p21 is a universal inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) and of cell-cycle progression. p21 expression is variable according to the type of tissue and the pathologic condition. To study the role of p21 in the multistep hepatocarcinogenesis, the expression of p21, p53 and Ki-67 was investigated in 53 cases of inactive liver cirrhosis, 4 cases of low grade dysplastic nodules, 3 cases of high grade dysplastic nodules, 7 cases of early hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 27 cases of small HCCs (< or =3 cm), and 52 cases of advanced HCCs (>3 cm). p21 expression was not detected in liver cirrhosis, low grade dysplastic nodules, high grade dysplastic nodules and early HCCs which were mitotically inactive. p21 expression was significantly increased in small HCCs and advanced HCCs which were mitotically active. p21 expression was significantly correlated with Ki-67 labelling indices. p53 protein was not expressed in liver cirrhosis, dysplastic nodules, and early HCCs. The expression of p53 protein was, however, significantly increased in small and advanced HCCs. The p21 expression was not correlated with p53 expression. Therefore, p21 is suggested to play a role in the mitotically active small and advanced HCCs, but not in the mitotically inactive lesion of dysplastic nodules and early HCC in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis. These findings suggest that homeostatic mechanism of growth control is not totally destroyed in HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Proliferation* ; Humans* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Phosphotransferases

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined as a syndrome of cardiac failure occurring in tbe latter part of pregnancy or in the puerperium, without obvious cause and without prior evidence of heart disease. Despite its infrequency, this clinical problem may have devastating consequences upon maternal and fetal outcome. It is important to recognize the association of cardiac failure and pregnancy as a separate syndrome so that, once identified, peripartum cardiomyopathy can be treated promptly and aggressively. We experienced two cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy, and report these cases with a brief review of the literatures.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Peripartum Period* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy

Strongylodiasis is universal in distribution but is most abundant in countries with a tropical climate. Although infestation by Strongyloides stercoralis is usually limited to the intestines, dessemination of this helminth in debilitated host can be lead to death with various clinical disorders. characterized by profound malabsorption, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, gram negative or opportunistic fungal sepsis, coma and death. Cell-mediated immunity contributing significantly to the control of helminthic infections, may be suppressed by carcinoma, immunosuppressive chemotherapy and use of corticosteroids. Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis is achieved by an examination of samples of feces, duodenal aspirates and sputum of patients for Strongyloides stercoralis. Treatment of strongyloidiasis is twofold : correction of the immunosuppressive state by withdrawal of immunosuppressive drug, if possible, and vigorous treatment with thiabendazole. Testing for strongyloidiasis is especially recommanded before treating a patients should be monitored for infection by Strongyloides stercoralis and other opportunistic infection. We are reporting a case patient with Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection and pulmonary tuberculosis who had been. used corticosteroid for persisting polyarthritis.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Arthritis ; Coma ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Feces ; Helminths ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Intestines ; Opportunistic Infections ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Strongyloides stercoralis* ; Strongyloides* ; Strongyloidiasis ; Thiabendazole ; Tropical Climate ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin*

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Drainage*

In women, leiomyomas are very common diseases and may arise from any organs containing smooth muscle. However, they are extremely rare in M llerian duct remnant. A medline research disclosed only 13 published cases including 3 domestic cases. We report a case of a M llerian duct remnant leiomyoma in a woman of congenital vaginal agenesis with M llerian dysgenesis whose chief complaint was a palpable pelvic mass suspected of an ovarian tumor.
Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Muscle, Smooth

From January 1989 to December 1994, 105 cases of Macrosugical tubal reversal were performed and 87 cases of them were followed up for more than 1 year postoperatively in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pohang St. Mary's Hospital. The result were as follows;1. The mean age of the patients was 31.7 years and 93.1% of them had been sterilized by laparoscopic sterilization. 2. Average inteval between sterilization and tubal reversal was 43.3 months. 3. The reasons for requesting reversal of sterilization were remarrigae 41.5%, chagne of attitude 33.3%, loss of children 25.2%. 4. The distributions of the site of tubal anastomosis were isthmic-ampullar 58.6%, isthmic-isthmic 24.1%, cornual-isthmic 8.1%. 5. The postoperative tubal length was 5.0 cm or more in 78.0%. 6. The overall pregnancy rate after tubal reversal was 68.9% and the outcome of the pregnancy was as follows; term pregnancy 74.6%, premature delivery 1.8%, opontaneous abortion 10.9%, ectopic pregnancy 9.1%, pregnancy state 3.3%.
Child ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Sterilization

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate cardiac events and ischemic heart disease in patients with stroke. The patients were studied by myocardial perfusion SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) and evaluated the functional outcome after rehabilitation. METHOD: Subjects were 31 patients with stroke who had myocardial perfusion SPECT for abnormal findings on the electrocardiography. There were eighteen patients with ischemic stroke: 12 patients with hemorrhagic stroke; and one patient with both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. We screened the patients for the hypertension, diabetes mellitus, previous history of stroke, smoking, alcohol use, and hyperlipidemia as risk factors of ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease. For the dichotomous classification of positive or negative myocardial perfusion SPECT, reversible and persistent defects were considered as positive. We investigated the functional outcomes on the admission and discharge using the Modified Rankin scale (MRS) and functional independence measure (FIM) scores. Cardiac events in patients with stroke were investigated. RESULTS: The myocardial perfusion SPECT was positive in 10 of 18 patients (55.6%) with ischemic stroke. Four out of ten patients with ischemic stroke had cardiac events. Positive myocardial perfusion SPECT was significantly associated with cardiac events (p<0.05). Risk factors of ischemic stroke with positive myocardial perfusion SPECT was more numerous than those of ischemic stroke with negative myocardial perfusion SPECT (p<0.05). However there was no statistically significant difference between functional outcome and findings of myocardial perfusion SPECT (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggested that myocardial perfusion SPECT is useful in the screening of silent ischemic heart disease in patients with ischemic stroke and to assess future cardiac events of them.
Classification ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Mass Screening ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Perfusion* ; Rehabilitation ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: Nasal hyperreactivity is a cardinal pathophysiological feature in allergic or nonallergic rhinitis. However, the mechanisms underlying nasal hyperreactivity are largely unknown. One of the proposed mechanisms is that epithelial damage may contribute to the development of nasal hyperreactivity. However, it is hard to find studies on this topic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate whether the morphological change of nasal epithelium exists in animal model with nasal hyperreactivity or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guinea pigs were sensitized in 10% TDI-ethyl acetate solution for 5 days, after which a recess of 3 weeks were allowed before exposing them in 5% TDI-ethyl acetate solution twice a week for 4 weeks. Thereafter, we observed the morphologic change of nasal mucosa with a light microscope and an electron microscope. RESULTS: Under the light microscopic observation, there were no morphological changes including epithelial damage in the TDI-provoked group. Under the electron microscopic, however, the widening of the intercellular space, the disruption of the basement membrane and the cytoplasmic vacuolization were observed. CONCLUSION: Morphological changes of the nasal epithelium were found in the animal model with nasal hyperreactivity under electron microscopic observation. Further studies to verify the relationship between the morphological changes and the nasal hyperreactivity will be needed.
Animals* ; Basement Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Extracellular Space ; Guinea Pigs ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal* ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Rhinitis

Due to the common use of alkaline disc batteries(e.g. watches, electronic toys and games, calculators, cameras) physicians and the general public should be more aware of this battery foreign body and the peculiarities in their management. Alkaline disc batteries as foreign bodies in the nasal cavities are extremely rare but dangerous because they can cause liquefaction necrosis with subsequent severe local tissue destruction. Batteries found in the nasal cavities should be removed immediately to prevent sequelae such as septal perforations or nasal stenosis. We recently experienced a case of 4-year-old boy who revealed necrotic perforation of nasal septum which was exposed directly to a alkaline disc battery for 20 hours and the special aspects of these foreign body is discussed.
Child, Preschool ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septal Perforation* ; Nasal Septum ; Necrosis ; Play and Playthings