OBJECTIVE: We intended to know how the cryoprotectant ethylene glycol (EG) would affect the outcome of the embryo development when used in slow freezing method. And to know if there is any difference in the outcome of frozen-thawed embryos according to freezing methods and the timing. METHODS: We used 5-6 weeks old ICR female mice and T6 containing 0.4% BSA for basic culture media. The embryos at the developmental stages of 1-cell, 8-cell and blastocyst were cryopreserved respectively by slow freezing method using EG, propylene glycol (PROH), and glycerol as a cryoprotectant. We also compared the results of slow freezing and vitrification methods with the same cryoprotectant, EG. And finally, we evaluated the quality of blastocysts by counting the cell numbers in each group. RESULTS: The post-thaw embryo development were better in EG group when they were frozen at 1-cell and blastocyst stage (P<0.05). Although there were no differences in the recovery rate, the survival rate in vitrification group was significantly higher (P<0.05). Post-thaw embryo development to morula and blastocyst were better in vitrification group when frozen at 1-cell embryo (P<0.05), not at 8-cell and blastocyst group. The cell counts of blastocyst derived from 1-cell stage frozen EG group were significantly increased than that of PROH-glycerol groups (P<0.05), however, there was no difference between the two freezing methods. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EG may be advantageous comparing with the conventional cryoprotectants, PROH and glycerol in slow freezing method for mouse embryo cryopreservation. In terms of freezing method, vitrification is better than slow freezing.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Cryopreservation ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Ethylene Glycol* ; Female ; Freezing* ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Mice* ; Morula ; Pregnancy ; Propylene Glycol ; Survival Rate ; Vitrification

BACKGROUND/AIM:Primary gastric lymphoma is uncommon, but the incidence of this malignancy is increasing. The purpose of this review was to find prognostic factors and establish an effective treatment principle for primary gastric lymphoma. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1996, 61 patients with primary gastric lymphoma were treated at the Asan Medical Center. Retrospective analysis and a pathologic review of these cases was performed. RESULTS: The mean age was 50 years (range:16~81 years). There were 26 men and 35 women. The stages, according to the Ann Arbor staging system, were Stage IE ,IIE in 72.1% of the patients and stage IIIE, VIE in 27.9% of the patients. Forty (40) patients received operations:38 surgical resections, 1 biopsy, and 1 bypass surgery. Forty-six (46) patients received chemotherpy, and among them, 26 received chemotherapy after surgical resection. The 5-year survival rate was 100% in stage IE, IIE and 51% in stage IIIE, IVE. The mean follow- up period was 25.6 months. CONCLUSION:Statistically significant prognostic factors were tumor stage and surgical resection.
Biopsy ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphoma* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources on the improvement of quality of sleep, mood symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean female emotional labor workers. METHODS: Twelve female workers who experienced excess emotional labor participated at the training camp program for five days in Danghangpo-ocean park, Goseung-gun, Gyeongnam Province in South Korea. Participant sleep quality, mood symptoms, and cognitive functioning before, after, and 1.5 months later were evaluated and analyzed. RESULTS: After participating in the marine resource program, participants reported significantly decreased sleep latency. Global sleep quality, cognitive functions (attention, flexibility, and inhibition control), and mood states, including depression, tension, anger, fatigue, were also improved. These effects were generally maintained after 1. 5 months (PSQI t = 2.63, p = 0.02 ; HAM-D t = 5.92, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources was effective in relaxing emotion-related tension and improving cognitive function. To advance this pilot study, it is necessary to carry out further research to investigate the use of marine resources in mental health interventions.
Anger ; Cognition ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Pilot Projects ; Pliability

OBJECTIVE: Serotonin-1A receptors (5-HTR1A) is suggested to be involved in the etiology of several psychiatric disorders including panic disorder (PD). A few imaging studies have suggested the alterations of the cingulum bundle in PD. The objective of this study is to examine the structural changes of cingulum related to the 5-HTR1A polymorphism rs6295 in the patients with PD. METHODS: Thirty-two right-handed patients with PD [11 men, 21 women; 40.34+/-13.17 (mean+/-SD) age] who met the diagnostic criteria in Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV were examined by means of MRI at 3 Tesla. We divided the patients with PD into CC genotype group and non CC genotype group (GG/CG genotype group) of the 5-HTR1A rs6295 polymorphism to compare the cingulum white matter connectivity. RESULTS: Tract-based spatial statistics showed significantly increased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A CC genotype compared to GG/CG genotype in PD. Significant positive correlations were shown between the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) interoceptive fear subscale scores, the Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised fear of publicly observable anxiety reaction subscale scores and FA values of cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A rs6295 GG/CG genotype group. In CC genotype group, APPQ total, APPQ agoraphobia subscale and APPQ social phobia subscale scores also showed significant positive correlations with FA values of hippocampal process of right cingulum. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that 5-HTR1A polymorphism may be associated with the cingulum white matter connectivity in PD.
Agoraphobia ; Anisotropy ; Anxiety ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Genotype ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Panic Disorder* ; Panic* ; Phobic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires