Impact of vitamin D3 supplementation on the in vitro growth of mouse preantral follicles / 대한생식의학회지

We investigated the impact of vitamin D3 (VD3) supplementation during mouse preantral follicle culture in vitro and the mRNA expression of 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse ovarian follicles at different stages. Methods: Preantral follicles were retrieved from 39 BDF1 mice (7–8 weeks old) and then cultured in vitro for 12 days under VD3 supplementation (0, 25, and 50 pg/mL). Follicular development and the final oocyte acquisition were assessed. Preantral follicles were retrieved from 15 other BDF1 mice (7–8 weeks old) and cultured without VD3 supplementation. Three stages of mouse ovarian follicles were obtained (preantral, antral, and ruptured follicles). Total RNA was extracted from the pooled cells (from 20 follicles at each stage), and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify mRNA for CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR. Results: The survival of preantral follicles, rates of antrum formation and ruptured follicles (per initiated follicle) and the number of total or mature oocytes were all comparable among the three groups. Both CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 were expressed in antral and ruptured follicles, but not in preantral follicles. VDR was expressed in all three follicular stages. Conclusion: VD3 supplementation in vitro (25 or 50 pg/mL) did not enhance mouse follicular development or final oocyte acquisition. Follicular stage-specific expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR was observed.

Effect of luteal phase support with vaginal progesterone on pregnancy outcomes in natural frozen embryo transfer cycles: A meta-analysis / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support (LPS) on the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) in natural frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles via a meta-analysis. @*Methods@#We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies that met our selection criteria. Four online databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library) were searched between January 2017 and May 2017. Studies were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria and meta-analyzed using R software version 2.14.2. The main outcome measure was CPR. @*Results@#A total of 18 studies were reviewed and assessed for eligibility. One RCT (n=435) and three retrospective studies (n=3,033) met the selection criteria. In a meta-analysis of the selected studies, we found no significant difference in the CPR (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60–1.55) between the vaginal progesterone and control groups. An analysis of the two retrospective cohort studies that reported the live birth rate (LBR) following FET showed a significantly higher LBR in the vaginal progesterone group (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21–2.46). A subgroup meta-analysis of FET conducted 5 days after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin showed no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the CPR (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.90–1.55) or miscarriage rate (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.36–1.47). @*Conclusion@#The results of this meta-analysis of the currently available literature suggest that LPS with vaginal progesterone in natural FET cycles does not improve the CPR.

The serum estradiol/oocyte ratio in patients with breast cancer undergoing ovarian stimulation with letrozole and gonadotropins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the patterns of estradiol-oocyte ratio (EOR) and estradiol-mature oocyte ratio (EMOR) in patients with breast cancer undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) using letrozole and gonadotropins for fertility preservation. METHODS: This retrospective study included 32 breast cancer patients underwent COS for fertility preservation and no patients had previously undergone gonadotoxic treatments. Basal characteristics and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes were compared according to the age of women (age < 35 vs. age ≥35) and the starting phase of ovarian stimulation (early follicular phase vs. late follicular phase vs. luteal phase). RESULTS: Patients who were administered with a letrozole-combined regimen, the peak serum estradiol (E2) was maintained at a low level (386.3±346.9 pg/mL). EOR was 52.4±78.8 pg/mL, and EMOR was 71.0±41.2 pg/mL. When the 2 groups were compared according to the age of women (age < 35 vs. age ≥35), EOR was 34.5 (22.2–46.5) pg/mL and 40.7 (19.3–65.3) pg/mL, respectively; EMOR was 79.8 (40.8–90.6) pg/mL and 68.8 (44.5–85.9) pg/mL, respectively. There was no significant difference in the IVF outcomes. When the 2 groups were compared according to the starting phase of ovarian stimulation, there were no significant differences in IVF outcomes, EOR and EMOR among the groups. CONCLUSION: Measuring the peak E2 concentration in breast cancer patients undergoing IVF for fertility preservation with a co-treatment of letrozole allows for the prediction of the numbers of oocytes and mature oocytes.

Compromises between the Frequencies of the Colloquial Phonemes and Those of a New Monosyllabic Words List in Korean / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several investigators have developed word lists for Korean speech audiometry. Many variations of the lists were identified in previous survey. A committee was organized to develop standard word lists for Korean speech audiometry. In this study, we propose new monosyllabic and bisyllabic word lists, whose performances can be compared with those of previous word lists, verified in clinical situations, and revised in future with proper reasons. We also report why some compromises have been made in the words number and the phoneme frequencies of the new monosyllabic word lists. There was no compromise in those of the new bisyllabic word list. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The target frequencies of new lists were determined by the previous references. In the Korean dictionary, 410 familiar monosyllabic words were available for the lists. These words were arranged in a matrix of initial consonants and vowels to meet the phonetic balance condition. RESULTS: Two monosyllabic word lists were developed with abovementioned compromises for the lack of monosyllabic words with final consonants. One bisyllabic word list could be made without compromise. CONCLUSION: The arrangement method in this report has some advantages in diversifying syllable distribution and satisfying the phonetic balance condition. The new monosyllabic and bisyllabic word lists have been designated with identification codes 'KsoM-07' and 'KsoB-07', respectively.

Two Cases of Mesiodens in Nasal Cavity / 대한이비인후과학회지

Supernumerary teeth, which is described as teeth or tooth substance that develops in excess of deciduous and permanent teeth, most commonly involve the anterior maxilla. Mesiodens are one type of supernumerary teeth that develops in paramedian space of premaxilla. Sometimes mesiodens can be inverted with its crown facing the nasal cavity. Because of its own pathology and possible disruption of neighboring normal teeth, supernumerary teeth should be removed regardless of its eruption. We experienced two cases of mesiodens detected in the nasal floor and so report these cases with a review of literature.

Relationship between Essential Hypertension and Serum Antioxidant Minerals

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Essential hypertension has been accepted as being associated with a loss of the balance between pro- and anti-oxidations. Essential trace elements, such as Se, Mn, Cu and Zn, participate in various enzyme reactions necessary for the antioxidant defense system of cells. The object of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of anti-oxidant minerals, which may be related to the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were composed of 50 normotensive controls; 25 men and 25 women (14 premenopausal, 11 postmenopausal), and 50 hypertensive patients; 16 men and 32 women (19 premenopausal, 13 postmenopausal). ICP-MS was employed to measure the mineral concentrations. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the serum Se and Zn concentrations in the essential hypertensive patients were elevated (Se 12.78+/-0.47 vs. 17.85+/-0.58 microliter/dL, p=0.0008; Zn 110.87+/-5.36 vs. 134.36+/-5.95 microliter/dL, p=0.0040), whereas those of Mn and Cu were decreased (Mn 0.49+/-0.02 vs. 0.28+/-0.03 microliter/dL, p=0.0121; Cu 127.84+/-5.07 vs. 93.88+/-2.90 microliter/dL, p<0.0001). The mean Cu/Zn ratio of the patients was higher than that of the controls (1.14+/-0.03 vs. 0.67+/-0.02, p=0.0057). In the hypertensive patients, there was a negative correlation between the Zn and Cu concentrations (correlation coefficient -0.36458, p=0.0395). CONCLUSION: The analyzed mineral concentrations were significantly different between the essential hypertensive patients and the controls. It remains to be determined whether the alterations in the serum concentrations of antioxidant minerals are responsible for the pathogenesis of essential hypertension or just a simple consequence of hypertension.