OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of embryos using early cleavage to 2-cell stage has been proposed, but a critical time-point for selecting embryos is unclear. The aim of the present study is to provide a guideline including critical time-point in the selection of early cleaving embryo for the reduction of multiple pregnancies as well as the increase of pregnancy rate in human IVF. METHODS: This prospective study was performed in 116 cycles from 85 patients who underwent conventional IVF or ICSI at the infertility clinic of Good Moonhwa Hospital from January 2002 to December 2003. Early cleavage (EC) of embryos to 2-cell stage was assessed at 25 h and 27 h postinsemination/microinjection. Embryos that had early cleaved at each time point were designated as EC-1 and EC-2, respectively, while others were designated as non-early cleavage (NEC). RESULTS: At least one early cleavage embryo was observed in 54 (46.6%) for the EC-1 and 84 (72.4%) for the EC-2 of the 116 cycles assessed. Clinical pregnancy rates (PR) were significantly higher in the EC-1 group (66.7%) compared to the EC-2 group (53.6%) or the NEC group (31.2%) (p<0.05). Significant improvement of the pregnancy rate was found when at least two or more embryos were early cleaved at 25 h postinsemination or when the proportion of early cleavage embryo at 25 h postinsemination was higher than 20% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The critical time-point for the selection of early cleavage embryos with high implantation potential is more effective in 25 h postinsemination/microinjection compared to 27 h. The proportion as well as number of early cleavage embryos is also an important factor for the prediction of pregnancy outcome and the chance of multiple pregnancies. These results demonstrated that the evaluation of early cleavage embryos to 2-cell stage is an easy, simple, and objective method for the selection of good quality embryos suitable for embryo transfer.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Prospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma*

5 bed sand filter, applying biological oxidation, was designed and studied on the treatment of water works. Never using any coagulant agent (drugs), which may cause water pollution in pre-treatment of head water, the author attempt a high rate filtration by the microorganism (nitrofication bacteria) end plant which populate in multi layer sand beds. The result are as follows ; In order to evaluate the oxygen effect on filtration, oxygen was injected in aeration tank attached to each filter tank while filtration, and NH3 was tested as a representative ingredient. It was found out that the aeration method was more effective, with over 33% of NH3 removal capacity, than the anerobic and this 5 bed filter showed double removal capacity of NH3 by comparing with conventional sand bed (2 stage bed). According to the examination of two kind of head water, pre-treated with coagulant agent and activated carben, the filtration capacity was affected by the polluted condition of head water, resulting that lower value of pollution and slower velocity of filtration showed more efficiency of NH3 removal. In this experiment NH3 content tested in treated water had a fairly good correlation with others.
Filtration ; Head ; Oxygen ; Plants ; Silicon Dioxide ; Water Pollution ; Water*

5 bed sand filter, applying biological oxidation, was designed and studied on the treatment of water works. Never using any coagulant agent (drugs), which may cause water pollution in pre-treatment of head water, the author attempt a high rate filtration by the microorganism (nitrofication bacteria) end plant which populate in multi layer sand beds. The result are as follows ; In order to evaluate the oxygen effect on filtration, oxygen was injected in aeration tank attached to each filter tank while filtration, and NH3 was tested as a representative ingredient. It was found out that the aeration method was more effective, with over 33% of NH3 removal capacity, than the anerobic and this 5 bed filter showed double removal capacity of NH3 by comparing with conventional sand bed (2 stage bed). According to the examination of two kind of head water, pre-treated with coagulant agent and activated carben, the filtration capacity was affected by the polluted condition of head water, resulting that lower value of pollution and slower velocity of filtration showed more efficiency of NH3 removal. In this experiment NH3 content tested in treated water had a fairly good correlation with others.
Filtration ; Head ; Oxygen ; Plants ; Silicon Dioxide ; Water Pollution ; Water*

This study was performed to determine the effects of nitric oxide on human sperm cell function. Semen samples were obtained from normal healthy volunteers. Motile spermatozoas collected by swim-up method were incubated up to 24 hours in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with a various concentration of sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide releasing agent). Sperm motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction rate, and acrosin activity were determined. The results are as follows; 1. 1mM of SNP resulted in a significant decrease in sperm motility (44.8%+/- 8.9%:78.1%+/-6.3%, and hyperactivation (10.4%+/-6.4%:477%+/-9.5%) after incubation for 3 hours compared with the control group (Ham's F-10 alone), but had no effect on acrosome reaction. 2. At 100muM SNP, sperm motility was reduced after incubation for 6 hours (54.8%+/- 3.2%) compared with that of the control group (82.7% +/- 8.9%), but hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were not affected. 3. However, a lower concentration (less than 101M) of SNP had no effect on sperm motility and hyperactivation for 8 hours of incubation but significantly decreased them when incubation periods were increased up to 24 hours compared with the control group. On the other hand, 1muM and l0muM SNP significantly increased the acrosome reaction rate in both acrosomal status (17.3%+/-5.2%,23.5%+/-4.7%, respectively) and acrosin activity (34.3muIU+/- 10.5muIU, 45.6muIU+/-5.6muIU, respectively) as compared with the control group (7.0%+/-4.0%, 9.5muIU+/-3.4muIU). These results indicate that SNP, NO releasing agent, has a dose-dependent effects on the sperm cell function. Therefore it may positively affect the fertilization by promoting acrosomal reaction at a lower concentration (less than 101M).
Acrosin ; Acrosome Reaction ; Fertilization ; Hand ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

PURPOSE: The present study examined the risk of intraocular infection only in cases where the injection needle was replaced when the injection needle was contaminated before intraocular injection. METHODS: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were cultured and smeared on the end of 30 syringe needles containing 0.1 mL normal saline. After removing only the injection needle, the normal saline in the syringes was injected onto blood agar plates and cultured. RESULTS: The culture results were positive in 21 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus aureus, and in 25 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus epidermidis. CONCLUSIONS: When the injection needle is contaminated, the replacement of the needle does not eliminate the possibility of intraocular infection.
Agar ; Endophthalmitis ; Injections, Intraocular ; Needles ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Syringes

PURPOSE: The present study examined the risk of intraocular infection only in cases where the injection needle was replaced when the injection needle was contaminated before intraocular injection. METHODS: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were cultured and smeared on the end of 30 syringe needles containing 0.1 mL normal saline. After removing only the injection needle, the normal saline in the syringes was injected onto blood agar plates and cultured. RESULTS: The culture results were positive in 21 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus aureus, and in 25 out of 30 samples in the group smeared with Staphylococcus epidermidis. CONCLUSIONS: When the injection needle is contaminated, the replacement of the needle does not eliminate the possibility of intraocular infection.
Agar ; Endophthalmitis ; Injections, Intraocular ; Needles ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Syringes

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) is associated with the exacerbation, timing, and onset of asthma. The goal of this study was to elucidate the impact of MP on eosinophil-related hyper-reactive amplification in atopic children. METHODS: We studied 48 patients with MP (26 atopic, 22 non-atopic), between 3 and 12 years of age. Serial changes in blood eosinophil counts, serum interleukin-5 (IL-5), and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in atopic and non-atopic children with MP upon admission, recovery, and at 2 months post-recovery. Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; eosinophil counts were measured using an autoanalyzer. RESULTS: Serial changes in serum IL-5, ECP, and total eosinophil counts were significantly higher in atopic patients, relative to non-atopic controls (P< or =0.001). Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were significantly higher in atopic patients at all three time points tested, while eosinophil counts were higher in the clinical recovery and follow-up phases, but not in the acute phase. Furthermore, among atopic patients, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in the recovery and follow-up phases than in the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated significant differences in eosinophil counts, serum IL-5, and serum ECP levels between atopic and non-atopic children with MP at admission, recovery, and 2 months after clinical recovery. These outcomes are suggestive of eosinophil-related hyperreactivity in atopic children, with this status maintained for at least 2 months after MP.
Asthma ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-5 ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

The cardiomyopathy associated with Adriamycin is frequently fatal and full clinical recovery is uncommon. To evaluate the radiological manifestation and the outcome of Adriamycin induced cardiac toxicity, we retrospectively reviewed the serial chest X-ray films of children treated with Adriamycin. Among 154 children with leukemia, fourteen patients developed clinical and radiologic evidence of congestive heart failure(CHF), Six out of 14(43%) died of CHF within 2 weeks after attack and eight children survived after their acute episodes of CHF, were controlled following digoxin and diuretic therapy. Despite the improving clinical evidence of heart failure, the follow-up chest roentgenograms of these 8 children showed definite cardiomegaly as compared with the pre-treatment chest X-ray. Three children among 8 had minimal cardiomegaly and the remaining five children showed persistent, marked cardiomegaly during the period of 9-25 months of follow up. In summary, when CHF develops during chemotherapy in leukemic children, the possibility of Adriamycin induced cardiac toxicity should be suspected. Our findings showed that persistence of cardiomegaly represented significant cardiomyopathy despite clinical improvement of CHF.
Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Cardiotoxicity ; Child ; Digoxin ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of cervical cerclage and the clinical characteristics in incompetent internal os of the cervix (IIOC). METHODS: A study was conducted on 170 patients with IIOC, 199 cases of IIOC were admitted and treated with McDonald operation or modified Shirodkar operation at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Il Sin Christian Hospital from January 1. 1994 to December 31. 1998, of this 14 cases were follow up lost, so 185 cases were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of IIOC was 0.43%, 1 in 233 deliveries. 2) The mean age of IIOC patients was 30.54yrs old and the most frequent age group was in 30-34yrs old group (43.78%). 3) The average number of gravida and parity before operation were 4.71 and 1.62. & the success rate of operation was low at high gravida & parity. 4) The predisposing factor was previous history of dilation & curettage (43.75%), Cx. laceration after delivery (6.49%), midtrimester termination (4.32%) etc. 5) The operation methods were McDonald operation (91.35%) and modified Shirodkar operation (8.65%) & the success rate of McDonald operation and modified Shirodkar operation were 85.80% and 87.50%. 6) The successful fetal salvage rate was 85.95% and the highest success rate was 87.50% in 14-16 weeks of gestation group. 7) The more cervix dilate, the more failure occurred. 8) The causes of operation failure were premature rupture of membrane (50.00%), preterm labor (34.62%), FDIU, anomaly, APH etc. 9) The delivery methods after operation were vaginal delivery (65.54%), cesarean delivery (34.46%). CONCLUSION: The 14-16th weeks of gestation group & no cervical dilatation have higher success rate indicating that early diagnosis and appropriate timing of operation is associated with a greater operation success rate.
Causality ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri* ; Curettage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Labor Stage, First ; Lacerations ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Rupture