Comparison of Ectopic Gene Expression Methods in Rat Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into various types of cells that compose the nervous system. To study functions of genes in stem cell biology, genes or siRNAs need to be transfected. However, it is difficult to transfect ectopic genes into NSCs. Thus to identify the suitable method to achieve high transfection efficiency, we compared lipid transfection, electroporation, nucleofection and retroviral transduction. Among the methods that we tested, we found that nucleofection and retroviral transduction showed significantly increased transfection efficiency. In addition, with retroviral transduction of Ngn2 that is known to induce neurogenesis in various types of cells, we observed facilitated final cell division in rat NSCs. These data suggest that nucleofection and retroviral transduction provide high efficiency of gene delivery system to study functions of genes in rat NSCs.

Identification of High Risk Group of HPV associated with Cervical Cancer in Korean Women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To identify genital HPV types and high risk group of HPV associated with cervical cancer in Korean women. METHODS: Both Pap test and HPV-DNA test using PCR assay were performed as screening test for cervical cancer in this clinic. When patients were positive in HPV-DNA test, HPV genotyping using sequencing method and cervical biopsy were performed. RESULTS: Frequent age group of HPV infection was 40 yrs (34.3%) and prevalence of HPV infection was 9.8%. Twenty-three types of HPV were detected. HPV 16 and 58 were detected in invasive cancer. HPV 16, 31, 33, 45, and 58 were detected in HSIL. HPV 6, 11, 18, 53, 59, and 66 were detected in LSIL. HPV 16 was most commonly detected in HSIL and invasive cancer. CONCLUSION: HPV 16, 31, 33, 45, and 58 are included in high risk group of HPV in Korean women. It may be very effective in early detection of cervical cancer to classify HPV types included in high risk group of cervical cancer in Korean women and to perform cervical biopsy in the patients who have high risk types of HPV infection.

Identification of High Risk Group of HPV associated with Cervical Cancer in Korean Women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To identify genital HPV types and high risk group of HPV associated with cervical cancer in Korean women. METHODS: Both Pap test and HPV-DNA test using PCR assay were performed as screening test for cervical cancer in this clinic. When patients were positive in HPV-DNA test, HPV genotyping using sequencing method and cervical biopsy were performed. RESULTS: Frequent age group of HPV infection was 40 yrs (34.3%) and prevalence of HPV infection was 9.8%. Twenty-three types of HPV were detected. HPV 16 and 58 were detected in invasive cancer. HPV 16, 31, 33, 45, and 58 were detected in HSIL. HPV 6, 11, 18, 53, 59, and 66 were detected in LSIL. HPV 16 was most commonly detected in HSIL and invasive cancer. CONCLUSION: HPV 16, 31, 33, 45, and 58 are included in high risk group of HPV in Korean women. It may be very effective in early detection of cervical cancer to classify HPV types included in high risk group of cervical cancer in Korean women and to perform cervical biopsy in the patients who have high risk types of HPV infection.

Comparison of IVF-ET Outcome after Various Therapeutic Approaches for Ovarian Endometriomas / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVE: To compare COH characteristics and IVF outcomes among IVF-ET patients who were treated with various therapeutic modalities for ovarian endometriomas and to propose effective pre-cyclic therapeutic modalities to improve IVF-ET outcomes in the patients with ovarian endometriomas. METHODS: All cases that had undergone IVF-ET after laparoscopy between January 1997 to August 2003 were reviewed. Forty-eight patients with tubal factor were assigned to Group I. Twenty seven, 22 and 38 patients diagnosed as severe pelvic adhesion with ovarian endometriomas by laparoscopy received only medical therapy (Group II), cyst aspiration (Group III), and sclerotherapy (Group IV), respectively. Laparoscopic cystectomy was performed in 20 patients (Group V). Resistance index was measured on day administering hCG. RESULTS: As compared with Group I, in Group II resistance index increased (p<0.05) but number of oocytes, good-quality oocyte ratio (mature and intermediate oocytes/total retrieval oocytes), fertilization rate, and embryo development rate decreased (p<0.05). In Group III fertilization rate and embryo development rate decreased (p<0.05). There was no difference between Group IV and Group I in all parameters except basal FSH which increased (p<0.05). In Group V basal FSH, and resistance increased (p<0.05) and number of oocytes and good-quality oocytes ratio decreased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy is an effective therapeutic option which can be done prior to IVF-ET cycles in the patients with ovarian endometriomas. Further studies on a large scale are necessary to confirm these data.

A Study on Dietary Isoflavone Intake from Soy Food and Urinary Isoflavone Excretion and, Menopausal Symptoms in Korean Women in Rural Areas / 대한지역사회영양학회지

Very little is known about the relation between isoflavone intake and menopausal symptoms in Korean woman To find the effects and correlations between these factors, questionnaires(maternal factors, menopausal symptoms) anthropometric measurement, 24hr dietary recalls, and urinary isoflavones analysis were conducted in 100 postmenopausal women residing in the Kyunggi-do rural area. The average age hight and weight of the subject were 61.5 years, 153.6 cm and 56.2kg. The average age at menarche, menopause, and menstrual cycle were 16.7 years, 47.2 years, 29.8 years, respectively. Most of the postmenopausal women experienced mildly menopausal symptoms. The mean calorie, protein and calcium intake were 1417.6 kcal(74.7% of the Korean RDA) 53.2 g(88.6% of the Korean RDA) and 454.0mg(65.6% of the Korean RDA) respectively. The ration of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 68: 15: 17 The average isoflavone intake from soy foods was 27.27 mg. The major food source of the isoflavone were soybeans and soybean curd. The average urinary isoflavone excretion was 2. 78nmol/mg Cr and showed significant positive correlation with isoflavone intake. Isoflavone intake from soy foods had a negative correlation with the severity of menopausal symptoms. Therefore, soy foods which contain isoflavone may have a protective effect on menopausal symptoms of women in Korea.

The changing pattern of eclampsia (1953-1998) / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: To determine changes in the incidence and pattern of eclampsia in Il Sin Christian Hospital over a 46-year period. METHODS: Information was collected from medical records of the 1910 eclamptic patients among 233,613 deliveries in Il Sin Christian Hospital from Jan. 1 1953 to Dec. 31 1998. Incidence, presentation, and management of eclampsia were reviewed retrospectively, and maternal mortality rate and perinatal mortality rate were calculated. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-squared and Fisher's exact test through two by two tables looking at relative changes between each study period. RESULTS: The overall incidence of eclampsia was 81.8 per 10,000 deliveries. The incidence of eclampsia had increased from 137.3/10,000 in 1953-1962 to 278.4/10,000 in 1963-1972, but the rate had reduced to 6.5/10,000 in 1993-1998. There was a statistically significant fall in the rate of eclampsia every decade between 1973 and 1992, but there has been steady decrease in the last study period. Convulsion occurred antepartum in 54% of patients, intrapartum in 29% and postpartum in 17%. With the reduction in the proportion of antepartum eclampsia, there has been a relative increase in that of intrapartum and postpartum eclampsia. Maternal death occurred in 59 cases among eclampsia, and maternal mortality rate was 3.1%. Maternal mortality rate had significantly decresed from 11.1% in 1953-1962 to 3.8% in 1963-1972, and there has been no maternal death from eclampsia since 1986. Postpartum eclampsia had increased death risk compared with antepartum or intrapartum eclampsia. There were 280 cases of perinatal death and overall perinatal mortality rate was 144.1 per 1000 deliveries. There was a significant decrease in the rate from 243.2/1000 in 1953-1962 to 141.5/1000 in 1963-1972, but the rate has risen steadily since 1983. CONCLUSIONS: With the improvement in antenatal care and management of eclampsia, the incidence of eclampsia and its associated maternal mortality has decreased over the last 46 years. But eclampsia still remains a significant complication of pregnancy with high maternal and perinatal mortality.