• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2002

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline (PF) on the conventional ICSI program undergone in severe asthenozoospermia. Method: Total 348 cycles of ICSI programs undertaken at CHA General Hospital from January, 1996 to September, 2000, were divided into two groups - injected with pentoxifylline-treated sperm (PFT, 204 cycles) or non-treated sperm (NPFT, 144 cycles) and the clinical results of PFT group were compared with those of NPFT. Results: PF-treatment on sperm increased their motility of normozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia. Fertilization rate of PFT group was higher than those of ICSI programs undertaken using sperm of NPFT (70.6% vs. 62.9%, p<0.01). And, ET and clinical pregnancy rates of PFT were slightly higher than those of NPFT (93.1%, 44.2% vs. 90.3%, 36.2%). Conclusion: These results showed that treatment of pentoxifylline has a beneficial role on selection of viable sperm in severe asthenozoospermia.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2007

This study was performed to induce the estrus in 9 anestrus Shih-tzu bitches by intramuscular injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) 50IU/kg for 10 consecutive days and by intravenous injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 1,000IU/Head on Day 10. The day when the first injection of PMSG was counted as Day 0 of experiment. All of the bitches were monitored by vaginal discharges, displays the perineal region, vaginal swelling and male acceptances. The 9 bitches (100%) showed vaginal discharges and vaginal swelling, and were mated. The 5 bitches out of 9 bitches were pregnant (55.6%) and 4 bitches were non-pregnant (44.4%). The 3 bitches out of 5 pregnant bitches were spontaneously delivered (33.3%) and litter size were $1.66{\pm}1.15\;(1{\sim}3\;pups)$ pups. The 2 bitches were diagnosed as early embryonic death on days 38 and 41 after first injection of PMSG. These results indicated that rates of estrus induction, pregnancy and delivery were 100%, 55.6% and 33.3%, respectively, using PMSG and hCG.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2013

Embryo transfer (ET) technology is of high importance in modern cattle breeding programs. ET is one step in the process of removing one or more embryos from the reproductive tract of an outstanding donor female and transferring them to one or more recipient females. Embryos also can be produced in the laboratory via techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). But the actual transfer of an embryo is only one step in a series of processes that may include some or all of the following: superovulation and insemination of donors, collection of embryos, isolation, evaluation and short-term storage of embryos, micromanipulation and genetic testing of embryos, freezing of embryos and embryo transfer. Cryopreservation and direct transfer of frozen-thawed embryos is common-place with pregnancy rates near that of fresh embryos. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology is currently being used for sexing embryos, and this technology will be used for "embryo diagnostics" and "embryo genomics" in the future. Although, many limitations and problems remain to overcome, these and other new technologies promise to change livestock breeding drastically in the next decade.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 2013

Purpose: This prospective cohort study was done to investigate recall bias to antepartum variables measured at postpartum periods and predictors of postpartum depression. Methods: Participants were 215 women who answered a self-administered questionnaire which included demographics, Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised and Korean version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale at antepartum 36-40 weeks and postpartum 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using kappa, and hierarchical multiple logistic regression. Results: Agreement between antepartum variables at both antepartum and two postpartum periods was relatively high (${\kappa}$=.55- .95). Postpartum depression rates were 36.3% and 36.7% at two follow-up points. In hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, prenatal depression (OR=4.32, 95% CI: 1.41-13.19; OR=5.19, 95% CI: 1.41-19.08), social support (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.66; OR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53) and maternity blues (OR=4.75, 95% CI: 1.89-11.98; OR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.60-11.12) were commonly associated with postpartum depression at two follow-up points. Child care stress (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.01-3.37) was only associated with postpartum depression at 2 weeks postpartum and pregnancy intendedness (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.09-2.27) was only associated with postpartum depression at 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusions: The results indicate a need to apply nursing interventions such as prenatal education and counseling with families from antenatal period.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 1991

This experiment was carried out to develop a new technique of identifying XX of XY-bearing bisected embryos prior to implantation by immunological method. H-Y antiserum prepared in inbred Wastar female rats by repeated immunization with spleen cells from males of the same strain. The reactivity of H-Y antibody was confirmed by culturing mouse embryos in the medium containing H-Y antiserum and complement obtained from the guinea pig. The optimal condition for the activity of H-Y antibody was also investigated by culturing embryos under the concentraton or affected H-Y antibody was also investigated by culturing embryos under the concentration or affected H-Y antibody and culture rate. However, production of live young or sex rates of male and female from embryos transferred with psudopregnant. The biological test with the morula stage embryos showed that H-Y antibody was formed in all female rats immunized with spleen cell, but it was formed only in 80% female rats immunized with the antigen. When the bisected mouse embryos were cultured in vitro for 5~6 hours in morula stage, of 457 bisected embryos 81.4% of then were developed to the blastocyst stage. When the concentration rate of complement to H-Y antiserum varied from 1.0~5.0${mu}ell$, the lysis-rate of embryo was 19.5 to 67.3%. The concentration rate of complement did not influence the lysis-rate of embryos(P<0.05). The morphology embryos of bisected, zona-free and intact embryos showed the embryos lysis rate of 58.6, 42.7 and 48.5% respectively(P<0.05). Pregnancy rate were 50.0, 45.5 and 57.1% in psudopregnant recipient transferred with bisected, zona-free and intact blastocyst embryos. However, production of live youngs, sexual rate of male or female was 24(50.0:50.0), 22(45.5:55.5) and 36(58.3:41.7)mice, but affected and non affected half embryos with H-Y antiserum treatment was 23.1 and 26.7%. Also production of live youngs and sexual rate was 14(92.9:7.1) and 17(17.6:82.4)mice in affected and non affected half embryos in H-Y antiserum treatment(P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the developmental rates of embryo reconstructed with different cell type and to estimate correlation of transcriptional level of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) and fibroblast growth factor 4 (FCF4) gene on peri-implantation stage embryos. Donor cells were transferred into perivitelline space of enucleated oocytes. The karyoplast-cytoplast couplets were accom- plished by cell to cell fusion and activated with ionomycin and 6-dimethylaminopurine. Reconstructed embryos were co-cultured with bovine oviduct epithelial cells in CR 1 aa medium. There is no difference in blastocyst formation rate following nuclear transfer UT) with fetal fibroblast cell (16/50; 32.0%), cumulus cell (16/49; 32.6%) and ear cell (17/52; 32.6%). The expression level of Oct4 and FCF4 in peri-implantation bovine embryo derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and NT were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. In peri-implantation of IVF result in a transient increased of FCF4 paralleled by an increased expression of Oct4. However, Oct4 gene was highly expressed in hatching blastocysts derived from NT compared to IVF. Also, FGF4 expression level in hatching blastocysts and outgrowth stage derived from NT was lower than that of IVF. In conclusion, it is suggested that the different transcription patterns observed in nuclear transfer embryos may lead to a lower rate of embryo development, implantation and pregnancy.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 1984

This experiment was carried out to compare with the nonsurgical and surgical recovery of fertilized eggs in super-ovulated rabbits. Sixty-four eggs recovered were transferred to twelve synchronized, pseudopregnant rabbits to test the viability of the eggs by surgical transfer. Each group(I, II, III) received a single subcutaneous injection of 5mg PGF2${\alpha}$/kg B.W. at 24(Group I), 48(Group II) and 72 hours (Group III) after mating, respectivity. After the administration of PGF2${\alpha}$, vaginal washings were conducted at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hrs, and frequency of vaginal washing was 5 times for the each group (I, II, III). In Group (IV, V, Ⅵ), the rabbits were killed to recover the fertilized eggs from the genital tract at 24(Group Ⅵ), 48(Group V) and 72 hours (Group Ⅵ) after mating, respectively. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Of the total eggs, 69.3%, 73.4% and 66.9% were recovered for Group I, II and III, respectively from the vagina within 6 hrs after PGF2${\alpha}$ injection and particularly for Group III. 2. The rates of egg recovery versus the number of corpora lutea were 55 (51.6-60%), 35.8 (24-52.6%), 33.4 (25-47%) and 72 (70.7-73.0)%, 60.3 (50-71.4)%, 449(44.4-45.5)% in Group I, II, III and Group IV, V, Ⅵ, respectively. 3. Most of eggs recovered were one-cell stage in Group Iand Group IV. More than one half of the eggs recovered in Group II and V were over eight-cell stage, and most of the eggs were so in Group III and Ⅵ. 4. When sixty-four eggs recovered between 24 to 72 hours after mating were transferred to pseudopregnant rabbits. Three recipients were pregnant, and the rate of pregnancy was 25%.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2015

Objective: Sperm must be properly prepared in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) programs in order to control the fertilization rate and ensure that embryos are of high quality and have appropriate developmental abilities. The objective of this study was to determine the most optimal sperm preparation method for IVF. Methods: Patients less than 40 years of age who participated in a fresh IVF-ET cycle from November 2012 to March 2013 were included in this study. Poor responders with less than three mature oocytes were excluded. Ham's F-10 medium or sperm-washing medium (SWM) was used in combination with the density-gradient centrifugation/swim-up (DGC-SUP) or SUP methods for sperm preparation. A total of 429 fresh IVF-ET cycles were grouped according to the media and methods used for sperm preparation and retrospectively analyzed (DGC-SUP/Ham's F-10, n=82; DGC-SUP/SWM, n=43; SUP/Ham's F-10, n=181; SUP/SWM, n=123). Results: There were no significant differences among these four groups with respect to the mean age of the female partners, duration of infertility, number of previous IVF cycles, and retrieved oocytes. We determined that both the DGC-SUP and SUP methods for sperm preparation from whole semen, using either Ham's F-10 or SWM media, result in comparable clinical outcomes, including fertilization and pregnancy rates. Conclusion: We suggest that both media and both methods for sperm preparation can be used for selecting high-quality sperm for assistive reproductive technology programs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 1990

By nuclear transplantation technology twenty eight mice have been produced after transfer of heterozygous biparental eggs. Also heterozygous gynogenetic eggs with two female pronuclei and heterozygous androgenetic eggs with two male pronuclei have been obtained by injecting a male or female pronucleus with Sendai virus into the perivitelline space of enucleated haploid zygotes at pronuclear stage. The success rate of enucleation, karyoplast injection and fusion of both the pronuclei was 80.3, 83.4 and 81.8%, respectively. The overall pronuclei fusion rates by this technique were 56, 50 and 56% in biparental, gynogenetic and androgenetic eggs, respectively. The evidence was ascertained that the gynogenetic and androgenetic eggs were also able to develop in vitro up to blastocyst stage, even though their developmental potential was greatly diminished beyond 2-cell stage. The gynogenetic eggs were able to develop in vivo up to day 10 of pregnancy, while the androgenetic eggs failed to develop in vivo during the same period.