The 68 cervical cerclage operations of incompetent internal os of the cervix(IIOC) were performed at the Taegu Catholic Medical Center from Jan. 1, 1990 to Dec. 31, 1995. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The incidence of operation for IIOC was 0.23% of total delivery. 2. Highest number of IIOC was observed in the age group of 25 to 29, and the average number of pregnancy before operation was 4.1. 3. The significant contributory factor was previous history of the induced or spontaneous abortion. 4. In all cases, cerclage method was McDonald operation. 5. The average fetal salvage rate after operation was 82.5% and from the 14th week to 16th week of gestation(43 cases), the success rate of operation was 85%. 6. The causes of operation failure were premature labor in 6 cases(55%), premature rupture of membrane in 3 cases(27%) and abortion in 2 cases(18%) in order.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri* ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Rupture

The coding and filing of pathologic diagnoses have been heavy tasks; however with the availability of inexpensive microcomputer, a system may be developed that permits storage and retrieval to be performed efficiently. With Apple II(R) computer system and SNOP coding, a simple program using dBASE-II and QUICKCODE computer program can be created to include the following informations: accession number, chart number, sex and age of patients and 2 diagnosis codes. Once SNOP coding is carried out by medical staff, a secretary or clerk can enter the informations into the microcomputer. Data may be searched on any combination of the above parameters.

Urethral prolapse is a circular eversion of the mucosa at the urethral meatus. It occurs in premenarchal and postmenopausal patients. We report a case of female urethral prolapse in a 79 years old female.
Adult* ; Aged ; Female* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Prolapse*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify clinical predictive factors for tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 51 patients who underwent preoperative CRT followed by surgery between January 2005 and February 2012. Radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis at a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions, followed by a boost of 5.4 Gy in 3 fractions to the primary tumor with 5 fractions per week. Three different chemotherapy regimens were used (5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, capecitabine, or tegafur/uracil). Tumor responses to preoperative CRT were assessed in terms of tumor downstaging and pathologic complete response (ypCR). Statistical analyses were performed to identify clinical factors associated with pathologic tumor response. RESULTS: Tumor downstaging was observed in 28 patients (54.9%), whereas ypCR was observed in 6 patients (11.8%). Multivariate analysis found that predictors of downstaging was pretreatment relative lymphocyte count (p = 0.023) and that none of clinical factors was significantly associated with ypCR. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment relative lymphocyte count (%) has a significant impact on the pathologic tumor response (tumor downstaging) after preoperative CRT for locally advanced rectal cancer. Enhancement of lymphocyte-mediated immune reactions may improve the effect of preoperative CRT for rectal cancer.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Deoxycytidine ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Lymphocyte Count ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pelvis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Capecitabine

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ambroxol on preventing the infantile respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in preterm birth at the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Taegu Catholic Medical Center during the period from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1996. Total of 68 cases were evaluated including 16 ambroxol group and 52 control group. The result were as follows : 1. In the comparison of preventing IRDS, there was 0 case of IRDS in ambroxol group and 7 cases of IRDS in control group (13.46 %). There was a significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). 2. The side effects of ambroxol after administration were nausea in 5 cases, headache in 3 cases, and chest discomfort in 4 cases, but these were not serious and self controlled. 3. There was no significant difference in neonatal morbidity between two groups (p > 0.05).
Ambroxol* ; Daegu ; Gynecology ; Headache ; Nausea ; Obstetrics ; Premature Birth ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn* ; Thorax

This study was performed to assess the accuracy of 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) in the evaluation of myocardial ischemia in cats. Twelve cats underwent myocardial ischemia and reperfusion induced by 90 minutes ligation followed by 90 minutes recirculation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). MRS was performed using a 4.7T Biospec MRS/MRI system (Bruker, Switzerland). An inner diameter 1.5cm-sized doubly tuned surface coli was used for the collection of the MR signal. The coli was implanted to the epicardial surface at the expected area of infarction. 31P MRS was acquired before and during the periods of ischemia and reperfusion with 5-minute to 30-minute of intervals. After completion of the 31P MRS study, animals were sacrificed and the hearts were excised for 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTG0 histochemical staining. The area of infarct was measured on the photographs of TTG stained heart slices using a computer programmed planimetry and the results were compared with those of the 31P MRS study. The level of phosphocreatine (PCr) was decreased to 28.2±6.9% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to 43.8±4.8% of the baseline level at the end of the reperfusion. A 50% depletion of PCr was reached 5 minutes after the LAD occlusion. The ATP was decreased to a 26.6±3.6% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to a 35.9±6.0 of the baseline level 90 minutes after reperfusion. The decreasing rate of ATP was slower than that of PCr showing a 50% of depletion 15 minutes after occlusion. The PCr/ATP ratio was 1.16±0.09 at the baseline, decreased to 0.88±0.07 at 30 minutes of occlusion, and then progressively increased during the late ischemic and reperfused periods. The ratio of the infarcted area to the effective signal area of the surface coli was inversely correlated to the ATP (r=0.68) and PCr (r=0.40) levels obtained at the end of reperfusion. In conclusion, 31P MRS reflects the changes in myocardial high energy phosphorous metabolism during the actue ischemia and reperfusion. If on adequate localization technique is feasible, 31P MRS can be used clinically in the diagnosis and monitoring of the patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Phosphocreatine ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Spectrum Analysis*

BACKGROUND: Reestabilshment of blood flow is a standard therapeutic modality to salvage the myocardium at risk in an acute phase of myocardial infarction. However, there are significant evidences that reperfusion per se may injure the potentially viable myocardium, and a number of pharmacological agents were tried to reduce this reperfusion injury. Adenosine, an endogenous vasodilator, is suggested to reduce repergusion inury. To evaluate the myocardial protective effect of adenosine, magnetic resonance spectroscopy with superscript P was applied to feline model of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, as well as pathological examination. METHODS: Effects of adenosine on the recovery of high energy phosphorous metabolites during 90 minutes of reperfusion period following 90 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation were assessed by31P spectroscopy in 27 cats(10: control group, 8: adenosine I group, 9: adenosine II group). In adenosine groups 0.2 mg/kg/min of adenosine was infused intravenously for 90 minutes from 30 miniutes before reperfusion in group I, and from just before reperfusion in group II. The experiments were performed on a 4.7 T/30 cm Biospec MRS/MRI system and the MR signals were obtained by using inner-diameter 1.5 cm-sized doubly tuned surface coil. The size of the spectral peaks was measured by area integration method. RESULTS: 1) Phosphocreatine(PCr) decreased rapidly with progression of ischemia, and recovered in reperfusion period in each group. PCr values in the reperfusion period were significantly higher in adenosine group than those in control group, although there was no difference between adenosine group I and II. 2) ATP decreased with progression of ischemia, and recovered in reperfusion period in each group. ATP values in the reperfusion period were significantly higher in adenosine groups than those in control group, byt there was no difference between adenosine group I and II. 3) pH decreased uniformly with progression of ischemia and recovered in reperfusion period, showing no difference between control and adenosine groups. 4) PCr/ATP ratio, representing the potential of oxidative phosphorylation, dereased with progression of ischemia and increased in reperfusion period. PCr/ATP ratio showed no difference between control, adenosine I and II groups. 5) Risk area/left ventricle ratio was not different in control and adenosine groups. Infarct size/risk area and infarct size/left ventricle ratios were smaller in adenosine II than those in control group. Howerver no significant diffence was noticed between adenosine I and control, and between adenosine I and II group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous infusion of adenosine showed the tendency of reducing the infarct size in the feline model of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, and adenosine could improve significantly the recovery of high energy phosphate metabolites. This myocardial pretective effect of adenosine is considered to be present mainly in the reperfusion period.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adenosine* ; Coronary Vessels ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Spectrum Analysis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the metabolic and pathological changes associated with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, magnetic resonance spectroscopy with 31P was applied as well as pathological examination. METHODS: Effect of adenosine on the recovery of high energy phosphorous metabolites during the reperfusion period following 90 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD) ligation was assessed by 31P spectroscopy in 13 cats(8 : control group, 5 : adenosine group). In adenosine group 0.2 mg/kg/min of adenosine was infused intravenously for 90 minutes from 30 minutes before reperfusion. The experiments were peformed on a 4.7 T/30cm Biospec MRS/MRI system(Bruker, Switzerland) and the MR signals were obtained by using innerdiameter 1.5 cm sized doubly tuned surface coil. The size of the spectral peaks was measured by area integration method. RESULTS: In control group, high energy phosphorous metabolites decreased continueously during the ischemic period revealing the lowest values at the end of the periods : 17.0% for PCr and 24.0% for ATP, PCr depleted below 50% of the baseline level immediately after the LAD ligation and ATP, after 15 minutes of ischemia. Therfore the depletion rate was faster in PCr change than in ATP. The recovery of the PCr and ATP occurred after reestablishment of blood flow showing, for example, 43.3% and 36.3% of the baseline levels after 10 minutes of reperfusion. After infusion of adenosine, there was a tendency of higher recovery rates of high energy phosphates than in control group. Recovery rates of PCr and ATP after 90 minutes of reperfusion, were 28.2%, 11.2% in control group and 38.3%, 18.6% in adnosine group, respectively. In adenosine grop, relative sizes of infarction were not statistically different from those of control group. CONCLUSIONS: 31P MRS can be used for in-vivo assessment of the changes of high energy phosphorous metablites concerning acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Adenosine infusion improves the recovery of ATP and PCr during the reperfusion period following acute ischemia.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adenosine* ; Animals ; Cats* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Phosphates ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Spectrum Analysis

Paraformaldehyde has been used in the past as a pulpotomy agent. However, it has a severe cytotoxic effect and may cause alveolar bone necrosis. Depulpin, a devitalizing agent containing 49% paraformaldehyde, is no longer used frequently due to its severe side effects. In the two cases described in the present study, Depulpin was used as a devitalizing agent during root canal treatment. It caused a gradual loss of sensibility in adjacent teeth, gingival necrosis, and osteomyelitis. This case report demonstrates the serious side effects of using a paraformaldehyde-containing paste as a devitalizing agent for pulp, particularly mandibular bone necrosis.
Dental Pulp Cavity ; Necrosis* ; Osteomyelitis ; Pulpotomy ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Survival time of patients with multiple myeloma has been reported to be closely related to the cytology of bone marrow smears and the histologic features of bone marrow biopsies. However, there have been many differences in morphological criteria applied by various authors. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic relevance of bone marrow features in patients with multple myeloma by investigation of the cytologic feature and the histologic patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seven previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, admitted to Asan Medical Center, between 1989 and 1997, were studied. Bone marrow aspirations and biopsies were analyzed according to the criteria such as cytologic differentiation, volume of infiltration, pattern of infiltration, degree of hematopoiesis, and presence of fibrosis. RESULTS: 64 cases (59.8%) of 107 patients with multiple myeloma were plasmacytic type and 43 cases (40.2%) were plasmablastic type. Each median survival time was 35.0 months and 18.0 months (P<0.05). The patients with more than 25% of plasmablasts showed shorter median survival time than those with 1ess than 25% (18 months vs 38.9 months, P<0.05). The patients with nodular or packed marrow pattern revealed poorer prognosis than those with interstitial or interstitial/nodular pattern (P<0.05). The patients of plasmablastic type disclosed larger volume of myeloma cell infiltration and more packed marow pattern than those of plasmacytic type. CONCLUSIONS: The cytologic differentiation, the volume of infiltration and the patterns of infiltration were reliable predictors of survival in myeloma patients. Thus, for the prognostic evaluation and therapeutic plans, the descriptions for cytologic differentiation (especially percentage of plasmablasts), volume of infiltration and pattern of infiltration should be included in the bone marrow interpretation of multiple myeloma.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Fibrosis ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Prognosis