Where Microsurgical Tubal Reanastomosis Stands in the Fertilization Era.

Among various options of contraception, bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) remains the most frequently used method for women worldwide even at present. However, up to 30% of those who undergo BTL eventually change their minds and wish to conceive again for a variety of reasons, such as a change in marital status or simply wanting more children. In this case, we can either approach it surgically with tubal re-anastomosis (TA) or by fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer.

Effects of Var. Acuta in Busulfan-Induced Spermatogenesis Dysfunction Mouse Model.

Purpose: The leaves of var. acuta (PFA) are generally reported to have antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects and commonly used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and antioxidant activity of PFA on busulfan-induced testicular dysfunction, histological damage, oxidative stress (OS), sperm quality, and hormone levels using a mouse model.

Timing of hormone therapy and its association with cardiovascular risk and metabolic parameters in 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced primary ovarian insufficiency mouse model.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of various initiation time points and durations of hormone therapy (HT) on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters of premenarche, primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) mouse model, induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide.

Methods: A total of 50 mice at 4 weeks of age were developed into POI mouse model, further randomly categorized into 5 groups: control group without any intervention; no HT group with only high-fat diet (NT); group 1 with delayed estradiol treatment (T1); group 2 with on-time, continuous estradiol treatment (T2); and group 3 with on-time estradiol treatment but early stop (T3). Cardiovascular risk and metabolic parameters were measured.

Computer simulation approach to the identification of visfatin-derived angiogenic peptides.

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in various normal physiological processes, such as embryogenesis, tissue repair, and skin regeneration. Visfatin is a 52 kDa adipokine secreted by various tissues including adipocytes. It stimulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and promotes angiogenesis.

A Combination of Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening, Structure-Based Lead Optimization, and DFT Study for the Identification of TcaR Inhibitors.

The transcriptional regulator (TcaR) enzyme plays an important role in biofilm formation. Prevention of TcaR-DNA complex formation leads to inhibit the biofilm formation is likely to reveal therapeutic ways for the treatment of bacterial infections. To identify the novel ligands for TcaR and to provide a new idea for drug design, two efficient drug design methods, such as pharmacophore modeling and structure-based drug design, were used for virtual screening of database and lead optimization, respectively.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 on ovarian surface epithelium-derived ovarian stem cells and ovarian function in a 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced murine model of ovarian failure.

Background: Several studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can rescue ovarian aging and that ovarian surface epithelium (OSE)-derived ovarian stem cells (OSCs) are useful for treating infertility due to ovarian aging. However, few studies have examined the effect of CoQ10 on OSCs. This study was aimed to investigate whether CoQ10 activates OSCs and recovers ovarian function in a 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-induced mouse model of ovarian failure.

improves ovarian function and oocyte quality in aged female mice.

Although ovarian aging is a key cause of decreased ovarian function and oocyte quality, it remains a problem in infertility treatment. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate whether (PL), a herb improves ovarian function and oocyte quality using aged female mice. C57BL/6 female mice aged 8 months were treated orally every day with PL of 26.

Effects of Oxysterols on Chondrogenesis of Human Adipose-derived Stem Cells.

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have been implicated as a high potency source of chondrocytes in cell therapy for cartilage defects. However, appropriate stimulators for the chondrogenesis of hADSCs are needed. Oxysterols have the potential to act as a stimulator.

Prediction of ovarian aging using ovarian expression of BMP15, GDF9, and C-KIT.

Ovarian aging is becoming a more important issue in terms of fertility preservation and infertility treatment. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level and antral follicle count (AFC) are being practically used as markers of ovarian aging as well as ovarian reserve in human. However, these factors have some drawbacks in assessing ovarian aging and reserve.

Role of Visfatin in Restoration of Ovarian Aging and Fertility in the Mouse Aged 18 Months.

The activation of dormant primordial follicles and ovarian angiogenesis has been attempted as a new treatment strategy for age-related ovarian aging. This study examined whether visfatin rescues age-related fertility decline in female mice aged 18 months, and whether this effect relates to the mTOR/PI3K signaling pathways for activation of primordial follicles and ovarian angiogenesis. Female mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.

Combination of Korean Red Ginseng Extract and Hydrogen-Rich Water Improves Spermatogenesis and Sperm Motility in Male Mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of hydrogen-rich Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) water (HRGW) mixture on the spermatogenesis and sperm motility of mice of different ages.

Methods: Eighty young (3 month-old) and aged (12 month-old) male mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n =10 per group) including control group, hydrogen-rich water (HRW) group (10 mL/kg daily), KRG group (50 mg/kg daily) and HRGW group (10 mL/kg and 50 mg/kg daily) by an oral zoned needle for 4 weeks. Sperm count and motility were measured using sperm suspension released from cauda epididymis.

Establishment of Effective Mouse Model of Premature Ovarian Failure Considering Treatment Duration of Anticancer Drugs and Natural Recovery Time.

Objectives: This study was aimed to establish the most effective premature ovarian failure (POF) mouse model using Cyclophosphamide (CTX), busulfan (Bu), and cisplatin considering treatment duration of anticancer drugs and natural recovery time.

Methods: POF was induced by intraperitoneally injecting CTX (120 mg/kg)/Bu (12 mg/kg) for 1 to 4 weeks or cisplatin (2 mg/kg) for 3 to 14 days to C57BL/6 female mice aged 6 to 8 weeks. Controls were injected with equal volume of saline for the same periods.

Simple neovaginoplasty using spontaneous regeneration ability of labial and vestibular flap in patients with Müllerian agenesis.

Objectives: This study is aimed to introduce a simple neovaginoplasty procedure without significant complications using the spontaneous regenerative ability of labial and vestibular advancement flaps in patients with Müllerian agenesis.

Materials And Methods: Prospectively collected data of 5 patients with vaginal agenesis due to Müllerian duct abnormality who underwent neovaginoplasty using labial and vestibular advancement flaps were retrospectively reviewed. Operative details, perioperative outcome, complications, length and width of the neovagina, and the postoperative sexual activity were evaluated.

A randomized, open phase IV exploratory clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on the outcome of induction of ovulation in women with poor ovarian response: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Women with infertility who have a poor ovarian responder (POR), characterized by a low number of retrieved oocytes after ovulation induction, often have a significantly reduced pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), due to the few transferred embryos. Acupuncture is a form of Korean Traditional Medicine. It involves the insertion of a microscopic needle at a specific point in the body, known as an acupuncture point or an acupoint.

Effects of three-area laser-assisted zona thinning in 8-cell human embryos on pregnancy outcomes fertilization.

Objective: This study conducted a preliminary examination of the effects of three-area laser-assisted zona thinning (LAZT) during the cleavage stage of embryo development on the hatching process in human fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with subjects of advanced female age or frozen-thawed (FT) embryos.

Methods: Eight-cell stage embryos were treated with LAZT in three areas of the zona pellucida at 120° intervals. The control group was embryos without LAZT.

Leptin, leptin receptors and hypoxia-induced factor-1α expression in the placental bed of patients with and without preeclampsia during pregnancy.

The mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) has been previously investigated but remains to be elucidated. Among numerous biomarkers that are associated with the pathogenesis of PE, leptin is most frequently investigated. Although studies concerning the association between PE and the expression of leptin in the serum and placenta have been conducted, the results are conflicting and inconsistent.

Benzoic Acid Enhances Embryo Implantation through LIF-Dependent Expression of Integrin αVβ3 and αVβ5.

Embryo implantation is the crucial step for a successful pregnancy. Diverse factors, including adhesion molecules, growth factors, and cytokines are important for embryo implantation through improving endometrial receptivity. Benzoic acid (BA), a component of various plants, has been shown to have antifungal and antioxidant effects.

Differential expression of visfatin, leptin, stromal cell derived factor-1α, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor in human leiomyomas.

Aim: This study was aimed to understand expressions of the visfatin, leptin, stromal cell derived factor (SDF)-1α, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human uterine leiomyomas (UL) and normal myometrium.

Method: This study investigated expression of visfatin, leptin, SDF-1α, eNOS and VEGF in 23 uterine leiomyoma patients and 10 normal myometrium by RT-PCR and western blot. Messenger RNA transcripts of SDF-1α, eNOS, VEGF and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were analyzed according to the size of UL by real-time PCR.

Metabolomic study of aging in mouse plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Metabolomic analysis of aging was performed in plasma samples of young (8 weeks) and old (72 weeks) mice as ethoxycarbonyl/methoxime/tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As new approaches, study of altered metabolism from aging was attempted by simultaneous profiling analysis of amino acids (AAs), organic acids (OAs) and fatty acids (FAs) by GC-MS in a single run combined with pattern analysis. As a result, 27 amino acids (AAs), 17 organic acids (OAs) and 24 fatty acids (FAs) were positively screened with large variations in plasma samples.

Effect of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 on the Differentiation of Adipose-derived Stem Cells into Osteoblasts and Adipocytes.

Objectives: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinally secreted hormone and it plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. However, the possible role of GLP-1 in the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) remains unknown. Therefore this study investigated the effect of GLP-1 on the differentiation of ADSCs into osteoblasts and adipocytes.

Effect of laser-assisted multi-point zona thinning on development and hatching of cleavage embryos in mice.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of laser-assisted zona thinning (LAZT) at one or four-points on the blastocyst formation and hatching process in mice with respect to female age.

Methods: Eight-cell or morula embryos collected from superovulated C57BL female mice with different ages (6-11 and 28-31 weeks) were treated with LAZT at one-point (LAZT1) or four-points (LAZT4). The zona pellucida was thinned to more than 70% of its initial thickness by making two holes of 15-20 µm.

Differential expression of pluripotent and germ cell markers in ovarian surface epithelium according to age in female mice.

Background: Many studies have proposed that putative ovarian stem cells (OSCs) derived from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) layer of adult mammalian ovaries can produce oocytes. Few studies have reported that ovaries of aged mammalian females including mice and women possess rare premeiotic germ cells that can generate oocytes. However, no studies have reported the changes of OSCs according to the age of the female.

Prediction of preterm delivery using levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and leptin in amniotic fluid from the second trimester.

Purpose: Impaired angiogenesis of the developing placenta in the early pregnancy is one etiology of preterm delivery. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of normal angiogenesis. Leptin stimulates other angiogenic factors, including VEGF.

Effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on the differentiation of adipose-derived stromal cells from different subcutaneous adipose tissue depots.

Human adipose-tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) are abundant in adipose tissue and can differentiate into multi-lineage cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. In order to define the optimal harvest site of adipose tissue harvest site, we solated hADSCs from different subcutaneous sites (upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and thigh) and compared their proliferation and potential to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. In addition, this study examined the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, on proliferation and differentiation of hADSCs to adipocytes or osteoblasts.

Effect of propofol on prostaglandin E2 production and prostaglandin synthase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions in amniotic membrane cells.

Purpose: Surgery during pregnancy can be a cause of preterm labor or birth, possibly resulting from anesthetic agents or direct effects of surgery. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of propofol on uterine contractility by examining prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and the expression of PGE synthase 2 (PGES2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in amniotic membrane cells.

Methods: Amniotic membranes were collected from healthy full-term women who underwent cesarean section at 37-40 weeks of gestation.