The uptake of glucose for metabolism and growth is essential to most animal cells and is mediated by glucose-transporter (GLUT) proteins. The aim of this study was to determine which class of glucose transporter molecules was responsible for uptake of glucose in the mouse early embryo and at which stage the corresponding genes were expressed. In addition, co-culture system with vero cell was used to investigate the effect of the system on GLUT expression. Two-cell stage embryos were collected from the superovulated ICR female and divided into 3 groups. As a control, embryos were cultured in 0.4% BSA-T6 medium which includes glucose. For the experimental groups, embryos were cultured in either co-culture system with vero cells or glucose-free 76 medium supplemented with 0.4% BSA and pyruvate as an energy substrate. 2-cell to blastocyst stage embryos in those groups were respectively collected into microtubes (50 embryos/tube). Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed. The products were analysed after staining ethidium bromide by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Blastocysts were collected from each group at 120hr after hCG injection. They were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, stained with hoechst, and mounted for observation. In control, GLUT1 was expressed from 4-cell to blastocyst. GLUT2 and GLUT3 were expressed in morula and blastocyst. GLUT4 was expressed in all stages. When embryos were cultured in glucose-free medium, no significant difference was shown in the expression of GLUTI1, 2 and 3, compared to control. However GLUT4 was not expressed until morular stage. When embryos were co-cultured with vero cell, there was no significant difference in the expression of GLUT1, 2, 3 and 4 compared to control. To determine cell growth of embryos, the average cell number of blastocyst was counted. The cell number of co-culture (93.8+/-3.1, n=35) is significantly higher than that of control and glucose-free group (76.6 +/- 3.8, n=35 and 68.2+/-4.3, n=30). This study shows that the GLUT genes are expressed differently according to embryo stage. GLUTs were detectable throughout mouse preimplantation development in control and co-culture groups. However, GLUT4 was not detected from 2- to 8-cell stage but detected from morula stage in glucose-free medium, suggested that GLUT genes are expressed autocrinally in the embryo regardless of the presence of glucose as an energy substrate. In addition, co-culture system can increase the cell count of blastocyst but not improve the expression of GLUT. In conclusion, expression of GLUT is dependent on embryo stage in preimplantation embryo development.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Coculture Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Ethidium ; Female ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Morula ; Pregnancy ; Pyruvic Acid ; RNA ; Vero Cells

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the important factors affecting survival and pregnancy rate in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. METHODS: we performed reprospective analysis in 738 cycles of frozen-thawed embryo transfers, in relation to the insemination methods, the freezing stage of embryo, patient's age, infertility factors and the origin of injected sperm in ICSI cycles. After conventional IVF or ICSI, the supernumerary PN stage zygotes or multicellular embryos were cryopreserved by slow freezing protocol with 1,2-propandiol (PROH) as a cryoprotectant. RESULTS: The survival rates of thawed embryos were 69.3% (1585/2287) in conventional IVF group and 71.7&% (1645/2295) in ICSI group. After frozen-thawed embryo transfers, 27.0% (92/341) and 32.0% (109/341) of pregnancy rates were achieved in conventional IVF and ICSI group, respectively. There were no significant difference in the survival and pregnancy rates according to the insemination methods, the freezing stage and patient's age. However, the pregnancy rate (36.2%) of male factor infertility (22.9%). In ICSI group, the origin of injected sperm did not affect the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that acceptable clinical outcomes can be achieved after the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos regardless of the stage of embryos for freezing, the patient's age and the origin of injected sperm.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Freezing ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination ; Male ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; Survival Rate ; Zygote

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at G119-T, G432-C, T449-C, and A453-G were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. RESULTS: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA (reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

We herein report a case of occupational contact urticaria syndrome induced by cefotiam di-hydrochloride in a nurse. She had generalized pruritic wheals accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea during the preparation of cefotiam solution. A scratch patch test with cefotiam di-hydrochloride, a major component of cefotiam ingredient showed multiple erythema and wheals within 5 minutes, accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea. No delayed type reaction was observed. Based on her clinical history and scratch test result, we diagnosed her condition as contact urticaria syndrome caused by cefotiam.
Cefotiam* ; Erythema ; Patch Tests ; Tachypnea ; Urticaria*

PURPOSE: There has been little research regarding the effectiveness of oseltamivir for influenza B infections. We sought to identify the different clinical manifestations between patients treated with and without oseltamivir. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the medical records of 72 inpatients or outpatients from two medical centers diagnosed with influenza B infections by either a rapid antigen test or multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR between January 2012 and July 2012. We compared gender, age, past medical history, admission period, total fever duration, fever duration after hospitalization, post-oseltamivir medication peak temperature, laboratory test, chest X-ray, antibiotic medication, and the presence of concomitant viral or bacterial infections. RESULTS: The number of subjects in our study was 72 who were diagnosed with influenza B pneumonia, acute bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, croup, and mean age was 3.6+/-2.8 year old. The demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations of oseltamivir and the non-oseltamivir groups, including hospitalization period (4.18+/-2.10 vs 4.79+/-1.49 days, P=.17) and total fever duration (5.32+/-2.07 vs 6.41+/-3.25 days, P=.09), demonstrated no significant differences. Notably, the oseltamivir group did have significantly reduced usage of antibiotic treatment than the non-oseltamivir group (P=.04). When we limited our patient group to patients under the age of three, similar results were seen. The group prescribed oseltamivir within 48 hours of fever onset had less antibiotic usage, in addition to a shorter fever duration. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir appeared to have no benefit in improving the clinical course. However, if it is prescribed within the first 48 hours of symptoms, it may be more effective.
Bacterial Infections ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Croup ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Influenza B virus* ; Influenza, Human ; Inpatients ; Medical Records ; Oseltamivir* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage on pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse during arteriovenous (AV) fistula needling in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Forty HD patients were assigned to either 10% lidocaine spray group (n=21) or aroma massage group (n=19). 10% lidocaine was sprayed 3 times around AV fistula 10 minutes before. Aroma hand massage was performed for 5 minutes with fluids containing 2% of lavender, peppermint, and geranium concentrate mixture. Pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse were measured during AV fistula needling without any intervention on the first week and during interventions on the second week. Data were analyzed with χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, paired t-test and MANCOVA. RESULTS: Pain and anxiety were significantly decreased in both the lidocaine spray group and aroma massage group. Aroma hand massage was more effective to reduce pulse during AV fistula needling. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage may be effective to reduce pain, anxiety, and pulse during AV fistula needling in HD patients.
Anxiety* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Blood Pressure* ; Fistula ; Geranium ; Hand* ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Lidocaine* ; Massage* ; Mentha piperita ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: To analyze peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters with regard to age in children by using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: We analyzed RNFL thickness and ONH parameters by using Stratus OCT Model 3000 (Zeiss-Humphrey) in two-hundred eyes of 100 children ranging in age from 5 to 14 years, with 5 males and 5 females for each age. RESULTS: The RNFL thicknesses for 100 children (200 eyes) in total were as follows: Mean 104.67+/-9.07 micrometer, superior 131.84+/-18.71 micrometer, temporal 78.49+/-12.91 micrometer, nasal 73.85+/-14.26 micrometer, and Inferior 133.87+/-18.58 micrometer. The parameters of ONH for 100 children (200 eyes) in total were as follows: optic disc area 2.80+/-0.21 mm2, rim area 1.85+/-0.28 mm2, cup to disc area ratio 0.34+/-0.08, horizontal cup to disc diameter ratio 0.47+/-0.11, and vertical cup to disc diameter ratio 0.49+/-0.11. In analyzed RNFL thickness and ONH according to age, there was a significant negative correlation among mean RNFL, inferior RNFL, and age (r=-0.258, p=0.000, r=-0.464, p=0.000). There was a significant positive correlation between nasal RNFL and age (r=0.135, p=0.028). There was a significant positive correlation between disc area and age (r=0.528, p=0.000). There was a significant negative correlation among the cup to disc area ratio, the horizontal cup to disc diameter ratio, the vertical cup to disc diameter ratio, and age (r=-0.170, p=0.008, r=-0.266, p=0.000, r=-0.155, p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: OCT can be used to measure RNFL thickness and ONH parameters in children. Age had an effect on RNFL thickness and ONH parameters in children.
Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Disk* ; Optic Nerve* ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence