No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

No abstract available.

There have been many reports to date regarding the role of GnRH as a local regulatory factor of ovarian function as studies of human and rat ovaries revealed GnRH and its receptor. In recent studies it has been shown that GnRH directly causes apoptosis in the granulosa cells of the rat ovary, and such results leads to the suggestion that the use of GnRH agonist for more stable long term ovarian hyperstimulation in human IVF-ET programs causes granulosa cell apoptosis which may lead to follicular atresia. Therefore this study attempts to determine if granulosa-luteal cell apoptosis occurs in patients during IVF-ET programs in which GnRH agonist is employed for ovarian hyperstimulation. The quality of oocyte-cumulus complexes obtained during ovum pickup procedures were assessed morphologically and then the fertilization rate and developmental rate was determined. Apoptotic cells among the granulosa-luteal cells obtained during the same procedure were observed after staining with Hematoxylin-rosin. The fragmentation degree of DNA extracted from granulosa-luteal cells was determined and comparatively analyzed. There was no difference in the average age of the patients, the number of oocytes retrieved, and fertilization and developmental rates between the FSH/hMG group and GnRH-long group. There was also no difference in the apoptosis rate and pyknosis rate in the granulosa-luteal cells between the two groups. However, when the oocyte-cumulus complexes were morphoogically divided into the healthy group and atretic group without regard for the method of hyperstimulation, the results showed that the number of oocytes obtained averaged 11.09+/-8.75 and 10.33+/-4.53 per cycle, respectively, showing no significant difference, but the fertilization rate (77.05%, 56.99%, respectively, p<0.01) and developmental ,ate (65.96%, 41.51%, respectively, p<0.01) was significantly increased in the healthy group when compared to the atretic group. The degree of apoptosis in the granulosa-luteal cells showed that in the healthy group it was 2.25% which was not significantly different from the atretic group (2.77%), but the pyknosis rate in the atretic group (27.81%) was significantly higher compared to the healthy group (11.35%, p<0.01). The quantity of DNA fragmentation in the FSH/hMG group was 32.22%, while in the GnRH-long group it was 34.27%, showing no significant difference. On the other hand the degree of DNA fragmentation was 39.05% and 11.83% in the healthy group and atretic group, respectively, showing significantly higher increase in the atretic group (p<0.01). The above results suggest that death of granulosa-luteal cells according to the state of the oocyte-cumulus complex is more related to pyknosis rather than apoptosis. Also, the GnRH agonist used in ovarian hyperstimulation does not seem to directly affect the apoptosis of retrieved oocytes and granulosa-luteal cells, and which is thought to be due to the suppression of the apoptogenic effect of GnRH agonist as a result of the high doses of FSH administered.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Fertilization ; Follicular Atresia ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Granulosa Cells ; Hand ; Humans* ; Luteal Cells ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Rats

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: There are many reports about the correlation between cardiovascular disorders and estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women. The purpose of current study is to know that postmenopausal estrogen therapy may affect the lipid metabolism and endogenous fibrinolytic system and exercise tolerance. METHOD: We investigated the relation of estrogen treatment (srogen 0.625 mg/day) to serum lipid levels, angiotensin converting enzyme activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and parameters of treadmill test in 22 postmenopausal women of normal coronary artery with abnormal exercise test complained with chest pain accompanied by postmenopausal symptoms. RESULTS: Estrogen treatment significantly elevated the serum HDL-cholesterol level (42.8 to 50.1 mg/dl, p<0.05) and reduced the PAI-1 level (16.2 to 10.4 ng/dl, p<0.01) without considerable side effects. During the exercise test, the positivity appearance time and total exercise duration is significantly increased after estrogen treatment. CONCLUSION: The postmenopausal use of estrogen favorably changed the lipid level, fibrinolytic system and might improve the microcirculation which may protect against the ischemic heart disease risk without significant side effects.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Vessels ; Estrogens* ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Microcirculation ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Postmenopause

BACKGROUND: In patients after acute myocardial infarction, signal-averaged electrocardiography is used as the one of the non-invasive methods for the prediction for ventricular arrhythmia, one of the causes ofn death in acute myocardial infarction. Signal-averaged electrocardiography has allowed the identification of low-amplitude, high-frequency signals(late potentials)in the terminal portion of the QRS complex. They are thougt to be occured in the portion of electrophysiologically unstable myocardium. The presence of late potentials identifies regions of delayed conducton in the elctrophysiologically unstable border zone of an acute infarction. These electrophysiologic change of myocardium is influenced by the patency of infarct-related artery. A patent artery is associated with electrical stability of myocardium, decreased in cidence of late potentials and improved survival. METHODS: 58 patients of acute myocardial infarction underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography, coronary angiography within 10 days after AMI, 20 of healthy persons underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography. RESULTS: In patent group, late potentials were recorded in 7 of 38 patients(18%) as compared with 13 of 20 patients(65%) of non-patent group. The statistically significant parameters of signal-averaged electrocardiography beteen patent and non-patent group were filtered total QRS duration(TQRS, 106.7+/-20.9msec), high frequency low amplitude signal (HLAS, 30.8+/-7.5 vs 41.3+/-16.5 msec)with HLAS being the most powerful varialble in the model. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the patency of infarct-related artery is associated with electrophysiologic stability of myocardium and signal-averaged electrocardiography is one of the useful non-invasive method in risk stratification of acute myocrdial infarction.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries* ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Home-use devices designed for cosmetic purposes have recently gained popularity. Small, low-energy, low-cost intense pulsed light (IPL) systems provide safe, convenient, and private treatment for several medical conditions. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a home-use IPL device for hair removal, acne treatment, achieving a whitening effect for hyperpigmentation, and wrinkle reduction. METHODS: Five IPL hair removal treatment sessions were performed at 1-week intervals. A total of 10 sessions were performed in a split-face manner for other medical conditions. Four independent randomized controlled trials were performed using a blind evaluation method. All subjects were followed up twice to evaluate the maintenance of efficacy. RESULTS: A significant reduction in hair was observed via trichoscopy following two sessions of treatment (p<0.001). A mean hair reduction of 80% was observed at week 4; however this returned to the previous state upon cessation of treatment. Acne grading decreased from 2.6 to 1.1 at week 8, and IPL treatment induced a significant reduction in melanin index after 2 weeks. The average values of the difference of R2 (Cutometer(R)) between IPL-treated areas and baseline were higher than those of the difference of R2 between control area and baseline. CONCLUSION: This home-use IPL device was effective for hair removal and treatment of acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair ; Hair Removal* ; Hyperpigmentation ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Pigmentation Disorders* ; Withholding Treatment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to report on the pattern of medical process and relative frequencies of fractures in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the database of the health insurance review and assessment service regarding children and adolescents under 20 years old treated from 2008 to 2010. Newly registered numbers of fractures in children and adolescents according to sex, month, institution, and anatomical location were also reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 1,893,416 fractures occurred during three years; approximately 630,000 cases were treated during one year (approximately 562 cases among 10,000 people during one year). During one year, the most fractures occurred in June and the least in February. Senior general hospital consisted of 5.72%, 12.30% in general hospital, 19.28% in hospital, and 62.70% in clinics. Among the fracture sites, 0.05% were cervical fractures, 0.91% in sternum and thoracic vertebra, 1.35% in lumbar vertebra and pelvis, 12.79% in shoulder and upper extremities, 26.87% in lower extremities, 38.10% in wrist and hand, 1.01% in femur, 10.40% in lower extremities including ankle, and 8.52% in foot excluding ankle. The maximal incidence was age 14 years in male and 12 years in female. CONCLUSION: The authors reviewed the pattern of medical process and relative frequencies of fractures in children and adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Ankle ; Child* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Femur ; Foot ; Hand ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance, Health* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Spine ; Sternum ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the prevalence of osteosarcopenia, as well as the relationship between one-year mortality and osteosarcopenia, as defined by criteria of the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in patients age 60 or older with hip fracture. METHODS: A total of 324 patients age 60 years or older with hip fracture were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of osteosarcopenia, as well as the relationship between osteosarcopenia and 1-year mortality. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was carried out according to the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia. Whole body densitometry analysis was used for skeletal muscle mass measurement and muscle strength were evaluated by handgrip testing. Mortality was assessed at the end of 1-year. Cox regression analysis was utilized to analyze the risk factor of osteosarcopenia. RESULTS: Of 324 patients with hip fracture, 93 (28.7%) were diagnosed with osteosarcopenia. In total, 9.0% died during the one-year follow-up. A one-year mortality of osteosarcopenia (15.1%) was higher than that of other groups (normal: 7.8%, osteoporosis only: 5.1%, sarcopenia only: 10.3%). Osteosarcopenia had a 1.8 times higher mortality rate than non-osteosarcopenia. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that the prevalence of osteosarcopenia is not rare, and has a higher mortality rate than the non-osteosarcopenia group at the 1-year follow-up period. This is the first study evaluating the relationship between mortality and osteosarcopenia in patients with hip fracture.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Densitometry ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Mortality ; Muscle Strength ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Observational Study ; Osteoporosis ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sarcopenia

pneumonia in the setting of chronic alcoholism and may be complicated by meningitis. Only one adult case of pneumococcal endocarditis (PE) has been reported in Korea. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who suffered from PE complicated by embolic cerebral infarction and meningitis. This is the first Korean case of PE complicated with meningitis. The patient was treated medically and died from a cardiac complication. This case shows that PE is difficult to treat without surgery because its evolution is usually acute and very aggressive; it has a high rate of local and systemic complications despite the administration of appropriate antibiotics.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cerebral Infarction ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae