Serum biomarkers for predicting pregnancy outcome in women undergoing IVF: human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and inhibin A level at 11 days post-ET.

Objective: This study was performed to assess the prognostic value of serum hCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels measured at 11 days post-ET for predicting pregnancy outcome in women participating in IVF.

Methods: Between May 2005 and April 2008, sera were obtained from 70 infertile women who underwent IVF-ET at 11 days post-ET and stored. HCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels were measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and chromatin structure in one-day-old ejaculated sperm.

Objective: To evaluate sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and chromatin structure after 18 hours'incubation at room temperature.

Methods: Twenty-eight male partners who participating IVF treatment were prospectively included in this study. Ejaculated sperm count and motility were assessed.

Gene expression in proliferating cells of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella (Dinophyceae).

Understanding the conditions leading to harmful algal blooms, especially those produced by toxic dinoflagellate species, is important for environmental and health safety. In addition to investigations into the environmental conditions necessary for the formation of toxic blooms, we postulate that investigating gene expression in proliferating cells is essential for understanding bloom dynamics. Expressed sequence tags were produced from cultured cells of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella sampled during the initiation phase of growth using Sanger's method and by 454 pyrosequencing.

The change of cytokines in tear and blood after different pterygium operation.

Pterygium is an invasion of altered ocular tissue into the cornea. Bone marrow-derived stem cells have been reported to be involved in wound healing under chemotactic factors after pterygium removal and pain may act as a trigger signal. We evaluated the change of systemic and local chemotactic factors that could affect the mobilization and migration of BMSCs to the wound bed after conventional bare sclera pterygium excision.

Cytokine secretion by human mesenchymal stem cells cocultured with damaged corneal epithelial cells.

We have previously shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reduced corneal inflammation and neovascularization in chemically-burned rat corneas in part through paracrine action. In order to identify the molecule(s) involved, we cocultured human MSCs in the following conditions, and examined the alterations in the cytokine secretion profile; (1) human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), (2) chemically-damaged human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs), (3) hPBMCs/hCECs, (4) hMSCs, (5) hMSCs/hPBMCs, (6) hMSCs/hCECs, (7) hMSCs/hPBMCs/hCECs. We found that the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by hMSCs markedly increased for hMSC/hCEC cocultures, and this elevation was further remarkable by the addition of hPBMCs.

The anti-inflammatory effect of subconjunctival bevacizumab on chemically burned rat corneas.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bevacizumab in a model of corneal inflammation.

Materials And Methods: Epithelium from the cornea and limbus was completely removed using 100% alcohol in rats. Bevacizumab (1.

Efficient cultivation conditions for human limbal epithelial cells.

To compare the stem niche in different culture conditions of limbal epithelial cells, the suspended human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) were seeded on the 3T3-pretreated plates and the other suspended cells were plated on amniotic membranes (AMs) which were either cryo-preserved or freeze-dried. All were cultured for 10 to 12 days. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2), p63, cytokeratin 12, and connexin 43 were performed in cultivated HLECs and their expression levels were compared.

Endoscopic vitrectomy improves outcomes of Seoul-type keratoprosthesis exchange in rabbit model.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of an endoscopic vitrectomy in Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (S-Kpro) exchange procedures.

Methods: Nine S-Kpro-implanted rabbit eyes were enrolled in the S-Kpro exchange. Six eyes underwent an antecedent vitrectomy by an endoscopic system and then the S-Kpro exchange (endoscopy group).

Transforming growth factor-beta expression in rat eyes with mechanical debridement of corneal epithelium or epithelial flap.

Purpose: To compare corneal haze and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta expression in rat eyes with mechanical debridement of corneal epithelium or a chemically induced epithelial flap.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Methods: Sixty corneas from 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were treated in 1 of 4 ways using a 2.

A novel electroporation method using a capillary and wire-type electrode.

Electroporation is widely used to achieve gene transfection. A common problem in electroporation is that it has a lower viability than any other transfection method. In this study, we developed a novel electroporation device using a capillary tip and a pipette that was effective on a wide range of mammalian cells, including cell lines, primary cells, and stem cells.

The anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic role of mesenchymal stem cells in corneal wound healing following chemical injury.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the chemically burned corneas, we mechanically removed the corneal epithelium of rats after 100% alcohol instillation. The rats were then randomized into four groups: fresh media, conditioned media derived from the MSC culture (MSC-CM), MSC applied topically to the damaged corneas for 2 hours immediately after the injury or MSC-CM applied either once or 3 times per day for 3 consecutive days. Corneal surface was evaluated every week.

Efficient cryopreservative conditions for cultivated limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells.

Purpose: To examine the effects of cryopreservation on the viability of cultivated corneal limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells and to evaluate the optimal conditions for cryopreservation.

Methods: The cultivated human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) were stored in media including 20%, 50%, and 90% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at -196 degrees C for 1 week. The cultivated rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells were stored in 10%, 20%, and 50% FBS with 10% glycerol or DMSO as a cryoprotectant at -196 degrees C for 1 week.

A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and split-face clinical study on LED phototherapy for skin rejuvenation: clinical, profilometric, histologic, ultrastructural, and biochemical evaluations and comparison of three different treatment settings.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are considered to be effective in skin rejuvenation. We investigated the clinical efficacy of LED phototherapy for skin rejuvenation through the comparison with three different treatment parameters and a control, and also examined the LED-induced histological, ultrastructural, and biochemical changes. Seventy-six patients with facial wrinkles were treated with quasimonochromatic LED devices on the right half of their faces.