The use of hormonal stimulation in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) leads to increased production of embryos for ET. So to avoid high pregnancies and to allow conception in future, unstimulated cycles, cryopreservation of spare embryos is desirable. One of the improvement of cryopreservation methods is vitrification. We cryopreserved mouse day 3 embryos by vitrification using the three different vitrification solution (EFS40, VSll and VS3a). EFS40 solution is consisted of 40% (v/v) ethylene glycol, Ficol170 30% (w/v) and 0.5M sucrose and VSll is 6.0M ethylene glycol and 1.8M glycerol. And VS3a is 6.5M glycerol and 6% (w/v) BSA (bovine serum albumin). First we tested the toxicity of three vitrification solution by exposure to these solution during 3 min. After washing by thawing solution, the survival rates of each groups are 95.5%, 90.9% and 84.4% (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). High percentages of them developed to expanded blastocyst and hatching embryos in culture 48hrs 94.2%, 97.7%, 100% and 97.4% (no treatment group, EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). So there is no significant differences among the each group. Second, after thawing of vitirfied embryos, the survival rates of each groups are 96.8% (slow freeze), 94.1% (EFS40), 85.5% (VS11) and 80.0% (VS3a, P vs. no freeze or EFS40 is 0.01). Vitrified embryos exhibited a high rate of development in vitro after 48hrs culture. The percentages of each group to blastocyst and hatching embryos are 88.7% (no freeze), 91.8% (slow freeze), 93.4% (EFS40), 87.7% (VS11) and 73.0% (VS3a, P vs. other group is 0.01). The results suggest that there is no significant differences in exposure of various vitrification solution and day 3 mouse embryos can be vitrified in solution EFS40 and VS11 by simple procedure.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cryopreservation* ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures* ; Ethylene Glycol ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Mice* ; Pregnancy ; Sucrose ; Survival Rate ; Vitrification*

Based on the genetic contribution, childhood obesity can be classified into 3 groups: common polygenic obesity, syndromic obesity, and monogenic obesity. More genetic causes of obesity are being identified along with the advances in the genetic testing. Genetic obesities including syndromic and monogenic obesity should be suspected and evaluated in children with early-onset morbid obesity and hyperphagia under 5 years of age. Patients with syndromic obesity have early-onset severe obesity associated specific genetic syndromes including Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedle syndrome, and Alstrom syndrome. Syndromic obesity is often accompanied with neurodevelopmental delay or dysmorphic features. Nonsyndromic monogenic obesity is caused by variants in single gene which are usually involved in the regulation of hunger and satiety associated with the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin pathway in central nervous system. Unlike syndromic obesity, patients with monogenic obesity usually show normal neurodevelopment. They would be presented with hyperphagia and early-onset severe obesity with additional clinical symptoms including short stature, red hair, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, pituitary insufficiencies, diabetes insipidus, increased predisposition to infection or intractable recurrent diarrhea. Identifying patients with genetic obesity is critical as new innovative therapies including melanocortin 4 receptor agonist have become available. Early genetic evaluation enables to identify treatable obesity and provide timely intervention which may eventually achieve favorable outcome by establishing personalized management.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between evoked potentials and fractional anisotropy (FA) ratio in posterior limb of the internal capsule and hand movement scale (HMS) in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Thirty-six post-stroke hemiplegic patients with a lesion in the internal capsule were included in this study. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed with a 3.0 tesla MR at about 1 month after stroke. FA ratio was measured in posterior limb of the internal capsule of the patients. Motor evoked potential (MEP) was obtained by magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and recorded from the abductor pollicis muscle. Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) was obtained by electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist and recorded from the somatosensory cortex. Hand movement scale was obtained at about 1 month and 3 months after stroke. RESULTS: Hand movement scale at about 1 month and 3 months after stroke and FA ratio were reduced significantly in patients who showed no response on MEP. However, no significant differences were observed between the patients who showed SSEP response and those who did not. FA ratio and hand movement scale were highly correlated to each other. CONCLUSION: MEP and FA ratio can be helpful in assessing the hand function at about 1 month and 3 months in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.
Anisotropy ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Electric Stimulation ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Extremities ; Hand ; Humans ; Internal Capsule ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Median Nerve ; Motor Cortex ; Muscles ; Somatosensory Cortex ; Stroke ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: Propafenone is a new class IC antiarrhythmic drug that has been found to be effective in both supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. We studied the electrophysiologic and long-term effects of oral propafenone in the patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT). METHODS: The electrophysiologic study was done in 15 patients with PSVT to assess the short-term efficacy of propafenone 450mg daily. For 10 patients with short-term efficacy, follow up study was done to assess the long-term efficacy of propafenone 450mg daily. RESULTS: The electrophysiologic mechanisms of PSVT were AV nodal reentry in 6 patients and AV reentry in 9 patients. During the electrophysiologic study, propafenone prolonged AH, HV and PR intervals significantly(p<0.05), but did not change the corrected SNRT, SACT, and the ERP of atrium, ventricle, AV node and accessory pathway(AP) significantly. The anterograde and retrograde 1:1 conduction capacity of AV node and AP seemed to decrease. Complete block of anterograde conduction over the AP was noted in 2 of 3 patients with manifest WPW syndrome and complete block of retrograde conduction was noted over the AV node in 1 patient with AV nodal reentry and over the AP in 1 patient with AV reentry. Propafenone was effective in 3 of 6 patients with AVNRT and 7 of 9 patients with AVRT. During long term administration for 3 to 11 months in 10 patients with short-term efficacy of propafenone, 7 patients did not report any episode of symptomatic tachycardia and 3 patients reported less frequent palpitation. There were no side effects during short-and long-term follow up except 2 patients with mild indigestion. CONCLUSIONS: Propafenone seems to be a safe, well tolerated and effective drug for short and long-term therapy of patients with PSVT, especially of orthodromic AV reentry.
Atrioventricular Node ; Dyspepsia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Propafenone* ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

The antihypertensive effect of Indapamide(Fludex(R)) was studied in 31 patients of essential hypertension and following results were obtained. 1) Daily dosage was 1mg b.i.d. and total duration of medication was weeks. 2) Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined by 23mmHg(14%) and 18mmHg(17%) respectively. 3) Good or fair controls were achieved in 78% of patients. 4) There was no significant change in heart rate during and after treatment. 5) There were no significant changes in fasting blood sugar, serum creatinine, K+, uric acid, ca++, transaminase and cholesterol levels before and after treatment. 6) In 5 patients transient side effects were observed which resolved spontaneously. In view of these results Indapamide appears to be effective agent for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and dose not cause significant change in blood chemistry.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Fasting ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Indapamide ; Uric Acid

The antihypertensive effect and side reaction of pindolol were studied in 48 cases of essential hypertension 5mg to 15mg once regiment for average period of 6 weeks. 1) Average reduction of 25.11mmHg in systolic and 16.36mmHg in diastolic pressure were observed and their percentile reduction was 15.20% and 14.79%, respectively. The overall effect rate was 83.21%. The blood pressure was lowered significantly since 1 week of both in systolic and diastolic pressure with the daily of 10-15mg. 2) There was no significant change in heart rate before and after treatment. 3) No specific side reaction was observed except 1 cases in which discontinued the medication because of severe headache and fatigability on 2nd day of medication.
Blood Pressure ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension ; Pindolol

The procedure that enhances osteogenesis and shortens the healing period is required for successful implant therapy. It has been introduced that osteogenesis is enhanced by the generation of electric field. Many researchers have demonstrated that application of electric and electromagnetic field promote bone formation. It also has been shown that electrical stimulation enhances peri-implant bone formation. Recently, several investigators have reported that noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret such as polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) promotes osteogenesis. Therefore, we were interested in the effect of noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret on the periimplant bone healing. After titanium implant were installed in the proximal tibial metaphysis of New Zealand white rabbit, negatively charged PTFE membrane fabricated by corana dischage was inserted into the inner hole of the experimental implant and noncharged membrane was applied into control implant. After 4 weeks of healing, histomorphometric analysis was performed to evaluate peri-implant bone response. The histomorphometric evaluations demonstrated experimental implant tended to have higher values in the total bone-to-implant contact ratio(experimental ; 49.9+/-13.52% vs control ; 37.5+/-19.44%) , the marrow bone contact ratio(experimental ; 34.94+/- 13.32% vs control ; 24.15+/-13.69%), amount of newly formed bone in the endosteal region(experimental ; 1.00+/-0.30mm vs control ; 0.61+/-0.24mm) and bone area in the medullary canal(experimental ; 13.55+/-4.98% vs control ; 9.03+/-3.05%). The mean values of the amount of newly formed bone(endosteal region) and bone area(medullary canal) of the experimental implant demonstrated a statistically significant difference as compared to the control implant(p<0.05). In conclusion, noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret effectively promoted peri-implant new bone formation in this study. This method is expected to be used as one of the useful electrical stimulation for enhancing bone healing response in the implant therapy
Rabbits ; Animals

The procedure that enhances osteogenesis and shortens the healing period is required for successful implant therapy. It has been introduced that osteogenesis is enhanced by the generation of electric field. Many researchers have demonstrated that application of electric and electromagnetic field promote bone formation. It also has been shown that electrical stimulation enhances peri-implant bone formation. Recently, several investigators have reported that noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret such as polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) promotes osteogenesis. Therefore, we were interested in the effect of noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret on the periimplant bone healing. After titanium implant were installed in the proximal tibial metaphysis of New Zealand white rabbit, negatively charged PTFE membrane fabricated by corana dischage was inserted into the inner hole of the experimental implant and noncharged membrane was applied into control implant. After 4 weeks of healing, histomorphometric analysis was performed to evaluate peri-implant bone response. The histomorphometric evaluations demonstrated experimental implant tended to have higher values in the total bone-to-implant contact ratio(experimental ; 49.9+/-13.52% vs control ; 37.5+/-19.44%) , the marrow bone contact ratio(experimental ; 34.94+/- 13.32% vs control ; 24.15+/-13.69%), amount of newly formed bone in the endosteal region(experimental ; 1.00+/-0.30mm vs control ; 0.61+/-0.24mm) and bone area in the medullary canal(experimental ; 13.55+/-4.98% vs control ; 9.03+/-3.05%). The mean values of the amount of newly formed bone(endosteal region) and bone area(medullary canal) of the experimental implant demonstrated a statistically significant difference as compared to the control implant(p<0.05). In conclusion, noninvasive electrical stimulation using negatively charged electret effectively promoted peri-implant new bone formation in this study. This method is expected to be used as one of the useful electrical stimulation for enhancing bone healing response in the implant therapy
Rabbits ; Animals

Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of acid β-glucosidase. The diminished enzyme activity leads to the accumulation of substrates and results in multi-systemic manifestations including hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and bone diseases. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) by infusion of recombinant protein has been the standard treatment for over 20 years. Despite the successful long-term treatment with ERT, several unmet needs remain in the treatment of GD1 such as severe pulmonary and skeletal manifestations. Substrate reduction therapy (SRT) reduces the accumulation of substrates by inhibiting their biosynthesis. Eliglustat, a new oral SRT, was approved in United States and Europe as a first-line therapy for treating adult patients with GD1 who have compatible CYP2D6 metabolism phenotypes. Although eliglustat is not yet available in Korea, introduction and summary of this new treatment modality are provided in this paper by review of literatures. Despite the fact that there are only limited studies to draw resolute conclusions, the current data demonstrated that eliglustat is not inferior to ERT in terms of its clinical efficacy. The approval of eligustat enables eligible adult GD1 patients to have the option of oral therapy although it still needs further studies on long-term outcomes. The individual patient should be assessed carefully for the choice of treatment modality when eliglustat becomes available in Korea. Furthermore, the clinical guidelines for Korean patients with GD1 regarding the use of eliglustat needs to be developed in near future.
Adult ; Anemia ; Bone Diseases ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; Enzyme Replacement Therapy ; Europe ; Gaucher Disease* ; Humans ; Korea ; Metabolism ; Phenotype ; Thrombocytopenia ; Treatment Outcome ; United States

Mosaic trisomy 14 syndrome is a well-known but unusual chromosomal abnormality with a distinct and recognizable phenotype. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis has recently become a widely used method for detecting DNA copy number changes, in place of traditional karyotype analysis. However, the array CGH shows a limitation for detecting the low-level mosaicism. Here, we report the detailed clinical and cytogenetic findings of patient with low-frequency mosaic trisomy 14, initially considered normal based on usual cut-off levels of array CGH, but confirmed by G-banding karyotyping. Our patient had global developmental delay, short stature, congenital heart disease, craniofacial dysmorphic features, and dark skin patches over her whole body. Estimated mosaicism proportion was 23.3% by G-banding karyotyping and 18.0% by array CGH.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Cytogenetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intellectual Disability ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Mosaicism ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Phenotype ; Skin ; Trisomy