OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to find out mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid mutations in preeclampsia because Mendelian models fail to explain all the patterns of inheritance in preeclampsia. METHODS: Ten preeclampsia patients and two of their related family members who have the obstetric history of preeclampsia were studied. The mitochondrial transfer ribonucleic acidleu[UUR] gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, cut by a restriction endonuclease (Apa , and also sequenced to see the whole gene. RESULTS: There were neither the known mutation at Nucleotide 3243 nor other mutations on the mitochondrial transfer ribonucleic acidleu[UUR] gene in these objects. CONCLUSION: It seems that the known mutation of mitochondrial transfer ribonucleic acidleu[UUR] gene is not so frequently detected in preeclampsia of South Korean, But it could not be concluded how many South Korean women with preeclampsia have the mutation.
DNA ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Female ; Humans ; Point Mutation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; RNA* ; Wills

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

OBJECTIVES: To study the distributions of pH and gas values in umbilical arterial(UA) blood of normal newborns following uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal births. Methods: In 457 consecutive normal term infants who were born between March 1995 and June 1998, we examined the UA pH and blood gas values obtained immediately following delivery. Maternal inclusion criteria were defined as an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy and a normal full term spontaneous vaginal delivery. And also neonatal inclusion criteria were defined as a normal intrauterine growth appropriate for gestational age without any malformations and Apgar score of 7 or more at both one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical artery blood samples were collected at each birth and were evaluated for pH, carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), oxygen pressure (PaO2) and actual bicarbonate. RESULTS: Histogram of UA pH value resemble normal distribution curve. The lowest UA pH was 7.04 and the 10th percentile value was 7.23. The median UA pH was 7.31 and 5% was below 7.20. The lowest UA PaO2 was 4.6mmHg and the 10th percentile value was 11.5mmHg. The highest UA PaCO2 was 67.2mmHg and the 90th percentile value was 56.5mmHg. The lowest bicarbonate value was 13.2mmol/L and the 10th percentile value was 18.4mmol/L. CONCLUSION: The distributions of the UA pH and gas values of the collective of normal newborns were illustrated. None of the UA pH was below 7.0.
Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries*

OBJECTIVE: The ovarian cycle is characterized by repeating patterns of cellular proliferation and differentiation that accompany follicular development and the formation and regression of the corpus luteum (CL). That angiogenesis may play an important role in this process. Angiogenesis is supposed to be regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The goal of the present investigation, therefore, was to determine whether the expression of VEGF was changed in the normally cycling human ovary. We also investigated VEGF expression in the regressed CL (ie, nonfunctiong CL) of normal term pregnancy to define the association with steroidogenic activity. To our knowledge there is no report available on VEGF expression in the CL of term pregnancy. METHODS: We assessed VEGF expression in ovaries obtained from, 26-42 yr of age, and from patients undergoing hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy for nonendocrinological or nonovarian disorders. Tissue samples from premenopausal women included specimens from follicular (n=4) and luteal (n 4) phases. In addition, we studied ovarian specimens from pregnant women (n=3). Immunohistochemical analysis for VEGF was performed using a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against human VEGF. RESULTS: These data demonstrate a development-related VEGF expression in the follicle and indirectly show that VEGF expression may be up to the existence of LH-receptor. And also, VEGF was overexpressed in the regressed CL of pregnant women compared with the functioning CL of nonpregnant cycles CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the intensity of VEGF expression is not correlated with steroidogenic activity, although both of them are stimulated by LH.
Cell Proliferation ; Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

The isolation of fetal cells from maternal circulation has the potential to allow relativelyself prenatal diagosis for all pregnant women. The present technology, however, has notreached the accuracy required for clinical diagnosis because of maternal cell contaminationSo we published a new method for enrichment of nRBC in a fetal cell isolation(1996).In this study, attempted to FISH analysis of nRBC which was isolated by our ownmethods. We evaluated the efficiency of FISH.As the results, we have successfully used FISH on enriched nRBC.We were able to identified 2 abnormal fetus which were confirmed by conventionalcytogenentic study as Down syndrome(Fig.1) and Klinefeltre syndrome(Fig.2). And thesensitivity and specificity for FISH was 86%(49/57) and 92.3%(36/39), respectively.According to our results, fetal cell analysis by FISH can be reliable used for prenatalaneuploidy diagnosis. However, the problems of enrichment of the fetal cell and FISH probeor condition should be over come before analyze.
Aneuploidy ; Diagnosis ; Erythroblasts* ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence* ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: This study was to evaluate the association of the G1691A mutation of factor V gene with preeclamptic patients in Korea. METHODS: Factor V genotype were determined in 113 preeclamptic patients and 100 normotensive pregnant women. A 267 base-pair DNA fragment of the factor V gene that includes nucleotide 1691 was amplified by PCR. PCR product was digested with MnlI restriction enzyme and the fragments were analysed by electrophoresis using 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: The difference of genetic and allelic frequencies between two groups could not be mentioned because all women were G1691G homozygotes. There was no individuals with mutant allele among preeclamptic patients and control women. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of association between preeclampsia and factor V gene polymor- phism in Korean population.
Alleles ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Factor V* ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; Sepharose

Although sporadic cases of transient fetal ascites have been described, pulmonary hypoplasia or hydrops fetalis may occur as potentially lethal complications of isolated fetal ascites. Antenatal fetal paracentesis may be useful in improving neonatal pulmonary function, however rapid accumulation of fluid after paracentesis usually required repetitive invasive procedures. We successfully treated an isolated fetal ascites with peritoneo- amniotic shunt. Under the ultrasonographic guidence, we inserted a Double-Basket Catheter into the left lower quadrant of fetal abdominal wall at the end of second trimester. Shunt remained in place until the fetus was delivered at term. The peritoneo-amniotic shunt can improve fetal outcome and avoid repeated paracentesis before delivery.
Abdominal Wall ; Ascites* ; Catheters ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

OBJECTIVE: Since the accuracy of Pap smear for cervical neoplasm has been questioned, a number of adjunctive tests have been developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of speculoscopy, a magnified chemiluminescent examination, as compared with that of the Pap smear in the screening of cervical neoplasm. METHODS: A total of 41 women were included in the study. We conducted Pap smear, speculoscopy, and punch biopsy to all subjects. Targeted biopsies were obtained from any suspicious lesions that were found with positive speculoscopy. Women with negative speculoscopy underwent random biopsies. The data were analysed using McNemar's test. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of 41 biopsy specimen were found to have cervical lesion that were worse than CIN I, including 8 cases of invasive cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of Pap smear were 74.2% and 70.0%, respectively. Those of speculoscopy were 93.5% and 60.0%, respectively. When these two tests were combined, the sensitivity was raised to 96.8%, but the specificity declined to 50.0%. Among 9 cases of ASCUS on Pap smear, 6 cases were found to have cervical pathology worse than CIN II, and these were positive on speculoscopy. CONCLUSION: Speculoscopy combined with a Pap smear can increase the detection of cervical lesions compared with the Pap smear alone. In the cases of ASCUS on Pap smear, speculoscopy may be more useful to detect significant pathology.
Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the clinical efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol and that of intravenous sulprostone for termination of second-trimester pregnancy. METHODS: The patients were assigned to misoprostol and sulprostone group, and the misoprostol group was further divided into two groups according to gestational age. In the misoprostol group, the patients at or before 20 weeks of gestation received 400 microgram of intravaginal misoprostol every 4 hours until labor pain was established, 200 microgram every 6 hours after 20 weeks of gestation. In the sulprostone group, intravenous sulprostone was infused at the speed of 100 microgram/hr after cervical ripening with 3 mg of intravaginal dinoprostone. RESULTS: At or before 20 weeks of gestation, the median time from induction to completion of termination was longer, but the success rate within 24 hours was less in the misoprostol group than in the sulprostone group (18.75 vs. 7.15 hours, p=0.015; 50% vs 92%, p=0.014, respectively). After 20 weeks, there was no significant difference in median induction time or success rate within 24 hours (5.54 vs. 8.0 hours, p>0.05; 100% vs. 100%, p>0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of complication or change of hemoglobin after termination between two groups. CONCLUSION: Sulprostone may be more effective for termination of pregnancy at or before 20 weeks of gestation and misoprostol may be as effective as sulprostone after 20 weeks of gestation. But considering less cost and complication, the efficacy of misoprostol should be further investigated for termination of second- trimester pregnancy.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Misoprostol* ; Pregnancy* ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine whether aquaporin-4, which plays role as a transcellular water channel, is expressed in human placenta, and to compare the degree of its expression between preeclamptic women and normal pregnant women. METHODS: Placentas were obtained from severely preeclamptic women and normal pregnant women who were delivered neonates by cesarean section before the onset of labor in the Chungbuk National University Hospital. Immunohistochemistry with aquaporin-4 antibody was performed using paraffin-embedded tissue section. Signal of aquaporin-4 expression was observed with light microscope. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry demonstrated expression of aquaporin-4 in the placentas of both preeclamptic women and normal pregnant women. The degree of expression was not different in both group. CONCLUSION: Aquaporin-4 was expressed in the human placenta, but may not be related to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Cesarean Section ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant, Newborn ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women