OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of C-reactive protein and fetal fibronectin for patients with preterm labor and intact mxmbranes. STUDY DESIGN: The study group was comprised of sixty patients who presented to the Taegu Fatima Hospital between 24-36 gestational weeks who had a diagnosis of preterm labor. The study group underwent assay of C-reactive protein in the matemal serum, and fetal fibronectin from the external os and posterior fomix of the vagina by means of polyester fiber swabs. The study group was categorized to four groups according to the results of CRP and fetal fibronectin, that is 28 cases of CRP(-)/fetal fibronectin(-); group I, 12 cases of CRP(+)/fetal fibronectin (-); groupII, 9 cases of CRP(-)/fetal fibronectin(+); groupIII, 11 cases of CRP(+)/fetal fibronectin(+): grouplV, and the controls were 12 women without preterm labor. Outcome measures were occurrence of preterm delivery, the admission-to-delivery interval, matemal age and parity, fetal body weight, 1min/5min Apgar score, perinatal morbidity and mortality etc. Statistical analyses were performed by means of ANOVA test and Dunnett's t-test. RESULTS: The prevalence of study group were group I 46.7%, group II 20%, group III 15% and group IV 18.3%. There were no significant difference of matemal age, parity and gestational weeks at admission between study group and control group, but in all study group the admission to delivery interval was significantly shorter than that of control group. Analysis indicated also no significant difference of maternal hemoglobin between study group and conuol group but white blood cell count of group II and IV were significantly higher than that of control group. In perinatal outcomes, the mean birth weight and 1 minute Apgar score of study group except group I were significantly lower than those of control group but 5minutes Apgar score was lower only in group IV compared with control group. Perinatal morbidity and mortality of study group were higher than those of control group except group I. This study group was designed to compare the diagnostic performance of cervical fibronectin and of the serum CRP levels. The sensitivity and specificity of fetal fibronectin as a test to predict of preterm labor were 80% and 90%, which were slightly higher than those of CRP(70%, 78%). CONCLUSION: Both positive cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin and positive C-reactive protein in women with preterm uterine contraction can help identify the pregnancies at risk and to select proper management protocol.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; C-Reactive Protein ; Daegu ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Weight ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Membranes* ; Mortality ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Parity ; Polyesters ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Contraction ; Vagina

It is supposed in Korea that institutional care for the elderly would increase while their home care would decrease. Assessment of the functional status is of much importance for effective caregiving for the institutionalized people. The functional status was evaluated in 89 elderly residents of an institution in Taegu, using the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination, the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, the Barthel Activities of Daily Living, and the Motoricity Index. Vision and hearing were also examined. Based on scores of the Korean version of mini-mental state examination, 45% were found to have definite cognitive impairment and further 25% to have questionable cognitive impairment. About 35% of the subjects possibly had mild or more severe dementia on the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale. Fifty-seven percent had impairment in activities of daily living, and 66% had impairment in motor power. Sixteen percent and 20% had poor vision and hearing difficulty, respectively, to the degree of impairment in daily activities. These findings indicate that more than half of elderly people in institutional care may need either partial or total help from others.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Daegu ; Dementia ; Hearing ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Korea

Multiple primary tumors are defined as cases involving primary malignant tumors of different histologic origins in one person. The absolute number of reported cases of double primary malignant tumors has increased in recent years diagnostic procedures. Primary adenocarcinoma of duodenum is a rare disease and represents less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Therefore, synchronous multiple primary cancers of the stomach and duodenum are very rare. Recently, we experienced a case of triple primary malignant tumors of different site originating from the stomach, duodenum and cervix in 71- year-old woman. She had had radiation therapy and chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix 8 years previously. We performed subtotal gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy with radical lymph node dissection. She remained healthy without any evidence of recurrence 12 months after the operation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Drug Therapy ; Duodenal Neoplasms* ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst*

No abstract available.
Male ; Penis* ; Replantation*

OBJECTIVE: Papaverine has been used to manage vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, its mechanism for cerebrovascular smooth muscle are still not clear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of papaverine on L-type Ca2+ channels directly by using patch clamp techniques in freshly isolated single smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. METHODS: Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used for measuring the amplitude of L-type Ca2+ current. Papaverine was added to the bath solution. RESULTS: Patch clamp studies revealed a whole-cell current which resembles the L-type Ca2+ current reported by others. The amplitude of this current was decreased by nimodipidine and increased by Bay K 8644. Papaverine 100 micro M reduced the amplitude of the L-type Ca2+ channel current. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that papaverine may relax cerebral vessel through decreasing level of intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]i, by inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channel.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Animals ; Basilar Artery ; Baths ; Calcium ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Papaverine* ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

No abstract available.
Blood Transfusion* ; Humans ; Infant*

PURPOSE: The residual intrahepatic stones with biliary strictures are difficult to remove percutaneously via T-tube tract after surgery in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. We evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous balloon dilatation of benign biliary strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The balloon dilatations with 6-12mm angioplasty balloon catheter and stone extractions were performed via a T-tube tract after surgical treatment in 15 patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. The balloons were inflated for 3-4minutes under 5 atm. until disappearance of waist of the stricture site, from one to seven session. After balloon dilatation, residual stones were extracted with saline irrigation or stone basket. RESULTS: Among total 42 strictures, the balloon dilatation was succesful in 27 strictures(64.3%), partially successful in 12 strictures(28.6%), and failed in three strictures(7.1%). Single or central biliary strictures were dilated easily rather than multiple ductal strictures. Of 26 sites with residual intrahepatic stones, stone extraction was complete in 17 sites(65.4%), incomplete in seven sites(26.9%) due to impacted or large stone and acute ductal angulation, and failed in two sites(7.7%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous balloon dilatation of benign biliary strictures is an effective procedure for extraction of residual intrahepatic stones associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare clinical outcomes with blood lipids level and lipid solubility of organophosphate-poisoned patients. METHODS: Data from 88 patients who visited the emergency room from January 2008 to July 2014 were analyzed. This study was conducted retrospectively using blood test results and progress notes. The contents of data included the type of organophosphate herbicide, ingesting dose, vital signs on emergency room, blood lipids level, electrocardiographic finding, and hospital course. For lipid solubility, octanol/water coefficient was used. RESULTS: Among a total of 88 patients with organophosphate herbicide intoxication, 48 patients ingested high lipophilic organophosphate. There were statistically significant between cholesterol and duration of ventilator care. And there was a trend toward significance between cholesterol and intensive care unit, total admission stay, between triglyceride and total admission stay. As cholesterol and triglyceride level of patient was higher, the prognosis was worse. CONCLUSION: In this study, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in high lipophilic organophosphate herbicide intoxicated patients are useful predictable factors for prognosis.
Cholesterol ; Electrocardiography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Organophosphate Poisoning* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Solubility ; Triglycerides ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Vital Signs

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of active intervention with antenatal maternal corticosteroid and antibiotics therapy in infants delivered between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation after premature rupture of membrane. This retrospective study included pregnant women complicated by preterm delivery at the Dong-A University Hospital from 1998 to 2002. Patients were divided into labor induction group 1 (n=20), observation group 2 (n=19), and medication group 3 (n=20). We evaluated the effects of prolongation of pregnancy and intervention with maternal corticosteroids and antibiotics therapy on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Each group did not have a significant difference (p<0.05) in neonatal outcomes, such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and sepsis. The mean latency period was 4.7 days and 7.6 days in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Therefore, this study was unable to demonstrate any beneficial effects of corticosteroids in improving neonatal outcomes and prolongation of the latency period with antibiotics.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/*pharmacology ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Apgar Score ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/*drug therapy ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Premature Birth/prevention & control ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors