OBJECTIVE: The study was to assess the value of the cervical angle (CA) and cervical length (CL) measurement by transvaginal ultrasonography (USG) in predicting delivery within 7 days after USG in low risk singleton term pregnancies. METHODS: This prospective study included 85 singleton low risk term pregnancies. The CA and the CL were measured at 36 weeks' gestation and each week thereafter. Seven cases were lost to follow-up and finally a total of 78 cases were analyzed. The number of days to delivery was recorded. The odds ratios of the CA and CL for predicting delivery within 7 days after USG at different weeks' gestation were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Receiver-operation characteristic curves were drawn to determine the cutoff values of the CA and CL. RESULTS: CA measurement did not predict delivery within 7 days after USG. However, there was a significant relationship between the CL and the days to delivery at 37 weeks' gestation. The optimal cutoff value in predicting the delivery within 7 days was 10 mm at 37 weeks' gestation. We could not obtain proper cutoff points at other weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: CA measurement by transvaginal USG may not have a significant clinical impact on predicting delivery within 7 days after USG. However, CL measurement USG at 37 weeks' gestation can help predict the delivery within 7 days after USG.
Lost to Follow-Up ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies

No abstract available.
Gonadotropins* ; Humans*

OBJECTIVE: Sexual assault is both a social problem and a public health issue. Adolescent females are the most vulnerable age group of sexual assault victim. We aimed to compare the characteristics of this age group with those of other age groups. METHODS: 136 victims of sexual assault referred to specialized female sexual assault center in Incheon metropolitan city. There were 32 adolescent patients aged 13 to 18 years, and retrospective chart review was done. All the treatments and evidence collections were carried out by female doctors who were trained to manage sexual assault patients. Analysis was done to determine the frequency, location and severity of genital and non genital trauma and the site and time of the assault, the number of assailant, the nature of the physical contacts, use of weapons were recorded. RESULTS: Summer (July and August) was relatively vulnerable season for adolescent sexual assault and the vulnerable time was between 22 to 02 (59.4%). Hotel was the most frequently used place (9 cases), and the victim's house was the next. Vaginal intercourse was involved in 28 cases (87.5%). Most general body trauma was trivial. Drinking was combined in 17 cases (53.1%) and internet chatting was used before the assault in 7 cases (21.8%). Multiple assailants attacked victims in 11 cases (34.4%) CONCLUSION: Alcohol drinking and internet chatting were closely related with the adolescent sexual assaults and it should be educated in sexual assault preventing program.
Adolescent* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon ; Internet ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Social Problems ; Weapons

OBJECTIVE: Life cycles and social environments are different among sexual assault victims according to ages, a study of sexual assault should be individualized by specific age groups. The aim of this study was to make basic data for proper management or prevention of infant sexual assaults by evaluating experiences at sexual assault clinic. METHODS: Two hundreds and ten sexual assault victims referred to specialized sexual assault clinic in teaching hospital. There were 25 infant victims aged 2 to 6 years, then retrospective chart reviews were done. Collecting evidences and managements processes were carried out by the female obstetric doctors who were specially trained to manage sexual assault patients. Analysis was done to determine the frequency, location and severity of genital and non genital physical trauma and the site and time of the assault, the nature of the physical contacts, use of weapons were recorded. RESULTS: Infant sexual assaults occupies 11.9% of all sexual assault cases. Those occurred frequently between 14:00 to 18:00 (44%). Play-grounds or rooftop of apartments were the most frequent place (52%) for assault. Genital fondling with finger was the most frequent type of assaults. Vaginal intercourses tried in 6 cases (24%). No severe genital or body wounds observed. Specific psychologic treatments were needed in 6 infants (24%). CONCLUSION: Infant sexual assaults were different from other age groups of victims in place, type, time, assailant characteristics.
Female ; Fingers ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Infant* ; Life Cycle Stages ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Environment ; Weapons ; Wounds and Injuries

The investigation of the embryonic development of the cerebellum has a long history. The postnatal normal development of the cerebellum in rodents and other animals became a popular topic for morphological investigations nearly a century ago. However, surprisingly, only a few studies are available regarding the prenatal normal development of the rodent cerebellum, especially in guinea pigs. Cell proliferation is essential for the development of the nervous system. The assessment of cell proliferation can be achieved by using various methods. In this study, we investigated the cell proliferation of the cerebellar cortex in guinea pigs at different stages of pregnancy and in postnatal life. Fetuses were obtained by cesarean section at 50 or 60 days of gestation (dg). Immunohistochemistry was performed with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody in the cerebellum. Strong PCNA immunoreactivity was observed in the external granular layer (EGL), which is a neurogenic zone in the cerebellum. The proportion of PCNA-IR cells was greater at 1 week than at 60 dg in lobule I, but not lobule VIII. After 50 dg, the width of the EGL continued to decline until 1 week, due to the maturation of the EGL cells. These results demonstrate the pattern of PCNA immunoreactivity in the developing cerebellum of guinea pigs. This serves as a guideline to study abnormal cerebellum development.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cerebellar Cortex ; Cerebellum ; Cesarean Section ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fetus ; Guinea Pigs ; Guinea ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neocortex ; Nervous System ; Pregnancy ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rodentia

Currently, the rate of cesarean sections being performed in Korea is approximately 40%, with Korea ranking 4th among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries with respect to cesarean deliveries. Breech presentation at term is an important indication for cesarean section among other factors, including medicolegal concerns and pregnancies in women of advanced maternal age. Term breech presentation is associated with a higher fetal mortality rate than that associated with a cephalic presentation. Therefore, in Korea, most of these women deliver by cesarean section to avoid the complications of vaginal breech delivery. However, cesarean section is itself associated with considerable obstetric morbidity and sometimes, mortality. External cephalic version (ECV) is a useful method to reduce the cesarean section rate in women with breech presentation and therefore to reduce the incidence of breech presentation at delivery. Studies have shown that routine use of ECV reduces the cesarean section rate by approximately two-thirds in term pregnancies with breech presentation. ECV is accepted as a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective method and is recommended by both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in all pregnancies with term breech presentation, if not contraindicated. In Korea, although most clinicians are aware of the option of ECV, their relative lack of experience in performing the procedure and fear of complications render them hesitant to perform ECV. This review is aimed at guiding obstetricians by describing the efficacy, safety concerns, and technical aspects of this procedure.
Breech Presentation ; Cardiotocography ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Maternal Age ; Methods ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Version, Fetal

Paneth cell carcinoma is a rare carcinoma composed predominantly or purely of malignant Paneth cells. An 83-year-old woman presented for evaluation of an elevated lesion in the stomach. On endoscopy, a 15 mm, discolored, elevated lesion with a central depression was found on the greater curvature of the gastric lower body. Endoscopic forceps biopsy revealed chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. Magnifying endoscopy revealed an irregularly oval/tubular microsurface pattern and an irregular loop microvascular pattern with a demarcation line, suggestive of early gastric cancer. Therefore, endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma limited to the muscularis mucosae and the tumor cells contained coarse eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm. These tumor cells were diffusely and strongly stained for lysozyme, confirming the tumor diagnosis as Paneth cell carcinoma. Herein, we report a rare case of Paneth cell carcinoma and its endoscopic and histopathologic findings.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), raloxifene, on endometrium in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Double-blind randomized controlled study was designed for 138 healthy postmenopausal women to determine the effects of raloxifene on postmeonopausal endometrium. The women were randomly assigned to receive either placebo, or raloxifene HCl 60 mg/day for 6 months. Transvaginal ultrasound was done at baseline and at 6 months later. RESULTS: Mean endometrial thickness of normal postmenopausal women was 3.4 ( +/- 1.6) mm. Mean endometrial thickness was decreased by 0.2 mm in both groups, but with no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Raloxifene 60 mg/day did not stimulate the endometrium after 6 months of use in postmenopausal women.
Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Postmenopause ; Raloxifene Hydrochloride* ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether the club foot of the affected fetus is related to the location, size, and rupture state of the spinal neural tube defect lesion. METHODS: Ultrasound and medical records of 21 fetuses with spinal neural tube defect were reviewed. At the time of diagnosis 7 fetuses had clubfoot and 14 fetuses didn't have. All the fetuses with spinal neural tube defect were divided into two groups, one with clubfoot fetuses, and the others without clubfoot. RESULTS: The mean lesion size of the clubfoot group was significantly larger than normal foot group (4.1+/-1.22 cm vs 2.1+/-1.59 cm). And the level of lesion is significantly higher in club foot group. But the rate of sac rupture is lower in club foot group. CONCLUSION: The fetuses with clubfoot detected at the time of diagnosis had larger size and higher level of lesion.
Clubfoot ; Diagnosis ; Fetus* ; Foot* ; Medical Records ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Neural Tube* ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of lower uterine segment thickness in predicting an actual delivery date and to determine the factors affecting the depth of lower uterine segment. METHODS: Sixty patients with singleton gestation were weekly measured for their lower uterine segment (LUS), cervical length, cervical gland thickness and AFI by ultrasonography from 36 weeks. The regression analysis was carried to find out the relevance between LUS and the remaining days to birth and Pearson correlation analysis was performed for relevance between LUS and other factors such as maternal age, parity, cervical length, cervical gland thickness, and AFI. RESULTS: LUS became thin as cervical length decreasing. However, the relevance between LUS and other factors such as age, parity, cervical gland thickness, and AFI was not found. While individual LUS thickness is decreasing as delivery date becomes closer, LUS thickness as a group is found not to be related with the delivery date. CONCLUSION: In term pregnancy, LUS thickness decreases with cervical change but it cannot predict the delivery date.
Female ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonography