more effective to obtain pregnancies by IUI than GnRH-a or hCG administration.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.79-95
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the antiarthritic effect of Hwallak-dan(Huoluo-dan) on the complete freund's adjuvant(CFA)-induced arthritis in Lewis rats. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of CFA into base of tail. Experimental groups divided into normal(n=10), control(n=10) and treated(n=10) group. Animals of control group received normal saline for twenty days, treated group received extracts Hwallak-dan(Huoluo-dan) for same duration, light mineral oil only injected non-arthritic rats were served as normal group. The incidence of arthritis and arthritic index were observed after treatment. Body weight, paw edema volume and thickness of ankle joint were measured at 0, 11, 14, 17, 20 days after treatment. White blood cell(WBC) counts in blood were analysed at 20 days after treatment and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$, $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta}$), IL-6 contents in paw exudate were analysed by ELISA at 20 days after treatment. Histopathology on the ankle joint were performed at 20 days after treatment. Results : 1. Incidence of arthritis of treated group was 60% and control group was 100% at 20 days after treatment. 2. Arthritic index of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 3. Paw edema volume and thickness of ankle joint of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 4. Total WBC of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 5. Neutrophils of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 6. $TNF-{\alpha}$ content in paw exudate of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 7. $IL-1{\beta}$ content content in paw exudate of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 8. IL-6 content content in paw exudate of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. 9. Histopathological arthritic index of treated group was significantly decreased compared with control group at 20 days after treatment. Conclusions : These results indicate that Hwallak-dan(Huoluo-dan) has inhibitory effect on the development and progression of CFA-induced arthritis in rats.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.1464-1471
• /
• 2007

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, leading to many complications including cognitive deficit. Regular exercise has often been recommended as a therapeutic maneuver to the diabetic patients for the prevention of secondary complications. In the present study, the effects of treadmill exercise on memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Male SD rats, aged 6 weeks, were randomly assigned to the following three groups: control group(n=8), STZ-induced diabetic group(n=8), and STZ-induced diabetes and exercise group(n=8). Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (50 mg/kg body weight). Treadmill running was conducted with duration and frequency of 30 minutes and 5 times per week, respectively, for 8 weeks. Memories were tested in the Morris water maze. Western blotting was performed to detect BDNF expression in the hippocampus. In this study, we found that compared to the control group, the STZ-induced diabetes group had a significantly impaired cognitive performance along with suppressed BDNF expression in the hippocampus and the exercise group had a higher cognitive function in diabetic rats. Therefore, the current findings of the study show that a treadmill running exercise can improve diabetes-induced impairment of cognitive function. And the improved cognitive function appears to be related to an alleviation in diabetes-induced BDNF expression in hippocampus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.1483-1490
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of GCP treatment on the expression of NOS, c-fos, serotonin and substance P in central nerve system of monosodium iodoacetate(MIA)-induced osteoarthritic pain model. Arthritis was induced by injection of MIA(0.5 mg) into knee joint cavities of rats. Arthritic rats were divided into control(n=8) and treated(n=8) group. Control group was taken distilled water for 20 days. Treated group was taken extracts of GCP by oraly for same duration. Normal group(n=8) was infected with normal saline and was taken distilled water for 20 days. The numbers of NADPH-d positive cells in superficial dorsal horn of spinal cord of treated group($21{\pm}5$) was significantly (p<0.01) decreased compared with control($33{\pm}5$). The numbers of NADPH-d positive cell in dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter of treated group($111{\pm}16$) was significantly(p<0.01) decreased compared with control($143{\pm}14$). The numbers of c-fos positive cells in dorsal periaqueductal gray matter of treated group($57{\pm}16$) was significantly(p<0.01) decreased compared with control($78{\pm}13$). The numbers of c-fos positive cells in paraventricular thalamic nucleus of treated group($60{\pm}15$) was significantly decreased compared with control($88{\pm}27$). The numbers of serotonin positive cells in median raphe nucleus of treated group($171{\pm}31$) was significantly(p<0.05) decreased compared with control($217{\pm}48$). On the basis of these results, we concluded that GCP treatment has inhibiting effects on the pain transmission in monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritic pain model in rat.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2007

Background: Lumbar zygapophysial joints are a common source of chronic lower back pain and radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF) of the medial branches (MB) has been shown to be effective at providing substantial pain relief for chronic low back pain. Therefore, we carried out this study to determine the short term outcomes and prognostic factors of RF on the MB of patients with lumbar facet syndrome. Methods: We performed RF in fourteen patients who showed greater than 80% pain relief up to three times after a diagnostic MB block was conducted using 0.3 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine. Using 10 cm curved electrodes with 10-mm active tip, a 60 second, $80^{\circ}C$ lesion was made after electrical stimulation at 50 Hz for sensory and 2 Hz for motor nerve testing. The degree of pain relief was then assessed after 2 weeks, and again after 3 months using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a four point Likert scale. The outcome was regarded as 'success' if at least a 50% reduction in the VAS was observed. Possible prognostic factors between the two groups were also evaluated Results: The success rate was 71.4% (10/14) after three months of follow-up. However, there were transient complications, such as neuritis like syndrome, in 4 patients. In addition, short symptom duration and low minimal voltage (< 0.4 V) for sensory stimulation were shown to be the relevant prognostic factors for a successful outcome. Conclusions: RF may be an alternative to repeated MB block or intraarticular injection for palliation of lumbar facet syndrome. For better outcomes, early diagnosis and strict patient selection should be coupled with efforts to avoid anatomically incorrect RF.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.2 no.5
• /
• pp.735-744
• /
• 1997

The effect of green tea drinking on the hepatocellular chemical cacinogenesis have been studied. Placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area in a liver tissue, contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), total cytochrome P450 and glucose 6-phospphatase(G6P) activity in hepatic microsomes were investigated. Weaning Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed AIN-76A diet with deionized water or green tea infusion, Rats of CTR and CTR+ groups were provided deionized water while GTI and GTI+ groups were provided green tea instead of deionized water for the entire experimental period of 13weeks. Rats of GTP and GTP + groups had deionized water for the first 6 weeks and switched to green tea for the last 7weeks of the experimental period. CTR+, GTI +, and GTP + groups were carcinogen treated groups, Diethylnitrosamine(DEN) was injected as a single dose of 200mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally after 4 weeks of feeding. 2-Acetyla-minofluorene(AAF) was used as a carcinogen proliferater and suppled in the diets of carcinogen treated rats as 0.02% content for the last 6weeks starting from 2weeks after DEN injection. Rats were sacrificed after 13week weeks of feeding. The area and number of GST-P positive foci detected in carcinogen treated rats were decreased by green tea ingestion but when timing and duration of green tea ingestion was delayed after promotion period as in GTP + group, GST-P positive foci were not decreased as much as in GTI+ group. TBARS contents of carcinogen treated rats decreased by 13weeks of green tea ingestion but GTP groups did not show statiscally significant differences. G6P activities tended to decrease by carcinogen treatment but changes were not statiscally significant by green tea ingestion. Total cytochrome P450 contents were increased by carcinogen treatment. Thirteen weeks of green tea ingestion (GTI) also increased to total cytochrome P450 contents while 7weeks of green tea ingestion(GTP) did show any effects. These results suggest that green tea has suppressive effects on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis probably through the activities of antioxidant compounds. (Korean J Community utrition 2(5) : 735∼744, 1997)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.297-305
• /
• 1998

This study used in vivo intracellular recording in rat hippocampus to evaluate the effect of lidocaine and MK-801 on the membrane properties and the synaptic responses of individual neurons to electrical stimulation of the commissural pathway. Cells in control group typically fired in a tonic discharge mode with an average firing frequency of $2.4{\pm}0.9$ Hz. Neuron in MK-801 treated group (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) had an average input resistance of $3.28{\pm}5.7\;M{\Omega}$ and a membrane time constant of $7.4{\pm}1.8$ ms. These neurons exhibited $2.4{\pm}0.2$ ms spike durations, which were similar to the average spike duration recorded in the neurons of the control group. Slightly less than half of these neurons were firing spontaneously with an average discharge rate of $2.4{\pm}1.1$ Hz. The average peak amplitude of the AHP following the spikes in these groups was $7.4{\pm}0.6$ mV with respect to the resting membrane potential. Cells in MK-801 and lidocaine treated group (5 mg/kg, i.c.v.) had an average input resistance of $3.45{\pm}6.0\;M{\Omega}$ and an average time constant of $8.0{\pm}1.4$ ms. The cells were firing spontaneously at an average discharge rate of $0.6{\pm}0.4$ Hz. Upon depolarization of the membrane by 0.8 nA for 400 ms, all of the tested cells exhibited accommodation of spike discharge. The most common synaptic response contained an EPSP followed by early-IPSP and late-IPSP. Analysis of the voltage dependence revealed that the early-IPSP and late-IPSP were putative $Cl^--and\;K^+-dependent$, respectively. Systemic injection of the NMDA receptor blocker, MK-801, did not block synaptic responses to the stimulation of the commissural pathway. No significant modifications of EPSP, early-IPSP, or late-IPSP components were detected in the MK-801 and/or lidocaine treated group. These results suggest that MK-801 and lidocaine manifest their CNS effects through firing pattern of hippocampal pyramidal cells and neural network pattern by changing the synaptic efficacy and cellular membrane properties.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.52-67
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Jokyeongjongok -Tang(JJT) on the progression of the estradiol valerate(EV)-induced polycystic ovaries(PCO) in rats. Methods: PCO was induced by single intramuscular injection with estradiol valerate(EV)(4 mg) in female rats. Normal group(n=8) were injected with sesame oil and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. PCO control group (n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. JJT treated group(n=8) were injected with EV and orally administrated JJT for same duration. At the end day of experiment, we measured weights of body, ovaries, adrenal glands and uterus. The histopathological changes of ovaries were also evaluated. And we observed the NGF and CRF expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: The results were as follows - The weights(mg) of ovaries of JJT treated group($58.4{\pm}9.4$) were significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with PCO control group($42.3{\pm}8.5$). - The numbers of mature follicles of JJT treated group($10.1{\pm}2.5$) were significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with PCO control group($6.1{\pm}2.1$). - The numbers of cystic follicles of JJT treated group($1.8{\pm}1.4$) were significantly decreased(p<0.05) compared with PCO control group($3.8{\pm}1.5$). - The expressions of NGF-immunoreactive cells in the ovaries of JJT treated group were weaker than PCO control group. Conclusions: From the above results, we concluded that Jokyeongjongok-Tang (JJT) contributes to a normal maturation of follicles and has the effects of promoting a normal ovulation. And these effects may be related with the decreased NGF activities in the ovaries.