OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to evaluate plasmin system in placenta fiom women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. METHODS: The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA), tissue-type plasrninogen activator(tPA), uPA receptor(uPAR) and plasminogen activatar inhibitor-1(PAI-1) mRNAs were measured by Northern blotting in placenta hom sixteen women with normal (n""8) and preeclamptic (n""8) pregnancy. The levels of tPA protein and PAI-1 protein were also measured by Westerrn blotting. RESULTS: Densitometric measurements revealed no difference in the levels of uPA mRNA, uPAR mRNA, tPA protein and PAI-1 protein in placentas fiom normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. There was, however, a significant decrease in the level of 3.2 kb PAI-I mRNA in placentas from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. CONCLUSION: To the contrary of our expectation, 3.2 kb PAI-1 mRNA level was significantly lower in placenta from women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. This seems to reflect differential accumulation of PAI-1 mRNAs due to environmental intluences or decreased differentiation potential of villous trophoblasts to invasive trophoblasts in placenta from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. The mechanism that regulates plasmin system in human placenta needs further investigations.
Blotting, Northern ; Female ; Fibrinolysin* ; Humans ; Placenta* ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts

BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Persistent trigeminal artery is an embryonic remnant of the anastomotic channel linking the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. Cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by the persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery stenosis has been described previously, but vertebrobasilar insufficiency entirely due to in situ stenosis of the persistent trigeminal artery has not been reported. A 71-year-old man presented with frequent dizzy episodes. The brain MRI showed no parenchymal lesions. MR angiography showed poor visualization of vertebrobasilar system. He was diagnosed as having vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography revealed that there was complete occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction, and the basilar artery was supplied by the persistent trigeminal artery which had severe stenosis at its origin. There was no stenosis of the internal carotid artery of both sides. We believe that this is the first report of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosed persistent trigeminal artery, without internal carotid artery stenosis.

A global increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has prompted the need for earlier diagnosis, treatment, and isolation of the disease. In tuberculosis, concomitant tuberculous meningitis and vascular complications such as intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare. Because of the poor prognosis of tuberculous meningitis as well as intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage, early diagnosis and management are crucial. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who had two intracranial aneurysms complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, who had concomitant tuberculous meningitis. She remained well with medical management.

The purpose of this study was to compare and to evaluate the combination use of 5 kinds of dentin adhesive systems and 5 kinds of composite resins using micro-shear bond test. Five adhesive systems (Prime & Bond NT (PBN), Onecoat bond (OC), Excite (EX), Syntac (SY), Clearfil SE bond (CS)) and five composite resins (Spectrum (SP), Synergy Compact (SC), Tetric Ceram (TC), Clearfil AP-X (CA), Z100 (Z1)) were used for this study (5 x 5 = 25group, n = 14/group). The slices of horizontally sectioned human tooth were bonded with each bonding system and each composite resin, and tested by a micro-shear bond strength test. These results were analyzed statistically. The mean micro-shear bond strength of dentin adhesive systems were in order of CS (22.642 MPa), SY (18.368 MPa), EX (14.599 MPa), OC (13.702 MPa), PBN (12.762 MPa). The mean bond strength of self-etching primer system group (CS, SY) in dentin was higher than that of self-priming adhesive system groups (PBN, EX, OC) significantly (P<0.05). The mean bond strength of composite resins was in order of SP (19.008 MPa), CA (17.532 MPa), SC (15.787 MPa), TC (15.068 MPa), Z1 (14.678 MPa). Micro-shear bond strength of SP was stronger than those of other composite resins significantly (P < 0.05). And those of TC and Z1 were weaker than other composite resins significantly (P < 0.05). No difference was found in micro-shear bond strength of composite resin in self-etching primer adhesive system groups (CS, SY) statistically. However, there was significant difference of micro-shear bond strength of composite resin groups in self-priming adhesive systems group (PBN, EX, OC). The combination of composite resin and dentin adhesive system recommended by manufacturer did not represent positive correlation. It didn't seem to be a significant factor.
Adhesives* ; Composite Resins* ; Dentin* ; Humans ; Tooth

Mural nodules in ovarian mucinous tumors, whether benign, borderline, or malignant, have been described by several authors since Prat and Scully first described sarcoma or sarcoma-like mural nodules occurring in association with mucinous epithelial neoplasia in 1979. Three distinct types of the mural nodule have been identified; i. e., 1) sarcoma-like lesion, 2) true mesenchymal sarcome, and 3) anaplastic carcinoma simulating a sarcoma. Mural nodules of sarcomatous and carcinomatous foci associated with mucinous ovarian tumors should be separated from sarcoma-like nodules because of the poor prognosis of the former compared to the favorable prognosis of the latter. We experienced a case of ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with sarcoma-appearing mural nodule of anaplastic carcinoma occurred in a 59-year-old woman and reported with brief review of the literatures.
Carcinoma* ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucins* ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the blood cells in the platelet concentrate (PC) and the PC arrangement method can affect the pH which is one of the important factors influencing the survival and function of the preserved PCs. METHOD: Two groups of CPDA-1 added PC were preserved at 20 ~ 24degrees C for 7 days. The PCs in group I were overlapped one another while those in group II were not overlapped and arranged separately during the preservation period. The number of RBC, WBC and platelets were measured at the first day of the preservation period while the pH was measured at the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day. RESULTS: The number of blood cells in the PC was 0.6x109 for WBC, 1.6x109 for RBC and 800x109 for platelet. As for the average pH, the 1st day's average pH was 7.4 for group I and 7.3 for group II, while at the 7th day, both decreased by 0.6. According to the correlation analysis between the blood cells and the pH changes, as for group I, the more the number of platelets were, the lower the pH decreased, and as for group II, the more the WBC and platelets were, the lower the pH decreased. (p<0.01) CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the major parameter affecting the pH of the preserved PCs is the number of platelets. In addition to platelet, the number of WBCs affected the pH when PCs were overlapped during storage. Conclusionally the key factor which affects pH of stored PCs was the number of platelets. And the number of contaminated WBCs also were thought to be an important factor.
Blood Cells ; Blood Platelets* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*

To evaluate croneal haze related to amount of correction, age and sex following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) in myopic eyes, 39months follow-up study on 358 eyes was performed prospectively. The preoperative spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -1.0D to 11.25D(mean -6.18D). The subjective corneal haze grading showed a maximum with mean grading of 0.92 at 2 months and a gradual decrease to 0.14 at 24 months after PRK. The degree of haze was statistically greater with higher amount of correction(p<0.05). No difference was found related to age and sex(p>0.05). Clinically significant corneal haze and scarring was frequent in higher myopia group(p<0.05). Individual variation in corneal haze after PRK was found. However, high myopia is a risk factor of the corneal haze following PRK, and further study to decrease the corneal haze after PRK is necessary.
Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Fatty Liver* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Liver*

In order to evaluate contamination of the topical eye drugs, 112(36 kinds) medications used over 1 month by the patients and 80(25 kinds) medications used at OPD(outpatient department) were studied by culturing the caps, the tips and the contents. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was mainly isolated from the caps and the tips(p<0.05). But the other gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungi were isolated from all medication sites. The most frequent site of contamination was the tips of the medications. Frequency of contamination based on detail of medications and preservatives of medications was not statistically significant(p>0.05). The medications used by the patients for a long time in comparison with the medications used at OPD were significantly more likely to be contaminated(p<0.0001). Therefore, we think that the topical eye durgs should be used with proper instillation and storage for a short period because of increase risk of contamination.
Fungi ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Staphylococcus