BACKGROUND: Elecsys 2010 immunoassay system is based on the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using a ruthenium (II) tris (bipyridyl) label. Since it was the first time to use the system in our laboratory, we would like to evaluate the analytical performances (precision, linearity and recovery rate) and correlation with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) methods. METHODS: We used precicontrol tumor marker (TM1, TM2) for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Precicontrol universal (Ul, U2) for triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), Precicontrol-TSH for thyrotropin (TSH) and pooled serum for the evaluation of precision and recovery rate. Patients' sera were used for the linearity and comparison study. RESULTS: The coefficients of variatron of Imprecision study were below; 4.0%, 8.7% and 10.2%, respectively in the within-run, within-day and between-day analysis. The recovery rates were 100.5%, 96.1% and 102.5%, respectively in T4, TSH, and AFP. The linearity were y=1.02x-0.182(r=0.99) for T4, y=1.01x+0.12 (r=0.99) for TSH and y=1.01x+0.54(r=1.00) for AFP. T3, T4, TSH, CEA and PSA results showed good correlation with RIA (r>0.90), but AFP showed r=0.88. Also, AFP, CEA and PSA results showed excellent correlation with AxSYM (r>0.99). CONCLUSION: Elecsys 2010 immunoassay system showed excellent precision, recovery rate, clinically acceptable linearity and good correlation with the results obtained by RIA and MEIA methods.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Immunoassay* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Radioimmunoassay ; Ruthenium ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine

No abstract available.
Blindness, Cortical* ; Diagnosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pregnancy*

Repeat cesarean section is one of the leading causes to make increasing a rate of cesarean section. Trial of labor TOL after cesarean section is attempt to reduce the rate of repeat cesarean section. Trial of labor has been well established as a safe alternative in carefully selected women with transverse scars in the lower uterine segment. This study was based on 104 cases of delivery with prior cesarean birth at the Chonbuk National University Hospital from January, 1991 to June, 1997. The results were as follows: 1) Among 1400 cases with previous cesarean delivery, trial of labor was done in 104 cases (7.4%). Among 104 cases, vaginal birth was successfully completed in 96 cases (92.3%). 2) Among 28 cases with PGE2, vaginal tablet, vaginal delivery was done in 23 cases (82.1%). 3) Among 22 cases with more than 4 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done in 21 cases (95.5%), and among 6 cases with less than 3 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done only 2 cases (33.3%). 4) There was no matemal death or uterine rupture in the cases of trial of labor, But in 2 cases, uterine dehiscence was observed in 4 cases and postpartal bleeding (more than 400ml) was developed. 5) In the cases of cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 7 days and medical fee was about 400,000 won. In the cases of vaginal birth after cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 2.6 days and medical fee was about 100,000 won. In condusion, vaginal birth after cesarean section is safe and effective alternative to elective repeat cesarean section and also the use of PGE, vaginal tablet is so effective to increase success rate of vaginal delivery. After all, positive these trials might decrease cesarean rate and increase maternal health and quality of medical care.
Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Cicatrix ; Dinoprostone ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Maternal Health ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandins E ; Trial of Labor ; Uterine Rupture ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean* ; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

No abstract available.
Addison Disease*

We report herein an unusual case of tick bite. A 56 year old woman complained of erythematous nodular skin lesion on the left upper chest. An excision biopsy specimen of the lesion showed darkish-red nodule, in which there was a tick. It was identified as an adult female of Ixodes nipponensis by the scanning electron microscopic examination.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Ixodes* ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Tick Bites ; Tick Infestations* ; Ticks*

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is common in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may contribute to cerebral hemorrhage. We previously demonstrated that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen (PLG) accumulated at the periphery of compact amyloid-cored plaques and in the walls of CAA-containing blood vessels in the brains of Tg2576 mice, a widely used AD mouse model. We had also observed that zinc-triggered tPA and PLG induction were observed in mouse cortical cultures. Because zinc also accumulates in amyloid plaques and blood vessel walls in AD brains, we examined whether zinc increases mRNA and protein levels of tPA and PLG in brain endothelial cells and pericytes. Four hours after the exposure of brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3) to 40 microM zinc, the mRNA and protein expressions of tPA and its substrate PLG were significantly increased. In the case of brain pericyte cultures, increases in tPA and PLG expression were also detected 2 hr after treatment. However, amyloid-beta (Abeta)1-42 oligomers did not augment tPA and PLG expression in bEnd.3 cells and pericytes, suggesting that zinc but not Abeta induces tPA and PLG accumulation in CAA found in the AD brain.
Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Endothelial Cells* ; Humans ; Mice ; Pericytes* ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Plasminogen* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator* ; Zinc

We report a case of eccrine adenocarcinoma in 65-year-old man who showed tender, painful, dark-brown colored, and verrucous surfaced tumor on the left neck for 18 months. Hisopathologic examination revealed large atypical cell masses with a tubular cystic, or adenoid pattern in the demis and it was difficult to differentiate from metastatic adenocarcinoma. Materials in the lumina revealed PAS positive, diastase resistant, alcian blue positive at pH 2.5 but negative at pH 0,4 Electron microscopy revealed that tumor cells contained secretory vacuoloes and microvilli projected into intercellular space. Around the cells, myoepithelial cell was seen. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, tumor size was reduced transiently but 2 months later, tumor was more spread.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoids ; Aged ; Alcian Blue ; Amylases ; Drug Therapy ; Extracellular Space ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microvilli ; Neck ; Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pattern and the magnitude of stress distribution in the supporting tissues surrounding three different types of implants(ITI, 3i, and Bicon implant system). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Photoelastic models were made with PL-2 resin(Measurements Group, Raleigh, USA) and three implants of each kind were placed in the mandibular posterior edentulous area distal to the canine . For non-splinted restorations, individual crowns were fabricated on three titanium abutments. For splinted restorations, 3-unit fixed partial dentures were fabricated. Photoelastic stress analyses were carried out to measure the fringe order around the implant supporting structure under simulated loaded conditions(15 lb, 30 lb). CONCLUSION: The results were as follows; 1. Regardless of the implant design, stresses were increased in the apex region of loaded implant when non-splinted restorations were loaded. While relatively even stress distribution occurred with splinted restorations. Splinting was effective in the second implant. 2. Strain around Bicon implant were lower than those of other implants, which confirmed the splinting effect. The higher the load, the more the stress occurred in supporting tissue, which was most obvious in the Bicon system. 3. Stress distribution in the supporting tissue was favorable in the ITI system, while the other side of 3i system tended to concentrate the stress in some parts.
Crowns ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Splints ; Titanium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pattern and the magnitude of stress distribution in the supporting tissues surrounding three different types of implants(ITI, 3i, and Bicon implant system). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Photoelastic models were made with PL-2 resin(Measurements Group, Raleigh, USA) and three implants of each kind were placed in the mandibular posterior edentulous area distal to the canine . For non-splinted restorations, individual crowns were fabricated on three titanium abutments. For splinted restorations, 3-unit fixed partial dentures were fabricated. Photoelastic stress analyses were carried out to measure the fringe order around the implant supporting structure under simulated loaded conditions(15 lb, 30 lb). CONCLUSION: The results were as follows; 1. Regardless of the implant design, stresses were increased in the apex region of loaded implant when non-splinted restorations were loaded. While relatively even stress distribution occurred with splinted restorations. Splinting was effective in the second implant. 2. Strain around Bicon implant were lower than those of other implants, which confirmed the splinting effect. The higher the load, the more the stress occurred in supporting tissue, which was most obvious in the Bicon system. 3. Stress distribution in the supporting tissue was favorable in the ITI system, while the other side of 3i system tended to concentrate the stress in some parts.
Crowns ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Splints ; Titanium

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rar, incurable, and progressive clinical entity. When associated with pregnancy, the prognosis of primary pulmonary hypertension is worsened with maternal mortality rates of at least 50%. The patient was a 29-year-old mother in her 2nd pregnancy, with previous uncomplicated gestation, 5 years ago. She had been well until the 28th week of present gestation when she was admitted because of increasing dyspnea on exertion. She was a housewife with no remarkable family and past histories. We have experienced a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy. She was treated with an oral calcium-channel blocker and low-molecular-weight heparin and was delivered vaginally with good maternal and fetal outcome. So we report a case of primary pulmonary hypertension associated with pregnancy and review literature.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Maternal Mortality ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis