PURPOSE: To compare the characteristic MR findings of infectious sacroiliitis (IS) and ankylosing spondylitis(AS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR findings in eight patients with IS (pyogenic in six, tuberculosis in two) confirmed by culture and clinical follow-up, and in six with AS by HLA-B27 typing. A control group of 13 asymptomatic volunteers was formed, and they underwent MRI. Findings were analysed for morphology, degree of bone erosion, and adjacent soft tissue change. CT findings of AS in four patients and IS in four were also compared to MR findings. RESULTS: MR characteristics of IS included unilaterality (100 %), abnormal cartilage signal intensity (100 %), bone marrow change (100 %), contrast enhancement (100 %), erosion (63 %), and soft tissue change (63 %). MR findings of AS showed bilaterality (67 %), abnormal cartilage signal intensity (80%), bone marrow change (80 %), erosion (80 %), contrast enhancement (44 %) and soft tissue change (10 %). CT scan showed bony sclerosis and erosion (86 %), and abnormal joint space (71 %). CONCLUSION: MR findings of sacroiliitis were loss of thin zone of a cartilage and erosions on T1-weighted image, and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted image. MRI is regarded as a useful diagnostic method where conventional diagnosis is difficult, and is able to image cartilage abnormalities directly and noninvasively. Significant differences in MR findings between IS and AS were not noted, however.
Arthritis ; Bone Marrow ; Cartilage ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Sacroiliitis* ; Sclerosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether co-culture of oocytes on vero cell monolayers from Day 0 (Day 0 group) after egg retrieval results in an increase in developmental capacity such as fertilization rate, embryo quality, blastulation and clinical pregnancy rate compared with co-culture of oocytes from Day 1 (Day 1 group). METHODS: Sperms were treated with Hams F-10 supplemented with 10% human follicular fluid (hFF). Vero cells for co-culture were prepared in TCM-199 with 10% FBS. Oocytes were co-cultured from Day 0 and fertilized oocytes were co-cultured from Day 1 on vero cell monolayers in DMEM with 10% and 20% hFF, respectively after egg retrieval. On day 1, 2 and 5, fertilization rate and grade of embryos and blastocysts were evaluated. Results (fertilization rate, cleavage rate, grade of embryos and blastocysts and pregnancy rate) were considered statistically significant when p value was less than 0.05 using t-test and ci2. RESULTS: In sibling oocytes of same cycles, no differences were found in fertilization rate (94.6 vs. 91.4%), cleavage rates (94.6 vs. 91.4%), embryo grade (on day 2 and 3) and blastulation (65.6 vs. 57.0%) and their grade. In different oocytes of different cycles (patients), no differences were found in fertilization (79.8 vs. 78.3%), cleavage rates (77.7 vs. 76.4%) and blastulation (56.0 vs. 45.3%), but pregnancy rate was higher in the Day 0 group than in the Day 1 group (60.0 vs. 42.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the embryonic development capacities were not affected by the different co-culture time in the sibling oocytes of same cycles. Although no statistical significance, because of small size of study, there was a trend for higher pregnancy rates in Day 0 group compared to Day 1 group in different oocytes of different cycles.
Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization ; Follicular Fluid ; Humans ; Oocytes* ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Siblings ; Spermatozoa ; Vero Cells

PURPOSE: Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an organosulfur compound in garlic, has been reported to be effective in inhibiting the growth of several human tumor cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine whether DADS induced growth inhibition in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and to understand the molecular mechanism by which DADS acts. METHODS: MCF-7 cell lines were incubated with various concentrations of DADS for various time intervals and the cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. We examined the changes of intracellular proteins related to apoptosis, such as bcl-2, bax and PARP in cells treated with DADS. To study the expression level of bcl-2 and bax, which serve as modulators of apoptosis, we performed RT-PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: MCF-7 cells treated with DADS led to the suppression of viability and proliferation in both a time and concentration dependent manner. Microscopic observation revealed typical features of apoptosis in the DADS-treated cells, further verified in nuclear DAPI staining. Flow cyto-metry analysis with FITC-annexinV and propidium iodide (PI) demonstrated that the apoptotic cell population with AnnexinV+/PI- increased dramatically from ~0.8% to ~75% after 24h exposure to 500 microM DADS in MCF-7 cells. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells increased with the increasing time of the DADS treatment. Additionally, thermore, we investigated the effects of DADS on apoptosis related gene expression in MCF-7 cells. PARP cleavage was markedly increased in the DADS treated cells with time. This result indicated that DADS induced the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. We also found down-regulation of bcl-2, however no significant change of Bax expression was observed after DADS treatment. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that DADS induces apoptosis by activating a caspase pathway involving the activation of Bcl-2 but not of Bax. Our findings suggest chemotherapeutic potentials of DADS in human breast cancer.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Garlic* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; MCF-7 Cells ; Propidium

OBJECTIVES: Urinary hippuric acid levels have been usually determined to ' evaluate workers exposed to toluene. Food and drink intake could affect urinary hippuric acid excretion and this study was carried out to investigate what kinds of food and drink would affect urinary hippuric acid excretion. METHODS: The subjects were 136 medical school students. Authors measured urinary hippuric acid levels three times from 10 a. m. to noon; before, one hour after and two hours after food or drink-intake, and they were asked not to eat from the previous night (9 p. m) of testing. We selected six diets (bread and coffee, brown sauce noodle, Korean style meal, noodle, pork'galbi and rice and soybean stew and rice), six fruits (apple, grape, orange, pear, persimmon and plum) and five beverages (Alps-D(R), Demisoda(R), Orange juice(R), Pear juice(R) and Pocari sweat(R)). Analysis of urinary hippuric acid was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Intake of popular Korean diets, fruits and some drinks didn' t affect urinary hippuric acid excretion. But intake of sodium benzoate-contained Alps-D(R) increased urinary hippuric acid excretion. CONCLUSIONS: For the health examination on workers exposed to toluene, the history of diet and fruit intake can be negligible, but that of beverage intake should be included.
Beverages ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Citrus sinensis ; Coffee ; Diet ; Diospyros ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meals ; Pyrus ; Schools, Medical ; Sodium ; Soybeans ; Toluene ; Vitis

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

PURPOSE: Administration of antiretroviral drugs to mothers and infants significantly decreases mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; cesarean sections and discouraging breastfeeding further decreases this risk. The present study confirmed the HIV status of babies born to mothers infected with HIV and describes the characteristics of babies and mothers who received preventive treatment. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed medical records of nine infants and their mothers positive for HIV who gave birth at Korea University Ansan Hospital, between June 1, 2003, and May 31, 2013. Maternal parameters, including HIV diagnosis date, CD4+ count, and HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) copy number, were analyzed. Infant growth and development, HIV RNA copy number, and HIV antigen/antibody test results were analyzed. RESULTS: Eight HIV-positive mothers delivered nine babies; all the infants received antiretroviral therapy. Three (37.5%) and five mothers (62.5%) were administered single- and multidrug therapy, respectively. Intravenous zidovudine was administered to four infants (50%) at birth. Breastfeeding was discouraged for all the infants. All the infants were negative for HIV, although two were lost to follow-up. Third trimester maternal viral copy numbers were less than 1,000 copies/mL with a median CD4+ count of 325/microL (92-729/microL). Among the nine infants, two were preterm (22.2%) and three had low birth weights (33.3%). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that prophylactic antiretroviral therapy, scheduled cesarean section, and prohibition of breastfeeding considerably decrease mother-to-child HIV transmission. Because the number of infants infected via mother-to-child transmission may be increasing, studies in additional regions using more variables are necessary.
Breast Feeding ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Gyeonggi-do ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Hospitals, Teaching* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Korea ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Postnatal Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Retrospective Studies ; RNA ; Zidovudine

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a systematic allergic reaction, which may be fatal. However, despite its seriousness, its low level of incidence has prevented in depth studies. Thus, we analyzed the causes of anaphylactic shock in patients admitted in a tertiary hospital, observed its clinical symptoms, and formed a basis for adequate emergency treatment, as well preventive methods. METHODS: The patients who visited Ajou university hospitals from June 1994 to May 2000(7 years) and who met the 1974 JAMA definition were selected for this retrospective study. The analysis of causative agents was made on the basis of clinical symptoms and the patients' chief complaints at the time of admission. Patients diagnosed with anaphylactic shock included those showing at least two types of IgEmediated symptoms; and those with a simple rash or breathing difficulties were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of 36 patients, 22 were male and 14 female, Those below the age of 20 comprised 16.7% of the patients(6 patients), between 20 and 29 comprised 16.7%(6 patients), 30 and 39 comprised 25%(9 patients), 40 and 49 comprised 27.8%(10 patients), over 50 comprised 14%(5 patients). The overall percentage show 70% of the patients in active adult age group. Rash was the most common clinical symptoms(89%, 32 patients) and hypotension the second(75%, 27 patients), followed by respiratory distress, fainting, and arrhythmia. Causative agents were insect bites, including bee stings(15 patients), medication(12 patients), food(8 patients), and unknown(1 patients). Nine(9) of the 36 case, were diagnosed as having an atopic origin. CONCLUSION: Bee sting was the single most common cause in the insect criteria while penicillin and NSAIDs accounted for most of medication-induced cases. Food showed a varied distribution. An atopic origin was not a basis for anaphylactic shock, but did show a two-fold increase of prevalence. This study is the first of its kind in addressing anaphylactic shock, a potentially severe illness, over a period of 7 years.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Bees ; Bites and Stings ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Emergency Treatment ; Exanthema ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Insects ; Male ; Penicillins ; Prevalence ; Respiration ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope ; Tertiary Care Centers*

Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath(GCTTS) is a benign condition which involves the synovium of the tendonsheaths, and usually occurs around the small joints, e. g. the ankle, knee, and wrist. Histologically, GCTTS is similar to pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS). The authors report MRI findings of a GCTTS. This showed lower signal-intensity lesions than adjacent muscles on T1-weighted, proton density weighted, and T2-weighted images.
Ankle ; Foot* ; Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Joints ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Protons ; Synovial Membrane ; Tendons* ; Wrist

PURPOSE: There is ongoing controversy regarding the management of papillary lesions that are diagnosed by core needle biopsy (CNB). The development of vacuum assisted biopsy now permits non-operative removal of papillary breast lesions. Our aim was to evaluate whether the papillary lesions diagnosed by vacuum assisted breast biopsy (VABB) can be followed up without further diagnostic excision. METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2009, a total of 4,655 US-guided mammotome excision were performed in 3,714 patients at Kangnam CHA Hospital. Out of 4,655 lesions, 156 lesions were proved to be papillary lesions. Among these, 82 lesions that had histologic findings that were consistent with benign papillary lesions and that were followed up for more than 2 years without further diagnostic surgical excision were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Ultrasonographic follow-up was done at 3-6 month intervals to assess for recurrence. The mean follow up period was 49.6 months. RESULTS: The pathologic diagnoses for the 82 lesions obtained via VABB were benign intraductal papilloma and papillomatosis. Half of the lesions were palpable and 50.0% (41 cases) were nonpalpable. Twenty eight lesions (34.1%) were classified as BIRADS category 3, 50 lesions (61.0%) were category 4A, 3 lesions (3.7%) were category 4B and only 1 lesion (1.2%) was category 5 according to the ultrasound exams. No local recurrence developed during the follow up period that needed surgical re-excision or rebiopsy. None of those diagnosed as benign lesions at VABB were upgraded to a more advanced lesions. CONCLUSION: The benign papillary lesions that are diagnosed and excised by mammotome may not need further diagnostic surgical re-excision if surgeons are sure that the targeted lesions were excised completely.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Breast ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Papilloma ; Papilloma, Intraductal ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Vacuum

PURPOSE: Phyllodes tumors are characterized by a double-layered epithelial component arranged in cleft-like ducts surrounded by a hypercellular spindle-celled stroma. Currently, phyllodes tumors are classified as benign, borderline, or malignant based on microscopic features. The relatively high rate of recurrence is an unsolved management problem. If a malignant phllodes tumor is treated inadequately, it may show a propensity for rapid growth and metastatic spread. However, benign phyllodes tumor are often indistinguishable from fibroadenoma, and can be cured by local surgery. Percutaneous removal of benign breast tumors using the Mammotome system has recently been regarded as a feasible, safe method without serious complications. The Mammotome system has an expanding role in the surgical treatment of benign breast disease, and may further extend its role to the excision of small malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the Mammotome biopsy device in the treatment of benign phyllodes tumor, and to identify whether surgical excision is necessary for benign phyllodes tumors diagnosed and excised by Mammotome. METHODS: From Jan. 2003 to Feb. 2007, a total of 2,751 US- guided mammotome excisions were performed in 2,226 patients at Kangnam Cha hospital. Out of 2,751 lesions, 30 lesions were proved to be benign phyllodes tumors. All lesions were removed using an 8-gauge probe without any residual lesions. Ultrasonographic follow-up was performed at a 3- to 6-month interval to assess recurrence. The mean follow-up period was 33.2 months (max, 51 months; min, 2 months). RESULTS: The mean patient age was 31.4 years. The average size of the lesion was 1.5 cm (SD+0.43 cm). The majority of lesions, 73.3% (22 cases), were palpable, and 26.7% (8 cases) were nonpalpable. Twenty-two lesions (73.8%) were classified as BIRADS category 3, eight lesions (26.7%) were classified as category 4A by ultrasound. During the follow-up period, local recurrence developed in only one patient, making the local recurrence rate 3.3%. No distant metastasis was observed. CONCLUSION: Benign phyllodes tumors found on mammotome excision may not require surgical reexcision if surgeons are sure that the targeted lesions were excised completely and the follow-up ultrasound does not show any residual lesions, especially in small phyllodes tumors, the greatest dimension of which is less than 3 cm.
Biopsy* ; Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Fibroadenoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phyllodes Tumor* ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography