Ovarian cysts in the newborn are uncormnon. Fetal ovarian cysts are being diagnosed with inaeasing fiequency with development of obstetrical sonography. Most of these cysts are found within the first few months of life and have no clinical significance. But, a large ovarian cyst would be founded antenatally with sonography. A large ovarian cyst can cause life-theatening complications during parturition and in the neonatal period. We have experienced a case of fetal ovarian cyst in a 32-year-old primiparous woman with antenatal sonography and report our experience with a brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Ovarian Cysts* ; Parturition ; Ultrasonography

A prospective study was initiated to compare maternal serum concentration of CA-125 during the first trimester of normal and abnormal pregnancies. Serum specimens were obtained from 87 women with a normal intrauterine pregnancy and 47 women with abnormal pregnancies which were ended in spontaneo abortion or pathologically confirmed to be missed abortion. In normal pregnancies, the mean serum CA-125 concentrations were increased significantly from amenorhea 6 weeks (139.838.7 IU/ml), and were higher statistically than the values tested in the same weeks of abnormal pregnancies. In abnormal pregnancies serum CA-125 concentations were relatively lower than those of normal pregnancies. But these differences were not statistically significant except the values tested in amenorhea 6weeks. So serum levels of CA-125 may not be proved useful in monitoring of early pregnancies outcome.
Abortion, Missed ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histologic features of the uterus and adnexae extirpated from gender identity disorder (GID) patients that received depot androgen injection. METHODS: We reviewed the histologic findings of the uterus and adnexae removed from sixteen GID patients, who had taken depot androgen injection for 5~168 months. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (87.5%) showed the atrophied epithelium of exocervix and all of 16 patients (100%) showed the atrophy of endometrium. Seven patients (43.7%) showed multiple cystic follicles in the ovarian cortex and 6 patients (37.5%), 3 patients (18.7%) showed corpus albicans and corpus luteum, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous androgen induced atrophy of cervix and endometrium. This effect was more prominent in the endometrium. In addition, PCO-like histologic features were observed in the ovary.
Atrophy ; Cervix Uteri ; Corpus Luteum ; Endometrium ; Epithelium ; Female ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Ovary ; Uterus*

Endothelins secreted from keratinocytes are intrinsic mitogens and melanogens of human melanocytes in UVB-induced hyperpigmentation. To elucidate the cellular mechanism of antimelanogenic activity of bamboo extract, the effects of three ingredients of bamboo extract on endothelin 1 (ET-1) -induced Ca2+ mobilization were investigated in cultured human melanocytes. ET-1 receptors in human melanocytes were characterized by using specific antagonist, and ET-1 was found to increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by activating ET-B receptor. SM709 (1, 2-O-diferulyl-glycerol), an ingredient of bamboo extract, inhibited ET-1-induced [Ca2+]i increase in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, although another ingredients SM707 and SM708 had no effect on ET-1-induced [Ca2+]i increase in human melanocytes. SM709 (100 microM), however, did not affect [Ca2+]i increase induced by thapsigargin and caffeine, suggesting that SM709 has no effect on the Ca2+ store in melanocytes. Furthermore, SM709 did not affect [Ca2+]i increase induced by LPA or ATP, known as G protein-mediated PLC activators like ET-1. Taken together, it is suggested that SM709 antagonizes ET-1-induced transmembrane signaling through ET-B receptor, which maybe a possible underlying mechanism of antimelanogenic activity of bamboo extract in human melanocytes.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Caffeine ; Endothelin-1 ; Endothelins ; Humans* ; Hyperpigmentation ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes* ; Mitogens ; Thapsigargin

Occurence of lactic acidosis with adequate tissue oxygenation(type B lactic acidosis) has been described in association with leukemia, lymphoma, small cell carcinoma and breast cancer. However, no such case has been reported in Korea. Therefore, we report a case of type B lactic acidosis in a man with rapidly progressing acute lymphoblastic leukemia which had been transformed from lymphoma.
Acidosis, Lactic* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Lymphoma ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*

A new surgical approach to the area of the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space is described. This approach results in a wide-field exposure of the infratemporal fossa, pterygomaxillary space and parapharyngeal space. We used two osteotomies on the patient's mandible and temporary resection of zygomatic arch for superior margin of tumor. Lower lip splitting was not needed because the incision was started in the frontal scalp, curved in front of and below the external auditary canal, and extended anteriorly to the greater horn of hyoid bone on the neck along a skin crease. We had good results without sacrifice of the facial nerve, mandibular function and sensory supply of the face and oral cavity.
Animals ; Facial Nerve ; Horns ; Hyoid Bone ; Lip ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Neck ; Osteotomy* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Zygoma*

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of three different cryoprotectants on basic stem cell characteristics for the possibility of using well defined, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and serum free freezing solutions to cryopreserve human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) following controlled rate freezing protocol. METHODS: The mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human Wharton's jelly were cryopreserved using 10% DMSO, 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a cocktail solution comprising of 0.05 M glucose, 0.05 M sucrose and 1.5 M ethylene glycol following controlled rate freezing protocol. We investigated the post-thaw cell viability, morphology, proliferation capacity, basic stem cell characteristics, in vitro differentiation potential and apoptosis-related gene expression profile before and after cryopreservation. RESULTS: The cryoprotectant 10% DMSO has shown higher post-thaw cell viability of 81.2+/-0.58% whereas 10% PVP and cocktail solution have shown 62.87+/-0.35% and 72.2+/-0.23%, respectively at 0 h immediately thawing. The cell viability was further reduced in all the cryopreserved groups at 24 h later post-thaw culture. Further, the complete elimination of FBS in cryoprotectants has resulted in drastic reduction in cell viability. Cryopreservation did not alter the basic stem cell characteristics, plasticity and multipotency except proliferation rate. The expression of pro-apoptotic BAX and p53 genes were higher whilst p21 was lower in all the cryopreserved groups when compare to the control group of WJMSCs. CONCLUSION: Although 10% DMSO has shown higher post-thaw cell viability compare to 10% PVP and cocktail solution, the present study indicates the feasibility of developing a well-defined DMSO free cryosolution which can improve storage and future broad range applications of WJMSCs in regenerative medicine without losing their basic stem cell characteristics.
Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation* ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ethylene Glycol ; Freezing* ; Genes, p53 ; Glucose ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Plastics ; Povidone ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells ; Sucrose ; Transcriptome ; Wharton Jelly

The increasing prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the human population in the Republic of Korea (= Korea) is due to various reasons such as an increase in meat consumption. However, the importance of cats in transmitting T. gondii infection through oocysts to humans has seldom been assessed. A total of 300 fecal samples of stray cats captured around Seoul from June to August 2013 were examined for T. gondii B1 gene (indicating the presence of oocysts) using nested-PCR. Fourteen (4.7%) of 300 cats examined were positive for B1 gene. Female cats (7.5%) showed a higher prevalence than male cats (1.4%). Cats younger than 3 months (5.5%) showed a higher prevalence than cats (1.5%) older than 3 months. For laboratory passage of the positive samples, the fecal suspension (0.2 ml) of B1 gene positive cats was orally inoculated into experimental mice. Brain tissues of the mice were obtained after 40 days and examined for the presence of tissue cysts. Two isolates were successfully passaged (designated KNIH-1 and KNIH-2) and were molecularly analyzed using the SAG5D and SAG5E gene sequences. The SAG5D and SAG5E gene sequences showed high homologies with the ME49 strain (less virulent strain). The results indicated the importance of stray cats in transmitting T. gondii to humans in Korea, as revealed by detection of B1 gene in fecal samples. T. gondii isolates from cats were successfully passaged in the laboratory for the first time in Korea.
Animals ; Cat Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cats ; Feces/*parasitology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Seoul/epidemiology ; Toxoplasma/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology/parasitology/transmission ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology

BACKGROUND: Influenza causes morbidity and mortality, resulting in the medical and socioeconomic costs. We aimed to analyse whether socioeconomic and medical factors may affect influenza vaccination status divided into 2 groups; one aged 19 to 64 years old and the other aged 65 or over who are eligible for free vaccination. METHODS: The study included 1,412 individuals aged 19 and over who responded to influenza vaccination survey, based on 2013 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Related factors were categorized into socioeconomic factors and medical factors. Univariate analyses were conducted to examine the correlations between vaccination rate and each variables. Multivariate analysis was obtained after adjusting variables which were statistcally significant. RESULTS: Influenza vaccination rate was significantly different in the population aged 19 to 64 (24.9%) and the population aged 65 or over (80.5%). In the former population, high vaccination rate was associated with healthcare usage (odds ratio [OR]=1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.03-1.83), underlying chronic diseases (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.43-3.40), and public assistance recipient households (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.03-4.78), while low vaccination rate was correlated with no use of medical check up (OR=0.70, 95% CI=0.52-0.94) and heavy alcoholics (OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.24-0.70). In the latter population aged 65 or over, high vaccination rate was associated with healthcare usage (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.28-2.59), and underlying malignancies (OR=4.79, 95% CI=1.07-21.54), whereas low vaccination rate was associated with public assistance recipient households (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.14-0.76), and no use of medical check up (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.19-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In the population below 65 years old, vaccination rate would be expected to rise by the recommendation of medical care providers and expanding the coverage of free vaccination. In elderly, individualized care for those who have less access to medical care and high susceptibility is highly recommended.
Adult* ; Aged ; Alcoholics ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Surveys ; Public Assistance ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Vaccination*

In clinical practice, Tc-99m DTPA renal scan has been using for screening for the presence of renal dysfunction to determine the need for early treatment in kidney transplantation patients. We measured glomerular filtration rate(GFR) using Gates method during the routine Tc-99m DTPA renal scan, predicted creatinine clearance estimated by Cockcroft and Gault formula and 24-hour creatinine clearance and compared each other in 88 kidney transplantation patients simultaneously. The range of renal uptake(%) of Tc-99m DTPA was from 1.8% to 10.4% and the correlation between 24-hour creatinine clearance and renal uptake showed Y=7.176X8.975Y=creatinine clearance(ml/min), X=renal uptake(%) and the correlation coefficient was 0.771. The correlation coefficient between GFR (ml/min) using Tc-99m DTPA renal scan and predicted creatinine clearance was 0.765. The correlation coefficient between predicted creatinine clearance and 24-hour creatinine clearance was 0.850. We concluded that the measurement of GFR using Tc-99m DTPA renal scan was clinically useful in kidney transplantation patients with the advantage of simplicity, low expense, opportunity for renal imaging.
Creatinine ; Filtration ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Mass Screening ; Pentetic Acid*