The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of unexplained elevated mater- nal serum alpha-fetoprotein in singleton pregnancies as a prediction of fetal risk. The inclusion criteria for patents with unexplained MSAFP elevations were a MSAFP level 2.0 or greater multiples of the median ( MoM ), a single gestation, a confirmed gestatio- nal age and no fetal malformation or death on ultrasonography. In this study, 991 woman who attended the antenatal clinic at Taejeon Eul Ji Hospital from March, 1996 to March, 1997 were reviewed and data from 79 women with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were analysed. The 67 of 79 patients with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels had on unexplained elevated MSAFP level. 13 women could not follow up. 54 pregnant women with unexplained elevated MSAFP levels were classified as the index group of singleton pregn- ancy and were matched against a control group. 108 patients with MSAFP levels 0.5 to 2.0 MoM served as control group. The incidence of antepartum hemorrhage ( placental previa ), preterm labor, intrauterine growth retardation ( IUGR ), low birth weight and pregnancy induced hypertension ( PIH ) in two groups was analyzed and the results was subjected to Fisher's Exact Test. None of the patients in the index group had chromosomal abnormalites or birth defect. IUGR occurred in 7 ( 12.96% ) of the index group babies but in only 3 ( 2.78% ) in the control group ( p < 0.02 ). preterm labor occurred in 5 ( 9.26% ) in the index group compared with 2 ( 1.85% ) in the control group ( p < 0.05 ). low birth weight occurred in 3 ( 5.5% ) of the index group babies and in 1 ( 0.9% ) in the control group ( p < 0.1 ). This study suggests that patients with unexplained midtrimester elevations of MSAFP are increased risk for IUGR, preterm labor. But no significance differences were observed in the incidence of low birth weight, antepartum hemorrhage ( placental previa ), PIH.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Daejeon ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroschisis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Hypertension, Renovascular*

No abstract available.
Collagen

Alloys ; Bone Plates ; Cartilage ; Corrosion ; Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Fascia ; Glass ; Hope ; Humans ; Jaw Fixation Techniques ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Methylmethacrylate ; Orbit ; Polyethylene ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Silicones ; Spleen ; Titanium ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Transplants

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Flow Cytometry*

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Helminths* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do*

This erratum is being published to correct of affiliation and add an acknowledgement.

BACKGROUND: T cell mediated immune destruction is an important mechanism of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) seem to serve as a marker for the T cell activation and progressive liver injury, This study examined serum levels of sIft-2R and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patients with chronic HCV infection to determine the correlation with the severity of chronic hepatocellular damage. METHODS: Serum levels of sIft-2R in 73 patients with HCV infection (chronic hepatitis 52, liver cirrhosis 9, hepatocellular carcinoma 12) and 40 healthy controls were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay (CELLFREE, T Cell Sciences, USA). HCV RNA was quantified by QUANTIPLEX(TM) HCV RNA 2.0 assay (Chiron, USA) with duplication. This assay is a sandwich nucleic acid hybridization procedure using branched DNA amplification for the quantitation of HCV RNA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R levels of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis (591.4+/-238.7U/mL), 9 with liver cirrhosis(949.4+/-721.9 U/mL), and 12 with hepatocellular carcinoma (1,167.4+/- 554.4 U/mL) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls(370.8+/-71.8 U/mL) (p<0.001). A progressive and significant increase occurred in sIL-2R levels with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order (p(0.001). The HCV RNA was detected in all patients and the means of HCV viral load were 3.3 MEq/mL in chronic hepatitis, 2.8 MEq/mL in cirrhosis, and 3.7 MEq/mL in HCC. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA and the severity of liver injury in chronic HCV infection. There were no correlations among sIL-2R, HCV RNA and serum ALT. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic hepatocellular injury by HCV progress mainly by T cell mediated immune response, not by direct cytopathic injury. Also, sIL-2R can be useful as a marker in monitoring the patients with HCV infection at high risk of getting HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; RNA ; Viral Load