Association of Progesterone Receptor Gene Polymorphism (PROGINS) and Estrogen Receptor Gene Polymorphism with Endometriosis in Korean Population / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, causing diverse progressive diseases such as infertility, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea. Although the mechanisms responsible for its pathogenesis and progression remain poorly understood, it is well established that endometriosis grows and regresses in an estrogen-dependent fashion and that administration of progestin can relieve the symptoms caused by endometriosis. Some genetic studies have demonstrated the association between the estrogen or progesterone receptor gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to endometriosis. This study was designed to investigate the associations of the polymorphism of the progesterone receptor gene (PROGINS), PvuII and XbaI polymorphism of estrogen alpha receptor gene with endometriosis in the Korean population. METHODS: A total of 100 women with surgically diagnosed and histologically confirmed endometriosis of stage III-IV were enrolled as a patient population and a total of 110 female control subjects undergoing health examination were enrolled as control population. Following isolation of genomic DNA from peripheral blood, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer assays were performed for analyzing progesterone receptor gene polymorphism (PROGINS) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays were performed for analyzing estrogen alpha receptor gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphism. The chi-square-test was used to compare genotype distributions between endometriosis and controls. RESULTS: Only one patient in each group was found to be T1/T2 heterozygote, and the rest of the subjects were all T1/T1 homozygotes. Analysis of PvuII has shown that the significantly lower number of patients had (pp) genotypes and (p) alleles in the endometriosis group compared with the control group (32 (32%) vs. 50 (45.5%), P<0.05; 109 (54.5%) vs. 142 (64.5%), P<0.05, respectively). There was no difference in the genotype distribution or allele frequency in XbaI polymorphism between the endometriosis group and the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the PvuII polymorphism of the estrogen receptor-alpha gene is associated with the risk for endometriosis in the Korean population.

A Case of Primary Carcinoma of the Fallopian Tube / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is very rare and accounts for less than 1% of all gynecologic malignancies. Nonspecific symptoms are presented, so primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube was confirmed postoperatively on the basis of the pathologic examination. The evaluation and treatment are similar to that of the ovarian cancer. We have experienced a case of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube, especially fimbrial portion and report with a brief review of the literature

The Effect of Equilibration Temperature and Time Prior to Cryopreservation on the Outcome of Cryopreservation of 2-Cell Mouse Embryos / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: One-cell human zygotes have been successfully frozen and thawed using 1,2-propanediol (PROH) during freezing and thawing. This study was performed to assess the effect of equilibration temperature and time on cryopreservation of 2-cell mouse embryos by investigating the equilibration temperature and time during initial PROH exposure prior to cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The late 2-cell mouse embryos were obtained from 5-6 week old ICR mice and were exposed to 1.5 M PROH in phosphate-buffered saline (PROH-PBS) at 37degrees C, room temperature (22- 24degrees C), and 4degrees C for 30 min. The PROH was washed off the 2-cell mouse embyos by incubating them for 5 min each in 1, 0.5, and then 0 M PROH-PBS in the order named. The 2-cell mouse embryos were subsequently cultured in Ham's F-10 medium and embryo development was assessed at 24, 48, and 96 hours. RESULTS: Incubation of 2-cell mouse embryos at 37degrees C for 30 min significantly impaired embryo development to blastocysts. Embryo development after exposure to PROH at 37degrees C for 10 min was 8.3% (P=0.047) and embryo development for 30 min was 5.4% (P=0.038). Incubation of 2-cell mouse embryos at room temperature or 4degrees C for up to 30 min did not significantly reduce embryo development. Cryosurvival of 2-cell mouse embryos exposed to PROH at room temperature or 4degrees C was similar. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that pronanediol is toxic to 2-cell mouse embryos in a temperature- and time-dependent fashion. Cryopreservation of 2-cell mouse embryos after exposure at 4degrees C appears to be no better than after exposure at room temperature.

A Case of Holoprosencephaly / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Holoprosencephaly is a rare developmental defect due to incomplete cleavages of the prosencephalon during the third week of fetal development. It was associated with chromosomal anomalies, genetic syndrome, teratogen, or genetic disorder of non-syndromic HPE. Early antenatal detection of holoprosencephaly was done by high resolution ultrasonography. According to its severity and prognosis, it was capable of proper treatment of holoprosencephaly. We report one case of holoprosencephaly with a brief review of the literature

Studies on Pregnanacy Rate of Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation before Intrauterine Insemination in the Treatment of Unexplained Infertility / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To determine which regimen for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is the most effective in achieving pregnancy after intrauterine insemination in the treatment of unexplained infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1996 to February 2000, a total of 67 cycles of intrauterine insemination after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were treated in 39 patients under 40 years old who diagnosed as unexplained infertility. Two methods of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were used. The one is clomiphene citrate/hMG and the other is hMG only. These were compared the pregnancy rate respectively. RESULTS: Mean age of study group was 32+/-2.7 years old (28-38 years old) and mean duration of infertility was 46+/-17.8 months (15-96 months). The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 17.9% (12/67 cycle) per cycle and 30.7% (12/39 patient) per patient. According to the methods of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, pregnancy rate was 16.7% (8/48 cycle) after clomiphene citrate/hMG used, 21.1% (4/19 cycle) after hMG only used. 4 cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome developed (clomiphene citrate/hMG 1 case, hMG only 3 cases) and all of them were self-regressed. CONCLUSION: Compared with using hMG only as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation before intrauterine insemination, using clomiphene citrate/hMG was more effective regimen and considered as the first choice in the treatment of unexplained infertility.