The effect of GM-CSF on the expression of implantation-related genes in mouse embryo / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: GM-CSF is produced in female reproductive tract and may play an important role in the process of implantation. Body of evidence suggests that GM-CSF could improve pregnancy rate in many species of mammals when it was added in culture media. The aim of this study is to assess how GM-CSF affects the expression of implantation-related genes in mouse embryo. METHODS: Two hundred mouse embryos were divided into control and GM-CSF treated groups. The embryos were treated with or without 10 ng/ml of GM-CSF for 72 hours. Total RNA was isolated and compared with oligo microarray. The implantation-related genes influenced by GM-CSF were repeatedly analyzed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: After oligo microarray, 64 genes were increased and 35 genes were decreased by GM-CSF. Among those genes, MMP2, FABP3, Dppa5 and TAS1 were selected for real-time PCR analysis. Four integrins and FAK were also selected. We confirmed the increase of MMP2 and FABP3 by GM-CSF with real-time RT-PCR (1.687 and 1.580 fold, respectively). Other genes were found to be minimally increased. CONCLUSION: GM-CSF induces the increased expression of MMP2 mRNA in mouse embryo, and then increases the invasiveness of the trophoblast. The role of FABP3 in the process of implantation remained to be elucidated.

Factors affecting pregnancy rate during embryo transfer: A multivariate analysis / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Embryo transfer is a critical step in assisted reproduction. However, the different aspects of the procedure were not fully estimated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of each aspect in the procedure to success of pregnancy. METHODS: Medical records of 525 fresh IVF/ICSI cycles were reviewed retrospectively. All embryo transfers were performed under ultrasonography guidance and after removal of cervical mucus. Assessed primary variables are difficulty of procedure (easy, moderate, and difficult), presence of blood in the catheter, types of catheter (soft or hard) and physician factor, and confounding variables are age of patient, total number of oocytes, number of transferred embryos, the highest grade of embryo, endometrial thickness. Measured outcomes were clinical pregnancy (visible fetal heart beat by ultrasonography) and live-birth rate. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis by logistic regression test were used. RESULTS: Among the variables of embryo transfer procedure, the difficulty of procedure was the only significant factor influencing both clinical pregnancy (OR: 0.402, 95% CI: 0.205-0.789, easy vs. moderately difficult) and live birth rate (OR: 0.380, 95% CI: 0.178-0.841, easy vs. moderately difficult). The difference between moderately difficult and very difficult procedure was not significant. Presence of blood was significant for live-birth rate (OR: 0.512, 95% CI: 0.267-0.980). Types of catheter and physician factor were not significant factors. CONCLUSION: The difficulty of the transfer procedure and presence of blood in catheter are significant factors influencing ART outcome.

Pelvic Actinomycosis

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the radiologic characteristics of the pelvic actinomycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiologic findings of seven patients with pathologically proven pelvic actinomycosis and analyzed the anatomical location, characteristics of the lesion and alteration of surrounding structures. RESULTS: The location of the lesions were the ovary and adnexa(n=4), rectum(n=1), cecum and terminalileum(n=1), and bladder(n=1). Three of the seven patients had a past history of intrauterine devices.Post-contrast enhanced CT showed an ill-defined mass with inhomogeneous enhancement and a tendency to invade th esurrounding normal tissue plane. CONCLUSION: Pelvic actinomycosis should be included in differential diagnosis when an unusually aggressive infiltrative mass is located in the pelvic cavity, especially in a patient with long-term use of intrauterine contraceptive devices.