OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the isolation methods of inner cell mass from mouse blastocyst, types of feeder cells and treatment time of mitomycin C on the formation rate of ICM colony. METHODS: The inner cells were isolated by conventional immunosurgery, partial trophoblast dissection with syringe needles and whole blastocyst co-culture method. Commercially available STO and primary cultured mouse embryonic fibroblast (pMEF) feeder cells were used, and mitomycin C was treated for 1, 2 or 3 hours, respectively. The formation rate of ICM colony was observed after isolation of ICM and culture of ICM on the feeder cells for 7 days. RESULT: The ICM colony formation rate on STO were significantly higher in partial trophoblast dissection group (58%) than that in immunosurgery (12%) or whole blastocyst culture (16%) group (p<0.05). The formation rate on pMEF feeder layer was higher in partial trophoblast dissection (88%) and whole blastocyst culture (82%) group than that in immunosurgery (16%) group (p<0.05). When mitomycin C treated to pMEF for 2 hours, the formation rate of 88% was significantly higher than those of other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Above results showed that the efficient isolation method of ICM from blastocyst was the partial trophoblast dissection and the appropriate treatment time of mitomycin C was 2 hours. However, the subculture of ICM colony and characterization of stem cells should be carried out to confirm the efficacy of the partial trophoblast dissection method.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques ; Feeder Cells* ; Fibroblasts ; Mice* ; Mitomycin* ; Needles ; Stem Cells ; Syringes ; Trophoblasts

BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between working conditions and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korea. METHODS: We obtained data on health history, lifestyle, housework and working conditions, such as shift work, hours standing, working time, job demand, lifting at work and at home, between August and September 2000, from self-reported questionnaires. A group of 344, occupationally active, pregnant women from 51 industries were studied. Of the women studied, 328 women were further interviewed by telephone between November 2000 and September 2001. Result : Compared with daytime work, shift work increased the risk for preterm birth (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.62) and low birth weight (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.62). A significantly increased risk was found for prolonged standing, with an adjusted risk ratio of preterm births of 6.80 (95% CI=2.01-23.0). There were no significant differences in the incidence of spontaneous abortion between the occupational working conditions, with the exception of a previous history of spontaneous abortion. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that maternal working conditions, such as shift work and prolonged standing, contribute significantly to preterm birth and low birth weight.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cohort Studies* ; Female ; Housekeeping ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Life Style ; Lifting ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone ; Women, Working ; Work Schedule Tolerance

OBJECTIVE: Since IVF program was first established, various types of media and culture systems have been developed either in-house or commercially. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of in-house Maria Research Center (MRC) media to that of commercially available Sydney IVF media in human day 3 embryo transfer cycles. METHODS: Three hundred sixty nine couples were included in this prospective, randomized, and comparative study. All couples undergoing IVF treatment at the Maria Fertility Hospital were randomly assigned to either Sydney IVF (n=178) or MRC (n=191) media. RESULTS: No difference was observed between the MRC media and Sydney IVF media groups with respect to fertilization rate (74.4% vs. 75.5%). The clinical pregnancy and implantation rates of MRC media (47.1% and 20.0%, respectively) were also similar to those of Sydney IVF media (44.4% and 19.4%, respectively). However, the proportion of embryos with good quality on day 3 was significantly higher in the MRC media group than the Sydney IVF media group (50.2% vs. 43.2%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: MRC media were as effective as Sydney IVF media for sustaining embryo development and pregnancy rates. The present study implies that MRC media can be a suitable alternative to commercially available media for human IVF-ET program.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: To determine the preferred method of drinking water before spiral CT scanning of a gastric lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spiral CT scans of 92 patients with gastric lesion were obtained and evaluated. Patients drank tap water as oral contrast material and were scanned in the prone position; they were divided into two groups according to the method by which water was ingested. Group 1 patients drank 500ml 60 minutes before scanning; 500mL, 30 minutes before scanning; and 500mL just before scanning, while those in group 2 drank 800-1000mL just before scanning. In all cases, precontrast images were obtained, and an additional 300mL of water was given if the stomach was not adequately distended. Postcontrast images were obtained at 35 seconds, 80 seconds and 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material. For 35- and 80-second scans, spiral CT was performed with 5-mm collimation, 7mm/sec table feed, and 5-mm reconstruction interval; for precontrast and 3-minute scans, 10-mm collimation, 10mm/sec table feed, and 10-mm reconstruction interval were used. There were 40 patients in group 1, and 52 in group 2. The images of the two groups were evaluated according to three criteria: gastric distension, mucosal enhancement, and tumor distinction. For each criterion, the images were evaluated by grading; an 'excellent' image scored 3, 'good' 2, 'ordinary' 1, and 'poor' 0. The differences in imaging quality between the two groups were statistically evaluated. Images obtained at 35 and 80 seconds, and at 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material were compared, and the detectability of 18 confirmed cases of early gastric cancer was evaluated. RESULTS: For gastric distension, the mean score was 1.65 in group 1, and 1.81 in group 2 (P=0.33); the corresponding figures for mucosal enhancement were 1.45 and 1.65 (P=0.11), and for tumor distinction, 1.30 and 1.52 (P=0.09). Between the two groups, there was therefore no statistical difference in image quality. With regard to postcontrast images, those obtained after a delay of 35 seconds were best; those obtained at 80 seconds were better than those obtained at 3 minutes. Fifteen of 18 case of early gastric cancer were detected on spiral CT, and the detection rate was 83.8%. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups, and a single drink of water-just before scanning- is thus preferable to several drinks. Two scans, with images delayed for 35 and 80 seconds after contrast enhancement, are adequate. The use of these methods may improve the image quality of gastric lesions and the detection rate of early gastric cancer.
Drinking Water ; Eating* ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Water*

In Asia, mammography following the injection of foreign materials into the breasts for cosmetic augmentation is frequently seen and diagnosis based on the typical radiologic findings is straightforward. We report the unusual radiologic findings in two patients with foreign body granulomas caused by injected foreign materials and discovered incidentally during screening work up. The mammographic findings were bilateral, hyperdense, spiculated masses, with occasional microcalcification, and at sonography, markedly hypoechoic, spiculated solid masses, located near the pectoralis muscle and partly extending into it, were observed. These radiologic findings mimicked malignancy.
Breast Neoplasms/radiography ; Case Report ; Cholesterol ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Esthetics ; Female ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Human ; Injections/adverse effects ; Mammography ; Middle Age ; Paraffin

The infantile polycystic kidney disease is rare fetal urinary tract anomaly. It is inherited with an autosomal recessive pattern and recurrence rate is 25%. The gene locus is on chromosome 6p. The pathogenesis of infantile polycystic kidney is the primary defect of the collecting ducts. The ultrasonographic finding of infantile polycystic kidney is oligohydramnios, bilaterally symmetrical enlarged kidneys with maintenance of their reinform shape. The differential diagnosis with adult polycystic kidney disease is important. The massive enlargement of the kidneys is rarely seen in adult polycystic kidney disease and the examination of the parents and other members of the family is helpful to confirm the adult polycystic kidney disease. If there is severe renal involvements, stillbirth or neonatal death secondary to pulmonary hypoplasia would be developed. If it were diagnosed before viability, termination of pregnancy is recommended. In a fetus at risk, diagnosed after viability, pregnancy termination is also recommended since this condition is uniformly fatal. We present a case of infantile polycystic kidney.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Kidney ; Oligohydramnios ; Parents ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence ; Stillbirth ; Urinary Tract

Clear cell chondrosarcoma, first described by Unni in 1976, is distinguished from classical chondrosarcoma by a typical histological picture, mostly an epiphyseal site of origin, and relatively a benign clinical course. We present a case of clear cell chondrosarcoma arising from hyoid bone in a 70-year-old male. Histologically, large areas of closely packed cells with characteristic clear cytoplasm were seen in addition to the usual elements of a conventional chondrosarcoma. Our search and review of the literature did not reveal any reported case of clear cell chondrosarcoma arising from hyoid bone.
Aged ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone* ; Male

A thymoma often occurs in patients with myasthenia gravis, but the development of multiple thymoma is very rare. The authors report the radiologic and pathologic findings of multiple invasive thymoma in a 59-year-old male with myasthenia gravis.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymoma*

No abstract available.
Rickets, Hypophosphatemic*