Cyclooxygenase (COX) is an enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins(PGs), and exists in two forms, COX-1 and COX-2. COX has been reported to be involved in early implantation by secretion of PGs which causes permeability of vessels and reaction of decidual cells around the implantation site. Recently, in mice and sheep studies, COX-1 and COX-2 expression in the endometrium has been reported to be different according to implantation and stages of the estrous cycle, but expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle has not yet been established. The purpose of this stuffy was to observe the variances of COX-1 and COX-2 expression by immunohistoehemical staining in endometrial samples obtained from human hysterectomy specimens and biopsies of women of reproductive age according to different stages of the menstrual cycle. Also, we attempted to observe COX-1 and COX-2 expression in the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium obtained during the mid-secretory phase, which were cultured separately. COX-2 showed a cyclic pattern of expression according to the different stages of the menstrual cycle and was strongly expressed particularly at the mid-secretory phase which corresponds to the time of implantation. However, COX-1 tended to be increased in the early proliferative, and mid- and late secretory phases, but was also expressed in the whole menstrual cycle showing no particular pattern. In the separately cultured cells COX-1 was expressed in epithilial cells and COX-2 in the stromal cells. The above results suggest that since COX-2 is expressed at the same time as implantation and cultured cells display a specific secretory pattern, COX-2 has inductive endocrine enzyme properties and has an important effect on endometrial cells during implantation. Also, COX-2 expression in endometrial cells may be utilized as a useful marker of endometrial maturation.
Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Biopsy ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclooxygenase 1* ; Endometrium* ; Estrous Cycle ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Mice ; Permeability ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sheep ; Stromal Cells

Metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the nasal septum is an extremely rare condition. The proper management and the role of surgical intervention are still controversial and there is no evidence-based guideline for this specific condition. The authors of the present study report a case of HCC with sinonasal metastasis, managed by surgery to relieve nasal obstruction and frequent epistaxis. Complete removal of the tumor via endoscopic surgery was performed and the pathology was reported to be consistent with metastatic HCC. No additional treatment modality was considered for the septal lesion. During the 8-month postoperative period, the patient remained alive and satisfied with comfortable nasal breathing. The present case report stresses the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Proper consultation between surgeon and oncologist may lead to improved quality of life, even when the patient is in the terminal stage of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cooperative Behavior ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life ; Respiration

The morphologic change of the mouse brain after exposure to magnetic field is studied. Our magnetic field model was a pulsed unipolar magnetic field with the flux density of 0.2 - 0.3 tesla and the frequency of 60 hertz. Twelve adult male mice were exposed to the magnetic field for 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours. After the exposure to the magnetic field mice were anesthetized with chloral hydrate, and paraformaldehyde was infused through the left ventricle for fixation. During exposure to the magnetic field, behavioral and weight changes of mice were observed. Mice became irritable and restless, especially during first 2 hours of the exposure. Microscopic and ultrastructural examination on the brain revealed nuclear chromatin clumping of the neuron in mice exposed to the magnetic field for more than four hours. The change was proportional to the exposed time and more prominent in the cerebral cortex. An immunohistochemical study for amyloid precursor protein (APP) was also performed. There was an increased expression of APP in the neuronal cytoplasm of the mouse brain exposed to the magnetic field for 4 hours or more. But the reaction was not proportional to the exposure time and reactive neuron was diffusely distributed through the whole brain. Anti-APP antibody reactivity was not correlated with the chromatin clumping. The mechanism of APP induction was postulated as stress-induced APP-gene induction, and the role of APP was presumed to protect the neuron against hazardous environment.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggestes that various mechanism of fetal loss are associated with anticardiolipin(ACA) and humoral immunity in the patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. Thus we have investigated the relationship between ACA and chromosomal anomaly to know the clinical impact of ACA to early fetal loss as comparing to the chromosomal anomaly in the patients of recurrent spontaneous abortions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients(n=88) with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (2 or more) between January 1, 1994 and June 30, 1999 were included in this study. Quantitative measurement of serum ACA was performed by ELISA and chromosomal analysis of chorionic villi obtained from aborted conceptuses was done by using standard G-banding technique. RESULTS: The incidence rate of ACA positive was 27%(24/88) and that of chromosomal abnormality was 57%(50/88). The incidence rate of abnormal karyotype was 54% (13/24) in ACA positive. Among 24 ACA positive, 10 had IgG-ACA positive, 10 had IgM-ACA positive and 4 had both types of ACA. The incidence rate of chromosomal anomalies was 30% (3/10) in IgG-ACA positive, 90%(9/10) in IgM-ACA positive and there was significant difference between these two groups (p=0.02). The incidence rate of chromosomal trisomy was 59% (23/37) in ACA negative, 62% (8/13) in ACA positive and there was no significance between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly low incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in conceptal products of patients with IgG-ACA comparing that of patients with IgM-ACA suggests that this isotype of antibody have influence on the genesis of spontaneous abortions in genetically normal pregnancy. In further studies, additional trials are mandatory for obtaining a definitive conclusions about relationship between pathologic changes of conceptal products and pathophysiologic effects of IgG-ACA.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Chorionic Villi ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Trisomy

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to avoid the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass, off pump coronary artery bypass grafting(Off pump CABG) that has recently been rediscovered and refined. We compared the preoperative risk factors and in-hospital outcomes of patients done Off pump with those done On pump CABG. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred seventy eight patients was underwent CABG between January 2001 and July 2001. 12 patients whom underwent associated valvular or left ventricular volume reduction surgery were excluded in this study. Data were collected for 52 Off pump CABG and 114 On pump CABG for patient and disease risk factors, extent of coronary disease, and in-hospital outcomes. RESULT: Off pump CABG and On pump CABG groups did not show any differences in their patient and disease risk factors, and extent of coronary disease. Off pump CABG group had significantly lower mean operation time(234 +/- 37 min vs 290 +/- 48 min, p < 0.001), lower mean CK-MB level(10.1 +/- 13.5 IU/L vs 33.1 +/- 18.2 IU/L, p < 0.001) and mean ventilation time(14.8 +/- 3.5 hours vs 16.2 +/- 4.9 hours, p=0.048) than On pump CABG groups. On pump CABG group had significantly more distal grafts(3.4 +/- 0.9 vs 2.6 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001) than Off pump CABG groups. There were no operative mortality in two groups. Off pump CABG and On pump CABG groups did not show any differences in their postoperative complications and outcomes including perioperative myocardial infarction, stroke, respiratory failure, renal failure, reoperation, the amount of bleeding, the need of intraaortic balloon pump, the need of inotropics, and the stay of intensive care unit and hospital. Two patients were converted to On pump CABG. CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients having Off pump CABG are not exposed to a greater risks of adverse outcomes and also provided evidence that patients having Off pump CABG have significantly lower operation time, CK-MB, ventilation time and less distal grafts. Although there may be potential benefits to Off pump CABG, further studies must be directed to determine those patients who would benefit from Off pump CABG.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Coronary Disease ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Insufficiency ; Reoperation ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Transplants ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychiatric function and quality of life of the chemical workers who had been exposed to long-term, low-level organic solvents in the Y industrial complex. METHODS: A total of 144 male workers, of whom 82 were in the exposed group and 60 in the unexposed-control group, were evaluated by using Symptom Checklist-90-R(SCL-90-R), series of neuropsychological tests(critical flicker fusion threshold, CFFT); choice reaction time, CRT; compensatory tracking task, CTT); digit symbol substitution test, DSS), and the Korean version of the SmithKline Beecham Quality Of Life scale(KvSBQOL). For the statistical analyses, comparisons of the means of the two groups were performed for each variable with two-tailed t-test as well as ANCOVA including age and education as covariates. RESULTS: For the SCL-90-R, the nine symptom scales and the three global indices were clinically within normal range in both groups. However, the scores on the symptom scales of 'somatization', 'depression', 'hostility' and 'phobic anxiety', and those on the global indices of 'global severity index' and 'positive symptom total', were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the unexposed group. In terms of the neuropsychological function and the quality of life, there wes no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that the long-term exposure to mixed organic solvents, even at the low level below the permissible exposure limit, might induce some psychiatric problems.
Education ; Flicker Fusion ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Quality of Life* ; Reaction Time ; Reference Values ; Solvents* ; Weights and Measures

The transdermal administration of narcotics is one of the alternative ways of providing adequate pain relief for the patients with chronic cancer pain. A Phase 4 trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fentanyl-TTS in adult patients with cancer-related pain in Korea. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed malignancy, who have pain related to the cancer and/or therapy, pain necessitating the use of opoid analgesics, age of 18 yr or older, ability to communicate effectively with study personnel, and signed on informed consent were included. The patients were titrated with a short-acting narcotic to control their cancer pain before they are converted to a fentanyl-transdermal therapeutic system(TTS). Short acting parenteral morphine and MS contin were used as rescue medications. All patients were evaluated initially and were followed up with a pain visual analogue scale(VAS), quality of life(QOL)-VAS. Patients were asked to keep the daily record for 21 days about pain VAS, QOL-VAS, amount of rescue morphine used, and side effects. RESULTS: Twenth two patients were enrolled from January 1996 to October 1997. The dose of fentanyl-TTS required, ranged between 25 and 75 ug/hr (25 microgram/hr in 13, 50 microgram/hr in 4, and 75 microgram/hr in 2). The mean dose of morphine required before the use of the fentanyl-TTS was 135.3 mg (20-285 mg/day), but it was decreased after the use of the fentanyl-TTS. Pain VAS and QOL-VAS were in adquate level during the fentanyl- TTS treatment. Patients favored continuous use of fentanyl after the study was finished. Side effect of fentanyl-TTS was minimal. CONCLUSION: Transdermal fentanyl seems to be a convenient and effective analgesic for the control of cancer related pain in Korean. A controlled trial comparing fentanyl-TTS to morphine needs to be followed.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult* ; Analgesics ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Korea ; Morphine ; Narcotics

OBJECTIVES: Bishphenol A (BPA) is a representative endocrine disruptor and is also known as a xenoestrogen. The objective of the present study is to investigate how many patients are exposed to BPA and to analyze the relationships between serum BPA concentration, bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical bone markers in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: Total 51 patients were enrolled for measuring BPA and clinical variables including BMD and bone markers. The relationship between BPA and clinical variables were analyzed by the Pearson's correlation test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Serum BPA concentration was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: BPA was detected in all samples. The mean BPA concentration was 1.44 +/- 0.52 ng/mL. There was no statistically significant correlation between BPA and clinical variables. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significance between serum BPA concentration and clinical variables related to bone metabolism. To clarify the effect of BPA on bone metabolism, further large scaled and high risk group investigation may be needed.
Benzhydryl Compounds ; Bone Density ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Phenols

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVDs) are related with large artery atherosclerosis. However, the association between aortic atheroma (AA) and cerebral small vessel disease has rarely been reported. This study evaluated the relationship between presence and burden of AAs and those of SVDs in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We included 737 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of acute stroke. AA subtypes were classified as complex aortic plaque (CAP) and simple aortic plaque (SAP). Presence and burden of SVDs including cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), perivascular spaces (PVSs), asymptomatic lacunar infarctions (ALIs), and total SVD score, were investigated. RESULTS: AA was found by TEE in 360 (48.8%) patients including 11.6% with CAP and 37.2% with SAP. One or more types of SVDs was found in 269 (36.4%) patients. In multivariable analysis, presence of CMBs (odds ratio [OR] 4.68), high-grade WMHs (OR 3.13), high-grade PVSs (OR 3.35), and ALIs (OR 4.24) were frequent in patients with AA than those without AA. Each 1-point increase in total SVD score increased the odds of presence of CAP (OR 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44-1.85) and SAP (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.35-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients with AA frequently had cerebral SVDs. Larger burden of AA was associated with advanced cerebral SVDs. Our findings give an additional information for positive relationship with systemic atherosclerosis and coexisting cerebral SVDs in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Brain ; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic* ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; White Matter

In the present study, we characterized the angiotensin II (AII)-induced relaxations in the phenylephrineprecontracted rabbit mesenteric arteries with endothelium. 1) AII-induced relaxation was consistently observed in the rabbit mesenteric arteries with and without endothelium, but not in the aortic segment with endothelium. 2) AII-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was markedly inhibited by Nw-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 micrometer), methylene blue (10 micrometer) and LY83583 (10 micrometer), respectively. 3) Inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin (10 micrometer) strongly decreased the vasorelaxant response to AII irrespective of the presence of endothelium. 4) 7-Ethoxyresorufin (1 micrometer) and clotrimazole (1 micrometer), inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism, greatly attenuated the vasodilator response to All. 5) Carbacyclin, arachidonic acid and prostaglandin F2alpha, (PGF2alpha) caused concentration-dependent relaxations in the mesenteric artery with endothelium, which were inhibited by L-NNA and methylene blue. 6) AII and PGF2alpha, significantly stimulated cyclic GMP formation in the mesenteric arteries with endothelium, which was inhibited by L-NNA and methylene blue, respectively. 7) AII enhanced synthesis of PGF2a and 6-keto PGF1a from the arterial segments with endothelium, which was inhibitable by indomethacin, but not by L-NNA. In conclusion, the vasorelaxant responses to AII of the rabbit mesenteric artery with endothelium are subserved by arachidonic acid and its metabolites produced via activation of cyclooxygenase and cytochrome P-450 enzyme as well as by nitric oxide.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Arachidonic Acid ; Clotrimazole ; Cyclic GMP ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes ; Dinoprost ; Endothelium ; Indomethacin ; Mesenteric Arteries* ; Metabolism ; Methylene Blue ; Nitric Oxide ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Relaxation* ; Vasodilation