No abstract available.
Endoderm* ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Female ; Ovary*

OBJECTIVE: A number of studies to improve in vitro culture conditions have been tried over past ten years by using co-culture system with helper somatic cells. However, the mechanism of coculture is poorly understood. This study was designed to understand the mechanism for the mode of actual action of co-culture system of ICR strain's 1-cell embryos with human oviduct epithelial cells by examining the effect of conditioned medium and contactless coculture using a cell culture insert on the embryo development and by measuring the level of superoxide anion from conditioned medium after co-culture. METHODS: ICR strain's zygote embryos were cultured in medium alone (control), coculture, conditioned medium, or contactless coculture system for 6 days. Conditioned media (CM) were prepared as following 5 groups. All CM were collected after culturing oviduct cells for 2 days. CM-1 was stored at -20degrees C until use, and CM-2 was prepared just before use as a culture medium. CM-3 was cocultured with embryos and retrieved just before use. CM-4 and CM-5 were derives from the microfilteration of CM-2 and CM-3, respectively, using Microcon-10 (10 kDa molecular weight cut-off). The percentage of the embryos developed to hatched blastocyst stage and the level of superoxide anion in supernatant from medium alone culture (control), coculture, and contactless coculture were measured. RESULTS: The rates of embryo development to the hatched blastocyst stage were significantly higher in coculture (43%) than in control (0%) (p<0.05). The CM-1 group had no embryo development since 2-cell embryonic stage, whereas the CM-2, CM-3, CM-4 and CM-5 groups had the improved development to 4 or 8 cell embryo stage, but the similar rate of development to hatched blastocyst compared to control. The effect of coculture on embryo develpment was disappeared in the contactless coculture group. The level of superoxide anion was significantly reduced in coculture group compared to control. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the present coculture system overcomes the 2-cell block in vitro and improves the embryo development. This beneficial effect may be due to the direct cell-cell contact between embryo and helper cells or the removal of deleterious components from medium rather than the embryotrophic factors.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Coculture Techniques* ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Weight ; Oviducts ; Pregnancy ; Superoxides ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Zygote

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a nationwide health survey in Korea. This survey is composed of three parts: the Health Interview Survey, the Health Examination Survey, and the Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to refine the nutrition survey system in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on the literature review, we summarized international survey systems and the limitations of the current system in Korea and proposed an improved system. We suggested the following: 1) A government agency which will be exclusively responsible for KNHANES overall is needed. 2) The current short-term nutrition survey should be a year-round survey. 3) The objectives of this survey should be written with more clarity and detail. 4) Biochemical measures in relation to nutritional status should be added. 5) The budget to set up various databases in the nutrition survey should be increased. 6) Various other issues should be addressed, including the definition of raw data (i.e., whether nutrient intake data per day is raw data), ethical issues in survey techniques, and strategies to produce evidence for the public using this survey data. Not all suggestions could be adopted in the short-term, but should be integrated into long-term goals for survey system improvement.
Budgets ; Ethics ; Government Agencies ; Health Surveys ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status

PURPOSE: To evaluate mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) in Cheongju area from 2002 to 2004. METHODS: Two neonatal intensive care units (NICU), 1 university hospital and 1 general hospital in Cheongju participated in this study. We performed a retrospective review of medical records of VLBWIs in 2 NICUs with literature review. Survival rate, neonatal morbidity, cause of death, and risk factors contributing mortality and neurodevelopmental complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The total number of VLBWI was 152 (4.65%) including 43 (1.31%) extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) who were less than 1,000 g of birth weight. The survival rates were 82.9% and 69.8% for VLBWI and ELBWI, respectively. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 60%, bronchopulmonary dysplasia 20.6%, severe retinopathy of prematurity 24%, and severe intravetricular hemorrhage 7.3%. More than half of death occurred in the first week of life, and the main causes were respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. The major risk factors contributing mortality and neurodevelopmental complications were birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome, and high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Survival rate (82.9%) of VLBWI in Cheongju area, although lower than those of certain NICUS in Seoul, was comparable to those from nation-wide statistics. The incidence of major morbidity seemed somewhat higher than those of other areas in Korea. A systematic national support would be strongly needed for the balanced development of regional NICUs by means of their facilities, personal resources and financial support, etc.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cause of Death ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Financial Support ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Sepsis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To document the common medical problems and clinical outcomes of near-term infants who were delivered between 35(+0) and 36(+6) weeks of gestation, in order to promote optimal health outcomes for these infants. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of 113 near-term infants and 138 term infants as control, who were born at Chungbuk national university hospital in 2003~2004. RESULTS: When compared with term infants, near-term infants had a significantly lower Apgar scores (7.7 vs. 8.7 at 1 minute) and higher frequency of prolonged rupture of membrane (19.8% vs. 6.7%), preeclampsia (20.9% vs. 4.4%), jaundice (46.0% vs. 11.6%), respiratory distress (20.4% vs. 10.9%), feeding problems (19.5% vs. 5.8%), intravenous fluid infusion (63.7% vs. 24.6%), diagnostic work-up for possible sepsis (68.1% vs. 26.1%), and use of antibiotics (58.4% vs. 22.5%). There were no differences in frequency of cesarean section, hypoglycemia, hypothermia and clinical sepsis. More near-term infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (68% vs. 28%) and delayed in discharge home (60% vs. 27%) with longer hospital stay (7.77+/-5.63 days vs. 4.67+/-3.17 days). CONCLUSION: Near-term infants showed significantly more neonatal problems and longer and repeated hospital stays than full-term infants. Optimal care guidelines for near-term infants including scrupulous monitoring for the development of early complications and meticulous follow-up after discharge need to be developed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cesarean Section ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypothermia ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Jaundice ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sepsis

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of mRNA expression of various members of the matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitors in uterine leiomyoma compared with unaffected myometrium. Materials & Method: 30 cases of portions of leiomyoma and myometrium were collected immediately followimg hysterectomy. Thirteen cases were from proliferative phase and seventeen were from secretory phase of menstrual cycle. The mean age was 43.7years old. The level of expression of mRNAs of interstitial collagenase, gelatinase, stromelysin, TIMP-1,-2,-3 was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and normalized to GAPDH(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) mRNA. RESULTS: Myometrium and leiomyoma expressed all the members of above mentioned matrix metalloproteinase family and tissue inhibitors. Leiomyoma expressed a significantly higher level of stromelysin-3 during secretory phase, an extremely lower level of 92kDa gelatinase and a significantly lower level of TIMP-3. The immunohistochemical localization of TIMP-3 was smooth muscle cell and arteriole wall of myometrium and leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: The increased expression of stromelysin-3 in uterine leiomyoma compared with myometrium suggests that this MMP may be involved in the formation of a more fibrous extracellular matrix in leiomyoma. The extremely lower expression of 92kDa gelatinase of leiomyoma means that leiomyoma do not invade myometrium and forms a separated mass. Decreased expression of TIMP-3 of leiomyoma suggests that TIMP-3 is required for differentiation and homeostasis of extracellular matrix of normal myometrium and function as a suppressive role of tumor development
Animals ; Arterioles ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Gelatinases ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ; Menstrual Cycle ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Myometrium* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, contact history, and status of tuberculosis contact investigations in school-age children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at two centers. METHODS: This study was conducted with 54 patients in the age ranging from 10 to 18 years, who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB at the Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Children's Hospital, January 2008 to December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 16 years old; 11 patients were aged 10 to 14 and 43 patients were aged 15 to 18. Among 54 patients, 19 had history of contact with pulmonary TB, 10 had contact with house members (household), and remaining 9 had contact with classmates (non-household). One out of 10 patients who had household contacts and 6 out of 9 patients who had non-household contacts were evaluated with contact investigation after the exposure to pulmonary TB. Among 7 patients who were evaluated with contact investigation, 3 were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 1 had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 3 had no evidence of TB or LTBI. The median period of diagnosis after the exposure to active pulmonary TB was 2 years in patients with household contacts and 0.23 years in patients with non-household contacts. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that if the contact investigation conducted properly, it would be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary TB.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the relationships among parent-child communication, self-esteem and sexual assertiveness for male and female university students. METHODS: This descriptive study used a comparative survey design that utilized self-report questionnaires. A total of 470 participants were male and female university students in B metropolitan city. RESULTS: The degree of open communication use was higher for female students in comparison to male students, There were no differences in dysfunctional communication for both the father-child communication. There were no differences between males and females for the mother-child communication either. The degree of self-esteem was higher for male students in comparison to the female students. The degree of sexual assertiveness was higher for female students in comparison to the male students. The grade, religion, major, allowance source, marital status of parents, and relationship experience with opposite sex were influencing factors for the male students' sexual assertiveness whereas the individual's major and physical contact were influencing factors for the female students. CONCLUSION: Self-esteem and mother-child open communication were influencing factors of sexual assertiveness. Thus, the nursing intervention based on the influencing factors is needed in order for male and female students to express sexual assertiveness.
Assertiveness* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Nursing ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To determine whether triple negative (TN) early stage breast cancers have poorer survival rates compared with other molecular types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2000 and July 2006, patients diagnosed with stage I, II early stage breast cancers, in whom all three markers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor [HER]-2) were available and treated with modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of 446 patients, 94 (21.1%) were classified as TN, 57 (12.8%) as HER-2 type, and 295 (66.1%) as luminal. TN was more frequently associated with young patients younger than 35 years old (p = 0.002), higher histologic grade (p < 0.0001), and nuclear (p < 0.0001). The median follow-up period was 78 months (range, 4 to 130 months). There were 9 local relapses (2.0%), 15 nodal (3.4%), 40 distant metastases (9.0%), and 33 deaths (7.4%) for all patients. The rates of 5-year OS, DFS, LFS, and DMFS for all patients were 95.5%, 89.9%, 95.4%, and 91.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences in OS, DFS, LFS, and DMFS between triple negative and other subtypes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that patients with TN early stage breast cancers had no difference in survival rates compared with other molecular subtypes. Prospective study in homogeneous treatment group will need for a prognosis of TN early stage breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenobarbital ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Dysfunctional mitochondria have been linked to the pathogenesis of obesity-associated metabolic diseases. Excessive energy intake impairs mitochondrial biogenesis and function, decreasing adenosine-5’-triphosphate production and negatively impacting metabolically active tissues such as adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the liver. Compromised mitochondrial function disturbs lipid metabolism and increases reactive oxygen species production in these tissues, contributing to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recent studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of bioactive food components, such as resveratrol, quercetin, coenzyme Q10, curcumin, and astaxanthin, by enhancing mitochondrial function. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of how these bioactive compounds ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction to mitigate obesity-associated metabolic diseases.