OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor on in vitro development of 1-cell ICR mouse embryo. MATERIALS AND METHOD: ICR mice were superovulated with PMSG/hCG and 1-cell stage mouse embryos were recruited. 1-cell mouse embryo were cocultured on human oviductal cells in a CO2 incubator (coculture group) and were cultured on 0.4% BSA+HTF media (control group). And anti-hLIF Ab was added the cocultured group in a different concentration (1pg, 10pg, 100pg, 1ng) and developmental rate was compaired to the control group, and rhLIF was added to the preincubated 0.4% BSA+HTF media in a different concentration (2000U, 1000U, 100U, 10U) and its developmental rate was compaired to group which was cultured on 0.4% BSA+HTF media only. RESULT: 1. The cleavage rate of 2-cell mouse embryo co-cultured with human tubal epithelial cell was significantly higher than that of cultured with media alone (HTF with 0.4% BSA) (p<0.05). 2. When LIF antibody was added to the medium with human tubal epitherlial cell, the mouse embryo could not cleave more than 2-cell in 1 ng of LIF antibody, and less than 1 ng, the cleavage rate was lower than cultured without LIF antibody group(p<0.05). 3. Two cell blocked ICR mouse embryos were developed into four cells under LIF(p<0.05), but no further development was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results shows that LIF enhances the development of preimplantation embryo, and when rhLIF is applicated in vitro, it has positive effects on the development of early mouse embryo and can help overcoming the two-cell block.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Structures ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Incubators ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor* ; Leukemia* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oviducts

Malignant Mixed Mullerian tumors(MMMTs) are unusual neoplasms occumng mostly in the uterus and, ralely, they arise in the ovary. The clinical features of malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary are similiar to other ovarian malignancies. The clinical course is rapidly progressive and fatal. The optimal treatment modalities has remained elusive. The most reliable prognostic criterion is the initial tumor stage and the overall survival was poor. We experienced two cases of malignant mixed miillerian tumor of the ovary, so we report these cases with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Female ; Ovary* ; Respiratory Sounds ; Uterus

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the study are how to establish the cohort systems for the children and adolescents victims with sexual abuse in Korea and to identify the risk and protective factors that influence mental health in child sexual abuse (CSA). This is initial assessment data based on the analysis of cohort variables for baseline evaluation of subjects. METHODS: We constructed the cohort systems for CSA victims recruited by Seoul Sunflower Children Center, CSA victims protection center. The initial assessment data which consisted of demographic and psychological inventories of CSA victims and their parents/families, psychiatric diagnoses were the results of statistical analysis of 65 subjects under 19 years old for 3 years 7 months. RESULTS: The initial data were followings : female participants, N=56; mean age, 11.6 (SD=4.5); the most sexual assault, molestation 71.8%; victims, family and acquaintance 87.1%; 61.5% of the subjects diagnosed with psychiatric disorder; 29.2% diagnosed with PTSD and 23.1% diagnosed with depression. Mean duration for abuse to report is 1.5 years. Mean score of IES-R-K, TSCYC-avoidant and CBCL-problematic behavior were increased above clinical cut-off. CONCLUSIONS: CSA victims tend to have high risks in mental health problem. The cohort study could provide the risk and protective factors of CSA in mental health, and construct the predictive model for mental illness in Korea.
Adolescent ; Child Abuse, Sexual ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Helianthus ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Protective Factors ; Seoul ; Sex Offenses ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Objective: The prolonged coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is likely to cause psychological distress in people. This systematic review aimed to identify the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based psychological intervention among individuals with psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis. PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published until July 2022. Methods: The available citations were deduplicated and screened by two authors using the title and abstract information. Eligibility criteria were constructed according to the PICOT guidelines. Empirical studies of all designs and comparator groups were included if they appraised the impact of an immersive VR intervention on any standardized measure indicative of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms) or improvements in quality of life in participants, including COVID-19 patients, medical staff working with COVID-19 patients, and people who had experienced strict social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The results were discussed using a narrative synthesis because of the heterogeneity between studies. Seven of the studies met the inclusion criteria. There were two randomized controlled trials and five uncontrolled studies on VR interventions. Conclusion All studies reported significant improvement in a wide range of psychological distress during COVID-19, ranging from stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic symptoms to quality of life, supporting the efficacy of VR-based psychological intervention. Our results suggest that VR intervention has potential to ameliorate COVID-19-related psychological distress with efficacy and safety.

A 30-year-old, 16-week primipara woman visited with complaints of lower back pain over the past 3 weeks. She had a history of ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) 14 weeks earlier. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging showed infectious spondylitis and the results of blood and spinal biopsy cultures showed Staphylococcus aureus. Intravenous cefazolin was continued for 6 weeks, and 4 months later, she delivered a healthy girl. This is the first reported case of successful term delivery following S. aureus bacteremia with vertebral osteomyelitis after IVF and embryo transfer. It should be considered that S. aureus bacteremia can be a serious complication of IVF.
Adult ; Bacteremia ; Biopsy ; Cefazolin ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Osteomyelitis ; Pregnancy ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: The six-minute walk test has been widely used in people with chronic cardiopulmonary disorders as an outcome assessment with regards to therapeutic or prognostic determinants. This study was undertaken to determine the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in a sample of healthy Koreans and to create a reference equation. We also compared the 6MWD of our cohort with previously published equations. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-nine healthy subjects (95 males) aged 22-59 years performed two walking tests using a standardized protocol. 6MWD was defined as the greatest distance achieved from the two tests. The effect of anthropometrics on the 6MWD was also investigated. RESULTS: The average 6MWD was 598.5+/-57.92 m, with significantly longer distances by males (628.9+/-59.51 m) than females (580.9+/-47.80 m) (p<0.001). Age, height, weight, and body mass index were significantly correlated with 6MWD in univariate analysis. Stepwise multiple regression showed height to be single independent predictor of 6MWD (r2=0.205, p<0.001). The reference equations derived in Caucasian and North African populations tend to overestimate the distance walked by Korean subjects, while Asian equations underestimate it. CONCLUSION: The average 6MWD in these Korean populations was 600 m. The regression equation revealed that individual's height was the most significant predictor of distance, explaining 20.5% of the distance variance.
Adult* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Endurance ; Reference Values ; Walking

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) share common pathogenic mechanisms and many risk factors, and both are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between NAFLD and CKD according to the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Koreans aged 50 years or older. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 1,706 subjects who received their routine health examination was conducted between May 2008 and April 2010 at Konkuk University medical center. Biochemical tests for liver and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. CKD was defined as either proteinuria or glomerular filtration rate < or =60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: Among the 1,706 subjects, There were 545 (31.9%) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 424 (24.9%) with chronic kidney disease. In univariate logistic regression analysis, NAFLD was significantly associated with CKD (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 2.12). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, current smoking, abdominal obesity, aspartate aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, NAFLD was associated with CKD (adjusted OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.24). This relationship remained significant after classification according to the presence of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography was significantly associated with CKD in Koreans aged 50 years or older.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Alanine ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fatty Liver ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Logistic Models ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transaminases

The incidence of acute leukemia in pregnancy is as low as 1 in 75,000 pregnancies. There is no established guideline for the treatment of leukemia during midtrimester pregnancy. But nowadays, consensus is not to delay the leukemia treatment with chemotherapy even in pregnancy. Many authors reported successful outcomes of mothers and newborns. Because of the leukemia itself and side effects of the chemotherapy, anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia are commonly encountered in women treated with chemotherapy. With chemotherapy in utero just before the delivery, the newborn could be neutopenic. We report one case of midtrimester pregnant woman who took chemotherapy for leukemia and suffered from neutropenic fever and preterm labor. The newborn was neutropenic. However, both the mother and the baby were successfully recovered from neutropenia.
Anemia ; Consensus ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukemia ; Mothers ; Neutropenia ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnant Women ; Thrombocytopenia

On July 6, 2009, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among middle school students in Incheon. An investigation to identify the source and describe the extent of the outbreak was conducted. A retrospective cohort study among students, teachers, and food handlers exposed to canteen food in the middle school was performed. Using self-administered questionnaires, information was collected concerning on symptoms, days that canteen food was consumed, and food items consumed. Stool samples were collected from 66 patients and 11 food handlers. The catering kitchen was inspected and food samples were taken. Of the 791 people who ate canteen food, 92 cases became ill, representing an attack rate of 11.6%. Thirty-one (40.3%) of the 77 stool specimens were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Interviews with kitchen staff indicated the likelihood that undercooked chicken was provided. This is the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak associated with contaminated chicken documented in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Campylobacter Infections/*epidemiology ; *Campylobacter jejuni ; Chickens ; Cohort Studies ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Water Microbiology

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder related to insulin resistance, obesity, and inflammation. Genetic and environmental factors also contribute to the development of MetS, and through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), important susceptibility loci have been identified. However, GWASs focus more on individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), explaining only a small portion of genetic heritability. To overcome this limitation, pathway analyses are being applied to GWAS datasets. The aim of this study is to elucidate the biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of MetS through pathway analysis. Cohort data from the Korea Associated Resource (KARE) was used for analysis, which include 8,842 individuals (age, 52.2 +/- 8.9 years; body mass index, 24.6 +/- 3.2 kg/m2). A total of 312,121 autosomal SNPs were obtained after quality control. Pathway analysis was conducted using Meta-analysis Gene-Set Enrichment of Variant Associations (MAGENTA) to discover the biological pathways associated with MetS. In the discovery phase, SNPs from chromosome 12, including rs11066280, rs2074356, and rs12229654, were associated with MetS (p < 5 x 10(-6)), and rs11066280 satisfied the Bonferroni-corrected cutoff (unadjusted p < 1.38 x 10(-7), Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.05). Through pathway analysis, biological pathways, including electron carrier activity, signaling by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase cascade, PDGF binding, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and DNA repair, were associated with MetS. Through pathway analysis of MetS, pathways related with PDGF, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and PPAR signaling, as well as nucleic acid binding, protein secretion, and DNA repair, were identified. Further studies will be needed to clarify the genetic pathogenesis leading to MetS.
Body Mass Index ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Cohort Studies* ; Dataset ; DNA Repair ; Genome-Wide Association Study* ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Obesity ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors ; Peroxisomes ; Phosphotransferases ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases ; Quality Control