OBJECTIVE: The conventional methods to determine fetal genetic status, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling(CVS) have small procedure-related risk of abortion. Recently, several researchers reported that fetal genetic status, such as sex, can be confirmed by fetal nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood and this method might reduce such risk. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to determine the basic fetal genetic status, sex, with fetal nucleated erythrocytes. METHODS: In twelve pregnant women who undertook amniocentesis or CVS, 20 ml of venous blood was drawn immediately before the procedure and the nucleated erythrocytes were recovered by magnetic activated cell sorting(MACS). After MACS, DNA was extracted from 200 microliter of sample and single nucleated erythrocyte was obtained by additional procedure, immunostaining, and microdissection. After recovery of nucleated erythrocytes by microdissection, nested polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and fluorescent PCR of amelogenin gene were performed to identify the fetal gender. RESULTS: The DNA of enriched erythrocytes after MACS could identify the fetal gender in the 58.3% of the samples by nested PCR. After the recovery of single nucleated erythrocyte by MACS, immunostaining and microdissection, the minute DNA in a single cell could be amplified by primer extension preamplification(PEP), nested PCR, and fluorescent PCR. Fetal genders were correctly identified in 8 out of 12 (66.7 %). CONCLUSION: Through this study, we could conclude that fetal nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood might be sufficient sample to determine fetal sex. And single cell isolation by microdissection could get the better results than nested PCR after MACS only. However, in spite of the pregnancy of male fetus, female specific bands were obtained after nested PCR of amelogenin in several cells, which might suggest that part of nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood might be maternal origin. Therefore, to determine fetal genetic condition by nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood, further improvements of methods to identify the nucleated erythrocytes of fetal origin are needed.
Amelogenin ; Amniocentesis ; Cell Separation ; Chorionic Villi ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Erythroblasts* ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Male ; Microdissection ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

No abstract available.
Gastric Stump*

The elbow is the most frequent area of complaint in children and adolescent baseball players. The physical stresses associated with repetitive throwing create extra-ordinary forces, which may affect the normal osteochondral and soft tissue developmental process and are the important factors causing the decrease of competitive power and shortening of life as a baseball player in adolescents. We surveyed the 114 baseball players of middle & high school in Taegu in order to evaluate the prevalance of symptoms and radiologic findings of the elbow and correlation of these findings to career & position of the baseball game. The results were as follows. 1. Of 114 players, 83 were non-pitchers and 31 were pitchers. The mean career was 3.8 years (7 months to 6 years). 2. The 77 players (67.7%) had the pain on their elbow during or after daily exercise. Other clinical symptoms were locking (30.7%), limitation of motion (18.4%), swelling (16.6%) and clicks on motion (10.5%). 3. On the radiogram of the elbow, hypertrophy or separation of medial epicondyle were seen in 34% of players, loose bodies in 17%, hypertrophy of the humerus in 12% and cystic change of the capitellum in 11%. 4. The mean career of symptomatic players was 4.4 years but non-symptomatics was 2.7 years. The mean career of players who had abnormal radiologic findings was 5.1 years but 3.1 years in players who had no abnormal radiologic fingings. 5. Symptoms and pathologic changes were more common in the elbow of pitcher' s group due to throwing frequency & pitching style. 6. Among the 77 players who had any kinds of problem of the elbow, 49 players of them had no experience of visiting hospital. 7. To prevent these injuries of the elbow, the following recommendations were made. First, restrict the number of innings pitched per game. Second, avoid throwing the curve ball in this age group. Third, ensue an adequate warm up period before exercise or rest after games. Fourth, inform parents and coaches of possible harmful nature of excessive throwing.
Adolescent* ; Baseball* ; Child ; Daegu ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertrophy ; Parents

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Kidney* ; Renal Artery*

BACKGROUND: It is now thought that the earliest manifestation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is alveolitis, that is, an accumulation of inflammatory and immune effector cells within alveolar walls and spaces. Inflammatory cells including alveolar macrophages and resident normal pulmonary tissue cells participate through the release of many variable mediators such as inflammatory growth factors and cytokines, which contribute to tissue damage and finally cause chronic pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. This study was performed to investigate the source and distribution pattern of transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-beta1), platelet derived growth factor(PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), interleukin 1(IL-1), interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) and the role of these mediators on bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary injury and fibrosis in rats. METHOD: Wistar rats were divided into three groups(control group, BML treated group, BML and vitamine E treated group). Animals were sacrifices periodically at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 days after saline or BLM administration. The effects were compared to the results of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, light microscopic findings, immunohistochemical stains for six defferent mediators(TGF-beta1, PDGF, bFGF, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) and mRNA in situ hybridization for TGF-beta1. RESULTS: IL-1 and IL-6 are maximally expressed at postbleomycin 1~7th day which are mainly produced by neutrophils and bronchiolar epithelium. It is thought that they induce recruitment of inflammatory cells at the injury site. The expression of IL-1 and IL-6 at the bronchiolar epithelium within 7th day is an indirect evidence of contribution of bronchiolar epithelial cells to promote and maintain the inflammatory and immune responses adjacent to the airways. TNF-alpha is mainly produced by neutrophils and bronchiolar epithelial cells during 1~5th day, alveolar macrophages during 7~28th day. At the earlier period, TNF-alpha causes recruitment of inflammatory cells at the injury site and later stimulates pulmonary fibrosis. The main secreting cells of TGF-beta1 are alveolar macrophages and bronchiolar epithelium and the target is pulmonary fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. TGF-beta1 and PDGF stimulate proliferation of pulmonary fibroblasts and TGF-beta1 and bFGF incite the fibroblasts to produce extracellular matrix. The vitamine E and BLM treated group shows few positive cells(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: After endothelial and epithelial injury, the neutrophils and bronchiolar epithelium secrete IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha which induce infiltration of many neutrophils. It is thought that variable enzymes and O2 radicals released by these neutrophils cause destruction of normal lung architecture and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. At the 7~28th day, TGF-beta1, PDGF, bFGF, TNF-alpha secreted by alveolar macrophages sting pulmonary fibroblasts into proliferating with increased production of extracellular matrix and finally, they make progression of pulmonary fibrosis. TNF-alpha compares quite important with TGF-beta1 to cause pulmonary fibrosis. Vitamine E seems to decrease the extent of BLM induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Animals ; Bites and Stings ; Bleomycin* ; Blood Platelets ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Coloring Agents ; Cytokines* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; In Situ Hybridization ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: Closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with one layer and two layer, we compared operative time, hemostasis, blood loss and postoperative sonohysteroperitoneographic findings. Study design: At our hospital 103 women were randomized to closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with either one continuous layer of a locking No. 1 chromic suture or two continuous of No. 1 chromic suture with the first layer locked between Mar. 1, 1998 and Dec. 31, 1998. After three months later, sonhysteroperitoneography was taken and then we evaluated uterus indirectly. RESULTS: A one layer closure required less operative time, 16 versus 20.8 minutes (p<0.01), less hemoglobin change, 0.44 versus 1.3 (p<0.01) and less suture materials (p<0.01). But postoperative follow up sonohysteroperitoneography, a one layer closure shows slightly thinning of isthmic layer of myometrium, two layer closure shows more adhesional band and both are similar other findings. CONCLUSION: A one layer does not significantly affect the clinical course than traditional two layer closure. So we recommended a one layer closure when its use is anatomically feasible.
Animals ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Operative Time ; Sutures ; Uterus

Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis is a benign ossifying diathetic disorder characterized by hyperostosis and soft tissue ossification of the clavicles, anterior portion of the first ribs, and manubrium, with variable hyperostosis or ankylosis in the spine and sacroiliac joints. A review of the literature and our own case describes the clinical findings and its characteristic features in RI, CT, and plain film.
Ankylosis ; Clavicle ; Hyperostosis ; Hyperostosis, Sternocostoclavicular* ; Manubrium ; Ribs ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine

Adenomatoid tumor of the uterus is a rare benign neoplasm which has been known as mesothelial origin. Characteristically, it appears as a small nodular lesion less than 2.0cm in the myometrium of subserosal region. We describe a case of giant adenomatoid tumor of the uterus having multicystic gross appearance. A 49-year-old woman complained of vaginal bleeding. The tumor was an intramural mass with maximum diameter of 10 cm and located at posterior wall of the uterus. Histologically, the tumor was composed of multiple cystic cavities of variable size lined by flattened cells, lying among thin septa of connective tissue. Immunohistochemically, the cells are positive for low molecular weight cytokeratin(CAM 5.2) and are negative for factor VIII.
Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVES: Changes in plasma homovanillic acid(HVA) were investigated in neuroleptic responsive and non-responsive schizophrenics in order to delineate parameters of dopamine regulation, which may underlie differences in neuroleptic responsivity. METHOD: Twenty newly admitted acute schizophrenic patients were treated with haloperidol for 6 weeks. HVA was sampled at baseline, 3 days after initial neuroleptic dose, and after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 weeks of treatment. Nine patients were classified as responders in this prospective haloperidol treatment trial. They had a score of change in the BPRS total scores of 25% or greater. Eleven patients were classified as nonresponders, based on a score of changes in the BPRS total scores of less than 25%. RESULTS: 1) The age of onset in respnder was older than nonresponder. 2) There were no significant changes in plasma HVA levels in total patients during 6 weeks haloperidol treatment period, but the nonreponders had a robust decrease in HVA level from baseline to 3 days and one week after haloperidol treatment in successive comparison. 3) There were no significant correlations between plasma HVA level and total scores of BPRS. CONCLUSIONS:This study suggested that neuroleptic non-responsive schizophrenics had a different plasma HVA concentration during haloperidol treatment but could not provide support to the idea that change in plasma HVA in response to neuroleptics can predict eventual clinical response to treatment. Further study is required in order to better characterize the changes in dopamine turnover in subgroups of schizophrenics.
Age of Onset ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Dopamine ; Haloperidol ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Bacillus anthracis* ; Bacillus*