OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to prove the significance of the oligohydramnios in the intrauterine growth restriction. METHODS: Eighty two patients were identified to have intrauterine growth restriction with oligohydramnios (Group of IUGR+Oligihydramnios) and fifty six patients were identified to have intrauterine growth restriction without oligohydramnios (Group of IUGR) on ultrasound examination from January 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2007 at St. Vincent Hospital of Catholic University of Korea. Perinatal outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were not shown between two groups in the maternal characteristics and fetal clinical features except amniotic fluid index and the duration between diagnosis and delivery. The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia and complications in the urogenital system were significantly increased in the group of IUGR+ Oligihydramnios. The other complications were not shown significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: Oligohydramnios may not seem to be significant predictor of adverse neonatal outcome of IUGR except the development of hyperbilirubinemia and urogenital complications.
Amniotic Fluid ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Oligohydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Urogenital System

PURPOSE: To determine the means, medians and reference intervals for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and fT4 (free thyroxine) for each month of gestation and for three trimesters in Korean pregnant women. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 265 pregnant women with singleton gestation. Levels of TSH, fT4 were measured by immunoassay. After exclusion of subjects with positive antimicrosomal autoantibodies, the means, medians and reference intervals based on 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for TSH, fT4 were determined. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 94 women in first trimester, 49 women in second trimester, and 122 women in third trimester. The trimester-specific reference intervals were: TSH (1st trimester: 0.03~2.72, 2nd: 0.27~2.29, and 3rd: 0.03~2.88 mIU/L), fT4 (1st trimester 4.50~19.75, 2nd: 4.70~12.98 and 3rd: 5.07~11.84 pg/mL). fT4 levels were significantly lower in the second and third trimesters. TSH levels were lower in the first trimester than second and third trimester, with gradual elevation in the second and third trimester. CONCLUSION: Levels of TSH, fT4 during pregnancy differ from those in non-pregnant women. Gestational age specific reference intervals will play a cental role in screening and diagnosis of thyroid disorders. Further studies for normal reference ranges during pregnancy are needed to create reference intervals in Korean pregnant women.
Autoantibodies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and predictors of success of methotrexate (MTX) treatment in selected cases of unruptured tubal pregnancies. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed in 36 women who had diagnosed unruptured tubal pregnancies. Patients received intramuscular MTX. Serial beta-hCG measurement was performed weekly, and success was defined as the achievement to beta-hCG concentration of 10 mIU/mL without surgical intervention. Surgical intervention was performed for presumed tubal rupture. Pretreatment serum concentration of beta-hCG, the size of tubal mass and gestational sac by transvaginal ultrasonography were measured to evaluate the predictors of MTX therapy. RESULTS: 29 patients (81%) were successfully treated by MTX systematic treatment. There were not significant differences in the patient's age, parity, gestational age and the size of tubal ectopic mass, but significant differences in the gestational sac size and serum beta-hCG concentration between success group and failure group of MTX treatment. The mean time for achieving successful treatment was 33.8 days. The success rate of systemic MTX was significantly decreased and resolution time was prolonged if the initial pretreatment serum beta-hCG was 10,000 mIU/mL or gestational sac size was >or=1 cm. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment serum beta-hCG concentration and gestational sac size are important predictors of success of MTX treatment in women with unruptured tubal pregnancy.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Methotrexate* ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography

We present an unusual case in which a patient was diagnosed with the preeclampsia associated with a partial hydatidiform mole and bilateral theca-lutein cysts. The patient newly developed proteinuric hypertension at 16 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound findings showed small multiple cystic spaces in the placenta and a live singleton fetus. Triploid 69, XXX was confirmed at karyotype analysis. Intrauterine fetal death was found at 18 weeks' gestation and termination of pregnancy was performed, and a partial hydatidiform mole was confirmed at pathologic examination. Torsion of bilateral theca-lutein cysts was developed at postpartum one week. Detorsion and aspiration of the bilateral theca-lutein cysts were performed under the laparoscopy.
Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Hypertension ; Karyotype ; Laparoscopy ; Placenta ; Postpartum Period ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Triploidy

OBJECTIVE: Since the management of pregnancy is gestational age dependent, accurate knowledge of the dating of gestational age is essential. The gestational age calculation system(GACS) was made to get a precise informations of exact gestational age of pregnant mothers. METHODS: Using the personal computer and Microsoft Visual Basic soft ware, the GACS program was made to meet obstetrician's desire. This program is designed and embodied to calculate gestational age controlling many variables such as last menstrual period(LMP), expectant date of confinement(EDC), gestational age on the calculating date, ultrasonographical gestational age, and conceptional date. RESULTS: The accurate gestational age was displayed by GACS according to various input data. The work sheet of whole gestational age can be printed by GACS. CONCLUSION: The GACS is a tool to calculate gestational age of pregnant mothers precisely. This can be used very conveniently and informatively by obstetric clinicians. We recommend this program for the members of perinatologists and obstetricians.
Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Microcomputers* ; Mothers ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to detect genes specifically expressed in severe preeclamptic placentas. METHODS: Placenta tissues were collected immediately after delivery from 5 preeclamptic patients and 5 normal pregnant women. Total RNAs of each placenta were extracted and hybridized for a cDNA microarray. Of the microarray data, four up-regulated genes (DSCR4, GPA, PCDHGB1, Hemogen) and four down-regulated genes (IL1R2, MGST1, GAS1 GREB1) were selected and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the results of cDNA microarray. RESULTS: The expression fold for each up-regulated gene was 2.2 times for DSCR4, 2.7 times for PCDHGB1, 3.5 times for Hemogen, 5.2 times for GPA on the cDNA microarray. The expression fold for each down-regulated gene was 3.3 times for IL1R2, 4.2 times for MGST1, 4.9 times for GAS1 and 2.3 times for GREB1 on the cDNA microarray. The expression fold for each up- regulated gene was 5.21 times for DSCR4, 3.01 times for PCDHGB1, and 4,53 times for Hemogen and 2.2 times for GPA on RT-PCR. The expression fold for each down-regulated gene was 2.7 times for IL1R2, 2.22 times for MGST1, 2.53 times for GAS1 and 1.83 times for GREB1 on the RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: DSCR4, PCDHGB1, Hemogen and GPA as the up-regulated genes and IL1R2, MGST1, GAS1 and GREB1 as the down-regulated genes, which were found and selected by the cDNA microarray, might be considered to be novel biomarkers for preeclampsia.
Biomarkers ; Chimera ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; RNA

OBJECTIVE: To determine which compartments of placenta in the term pregnancy express the embryonic stem cell markers. METHODS: We have used immunohistochemical methods with antibodies to embryonic stem cell surface antigens, TRA 1-60 (Tumor rejection antigen 1-60), TRA 1-81 (Tumor rejection antigen 1-81), SSEA-3 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-3) and SSEA-4 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-4), to identify and localize stem cells in the term placenta. RESULTS: Stem cell marker-positive cells were found in all layer of placenta. Amnionic epithelial cells was immunoreactive with TRA 1-60, TRA 1-81. Amnionic mesenchymal stromal cells was immunoreactive with TRA 1-81. Chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells was immunoreactive with TRA 1-60 and TRA 1-81. SSEA-3 and SSEA-4 were not stained at any compartment of the term placenta. Compartment that was stained most strongly by TRA 1-60 was the amnionic epithelial cells layer. Compartment that was stained most strongly by TRA 1-81 was the chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells layer. CONCLUSION: The mesenchymal stroma cells of the amnion and chorion as well as amnionic epithelial cells may be useful source of pluripotent stem cells in the term placenta.
Amnion ; Antibodies ; Antigens, Surface ; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; Chorion ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Placenta ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Pregnancy ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens ; Stem Cells

Although the diagnosis of primary tuberculous peritonitis in pregnancy is seems challenging because of protean manifestations and difficult surgical intervention, prompt diagnosis and treatment can minimize both maternal and fetal/neonatal mortality. We have experienced one case of this disease in 23-year-old primigravida in 24 weeks of gestation.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mortality ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous* ; Pregnancy* ; Young Adult

The corpus callosum consists of white fibers connecting the cerebral hemispheres. Agenesis of the corpus callosum is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is easily diagnosed in the postnatal period by ultrasound and computed tomographic scan or MRI, but its prenatal sonographic diagnosis is difficult because of fetal head positioning and limiting trans-axial scans. We experienced a case of agenesis of the corpus callusum with chromosomal anomaly. The prenatal sonographic findings are ventricular abnormalities that demonstrated dilatation of lateral ventricles and disproportionate enlargement of the occipital horns, which were suggestive findings for the corpus callosal agenesis. We could confim the diagnosis of the corpus callosal agenesis with chromosome anomaly by postnatal MRI and chromosome analysis.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum* ; Animals ; Cerebrum ; Corpus Callosum ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Head ; Horns ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: A Clinical Study of Placenta P#revia done by cesarean section and the study of preterm delivery that is major cause of premature motality even thought expected managment of placente previa. METHODS: This study was evaluated for the clinical analysis on the 641 patients with placenta previa among total deliveries of 56,120 cases at the St. Mary and Holy Family hospital of Catholic University from Jan. 1,1989 to Dec.31,1997. RESULTS: The following results were obtained: 1. The total incidence of placenta previa was 1.14%. 2. The incidence of placenta previa increases with age. 3. Placenta previa has occurred more often in multipara(60.2%) than primipara(39.8%), and placenta previa has occurred more often in women who had experienced abortion(71.8%) than women who hadnt(28.2%). 4. The types of placenta previa distributed 326 cases of totalis(50.9%), 110 cases of partialis(17.2%), 99 cases of marginal(15.4%) and 106 cases of low lying placenta(16.4%). 5. The fetal presentation distributed 557 cases of vertex(86.9%), 49 cases of breech(7.6%), 28 cases of transverse lie(4.4%). 6. The types of uterine incision included 543 cases of low sepnent transverse incision(84.7%), 46 cases of classical incision(7.2%), 9 cases of inverted T incision and 43 cases of cesarean hysterectomy(6.7%). 7. Premature delivery of placenta previa prior to completion of 37 weeks was 186 cases(29.0%) and low birth infant less than 2,500gm was 128 cases(20.0%).and perinatal mortality rate was 28.0 per 1,000. 8. During delivery, 278 cases of placenta previa(43.4%) were transfused with mean 3.6 pints. Incidence of vaginal bleeding was 49.3% of placenta previa,mean admission day until delivery was about 5 day. CONCLUSION: there is a strong association between advancing age and incidence of placenta previa, and then. the risk increases with parity & the number of abortion. Considering the mean volume of blood loss more than 3 pints of blood should be prepared befor delivery.
Cesarean Section ; Deception ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Labor Presentation ; Parity ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Placenta Previa* ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy ; Uterine Hemorrhage