No abstract available.
DNA* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

BACKGROUND: The verse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been widely used to analyze the bcr/abl fusion mRNA in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Fresh or cryopreserved cells may not always be available for molecular diagnosis. So we investigated the value of stored bone marrow aspirate smears as the sources of material for the detection of bcr/abl mRNA. METHODS: We extracted RNA using modified Chomczynski method, and amplified bcr/abl mRNA by RT-PCR from the 70 cases of bone marrow smear slides stored from 7 days to 7 years, which were comprised of 49 CML, 11 other chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) and 10 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Sensitivity of RT-PGR was tested using the slide smears prepared with 10(0)-10(6) K562 cells, and RT-PCR results losing each fresh bone marrow cellular suspension and slide smears in 24 patients were compacted. For major bcr/abl rearrangement, RT-PCR was performed by nested PGR afters GDNA synthesis losing downward primer and beta2-microglobulin was used as RNA controls. RESULTS: The sensitivity of RT-PCR for detecting bcr/abl mRNA was l02 cells per slide. Sixty one cases (86%) of 70 bone marrow aspirate smears showed positive results of beta2-micyoglobulin cDNA as an indicator of intact RNA. Thirty nine cases of 42 beta2-microglobulin cDNA positive CML bone marrow aspirate smears showed 29 b3a2 type mRNA and 10 b2a2 type mRNA. Nine cases of 11 bone marrow aspirate smear with other CMPD showed negative results of bcr/abl mRNA. Two cases of 10 ALL bone mallow aspirate smears had b2a2 type mRNA and b3a2 type mRNA, respectively. The results for detection of bcr/abl mRNA with fresh cell suspensions of 24 patients were same as the bone marrow aspirate smears storied for 7 days to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that RNA obtained from bone marrow smears storied for less than 1 year was valuable as the source of RT-PGR for the detection of bcr/abl mRNA in CML and the bone marrow smears stored for much longer period ould be assailable as the specimens for retrospective analysis of specific gene alter-ation in other hematologic malignancy.
Bone Marrow* ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Complementary ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase* ; Suspensions

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of emergency cervical cerclage in the treatment of advanced cervical incompetence, a prospective clinical trial was performed in 18 patients with advanced cervical incompetence at 20 to 25 weeks gestation. Modified McDonalds operation with or without transabdominal amniocentesis was used for cervical cerclage. Pregnancy was prolonged for a sufficient time to deliver viable fetuses in 56.3% of patients. The median procedure-to-delivery interval was 8.6 (range 0.1 to 20.5) weeks for the entire group, and 13.9 (range 6.5 to 20.5) weeks for 9 patients who achieved live birth. The median gestational age at delivery was 38.6 (range 28.3 to 41.0) weeks for the live infants. The median birthweight of the live infants was 3062 g (range 1050 to 3620 g). The lack of significant matemal morbidity combined with the results for the fetus-infant supports further efforts in this area.
Amniocentesis ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Emergencies* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

The purpose of this study was to take the right direction and meet the requirements of newspaper function about child health through evaluation of child health information articles in newspapers. Data were collected 4 main daily newspaper by selecting child health information articles during 1 year from January 1 to December 31, 1998. The results of this study are as follows. The frequency according to health category, disease treatment(47.7%) topped followed by health maintenance?promotion(28.8%), growth?development(12.1%), disease prevention(11.4%). The frequency according to WHO international disease classification, infectious disease (23.6%) take most. In evaluation area of child health information, practical usage(3.78) topped followed by accuracy(3.68), comprehensiveness(3.64), clearness (3.48), concreteness(3.33).
Child ; Child* ; Classification ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Newspapers* ; Child Health* ; Periodicals

The purpose of this study was to take the right direction and meet the requirements of newspaper function about child health through evaluation of child health information articles in newspapers. Data were collected 4 main daily newspaper by selecting child health information articles during 1 year from January 1 to December 31, 1998. The results of this study are as follows. The frequency according to health category, disease treatment(47.7%) topped followed by health maintenance?promotion(28.8%), growth?development(12.1%), disease prevention(11.4%). The frequency according to WHO international disease classification, infectious disease (23.6%) take most. In evaluation area of child health information, practical usage(3.78) topped followed by accuracy(3.68), comprehensiveness(3.64), clearness (3.48), concreteness(3.33).
Child ; Child* ; Classification ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Newspapers* ; Child Health* ; Periodicals

No abstract available.
Health Promotion*

BACKGROUND: There is concem about the rising incidence of skin cancer. However, few articles have reported the change in the clinical and epidemiological aspects of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to clarifiy the recent changes in cutaneous premalignant and malignant lesions. METHODS: A statistical analysis was made using 101 cases of cutaneous premalignant lesions and 205 cases of ma]ignant tumors out of a total number of 20,175 new outpatients that visited the Department of Dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital during a 6 year period(1990-1995). RESULTS: The frequency of premalignant lesions was 0.50% and that of malignant tumors was 1.02%. The frequency showed an increasing tendency compared to previous reports. In the premalignant lesion cases, actinic keratosis was most common and represented a figure of 82.2%. Among the malignant tumors, basal cell carcinoma was most frequent at 24.4%. Age, sex and anatomical site distribution of basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma was no different. The mean age of squamous cell carcinoma was greater than in previous reports and main preceding lesions were actinic keratosis and cheilitis. The frequency of lymphoma was markedly increased but the reason for this remains to be determined. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the continous increasing incidence of skin cancers and emphasize the need for public eduacation, early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheilitis ; Dermatology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Lymphoma ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic*

OBJECTIVES: To study the distributions of pH and gas values in umbilical arterial(UA) blood of normal newborns following uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal births. Methods: In 457 consecutive normal term infants who were born between March 1995 and June 1998, we examined the UA pH and blood gas values obtained immediately following delivery. Maternal inclusion criteria were defined as an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy and a normal full term spontaneous vaginal delivery. And also neonatal inclusion criteria were defined as a normal intrauterine growth appropriate for gestational age without any malformations and Apgar score of 7 or more at both one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical artery blood samples were collected at each birth and were evaluated for pH, carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), oxygen pressure (PaO2) and actual bicarbonate. RESULTS: Histogram of UA pH value resemble normal distribution curve. The lowest UA pH was 7.04 and the 10th percentile value was 7.23. The median UA pH was 7.31 and 5% was below 7.20. The lowest UA PaO2 was 4.6mmHg and the 10th percentile value was 11.5mmHg. The highest UA PaCO2 was 67.2mmHg and the 90th percentile value was 56.5mmHg. The lowest bicarbonate value was 13.2mmol/L and the 10th percentile value was 18.4mmol/L. CONCLUSION: The distributions of the UA pH and gas values of the collective of normal newborns were illustrated. None of the UA pH was below 7.0.
Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries*

The association of major fetal malformations with amniotic bands has been known for many years. However, we are apt to ignore the possibility of amniotic band syndrome. In this case, fetal anencephaly was diagnosed at 17 weeks, menstrual age on the basis of sonographic findings. Following pregnancy termination, examination of the abortus rev- ealed the cerebral remnant which is similar to that found in dysraphic anencephaly, but collateral evidence of amniotic band was found. Therefore, when confronted with severe cranial or cerebral malformation amniotic band syndrome should be in the differential dia- gnosis.
Amniotic Band Syndrome* ; Anencephaly* ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Skin* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Ambulatory Care Facilities* ; Humans ; Outpatients*