Cryopreservation is able to store the surplus pre-embryos for freezing and furthermore thawing and transfer in a subsequent cycle. Cryopreserving cells which are maintaining their viability are the very complex process. This study has been carried out in order to find the effects of cryopreservation steps, freezing media and embryonic stages on the rates of viability and development of cryopreserved mouse embryos. Female ICR mice (6~8 weeks old) were induced to superovulate by sequential intraperitoneal injection of 5 IU PMSG and 5 IU hGC 48h apart. Mouse embryos were collected according to its developmental stage after the injection of hCG. Embryos were cryopreserved not only by cryoprotectant step (1 step~ 4 step) but also in a variety of media (HTF, IVF medium, D-PBS) and cell stage. The results were as follows: There is no clear advantage in these freezing media of rapid method, but 4 cell and 8 cell of slow method (2, 3, 4 step) have advantage in D-PBS. The development of embryos according to cell stage become greater in 8 cell stage. In the treatment steps of cryopreservation, the development of embryo to blastocyst was similar among rapid method, but the development of 4 cell and 8 cell embryos to blastocyst according to slow method was better than rapid method.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cryopreservation* ; Culture Media* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Freezing ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prescription of essential or futile medications for terminal cancer patients during their final admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical charts of terminally ill cancer patients admitted to the Hemato-oncology Department of two teaching hospitals from March 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Essential medications were based on the drugs listed by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, while futile medications were defined when short-term benefit to patients with respect to survival, quality of life, or symptom control was not anticipated. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients were included. Among essential medications, strong opioids were the most frequently prescribed drugs during the last admission (62.2% fentanyl, 44.3% morphine), followed by megestrol (46.0%), and metoclopramide (37.2%); 51% of gastric protectors were prescribed with potential futility. Anti-hypertensive and antiglycemic agents were administered to those who experienced arterial blood pressure below 90 mm Hg (47.3%) or presented with a single measurement of fasting glucose below 50 mg/dL (10.7%), respectively. Statins were prescribed to 6.1% (12/196) of patients, and 75% of those prescriptions were regarded as futile. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that effective prescription of essential medications and withdrawal from futile medications should be actively reconciled for improvement of a patient's end-of-life care.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Arterial Pressure ; Fasting ; Fentanyl ; Glucose ; Hospices ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Medical Futility ; Megestrol ; Metoclopramide ; Palliative Care ; Prescriptions ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Terminally Ill

Unlike class I patients, skeletal class II patients have unstable occlusion thus leading to instability of mandibular complete denture. Therefore, mandibular implant overdenture has been the standard of care due to its advantages in stability and retention. The types of attachments can be divided into two categories: solitary and bar type. The indications vary between two categories. In this clinical report, digital technology was utilized from the implant planning to the choice of appropriate attachment. Implants were placed at the desired location as previously planned in terms of angle and depth. Maxillary removable partial denture and mandibular implant overdenture are expected to have fair prognosis.
Denture, Complete ; Denture, Overlay ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Spatial Analysis ; Standard of Care

The mechanism of apoptosis was first discovered at the end of the 19th century, but it was only recently that its importance was recognized. Not only in a pathologic environment but also in a normal environment, apoptosis has an important role in homeostasis. The number of cells is restricted by apoptosis which is controlled by several SlgBS lll VlVO. In pregnancy, the placenta regulates the maternal-fetal exchange of molecules and functions as a barrier for the protection of the fetus. As the pregnancy proceeds, changes occur in the number and components of placental cells. Observing the placental tissues, apoptosis was found in the syncytiotrophoblasts of early and late pregnancy. In particular, the fact that apoptosis observed in the placenta of late pregnancy supports the hypothesis that pmgrammed cell death is a normal sequence. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is usually accompanied by abnormal placenta and intrauterine growth restriction. In this study, using the TdT-FragEL DNA fragmentation detection kit, the changes in the nucleus by apoptosis in the placental tissues of 23 to 40 gestational weeks in preeclampsia and eclampsia were compared with normal placenta. Apoptosis was observed in the normal term placenta and in pregnancy-induced hypertension patients, regardless of whether vasculopathy was observed in Doppler ultrasound or confirmed by pathology, more apoptoses were observed aside from the number of gestational weeks.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; DNA Fragmentation ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fetus ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Pathology ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: Threatened abortion, one of the most common problems of pregnancy, develops 15-20% of pregnant women and progresses into the abortion in 20-50%. It is related to many obstetrical sequelae. We analyzed the prevalence of complication, disruption of pregnancy and the effect of recent treatments. In ultrasonographic examination, we divided all cases into two groups according to existence of hematoma. We compared the difference of two groups about the prognosis of pregnancy and maternal serum concentration of FP. METHODS: A total 88 cases of threatened abortion and 5741 cases of normal pregnancy were studied from Jan., 1999 through Dec., 2003 at St. Paul Hospital in Seoul, Korea. We analyzed age, gestational age of menstruation and ultrasonogram, parity, results of triple test, existence of hematoma, efficacy of treatment. In all cases, we carried out ultrasonic examination with LogiQ-400 (General Electronics Medical System, Tokyo, Japan). We checked the concentration of FP from triple test. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 9.2 +/- 3.4 weeks. After threatened abortion, successful cases were 71 and mean gestational age at diagnosis was 9.6 +/- 3.6 weeks. In comparison with 17 unsuccessful cases, whose mean gestational age at diagnosis was 6.6 +/- 1.8 weeks, it was thought to be significant differences (p=0.001). The success rates of pregnancy prolongation between groups of different treatments modalities are nearly similar. Existence of hematoma seems to have little impact on prognoses of pregnancy outcome and there were no meaningful differences of maternal serum FP concentration. CONCLUSION: In this study, we could find no difference between the groups those were treated with various methods. We thought that more systematic analysis about the treatment of threatened abortion would be needed. In the cases that were diagnosed threatened abortion at later gestational age, we could find obvious improvement of the pregnancy outcome. So we conclude that gestational age at the diagnosis is potential parameter of prognosis.
Abortion, Threatened* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Menstruation ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate women's perception and satisfaction before and after hysterectomy comparing urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function. METHODS: It was a prospective study of 89 women ages 31-65 years undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for nonmalignant conditions. These women were interviewed before surgery and 1, 3 and 6 months later. Patients-reported symptoms of urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function and woman's satisfaction of hysterectomy were assessed. Only P< or =0.001 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The most common reason of patients for hysterectomy was abnormal uterine bleeding. Secondary complication after hysterectomy was negligible. Hysterectomy has got lead to the improvements in pelvic/abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and urinary symptoms. The frequency of orgasm was reduced, but other sexual variables were not changed significantly. The level of satisfaction after hysterectomy was very high. CONCLUSION: Abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions improves urinary and lower gastrointestinal function with no consistent changes in sexual function. Hysterectomy gives patients high degree of satisfaction as well as marked improvement of quality of life.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Orgasm ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Uterine Hemorrhage

The incidence of adrenal incidentalomas has increased because imaging studies are now being more frequently performed, including abdominal sonography, CT and MRI. Although there is only a consensus on the treatment of adrenal incidentalomas from the National Institute of Health (NIH) conference 2003, it is generally accepted that surgical resection is required if there's any possibility of malignancy or functionality of the adrenal tumor. Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare chronic progressive suppurative disease that is caused by gram-positive bacteria of the genus actinomyces, which is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, with low virulence. Herein, we report on a case of adrenal actinomycosis that imitated a huge adrenal tumor in a 39-year-old women, and the adrenal actinomycosis was confirmed histologically only after adrenalectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Korean case report on actinomycosis that occurred in the adrenal gland.
Actinomyces ; Actinomycosis ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Consensus ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mouth

From January 1998 to December 2002, 3,259 cases of uterine myoma were treated at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chunbuk National University Hospital. A clinico-stastical study of uterine myoma was perfomed to analyse the clinical characteristics. The results were as follows. 1. The incidence of uterine myoma was 9.8%. 2. The most frequent age group was 40 to 49 years, and the mean age was 44.6 years. 3. The average parity was 2.29, the infertility was 163 cases (5.0%), while the primary infertility, 2.4%, the secondary, 2.6% respectively. 4. The most frequent chief complaint was pain which was observed in 2,648 cases (81.2%), abnormal bleeding in 1,775 cases (53.8%). dizziness in 270 cases (8.3%). 5. The corporeal myomas were observed in 2,879 cases (95.9%). Intramural type was observed in 1,687 cases (58.2%), subserous in 529 cases (18.2%), submucous in 191 cases (6.5%), mixed type in 483 cases (17.0%). 6. The mean value of preoperative hemoglobin was 11.1 gm/dL, and the anemia (Hb<10.0 gm/dL) was observed in 481 cases (11.7%). Transfusion was necessary in 215 cases (6.5%). 7. The mean weight of the uterine myoma operated was 335.0 gm. 8. The secondary change of myoma was found in 54 cases (1.7%) and hyaline degeneration was the most common (0.7%). 9. The most common associated condition was chronic cervicitis, which was observed in 784 cases (24.1%). 10. The gynecologic surgery were performed in 1,456 cases (44.7%), medical therapy in 25 cases (0.8%), observation in 1,792 cases (55.0%). 11. Total abdominal hysterectomy was performed in 607 cases (41.7%), total abdominal hysterectomy with unilateral adnexectomy in 115 cases (7.9%), total abdominal hysterectomy with both adnexectomy in 164 cases (11.3%), subtotal hysterectomy in 304 cases (20.9%), myomectomy in 153 cases (10.5%), total laparoscopic hysterectomy in 103 cases (7.0%), laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy in 8 cases (0.5%), diagnostic laparoscopy in 2 cases (0.1%) respectively. 12. The postoperative complication were found in 113 cases (3.5%) and the wound infection was the most common (1.6%). 13. The mean period of hospitalization was 8 days, and the period less than 10 days in 1,177 cases (80.9%).
Anemia ; Dizziness ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma* ; Myoma ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Postoperative Complications ; Uterine Cervicitis ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: It is widely known that the menopausal complication in the surgical menopause is to proceed rather than that of natural menopause. But, it has not obviously been proven so far. In this study, we surveyed whether BMD between surgical and natural menopausal group, in terms of decrease of the BMD of the menopausal complication would have a difference. METHOD: By using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, we compared 2nd-4th Lumbar spine BMD in 28 of surgical menopause with that of 187 of natural menopause. RESULT: There is no obvious distinction in FSH and estradiol concentration between two groups. Surgical and natural menopausal groups showed the BMD -1.046+/-0.175 g/cm2, -0.942+/-0.124 g/cm2, respectively. Also, there is no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Although there is no statistical significance in the BMD of the surgical menopausal group was lower than that of the natural menopausal group. Prevention of the menopausal complication as well as decrease of the BMD in the surgical menopausal group needs to be required more active attitude.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: Information on the specificity of associations between parents with bipolar disorder (BPD) and risk of psychopathology in their offspring is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of mental disorders in the offspring of individuals with BPD in South Korea. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 child and adolescent offspring (aged 6.0-18.9 years) from 65 nuclear families having at least one parent with BPD. Probands, offspring, and biological co-parents were interviewed using a semi-structured diagnostic interview and the offspring were evaluated using the Korean version of the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). RESULTS: Sixty one of the 100 participants met the criteria for at least one mental disorder. Of these, 35 participants had a mood disorder, 35 had an anxiety disorder, and 29 had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirty nine of the offspring had no psychiatric diagnosis. Of the 35 with a mood disorder, 16 (45.7%) had comorbid ADHD and 18 (51.4%) had comorbid anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: Offspring of parents with BPD are at high risk for mental disorders. These findings further support the heredity of BPD and indicate the need for early identification and treatment.
Adolescent ; Anxiety Disorders ; Bipolar Disorder* ; Child ; Heredity ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Disorders* ; Mood Disorders ; Nuclear Family ; Parents* ; Prevalence ; Psychopathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity