• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

Pregnancy requires an important interpretation of thyroid function tests. The presence of anti-thyroid antibodies and viral infectious agents affect the health of both the fetus and the mother. Hence, a selective evaluation of thyroid function in pregnancy is required. This study is a retrospective cross-sectional survey to examine the correlation between thyroid hormones and viral infections during pregnancy. The results showed that the triiodothyronine (T3) decreased with increasing age, especially in the hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive group (P<0.01). In addition, although negative for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), thyroxine (FT4) showed a significant increase in near-threshold or twin pregnant women (P<0.05). The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was highly distributed at the age of 30, and there was no statistically significant correlation with other viral infection factors. In addition, as a result of dividing and analyzing the result of TSH by the quantiles, FT4 and T3 showed a positive correlation but showed a negative correlation with TSH (P<0.05). Therefore, the evaluation of prenatal thyroid screening during pregnancy and viral infection factors should reflect the time of pregnancy, exposure to infection, and the quantitative values. Adequate thyroid hormone and viral infections availability is important for an uncomplicated pregnancy and optimal fetal development.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2007

Objective: To compare the outcome of twin pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with that of spontaneously conceived twins. Methods: We analyzed 146 twins retrospectively, who had been delivered between January 2000 and July 2005. After reviewing their obstetric medical records, 72 twins conceived with IVF (IVF group) and 51 spontaneously conceived twins (spontaneous group), whose gestational age was over 24 weeks, were recruited for this study. Results: There were no significant statistical differences of demographic features such as maternal age, gestational age and fetal weight between the two groups. However, the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and gestational diabetes (G-DM) had significantly increased in the group of IVF (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.01$\sim$6.66). The risk of fetal weight discordancy rate (>20%) and fetal-sex homology rate in IVF group were decreased (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.14$\sim$0.96, OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21$\sim$0.99). Conclusion: In this comparative study, maternal PIH and G-DM risks of IVF group are higher than that of spontaneous group. But, fetal-weight discordancy risk and fetal-sex homology rate were lower in IVF group.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 1995

This experiments were carried out to investigate the viabilities and the pregnancy rate of frozen-thawed IVF bovine embryos in various media, cryoprotectants and age of embryos produced. Hanwoo oocyte were collected in size of 2~7mm follicles, matured for 20~22hrs at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in 5% CO2 incubator and then in vitro fertilized with Hanwoo semen. Blastocysts or more developed embryos at Day 7, 8 and 9 were frozen in 1.5 or 1.8M ethylene glycol. Viability of frozen thawed IVF embryos were identified the reformation of blastocoele after thawing and culture for 24~48 hours at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in 5% CO2 incubator. Production rate of Hanwoo IVF embryos in TCM 199 and CR1aa ws 21.3%(39/183) and 28.1%(41/146), respectively. The viability of frozen thawed IVF embryos was higher rate in 1.8M ethylene glycol and Day 7 embryos than that in 1.5M and Day 8.53 cows out of 100 Hanwoo receipients transfered IVF embryos were pregnant and twin production rate was 26.3%.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 2004

To investigate the feasibility of embryo transfer technology to promote productivity of cattle, 36 cows(18 Holstein, 18 Hanwoo) were superovulated. Fresh embryos were transferred to 25 recipients(14 Holstein, 11 Hanwoo), whereas frozen embryos were transferred to 17 recipients(10 Holstein, 7 Hanwoo). Two embryos were transferred at a time to 13 recipients(9 Holstein, 4 Hanwoo) to produce twin calves. 1. 75.0％ of donor cattle were reacted to hormonal treatment far superovulation. 2. The rate of embryo recovery by non-surgical method for Holstein and Hanwoo was 90.4 and 95.8％ in comparison with numbers of corpus luteum. 3. Of all the ova collected non-surgically, the rate of viable blastocyst was 66.4％ and the rate of transferrable blastocysts was 48.6％. 4. The rate of embryo collection by one-catheter method was 75.0％. 5. The rate of pregnancy/delivery following embryo transfer with fresh embryos was 60.0％. 6. The rate of pregnancy/delivery following embryo transfer with frozen embryos was 35.3％. 7. In embryo transfer to produce twin calves, the rate of pregnancy/delivery was 28.6％ with fresh embryos and 16.7％ with frozen embryos.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.360-368
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• 2015

The present study evaluated the effect of controlled ryegrass-white clover herbage availability from day 128 until day 142 of pregnancy in comparison to unrestricted availability, on the performance of twin-bearing ewes of varying body condition score (BCS; 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0) and their lambs. It was hypothesised that under conditions of controlled herbage availability, the performance of lambs born to ewes with a greater BCS would be greater than those born to ewes with a lower BCS. During the period that the nutritional regimens were imposed, the pre- and post-grazing herbage masses of the Control regimen ($1,070{\pm}69$ and $801{\pm}30$ kg dry matter [DM]/ha) were lower than the ad libitum regimen ($1,784{\pm}69$ and $1,333{\pm}33kg\;DM/ha$; p<0.05). The average herbage masses during lactation were $1,410{\pm}31kg\;DM/ha$. Nutritional regimen had no effect on ewe live weight, BCS and back fat depth or on lamb live weight, indices of colostrum uptake, maximal heat production, total litter weight weaned or survival to weaning (p>0.05). The difference in ewe BCSs and back fats observed among body condition groups was maintained throughout pregnancy (p<0.05). At weaning, ewes from the BCS2.0 group had lower BCS and live weight ($2.4{\pm}0.2$, $74.3{\pm}2.6kg$) than both the BCS2.5 ($2.6{\pm}0.2$, $78.6{\pm}2.4kg$) and BCS3.0 ewes ($2.7{\pm}0.2$, $79.0{\pm}2.6kg$; p<0.05), which did not differ (p>0.05). Ewe BCS group had no effect on lamb live weight at birth or weaning or on maximal heat production (p>0.05). Serum gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations of lambs born to BCS3.0 ewes were higher within 36 hours of birth than lambs born to BCS2.0 ewes and BCS2.5 ewes ($51.8{\pm}1.9$ vs $46.5{\pm}1.9$ and $45.6{\pm}1.9IU/mL$, respectively [p<0.05]). There was, however, no effect of ewe body condition on lamb plasma glucose concentration (p>0.05). Lamb survival was the only lamb parameter that showed an interaction between ewe nutritional regimen and ewe BCS whereby survival of lambs born to BCS2.5 and BCS3.0 ewes differed but only within the Control nutritional regimen ewes (p<0.05). These results indicate farmers can provide twin-bearing ewes with pre- and post-grazing ryegrass-white clover herbage covers of approximately 1,100 and 800 kg DM/ha in late pregnancy, provided that herbage covers are 1400 in lactation, without affecting lamb performance to weaning. The present results also indicate that under these grazing conditions, there is little difference in ewe performance within the BCS range of 2.0 to 3.0 and therefore they do not need to be managed separately.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.648-654
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• 1998

Twenty-four Javanese thin-tail ewes (11, 9, and 4 ewes giving birth to 1, 2, and 3 lambs, respectively) with similar body weight and age at breeding were used to study serum progesterone concentrations during pregnancy, milk production during lactation, and mammary gland indices at the end of lactation (3 months postpartum). The results of the experiment showed that averages serum progesterone concentrations during pregnancy in the ewes giving birth to twin and triplet lambs were higher (p < 0.01) than those giving birth to a single lamb. Ewes giving birth to 3 lambs had higher (p < 0.01) mammary dry fat-free tissue (DFFT) (by 31 and 34%), DNA concentration (by 25 and 16%) and RNA concentration (by 29 and 16%) at the end of lactation than those giving birth to 1 and 2 lambs. There was no difference in mammary collagen, protein and glycogen concentrations at the end of lactation among litter sizes. Ewes giving birth to 3 lambs had higher (p < 0.01) total mammary DNA content (by 64 and 61%) and RNA content (by 69 and 53%) at the end of lactation than those giving birth to 1 and 2 lambs. There was no difference in total mammary collagen, protein and glycogen contents at the end of lactation among litter sizes. Even though ewes with higher litter size had numerically higher milk production, there was no significant difference in milk production per 4 h among litter sizes. The results of the experiment indicated that ewes having higher litter size had greater mammary cell number and synthetic activities at the end of lactation. The results suggested that ewes with higher progesterone concentrations and better developed mammary glands during pregnancy could maintain higher cell number and activities throughout lactation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.349-359
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to compare the clinical outcome of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) performed at the cleavage stage to that of elective double embryo transfer (eDET). Methods: Of the women less than 36 years old who visited Daegu Maria from January 2008 to April 2009, the only women (n=330) with more than 8 mm of endometrial thickness and at least one good quality embryo, who were treated with GnRH agonist long protocol, were included in this study. After information about complications that can arise by multiple embryo transfer, either eSET or eDET was conducted by their request (167 and 163, respectively).Results: The implantation rate of eSET group was significantly higher than that of eDET group (53.9% vs. 40.2%, p<0.01). The twin pregnancy rate of eSET group was significantly lower than that of eDET group (1.1% vs. 32.3%, p<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between two groups in the clinical pregnancy (53.3% vs. 60.7%, p=0.172), ongoing pregnancy (47.3% vs. 54.6%, p=0.185) and live birth rates (44.9% vs. 50.9%, p=0.275). The number of the surplus embryos which developed to the blastocyst stage and cryopreserved at that stage was significantly higher in eSET group than that of eDET group ($3.2{\pm}2.6$ vs. $2.1{\pm}2.4$, p<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that eSET should reduce significantly the multiple baby pregnancy without decreasing the whole pregnancy rate in women with less than 36 years old.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

These studies were carried out to improve the reproductive efficiency through embryos transfer of Hanwoo IVM/IVF embryos. Following routine IVM/IVF procedure, oocytes and zygotes were cultured far 40 to 44 h in CRlaa medium with BSA. Then 2 to 8-cell embryos were removed the cumulus cell and were cultured in CRlaa medium containing 10% fatal bovine serum and 2.5 mM taurine in 5% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$ at 38.5$^{\circ}C$. The fresh embryos of the morulae and blastocysts cultured for 6 to 9 days in vitro or the frozen-thawed embryos were transferred into recipients. The pregnancy rates of the blastocyst produced for 6, 7, 8, and 9 days in vitro culture were 59.4, 68.2, 66.0 and 100%, respectively. In the developmental stage, pregnacy rates of early blastocysts (61.1%), blastocysts(64.7%) and expanded blastocysts(69.5%) were higher than that of morulae stage(20.0%). The pregnancy rates according to the corpus luteum grades of A, B and C in recipients were 73.6, 62.9 and 50.0%, respectively. Effects of donor-recipients synchrony of after day 2, 1 and 0, before day 1 and 2 on the pregnancy rates were 35.7, 65.5, 72.6, 67.9 and 60.0%, respectively. Pregnancy rates of the body condition score of recipients $\leq$2(71.3%) were higher than those of $\geq$3.0 score(40.0%). The pregnancy rates according to the parity of recipients when embryo was transferred to cow(70.6%) was higher than in heifer(59.1%). The pregnancy rates according to hormone treatment before embryo transfer were 69.9% in hCG + GnRH administration group and 63.0% in control group. Fresh and frozen-thawed embryos on the pregnancy rates were 70.6 and 36.4%, respectively. Pregnancy rates in single and AI+single was 90.0% and 64.8%. Pregnancy rates in twin induction was better than in single. These results indicate that pregnancy rates after transfer were affected on the embryo ages, donor-recipient synchrony, body condition score of recipients, corpus luteum status, parity and hormone treatment to recipients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the breeding efficiency in Thoroughbred mare. A total of 106 mares were investigated for the status of follicle (462 cases), ovulation (179 cases) and pregnancy (346 cases). Of total examination, 46.8% was follicle measure to determine breeding time, and mating rate per cases examined was 39.9%. There was no correlation between reproductive results and size of follicles or endometrial edema or degrees of teasing alone. 143 cases were ovulated among 179 cases which were performed ovulation examination, and ovulation rate and fertilization rate per mating times were 79.9% and 39.0%, respectively. The use of hCG(human chorionic gonadotropin), to facilitate ovulation, presented to increase occurrence of double ovulations and twin fertilizations In conclusion, though more examination to estimate the optimal breeding time and higher mating rate was performed, fertilization rate per mating times was lower and then reproductive efficiency also became decreased. Therefore, it seemed that accurate examination of reproductive tracks, appropriate teasing programme and hCG administration before ovulation were of help to improve ovulation rate and fertilization rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.137-139
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• 2014

The effect of artificial oocyte activation (AOA) with a calcium ionophore on intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) was examined in patients with histories of repeated failed implantation attempts. Four singleton pregnancies and one twin pregnancy were obtained after embryos transfer (5/14, 35.7%). Therefore, AOA combined with IMSI can be considered an option for cycles with a fertilization defect and recurrent implantation failures.