No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor* ; Egg Hypersensitivity* ; Ovum*

OBJECTIVE: Because endometriosis is difficult to diagnose and has a high recurrence rate after treatment, a reliable serum marker of endometriosis is necessary. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9 in patients with endometriosis before and after treatment and during recurrence, and to assess the usefulness of these levels in the diagnosis, clinical follow up and prediction of recurrence in endometriosis. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients who visited the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Ewha Mokdong Hospital from January 1994 to December 1998 and were diagnosed as endometriosis by laparoscopy or explo-laparotomy were enrolled as subjects. A retrospective analysis of serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels at 1 month before and 3 to 6 months after initiation of treatment was done. RESULTS: The serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels of endometriosis group(81.0+/-252.5, 36.6+/-53.4 ; mean+/-2SD, U/ml) before treatment was significantly higher than control group(11.6+/-12.8, 9.4+/-8.6)(p<0.05). Overall sensitivity rate for CA125, CA19-9 levels and both was 53.4%, 42.9% and 64.3% respectively. The sensitivity rate for endometriosis, stage 3 and 4(85.4%, 55.0%) was significantly higher than that, stage 1 and 2(p<0.05). The serum CA125 level in endometriosis group showed a significant increment according to stages(p<0.05) while the serum CA19-9 level showed an increasing trend(p=0.055) and both levels decreased significantly after treatment(p<0.05). The serum CA125 level was also higher at recurrence after treatment(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum CA125 and CA19-9 levels are a useful marker for diagnosing severity of disease, monitoring efficacy of treatment and predicting recurrence in endometriosis.
Biomarkers ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Obstetrics ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

The serum concentrations of the major minerals(calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium) and trace elements(iron, Zinc, copper manganese)were datermined in 23 breast fed infants living in Eumsung, Choong-buk region. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1)The mean levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium of the serum of total subjects were 8.15+/-0.33mg/dI, 11.06+/-0.16mg/dI, 2.00+/-0.14mg/dI, 3.4476+/-17.99mg/dI and 9.06+/-2.04mg/dI respectively. 2)The serum concentrations of iron, zinc, copper and manganese in total subjects averaged 95.83+/-0.33mg/dI, 93.79+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 98.57+/-7.06 microgram/dI and 4.93+/-0.62 microgram/dI respecitively. 3)Breast fed infants had significantly higher serum calcim, magnesium, sodium and iron concentrations than the formula fed groups. Otherwise, serum potassium, copper and manganese levels in breast milk fed infants were significantly lower than those in formula fed infants. 4) In formula fed infants, serum potassium and copper levels increased increased significantly with months after birth.
Breast ; Calcium ; Copper ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Magnesium ; Manganese ; Milk, Human ; Minerals* ; Parturition ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Trace Elements* ; Zinc

This study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of Korean lactating women, who were attending peripheral community clinics in low-income areas, by anthropometric measurement, estimating dietary intakes and analyzing the contents of breast milk components, serum lipid content and fatty acid composition. Regarding anghropometric measurements, maternal circumferences decreased significantly at the trunk but not at the limbs. The skinfold thickness on all regions had the tendency to decrease during lactation. It was found that intakes of energy, protein, lipid and carbohydrates were desirable while calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin A were low and sodium was excessive. The energy % of fat was 22.41% of the total energy which is higher than the RDA for adults but it is proper for lactating women, but energy % from each fatty acid was usually low and an intake ratio of omega6/omega3 fatty acids was desirable. Accordingly, it is thought that dietary fat intake was balanced in quality. Concentrations of the nutrients in matured human milk showed the same range as that reported form different regions with the exception of calcium and magnesium which were relatively low. Serum lipid contents were decreased with the time postpartum and the average serum lipid content of lactating women were similar to the normal range of adults. Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids. especially omega6 fatty acids have gradually increased with the time postpartum, but the composition were not greatly influenced by dietary intakes.
Adult ; Breast* ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Copper ; Dietary Fats ; Extremities ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Magnesium ; Milk, Human* ; Nutritional Status ; Postpartum Period ; Reference Values ; Skinfold Thickness ; Sodium ; Vitamin A ; Zinc

Mullerian agenesis or dysgenesis, rare developmental anomaly presenting as primary amenorrhea, is characterized by absence of vagina and absence or rudimentary development of the uterus. Anatomic anomalies of the axial skeleton and kindney often accompany this psychologically devatating condition. There are various methods of surgical treatment for congenital absence of the vagina. The six cases reviewed in this paper were all treated with McIndoe technique. All of 6 women experienced satisfactory sexual activity and were satisfied with vaginal depth following vaginal creation using a split thickness skin graft technique. Despite the existence of several alternative methods, the McIndoe technique is a relatively simple and highly successful procedure and hence is still prefered by many surgeons.
Amenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Sexual Behavior ; Skeleton ; Skin ; Transplants ; Uterus ; Vagina*

This research was conducted to investigate the responses of the patients and the therapists who attend the community meeting, to evaluate the therapeutic effects of community meeting as a group psychotherapy by applying short form scale of Yalom's Q-sort, to diagnose and complement the problems of the community meeting and to aim at activating the therapeutic function as the group psychotherapy The community meeting was held by 10 times during the stage of oscillation of the community and 26.7 patients group(+/-2.95) and 8.5 therapists group(+/-1.43) attended the every meeting. Consequently, both patients group and therapists group evaluate the community meeting as positive, and on the item which is helpful to them, while patient group responds it is 'mutual understanding and love' and 'self-understanding', therapist group does it is 'frank self-expression' and 'conversation'. On all items of group psychotherapy factors in the community meeting, the patients group evaluates it is more therapeutic in comparison with the therapists group, especially there is a significant difference in nine items such as 'altruism', 'group cohesiveness', 'interpersonal input', 'interpersonal output', 'identification', 'instillation of hope', 'family reenactment', 'self-understanding' and 'existential awareness'. In addition, on the therapeutic factor which is activated group psychotherapy factor in the community meeting, both patients and therapists respond that it is 'existential awareness' and 'universality', and they evaluate 'interpersonal output' as an non-activated therapeutic factor.
Complement System Proteins ; Humans ; Psychotherapy, Group ; Q-Sort

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Both genetic and epigenetic alterations can lead to abnormal expression of metastasis-regulating genes in tumor cells. Recent studies suggest that aberrant epigenetic alterations, followed by differential gene expression, leads to an aggressive cancer cell phenotype. We examined epigenetically regulated genes that are involved in ovarian cancer metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed SK-OV-3 human ovarian carcinoma cell xenografts in mice. We compared the mRNA expression and DNA methylation profiles of metastatic tissues to those of the original SK-OV-3 cell line. RESULTS: Metastatic implants showed increased mRNA expression of the carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) gene and hypomethylation at CpG sites in the CA9 promoter. Treatment of wild-type SK-OV-3 cells with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine reduced methylation of the CA9 promoter and increased CA9 mRNA expression. Eight CpGs, which were located at positions -197, -74, -19, -6, +4, +13, +40, and +86, relative to the transcription start site, were hypomethylated in metastatic tumor implants, compared to that of wild-type SK-OV-3. Overexpression of CA9 induced an aggressive phenotype, including increased invasiveness and migration, in SK-OV-3 cells. CONCLUSION: Alterations in the DNA methylation profile of the CA9 promoter were correlated with a more aggressive phenotype in ovarian cancer cells.
Animals ; Azacitidine/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/*drug effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics/*pathology ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Phenotype ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism

Insulinoma is a rare tumor, occurring more often in women and in the older age range. Eighty percent of patients have a single benign tumor, usually 2 cm in diameter, located with about equal frequency in body, head or tail of pancreas and amenable to surgical cure. About 10% have multiple tumors. The remaining 10% of patients have metastatic malignant insulinoma. The symptom of insulinoma is characterized by the periodic attack of hypoglycemia of blood sugar level below 50mg%, by fasting or exertion, and rapid relief of symptom by oral or intravenous administration of glucose. Symptom often lead to misdiagnosis as a neurologic or psychiatric disorder. A case described by authors was 44-year old female with the chief complaints of the loss of consciousness, epileptic seizure although she has been treated by anticonvulsants. Serum blood sugar and insulin level during fasting suggested insulinoma but abdominal computed tomography shows no definitive mass in pancreas. Celiac angiography revealed insulinoma. She transferred to the department of General Surgery and was performed enucleation. Microscopic findings shows the islet cell tumor of pancreas. A brief review of the literature was made.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Administration, Intravenous ; Angiography ; Anticonvulsants ; Blood Glucose ; Diagnostic Errors ; Epilepsy ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Head ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Tail ; Unconsciousness

We reviewed the clinical features, histrologic patterns and clinical courses of 30 children with lupus nephritis retrospectively, and the results were summerized as follows; 1) The male to female ratio was 1:2.8, and the mean age at the onset was 10 8/12 years. 2) The clinical symptoms were diverse, and malaise, weight loss, anorexia, fever and malar rash were the most frequent findings. 3) Among the immunologic tests, FANA and anti-ds-DNA test revealed the highest sensitivity with positive rates of 97% and 87%, respectively. 4) Clinically, 57% of patients had active nephrotic syndrome at the onset, and 33% showed (?) was the most common findings (70%). 5) During the follow-up period, one children with Class IV lupus nephritis expired. And 8 out of 9 cases with renal insufficiency at the onset showed improvement of renal function after treatment with corticosteroid and cytotoxic agents. In conclusion, the clinical features and histologic findings of lupus nephritis in children were diverse. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent rapid deterioration of renal function and improve long-term survival rate.
Anorexia ; Child* ; Cytotoxins ; Early Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Lupus Nephritis* ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Weight Loss