Objective To investigate the role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on transforming growth factor - ?1 (TGF - ?1 )of asthmatic remodeling model Methods One hundred and eight guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups randomly and equally: asthmatic group( A), therapeutic group(B), control group(C) Three groups were treated by ovalbumin, budesonide, normal saline respectively The lung tissue specimens were collected after the guinea pigs were killed; the expression of TGF- ?1 was determined Results The expressions of TGF-?1 in A, K and C groups were(41 83 ? 10. 45) %, (27. 22 ? 8. 09)% , (15. 36 ? 2. 64)% respectively at 12 weeks. It was statistically significant( P

Boxer's knuckle has become known as rare diseases caused by trauma, congenital, idiopathic, degenerative and more. Because there is no research for specific prevalence rate, the purpose of this study is to figure out the possibility of the prevalence rate of Korean early 20's who relied on data from the Internet questionnaire about the group suspected of having Boxer's knuckle by self-diagnosis after an indirect explanation for Boxer's knuckle. The positive response rate of Boxer's knuckle analyzed by a public Internet survey questionnaire contains personal information, Boxer's knuckle symptoms, location, risk factors, family history, and so on. Total of 304 respondents include 106 males (median age, 23 years; Q1, 21–Q3, 23), 198 females (median age, 21 years; Q1, 21–Q3, 23). Thirty-three patients had severe symptoms of Boxer's knuckle (dislocation) and 42 patients had mild symptoms of Boxer's knuckle (subluxation). Sex, age, type of exercise and duration of exercise, family history, etc were analyzed. It is a result that whether or not history of severe exercise and family history are statistical significances as risk factors. Fifteen (7.7%) of 196 people who do not exercise, seven (14.0%) of 50 people with light exercise, 11 (19.0%) of 58 people with severe exercise, 28 (9.5%) of 294 people without family history and five (50.0%) of 10 people with family history showed symptoms of the Boxer's knuckle. The positive response rate of the Boxer's knuckle is 10.9%. The exercise in the possibility of injury and family history are significant predictors.
Female ; Humans ; Internet* ; Male ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Prevalence* ; Rare Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early clinical effects of arthroscopic treatment for cruciate ligament cysts of the knee.

METHODSFrom September 2008 to January 2014, 23 patients with cruciate cysts were treated with arthroscopic surgery. There were 11 males and 17 females, with an average age of 28.3 years old (ranged, 16 to 56 years old). Twenty patients had injuries on the right knee and 8 patients had injuries on the left knee. Eight patients had a history of injury,5 patients had a history of chronic injury,and the other 15 patients had no obvious reasons for the symptom. Before the operation, 24 patients were clearly diagnosed as the cruciate ligament cysts of knee joint,and 4 patients were diagnosed as other problems of the knee, but the diagnosis were corrected after the operation. According to the MRI before the surgery,all the patients could be divided into 3 types: 14 were type I, 6 were type II, 8 were type III. After the operation, the patients were suggested to have a rest for 2 weeks, and take exercises everyday at the same time. The knee range of motion, Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 subjective score, GLASGOW criteria, and McMurray test, pivot shift test, and anterior drawer test were observed to evaluate clinical results.

RESULTSAll the incisions healed at the first stage without complications. Twenty-five patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 52 months, with a mean of 26.7 months. Three patients accepted the reconstruction of ACL or tightened elongated ACL using bipolar radio frequency. The Lysholm score increased from preoperative 59.80 +/- 6.58 to 75.32 +/- 6.49 at the latest follow-up; IKDC 2000 score increased from preoperative 65.36 +/- 6.26 to 81.00 +/- 5.76 at the latest follow-up. According to GLASGOW criteria,23 patients got an excellent result and 2 good.

CONCLUSIONIt has a satisfactory curative effect on ACL reconstruction using bipolar radio frequency. It has advantages of firm fixation, simple and secure operation as well as quick postoperative recovery. It's very important to check the MRI before operations, and carefully seek the cysts during the operations, avoiding the omission of any cysts,especially the cases of multiple cysts. Finally, patients should take exercises actively after operations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Arthroscopy ; Cysts ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Young Adult

Background and purpose: Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycophosphoprotein that is expressed by numerous human cancer cells. The function of OPN in skeletal modeling and remodeling, bone resorption, angiogenesis and tumor cell metastasis and progression through binding with integrin and CD44 receptors were studied. Our purpose of the study was to detect the level of osteopontin(OPN) and CD44 variant isoforms(CD44v6) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, and to explore the relationship between OPN and CD44v6 with the progress of MM. Methods: 32 MM patients were admitted to our hospital from Sep. 2007 to Dec. 2008. The patients were divided into two groups, group A (untreated and relapsed MM patients) and B (stable MM patients), and the control group including 15 subjects were the benign anemia patients or healthy people who suffered bone fracture. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from MM patients and subjects were investigated as potential OPN and CD44v6 producers. The level of OPN and CD44v6 of the conditioned media from MM patients and subjects were analyzed by ELISA. Results: The OPN level in group A (19 cases) was significantly higher than group B (13 cases) and control group (P<0.05). The CD44v6 level of 14 patients in group A was significantly higher than that of 10 cases in group B and control group (P<0.05); The OPN level of MM patients was correlated with the level of CD44v6 (r=0.52, P=0.000), the percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow (r=0.74, P=0.000), M protein (r=0.53, P=0.014), and β2-microglubin (r=0.62, P=0.002). Conclusion: The increase of OPN and CD44v6 is associated with progress and pathogenesis of MM,and may be involved with tumor burden, stage and tumor invasion.

PURPOSE:To investigate the significance of umbilical artery acidosis and compare perinatal outcomes according to the types of acidosis for a tertiary hospital population delivered at term. METHODS:We reviewed maternal and neonatal medical records of all term liveborn infants with an umbilical artery pH<7.25 who were delivered at our university-based center for three years. Two hundred seventy two study population were grouped into respiratory (N=137), metabolic (N=103), and mixed (N=32) acidosis. Pregnancy complications and perinatal outcomes were analyzed using student T test and chi square test. RESULTS:The mean umbilical artery pH values of respiratory, metabolic, and mixed acidosis were 7.20+/-.05, 7.16+/-.90, and 7.07+/-.10, respectively. Neonates with pathologic fetal acidemia were more frequent in mixed acidosis and less frequent in respiratory acidosis (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in 1min and 5min Apgar scores. The cases with multiple nuchal cords were significantly common in mixed acidosis (P=0.021) and oligohydroamnios was higher in the metabolic acidosis (P=0.037). While the high base deficit (> or =20 mEq/L) and high pCO2 (> or =20 mmHg) were significantly associated with low pH value, the perinatal outcomes were not significantly different according to the level of base deficit or pCO2. CONCLUSION:The mixed acidemia was more associated with pathologic fetal acidemia than pure respiratory or metabolic acidosis. The ability to predict not only metabolic but also respiratory component of fetal acidemia may help in safe management of delivery leading to reduce the fetal acidemia.
Acidosis ; Acidosis, Respiratory ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Nuchal Cord ; Pregnancy Complications ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Umbilical Arteries

In spite of the fact that there is general consensus that neonatal depressed skull fractures are caused largely by instrumental extraction, there are a few reports regarding congenital depression of the skull unrelated to external trauma. In the case herein, the mother did not have any history of abdominal trauma during pregnancy and the neonate was delivered vaginally without the use of instruments, yet a round depression was noted in the left parietal bone of the neonate at the time of delivery. Computed tomography with three dimensional reconstruction images was performed and a congenital depression of the neonatal skull without fracture was diagnosed. We describe this case with a brief review of the literature.
Consensus ; Depression ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Parietal Bone ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Skull ; Skull Fracture, Depressed

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early diagnostic key of ovarian pregnancy. METHODS: A Retrospective case study of 31 cases of ovarian pregnancies treated between 1990 and 2007 at Kangnam St. Mary's hospital Catholic University of Korea was performed. The maternal age, obstetric history, clinical symptoms, sonographic findings, preceding factors, diagnostic modalities, and surgical treatment methods were investigated. RESULT: 31 ovarian pregnancies, diagnosed between 1990 and 2007, comprised (31/1176) 2.6% of all ectopic pregnancies. The most common sonographic finding was fluid collection surrounding the ovary and an ipsilateral enlarged ovary (83.9%). Presenting symptoms were similar to those of tubal pregnancies. Before 1997, wedge resection was done mostly by laparotomy (15/16 cases, 93.8 %) and from then on by laparoscopy (8/14 cases, 57.1%). CONCLUSION: Ovarian pregnancy should be suspected in young woman with symptom of lower abdominal pain, history of pelvic adhesion and sonographic finding of fluid collection around ovary or enlarged ovary for an early diagnosis. Early diagnosis and management can preserve fertility and ovarian function.
Abdominal Pain ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Maternal Age ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of placental abruption according to the presence or absence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. METHODS: The retrospective analysis was performed in total 363 cases of placental abruption among 25,895 deliveries during 5 years from January, 2003 to December, 2007 in 8 hospitals of Catholic university in Korea. Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes were compared with parametric test. RESULTS: The incidence of placental abruption was 1.40% during the study period. The proportion of patients complicated with hypertensive disorders was 33.1%. There was no difference in maternal age and the number of previous pregnancy between two groups with or without hypertensive disorders. As expected, mean gestational age at delivery was lower in placental abruption with hypertensive disorders compared to those without the diseases (237.1 days vs 239.1 days). The incidence of abnormal fetal presentation, multiple gestation, PPROM, and polyhydramnios were more common in patients with placental abruption without hypertensive disorders. On the other hand, the incidence of maternal thrombophilia was significantly higher in patients with placental abruption with hypertensive disorders. The patients with placental abruption with hypertensive disorders had higher incidence of abdominal pain, fetal distress, uterine contraction, and uterine hypertonus (p<0.05). In terms of maternal complication, the patients with placental abruption with hypertensive disorders had more severe complications including shock, coagulopathy and renal failure (p<0.05) and had worse perinatal outcome including FDIU (fetal death in uterus) and neonatal death (10.8% vs 10.3%). CONCLUSION: In patients with placental abruption with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, maternal complications were more common and prenatal outcome was worse compared to patients with placental abruption without hypertensive disorders.
Abdominal Pain ; Abruptio Placentae ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Gestational Age ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Labor Presentation ; Maternal Age ; Polyhydramnios ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Thrombophilia ; Uterine Contraction

An intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most commonly used contraceptive method in the world. One of the major complications of intrauterine contraception is the perforation through the uterine wall into the pelvic or abdominal cavity. The incidence is 0.9 people per 1000. However, bladder perforation is even more rare. It happens mostly at the time when it was inserted. The symptom varies from no symptom at all to low abdominal pain, massive bleeding, et cetera. We report a case with displaced intrauterine device in bladder, producing the bladder stone which was managed with cystoscopic lithotripsy and intrauterine device removal, followed by a review of the literature.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abdominal Pain ; Contraception ; Copper* ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Intrauterine Devices* ; Lithotripsy ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; Uterine Perforation