• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.25-42
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• 2014

Objectives: To observe the effects of Herb medication on Polycystic Ovary (PCO) in rats. Methods: Riss (Research Information Sharing Service) was searched for Oriental medicine about PCO on 2000~2014. So, Experimental studies using PCO model induced by Estradiol Valerate (EV) was selected to analyze how effects they were. Consequently, 10 studies published on 2000~2014 were selected to analyze about weight of model and both ovaries, the number aries, the number of follicle and corpus of follicle and corpus luteum, the level of serum Androstenedione (ADD) and total estrogen, the level of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF), the crossover rate and the number of implantation. Results: Among them, there was significantly difference between treatment group and control group in weight of both ovaries, the number of follicle and corpora lutea, the crossover rate and the number of implantation. Conclusions: The effects of Herb medication was observed on making weight of ovaries with PCO to promote. The study about effect of Herb medication on NGF and CRF with PCOS had to be conducted. The further research have to focus on treatment of subfertility and infertility, that is field showing the advantage of Oriental medicine.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.654-670
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• 2022

Spermatogenesis and testis development are highly structured physiological processes responsible for post-pubertal fertility in stallions. Spermatogenesis comprises spermatocytogenesis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Although germ cell degeneration is a continuous process, its effects are more pronounced during spermatocytogenesis and meiosis. The productivity and efficiency of spermatogenesis are directly linked to pubertal development, degenerated germ cell populations, aging, nutrition, and season of the year in stallions. The multiplex interplay of germ cells with somatic cells, endocrine and paracrine factors, growth factors, and signaling molecules contributes to the regulation of spermatogenesis. A cell-tocell communication within the testes of these factors is a fundamental requirement of normal spermatogenesis. A noteworthy development has been made recently on discovering the effects of different somatic cells including Leydig, Sertoli, and peritubular myoid cells on manipulation the fate of spermatogonial stem cells. In this review, we discuss the self-renewal, differentiation, and apoptotic roles of somatic cells and the relationship between somatic and germ cells during normal spermatogenesis. We also summarize the roles of different growth factors, their paracrine/endocrine/autocrine pathways, and the different cytokines associated with spermatogenesis. Furthermore, we highlight important matters for further studies on the regulation of spermatogenesis. This review presents an insight into the mechanism of spermatogenesis, and helpful in developing better understanding of the functions of somatic cells, particularly in stallions and would offer new research goals for developing curative techniques to address infertility/subfertility in stallions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2023

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report that herbal medicine administration has a pregnancy effect on infertility with both male and female factors. Methods : Jogyeongjongok-tang and Cheongshimyeonja-eum were administered to infertile couples who had no experience of pregnancy before and after marriage and who were diagnosed with right peritubal adhesion and teratospermia on examination. Herbal prescriptions were administered 30 minutes after meals, twice a day for 6 months. Result : A gestational sac was observed on ultrasonography 6 months after administration of herbal medicine prescription. Conclution : Jogyeongjongok-tang and Cheongsimyeonja-eum have been shown to have the effect of leading to pregnancy without harming infertile women, men and fetuses, so they are effective in women and men with peritubal adhesion and teratospermia. It shows that it is a prescription that can be used in parallel with infertility.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.67-79
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• 2017

Purpose: This research aimed to study the awareness of marriage, childbirth, fertility and high-risk pregnancy among university students. Methods: 250 university students from Seoul and Gyeonggi-do completed questionnaires regarding their awareness on marriage, childbirth, fertility, and high-risk pregnancy. Results: The average age of participants was 22.5. The ideal marriage age was 29.8. 201 (80.4%) participants had an intention of getting married, and 160 (60.4%) answered they should have children. The ideal age of first childbirth was 30.4 and last childbirth was 35.1. There were 126 (50.4%) with prior education regarding high-risk pregnancy, subfertility or infertility. The score of needs for education associated with pregnancy was 7.6 out of 10. The average correct answer rate of awareness of fertility issues was 30.7%. There were significant differences between men and women, 25% of men and 38% of women overestimated the age at women are most fertile. Only 23.7% of men and 25.9% of women knew the correct age when there was marked decrease in women's fertility. Conclusion: Awareness of a lack of marriage, childbirth, fertility, and high-risk pregnancy may influence future family planning and health. These results can be used to plan programs or education for marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 1997

The aim of present study was to determine the efficacy of immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes for unexplained infertility. It has been apparent that reproductive success may be affected by the presence of abnormal autoantibodies. Unexplained infertility and repeated pregnancy wastage has been reported in the presence of abnormal autoantibodies. These data suffest that abnormal immune function may be an important pathologic entity contributing subfertility in patients with unexplained infertility. Therefore, immunotherapy may be a possible treatment modality for patients with unexplained infertility. Some investigators have reported that a proportion of infertile couples with repeatedly unsuccessful ET showed close histocompatibility similar to those of spontaneous recurrent abortion. Recently, it has been noted that immunotherapy with paternal lymphocytes achieves a high efficacy in preventing subsequent abortion in women with primary recurrent abortion of unknown cause, which was mediated by immune reaction including blocking antibody. To substantiate the hypothesis, we applied immunotherapy preceding Peritoneal Oocyte and Sperme transfer (POST) to 43 patients, 47 cycles of 82 patients, 89 cycles with at least three previous IUI failure from April, 1993 to February, 1995. There were no significant differences between treatment and control group in clinical response and hormonal response to controlled hyperstimulation. there was no significant difference between treatment and control group in pregnant rates per cycles (42.6% versus 28.6%), but a significantly lower abortion rate per pregnancy in treatment group, with 10.0% (2/20) compared with 50.03% (6/12) in control group. This study may suggest that immune therapy for patients with unexplained infertility with paternal lymphocytes might be beneficial.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.607-615
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• 2021

Cytokines are protein mediators that possess the ability to assist cell-to-cell communication in immune system-related activities. In general, pathogen endotoxins activate the release of inflammatory mediators, and with time, there is an increase in the cytokine levels in the body. Interleukin (IL)-6 mediates the acute-phase inflammatory response, and elevated IL-6 levels have been reported in peritoneal fluids of women with pelvic inflammation and endometriosis, thereby associating it with oocyte quality and infertility. To overcome subfertility or infertility in humans and animals, the present study was done to examine the effect of recombinant IL-6 on porcine oocytes matured in vitro and subsequently to determine the fertilization rate and embryo development. Porcine oocytes were incubated with varying concentrations of IL-6 (0 - 2 ㎍·mL^-1) for 44 h followed by in vitro fertilization and culturing of the oocytes. The oocytes or embryos were fixed with 3.7% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and stained with fluorescence dyes, and the meiotic spindle, chromosome organization, fertilization status and embryo development were subsequently assessed under a fluorescence microscope. We observed induction of an abnormal meiotic spindle alignment in the oocytes incubated with IL-6 compared to the control oocytes incubated without IL-6. Moreover, significantly decreased fertilization rates and embryo development were observed for oocytes incubated with IL-6 (p < 0.05). Thus, an increased IL-6 level during oocyte maturation could be associated with fertilization failure due to an aberrant chromosomal alignment and a disruption of the cortical granules. Taken together, our results indicate that successful assisted reproduction can be achieved by controlling the levels of inflammatory cytokines.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.142-156
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the results of Korean medicine treatment infertility support program in Chungcheongnam-do in 2019. Methods: Participants of Korean medicine treatment infertility support program were provided with Korean herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion for 3 months and followed up for 3 months after the treatments. A total of 115 women out of 125 applicants completed the treatment, and 106 participants' data was collected. The data containing pregnancy rates, characteristics of subjects, treatments, and satisfaction of the program were analyzed. Results: After the treatment, 18 out of 115 subjects became pregnant and had a pregnancy rate of 15.7%. There were no significant differences in factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), social history, infertility period, and history of infertility treatment between pregnant and non-pregnant groups except smoking. Some of the subjects reported positive changes in the menstrual conditions such as cycle, volume and menstrual pain. More than 80% of the subjects answered that they were satisfied with the program in the survey questionnaire. Conclusions: Based on this report, the clinical data were obtained from the infertility treatment program. This study can be used as basic data to help establish infertility support programs and subsequent policies.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.143-160
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to lay the foundation for the Korean medicine infertility treatment support program to be implemented in the future by analyzing the results of the Korean medicine infertility treatment support program implemented by Incheon metropolitan city. Methods: 224 patients applied for the Korean medicine infertility treatment support program conducted by Incheon metropolitan city and had three months of herbal medicine treatment and three months of follow-up time. Information on general, demographic, and infertility-related characteristics of patients before treatment was collected. Information on treatment contents performed by Korean medical doctors during treatment, and information on results and satisfaction after treatment was collected. In order to evaluate the safety of treatment, blood tests were performed before and after treatment, and abnormal reactions were monitored. Results: Of 224 patients, 211 ended treatment, of which 45 (21.33%) succeeded in pregnancy. The characteristics of the successful and failure groups of pregnancy were found to be statistically significant differences in age, therapeutic history, parity, anti-müllerian hormone test results, and type of infertility of the patients and spouses. The most common pattern identification was kidney deficiency, and the most widely used prescription was Jogyeongjongok-tang. Patients were highly satisfied with the treatment of Korean medicine infertility. As a result of the safety evaluation, herbal medicine treatment was confirmed to be a safe treatment. Conclusions: In this study, clinical information on the Incheon metropolitan city Korean medicine infertility treatment support program was obtained. Based on this study, it is expected that the Korean medicine infertility treatment program in the future will guarantee more extensive treatments such as extending the treatment period or supporting korean herbal medicine to spouses.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.196-210
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review the research trends of infertile women with uterine myoma in Korean medicine and to recognize the efficacy of Korean medicine intervention. Methods: A search was conducted on November 18, 2022, using six databases, including Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Cochrane Library Central, Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WangFang Med Online. We analyzed the studies using Korean medicine on women with uterine myoma preparing for pregnancy or complaining infertility. Results: Total 4 studies were selected and all of which were case reports. Among 6 cases, Korean medicine treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion was used alone. Ikgibohyeol-tang-gami-bang, Gyejibokryeong-hwan, Saenghwa-tang-gami-bang were prescribed in 2 cases each. Angelicae Gigantis Radix and CV4 were most frequently used herb and acupoint. All subjects were successful in becoming pregnant. Conclusion: This review shows that Korean medicine treatment can be effective in infertile women with uterine myoma. However, the number of included studies is small, so the level of evidence needs to be raised through more clinical studies in the future.