This review focuses on the current options for fertility preservation in patients with high risk of premature ovarian failure. Available cryopreservation options include embryo cryopreservation, oocyte cryopreservation, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation has been tried for some time in animals, but only recently successful pregnancy and livebirth in human has been reported. Options of developing follicles and restoring fertility after ovarian tissue cryopreservation are autotransplantation, xenotransplantation, and tissue culture. This review discusses the merits and faults of each option and future directions for developing and standardizing the ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation procedure, systemically covering previously published data.
Animals ; Autografts ; Cryopreservation* ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertility ; Fertility Preservation ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; Transplantation, Heterologous

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that habitual exercise can improve skeletal mitochondrial function; however, to date, the association between exercise and mitochondrial function in peripheral leukocytes has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between regular exercise and mitochondrial function by measuring leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 144 relatively healthy, non-diabetic, non-smoking, postmenopausal women. Clinical parameters, including anthropometric measurements and cardio-metabolic parameters, were assessed. Regular exercise was defined as at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity, over a duration of at least 6 months. Leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and these were normalized to the β-globin copy number to give the relative mtDNA copy number. RESULTS: The mtDNA copy number of peripheral leukocytes was significantly greater in the exercise group (1.33±0.02) than in the no exercise group (1.05±0.02, P<0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that regular exercise was independently associated with mtDNA copy number (β=0.25, P<0.01) after adjusting for the variables age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value, and levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise is associated with greater leukocyte mtDNA copy number in postmenopausal women.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leukocytes* ; Lipoproteins ; Mitochondria ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that habitual exercise can improve skeletal mitochondrial function; however, to date, the association between exercise and mitochondrial function in peripheral leukocytes has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between regular exercise and mitochondrial function by measuring leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 144 relatively healthy, non-diabetic, non-smoking, postmenopausal women. Clinical parameters, including anthropometric measurements and cardio-metabolic parameters, were assessed. Regular exercise was defined as at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity, over a duration of at least 6 months. Leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and these were normalized to the β-globin copy number to give the relative mtDNA copy number. RESULTS: The mtDNA copy number of peripheral leukocytes was significantly greater in the exercise group (1.33±0.02) than in the no exercise group (1.05±0.02, P<0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that regular exercise was independently associated with mtDNA copy number (β=0.25, P<0.01) after adjusting for the variables age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value, and levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise is associated with greater leukocyte mtDNA copy number in postmenopausal women.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leukocytes* ; Lipoproteins ; Mitochondria ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) implemented in FibroScan(R) is reported to be a non-invasive means of detecting steatosis (>10% steatosis). We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CAP in detecting steatosis among health checkup examinees and to assess its correlation with ultrasonography (US). METHODS: Consecutive CAP results were retrospectively collected. A total of 280 subjects were included. RESULTS: Fatty liver was detected in 119 subjects (42.5%) by US, whereas it was detected in 160 subjects (57.1%) by the CAP. The numbers of subjects with S0:S1:S2:S3 steatosis according to the CAP value were 120:59:58:43, respectively. The mean CAP values were 203.34+/-28.39 dB/m for S0, 248.83+/-6.14 dB/m for S1, 274.33+/-8.53 dB/m for S2, and 322.35+/-22.20 dB/m for S3. CAP values were correlated with body weight (r=0.404, p<0.001), body mass index (r=0.445, p<0.001), and the fatty liver grade by US (r=0.472, p<0.001). Among the 161 subjects with normal US findings, steatosis was detected in 65 subjects (40.4%) using the CAP. CONCLUSIONS: The CAP seems to be useful for detecting very low-grade hepatic steatosis in health checkup examinees. Its role in predicting subjects with a risk of metabolic derangement needs to be evaluated.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/*methods ; Fatty Liver/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination/*methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) implemented in FibroScan(R) is reported to be a non-invasive means of detecting steatosis (>10% steatosis). We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CAP in detecting steatosis among health checkup examinees and to assess its correlation with ultrasonography (US). METHODS: Consecutive CAP results were retrospectively collected. A total of 280 subjects were included. RESULTS: Fatty liver was detected in 119 subjects (42.5%) by US, whereas it was detected in 160 subjects (57.1%) by the CAP. The numbers of subjects with S0:S1:S2:S3 steatosis according to the CAP value were 120:59:58:43, respectively. The mean CAP values were 203.34+/-28.39 dB/m for S0, 248.83+/-6.14 dB/m for S1, 274.33+/-8.53 dB/m for S2, and 322.35+/-22.20 dB/m for S3. CAP values were correlated with body weight (r=0.404, p<0.001), body mass index (r=0.445, p<0.001), and the fatty liver grade by US (r=0.472, p<0.001). Among the 161 subjects with normal US findings, steatosis was detected in 65 subjects (40.4%) using the CAP. CONCLUSIONS: The CAP seems to be useful for detecting very low-grade hepatic steatosis in health checkup examinees. Its role in predicting subjects with a risk of metabolic derangement needs to be evaluated.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/*methods ; Fatty Liver/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination/*methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index

Malignant mixed mullerain tumors (MMMT) are rare neoplasms of the female genital tract that histolotically consist of malignant epithelial and stromal components, arising in the endometirum, followed in decreasing order by the vagina, cervix, and ovary. Tubal origin is extremely rare and accounts for less than 4% of all MMMTs. Most of the patients present with nonspecific abdominal pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding. Nonspecific findings on imaging studies also make exact preoperative diagnosis very difficult, mostly mistaken as ovarian malignancies. The primary goal of treatment is removal of tumor mass by cytoreductive surgery. Postoperatively, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is added, but prognosis is very poor. The best form of postoperative adjuvant therapy is not yet established due to the rarity of this disease entity. We report a case of a malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the fallopian tube that we have experienced recently with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of cervicogram as primary screening test of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. METHODS: Total 294 women who had undergone cervicogram and pathologically diagnosed at YUMC between January and July 2003, were selected. Diagnostic accuracy of Pap smear, cervicogram and Pap smear combined with cervicogram were compared with pathologic diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square test (SPSS version 11.0). RESULTS: 1. Among 294 women, Pap smears were normal in 130 cases (44.2%) and abnormal in 164 cases (55.8%). The diagnostic accuracy between Pap smear and histology was as follows; sensitivity 72.0%, specificity 64.6%, positive predictive value 72.0%, negative predictive value 64.6%, false positive rate 28.0%, false negative rate 35.4%. 2. Cervicogram were normal in 202 cases (68.7%) and abnormal in 92 cases (31.3%). The diagnostic accuracy between cervicogram and histology was as follows; sensitivity 39.6%, specificity 79.2%, positive predictive value 70.7%, negative predictive value 31.0%, false positive rate 29.3%, false negative rate 49.0%. 3. Among 130 women with normal Pap smear, cervicogram were normal in 101 cases (77.7%) and abnormal in 29 cases (22.3%). The diagnostic accuracy between cervicogram with normal Pap smear and histology was as follows; sensitivity 26.1%, specificity 79.8%, positive predictive value 41.4%, negative predictive value 66.3%, false positive rate 58.6%, false negative rate 33.7%. 4. Among 164 women with abnormal Pap smear, Cervicograms were normal in 101 cases (61.6%) and abnormal in 63 cases (38.4%). The diagnostic accuracy between cervicogram with abnormal Pap smear and histology was as follows; sensitivity 44.9%, specificity 78.3%, positive predictive value 84.1%, negative predictive value 32.7%, false positive rate 15.9%, false negative rate 67.3%. CONCLUSION: Although adjunctive use of cervicogram to Pap smear in initial screening of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia showed higher specificity, higher negative predictive value and lower false negative rate compared to Pap smear alone, but, consideration in terms of lower sensitivity, lower positive predictive value, higher false positive rate and cost-effectiveness should be given in lieu of clinically applicating cervicogram with Pap smear as initial screening test.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Humans ; Myotonia Congenita* ; Myotonia*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate on nutrient intake status and diet quality of middle and old aged vegetarian women in Korea. The research group was composed of vegetarian women (n = 91), all of them were Seven Day Adventists, who had been on vegetarian diets, over 20 yrs. Their anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, and diet quality indices were compared to omnivores (n = 122). The average age of vegetarians and omnivores were 61.8 yrs and 60.3 yrs, respectively. The mean daily energy intakes of vegetarians and omnivores were 1428.8 kcal and 1424.5 kcal, respectively and there was no significant difference. The vegetarians consumed significantly lower intakes of protein (p<0.05), zinc (p<0.001) and vitamin B2 (p<0.05) compared to omnivores. In the diet quality, zinc and vitamin B2 nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) of vegetarians were significantly lower than those of omnivores. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of vegetarians and omnivores were 0.80 and 0.77, respectively and there was no significant difference. The KDDS (Korean's Dietary Diversity Score) of vegetarians and omnivores were 3.7 and 4.0, respectively, and there was significant difference (p<0.01). The KDQI (Korean's Diet Quality Index) of vegetarians (1.5) was significantly lower than that (2.1) of omnivores (p<0.001). In conclusion, vegetarian women have low intake status of protein, zinc and vitamin B2, and partly low diet quality. Therefore it was needed that well planed diets to replace the nutrients supplied from excluded food groups in middle and old aged vegetarian women.
Diet* ; Diet, Vegetarian ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Riboflavin ; Zinc

Purpose: Cluster analysis on pediatric asthma identifying a cluster characterized by obesity, females, and puberty showed that obesity is an independent risk factor for severe asthma in this cluster. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of overweight/obesity on lung function and asthma severity in prepubertal asthmatic children. Methods: One hundred fifty-five prepubertal children (aged 6–10) with asthma were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the overweight/obese group (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 85th percentile, n = 44) and the normal BMI group ( < 85th percentile, n = 111). We reviewed their medical records and analyzed whether there were any differences in clinical features, lung function and degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) between the 2 groups. The clinical factors associated with asthma severity were also investigated. Results: There was no difference in clinical features between the 2 groups. Pulmonary function tests showed that only forced vital capacity in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) was significantly lower in the overweight/obese group than in the normal BMI group (P = 0.032). There was no difference in dysanapsis and BHR between the 2 groups. There were significantly more children with moderate-to-severe asthma in the overweight/obese group compared to the normal BMI group (P = 0.018). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, overweight/obesity has been identified as an independent risk factor of affecting asthma severity (odds ratio, 2.44; P = 0.018), in addition to the already known risk factor, FEV1. Conclusion Our study showed that overweight/obese prepubertal asthmatic children had lower FEV1/FVC than those with normal BMI. It also suggests that overweight/obesity may be an independent risk factor for severe asthma before puberty.