OBJECTIVES: In April 2000, a series of wildfires occurred simultaneously in five adjacent small cities located on the eastern coast of Korea. These wildfires burned approximately 23,794 hectares of forestland over several days. We investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to the by-products generated by wildfire disasters on birth weight. METHODS: Birth weight data were obtained for 1999-2001 from the birth registration database of the Korean National Statistical Office and matched with the zip code and exposed/unexposed pregnancy week for days of the wildfires. Generalized linear models were then used to assess the associations between birth weight and exposure to wildfires after adjusting for fetal sex, gestational age, parity, maternal age, maternal education, paternal education, and average exposed atmospheric temperature. RESULTS: Compared with unexposed pregnancies before and after the wildfires, mean birth weight decreased by 41.4 g (95% confidence interval [CI], -72.4 to -10.4) after wildfire exposure during the first trimester, 23.2 g (95% CI, -59.3 to 13.0) for exposure during the second trimester, and 27.0 g (95% CI, -63.8 to 9.8) during the third trimester. In the adjusted model for infants exposed in utero during any trimester, the mean birth weight decreased by 32.5 g (95% CI, -53.2 to -11.7). CONCLUSIONS We observed a 1% reduction in birth weight after wildfire exposure. Thus, exposure to by-products generated during a wildfire disaster during pregnancy may slow fetal growth and cause developmental delays.

OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disease with specific psychologic and physical symptoms on luteal phase. Its incidence is variable in 20~80%, but its cause is not definitely proved. Because progesterone and estrogen affect the balance of the body mineral, the alteration of progestorone and estrogen in the patients with PMS may effect the imbalance of tissue mineral, that can induce the specific symptoms of PMS. This study examines the relationship between symptoms of PMS and mineral count by tissue mineral test. METHODS: Women who volunteered for the tissue mineral test completed MMDQ questionnaire and checked blood test for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn. The tissue mineral test used the hair not treated within 3 weeks and not washed within 3 hours. The hair was send to TEI for the analysis. We used SPSS (14.0) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The MMDQ score of the normal Mg group is significantly higher than the high Mg group (22.5+/-17.8 vs. 13.9+/-11.1), and the behavioral disorder score of the normal Na group is significantly lower than the low Na group (2.2+/-1.7 vs. 3.4+/-2.2). The MMDQ score of the normal Cu group is significantly lower than abnormal group (15.7+/-11.9 vs. 24.9+/-16.9). CONCLUSIONS: Total score of MMDQ showed difference according to magnesium and copper concentrations in tissue, and scores of behavioral disorder was affected by sodium concentration of tissue. Additional study about cause and effect relationship is required.
Copper ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hair ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Luteal Phase ; Magnesium ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Progesterone ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Sodium

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol versus oral dinoprostone for labor induction at term. METHODS: One hundred of patients at term were randomized to receive either 50microgram of misoprostol vaginally every 4 hours or dinoprostone 0.5mg orally every 1 hour for the maximum of six doses. Intravenous infusion of oxytocin was administered under such circumferences as the patient did not go into active labor after maximum dose, SROM was developed without an adequate contraction pattern, or the patient had arrest of dilatation(no change in cervical dilatation for 2 hours). We compared the frequency of oxytocin augmentation, administration to delivery interval, vaginal delivery rate within 12 hours and 24 hours, intrapartum complications, induction failure, mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, and maternal complications between two groups. RESULTS: The average interval from administration to delivery was shorter in the misoprostol group(739.4+/-372.4min vs 1087.7+/-765.1min, p<0.05), but the interval from administration to vaginal delivery of each group was similar(724.3+/-375.4min vs 800.3+/-697.0min). Regarding the frequency of vaginal delivery within 24 hours, however, misoprostol group was higher than dinoprostone group(88% vs 56%, p<0.001). And oxytocin augmentation of labor occurred less commonly in misoprostol group than in dinoprostone group(20% vs 76%, p<0.05). Any statistically significant difference in intrapartum complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome was not appeared between these two group. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol is as effective and safe as oral dinoprostone for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term. In addition, vaginal misoprostol contributes the curtailment of labor induction expenditure due to its moderate price; misoprostol costs 100 won per 50microgram.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Labor Stage, First ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of level of leptin in cord blood and duration of labor. METHODS: Eighty-four pregnant women who had delivered during Jan. 2004-Jun. 2004. at the delivery unit of St. Mary's Hospital of Catholic University Medical College. We checked the level of leptin in cord blood, total duration of labor (cervix 3 cm-delivery of placenta), age of pregnant women, body weight before pregnancy, body weight before delivery, weight of the baby and placenta, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and height of the baby. Leptin was checked by ELISA. RESULTS: Cord blood leptin was in proportion to one's pregnancy duration (umbilical vein p<0.01, umbilical artery p<0.05), change of body weight (p<0.05), weight of placenta (p<0.01), weight of newborn (umbilical artery p<0.01, umbilical vein p<0.05), baby's abdominal circumference (umbilical vein p<0.01, umbilical artery p<0.05). Leptin was in inverse proportion to head circumference of new born infant in umbilical artery (p<0.01) and in umbilical vein (p<0.05). Level of leptin in umbilical vein was in proportion to duration of labor (p<0.05). When the labor duration exceeded 8 hours, leptin in cord blood decreased suddenly, but within 8 hours, their correlation coefficient showed a strong relationship (p<0.01) between the labor duration and leptin level in cord blood. CONCLUSION: Duration of labor affects the level of leptin in cord blood.
Arteries ; Body Weight ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Umbilical Arteries ; Umbilical Veins ; Veins

Adenofibromas of the uterine cervix, which are classified as benign tumors of mixed epithelium and mesenchymal cells, are extremely rare. Most common symptom is usually abnormal genital bleeding. It is very difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Recommended method of treatment is total hysterectomy, because it usually recurs. We experienced a case of adenofibroma of the uterine cervix with increased CA125, so report it with a review of the literature.
Adenofibroma* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Epithelium ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency myolysis which is new developed uterine preserving management of myoma. METHODS: 17 patinets (27 myomas) who done radiofrequency myolysis between Oct. 2004-Dec. 2004 were participated this study. Preoperatively, Hemoglobin and subjective symptoms were checked and size of myoma was checked using ultrasonogram or computed tomogram (CT). Radiofrequency was applied to myoma for 10 to 40 minutes per one. Follow up sonogram or CT were done 7 days, 1 month, 2 month and 3 month after myolysis. RESULTS: Average age of patients was 42.7+/-8.6 (yr) and average size of myoma was 4.9+/-2.3 cm. We followed 27 nodules. After 3 months, reduction of volume was observed 65%, from 30% to 94%. 3 nodule, which was followed only 2 months, reduced by 46%. About subjective symptoms, 80% reduction was reported after 3 months (50-100%). Menorrhagia reduced 91% in average and pressure symptoms reduced 71% in average. No severe complication like bowel injury, bladder injury, infection and pulomonary embolism was not observed. Serious vaginal bleeding was reported for 3 patients, and their hemoglobin decreased from 10.8 mg/dL preoperatively to 8.7 mg/dL postopertively. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency myolysis decreased myoma 65% in average. No serious complication were reported.
Embolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Menorrhagia ; Myoma* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Oxidative stress plays various roles in the development and progression of IgA nephropathy, while bilirubin is known as a potent antioxidant. We therefore hypothesized that serum bilirubin would be associated with renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy. The study subjects comprised 1,458 adult patients with primary IgA nephropathy in Korea. We grouped patients according to the following quartile levels of bilirubin: <0.4 mg/dL (Q1), 0.4-0.5 mg/dL (Q2), 0.6-0.7 mg/dL (Q3), and >0.8 mg/dL (Q4). The outcome data were obtained from the Korean Registry of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Eighty patients (5.5%) contracted ESRD during a mean follow-up period of 44.9 months. The ESRD incidences were 10.7% in Q1, 8.2% in Q2, 2.8% in Q3, and 2.8% in Q4 (p<0.001). The relative risk of ESRD compared to that in Q1 was 0.307 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.126-0.751) in Q3 and 0.315 (95% CI, 0.130-0.765) in Q4. The differences of ESRD incidence were greater in subgroups of males and of patients aged 35 yr or more, with serum albumin 4.0 g/dL or more, with normotension, with eGFR 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or more, and with proteinuria less then 3+ by dipstick test. In conclusion, higher bilirubin level was negatively associated with ESRD incidence in IgA nephropathy.
Adult ; Bilirubin/*blood ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*blood/complications ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*blood/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome