OBJECTIVE: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture release a biologically active human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This effect is detectable during pregnancy with a maximum between the 16th and 19th week. HCG plays an important role for the corpus luteum rescue during the early gestational age and possibly for the immunotolerance. This study was performed to investigate the relationships between the productivity of cultured PBMC of pregnant women and the ability to maintain early pregnancy, and whether 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) increases hCG sectetion by cultured PBMCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PBMC were obtained from 20 pregnant women between 16th to 19th week of gestation , and cultured with TPA. Culture cells were harvested and hCG mRNA were extracted and RT-PCR were performed. Culture supernatants were collected and hCG concentration were determined by commercial RIA methods. RESULTS: The mean age was 31.0 years old, 19 of 20 (95%) pregnant women's PBMC secereted hCG and expressed hCG mRNA, but in control group exept male hepatitis B patient, none of them produced hCG. TPA activated expression of hCG in PBMC in linear manner. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women's cultured PBMC secreted hCG, but not in non-pregnant or male. We could confirm the mRNA of hCG in PBMC as well in the placental control. The productivity of hCG in PBMC might be closely related with maintenance of early pregnancy.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Corpus Luteum ; Efficiency ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between postoperative sensory change on lower extremities and clinical factors associated with gynecologic operation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 38 cases of patients with postoperative complaints of pain or dysthesis on lower extremities, especially anterolateral thigh from March 1993 through December 1999 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were performed in all 38 patients. According to the result of EMG and NCV, patients were divided into control group (n=28) which in that with normal finding in electrodiagnosis and study group (n=10) who showed femoral cutaneous nerve injury in electrodiagnosis. Clinical characteristics (age, height, weight and operative history), operative methods, skin incisional method, operative time and postoperative diagnosis were reviewed in each group. RESULTS: There were significant differences in patient's body weight, height, skin incisional method and operative method between control and study group. Height was 152.5cm [150.3-155.6] in study group and 157.5cm [153.4-159.2] in control group (p-value = 0.020). Weight was 46.9kg [43.4-58.0] in study group and 57.0kg [54.4-58.1] in control group (p-value=0.004). Skin incisional method in study group was done by 6 cases (60%) of infraumbilical mid-line vertical incision and in control group by 5 cases (17.9%) (p-value = 0.019). In operative method, radical hysterectomy was 4 cases (40%) in study group and 2 cases (7.1%) in control group (p-value=0.031). But no correlation was observed in post-operative diagnosis, operative time, blood loss and transfusion between two groups. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was compressed by pelvic retractor during the gynecologic operation. Patient's body weight, height, skin incisional method and operative method may play a role of compressive factor on Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, increasing Meralgia Paresthetica.
Body Weight ; Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis ; Electromyography ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Neural Conduction ; Obstetrics ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Thigh

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate whether the differences of PG concentration in follicular and peritoneal fluid during preovulatory phase exist between the women with and without endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with endometriosis, 8 were stage I-II and 15 were stage III-IV, and another 23 patients without endometriosis were undergone laparotomy during late follicular phase. Peritoneal fluid from 46 patients and follicular fluid from 42 patients were obtained, and these samples were analyzed double times for PGF2alpha, PGE2 and estradiol. RESULTS: The mean level of PGF2alphain the peritoneal fluid was significantly higher in the group with endometriosis than in the control(P=0.0293), especially more significant in stage I-II endometriosis. Although there was no significant difference of PGF2alphaconcentration in the follicular fluid between the groups, the stage III-IV endometriosis group showed slightly higher PGF2alphalevel than both the stage I-II group and the control(P=0.0604). And also, there was significant positive correlation with the level of PGF2alphaand estradiol in the follicular fluid only in the endometriosis group(r=0.4988, P=0.0154), not in the control. However, there was no difference in the level of PGE2 and estradiol in the peritoneal or follicular fluid between the groups. CONCLUSION: Some alterations of PGF2alphalevel exist in the women with endometriosis. These are significantly higher PGF2alphalevel in peritoneal fluid with mild endometriosis and slightly higher PGF2alphalevels in follicular fluid with extensive endometriosis during preovulatory phase, which suggest that PGF2alphamay play some roles in subfertility associated with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Dinoprost* ; Dinoprostone ; Endometriosis* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Fluid ; Follicular Phase* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparotomy

No abstract available.
Megacolon* ; Pregnancy*

Midazolam, a water soluble benzodiazepine, was compared with diazepam as the changes of eardiopulmonary function during sedation under the spinal anesthesia in elderly patients. The results were as follows; I) Cardiovascular effect. At the conclusion after diazepam 0.05 mg/kg(Group D) or midazolam 0.02 mg/kg(Group M) injection, systolic, diastolic pressure and heart rate were significantly decreased(P<0.05) in the both group from 3 min to 30 min, but maintained within normal range. However, it is not significant difference that each group. 2) Respiratory effect. SaO decreased significantly at 3 min. in M-group after midazolam injection but there was not significant difference from change in D-group. Respiratory rate, pH and PaCO2 were not significantly changed between D-group and M-group. However, PaO2 was significantly decreased(p<0.05) within normal range at 3 min. in M-group after midazolam IV and significant difference between both groups. From the above results, We have concluded that IV administration of small dose of diazepam or midaaolam during spinal anesthesia had a little changed in cardiopulmonary function. However, sedative effect was efficient.
Aged* ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Benzodiazepines* ; Blood Pressure ; Diazepam ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Midazolam ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Rate

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether saline-enhanced dual probe bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using perfused-cooled electrodes shows better in-vitro efficiency than monopolar or single probe bipolar RFA in creating larger coagulation necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RF was applied to excised bovine livers in both bipolar and monopolar modes using a 200W generator (CC-3; Radionics) and the perfused-cooled electrodes for 10 mins. After placing single or double perfused-cooled electrodes in the explanted liver, 30 ablation zones were created at three different regimens: group A; saline-enhanced monopolar RFA, group B; saline-enhanced single probe bipolar RFA, and group C; saline-enhanced dual probe bipolar RFA. During RFA, we measured the tissue temperature at 15 mm from the electrode. The dimensions of the ablation zones and changes in the impedance currents and liver temperature during RFA were then compared between the groups. RESULTS: The mean current values were higher for monopolar mode (group A) than for the bipolar modes (groups B and C) : 1550+/-25 mA in group A, 764+/-189 mA in group B and 819+/-98 mA in group C (p < 0.05). The volume of RF-induced coagulation necrosis was greater in group C than in the other groups: 27.6+/-2.9 cm3 in group A, 23.7+/-3.8 cm3 in group B, and 34.2+/-5.1 cm3 in group C (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the short-axis diameter of the coagulation necrosis in the three groups: 3.1+/-0.8 cm, 2.9+/-1.2 cm and 4.0+/-1.3 cm in groups A, B and C, respectively (p > 0.05). The temperature at 15 mm from the electrode was higher in group C than in the other groups: 70+/-18 degrees C in group A, 59+/-23 degrees C in group B and 96+/-16 degrees C in group C (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Saline-enhanced bipolar RFA using dual perfused-cooled electrodes increases the dimension of the ablation zone more efficiently than monopolar RFA or single probe bipolar RFA.
Animals ; Catheter Ablation/*instrumentation ; Cattle ; Comparative Study ; Electrocoagulation ; In Vitro ; Liver/pathology/*surgery ; Necrosis ; Sodium Chloride ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Viral myocarditis is a inflammatory process of the heart caused by virus. Its manifestation ranges from asymptom to acute fulminent congestive heart failure and often mimics acute myocardial infarction. A 22 year old man was admitted to the hospital because of prolonged anterior chest pain. 15 days before entry, anterior chest pain with cough and fever brought him to the another hospital. At that time, the LDH level was 1160U/L, the CPK level was 659.7U/L and MB band was 16.1%. The ECG revealed acute inferior wall infarction. And 3 days later, extensive anterior wall infarction findings appeared. 2D-Echo findings showed proximal septal hypokinesia. On admission time to this hospital, physical examination was negative. The ECG showed no interval change. 2D-Echo findings showed increased echogenicity of anterior and inferior wall. Treadmill test did not evoked chest pain or change of ECG. The LDH, CPK levels returned to normal range. The antibody titers of Coxsackievirus type A-16 was positive. Coronary angiography showed normal findings. 3 months later, antibody's titer of Coxsackievirus A-16 was increased. A diagnosis of acute viral myocarditis was made.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Fever ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocarditis* ; Physical Examination ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: We investigated the frequency and clinical impact on vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the transplanted kidney. METHODS: In this study 55 CsA - treated patients were enrolled who received kidney transplantation between 1993 and 1997. They survived for at least one year while taking Voiding cystourethrography. With the results, we divided into two classes, with and with out VUR, where we found such as graft survival, prevalence of hypertension, frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and proteinuria (mg/day) at 1, 5, 7 years after transplantation. RESULTS: VUR was detected in 39 (71%) patients. Patients with no VUR, the prevalence of hypertension, graft failure, the number of UTI episodes/patient were 16 (100%), 1 (6.25%), 2.14+/-0.40 (mean+/-SEM) and patients with VUR were 33 (84.6%), 2 (5.12%), 1.37+/-0.26 respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.2). Patients with no VUR, Ccr (mean+/-SEM) at 1, 5, 7 years after transplantation were 69.9+/-9.1 (mL/ min), 59.4+/-3.6, 57.3+/-3.5 and proteinuria were 171+/-48.2 (mg/day), 188+/-74.5, 249+/-119.6 respectively. Patients with VUR, Ccr were 72.0+/-7.2, 55.5+/-2.6, 54.1+/-2.8 and proteinuria were 192+/-33.8, 148+/-29.0, 207+/-74.4 respectively. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.4). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the presence of VUR did not harm graft function or survival.
Creatinine ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Prevalence ; Proteinuria ; Transplantation* ; Transplants ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*