No abstract available.
Anesthetics, Intravenous*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart*

Premature rupture of membranes(PROM) means the rupture of amniotic membranes at any time prior to labor during the gestational period. The dilemma of correctly diagnosing rupture of the fetal membranes is well known as the consequences of management based on an incorrect diagnosis. This study was undertaken to determine if the measurement of B-hCG levels in the vaginal fluid is useful for the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes. HCG is synthesized and secreted by the placental syncytiotrophoblast and it is normally found in amniotic fluid, maternal urine and blood. We used B-hCG for diagnosis of PROM to exclude the cross reaction with other hormones. After irrigating the posterior vaginal fornix with 3 ml of sterile saline and obtaining vaginal washings, we measured B-hCG levels. The groups were classified normal group(group I), confirmed PROM group(group II ), and suspicious PROM group(groupIII) during the third trimester. The median and 95% confidence intervals(CIS) of vaginal fluid B-hCG in each group(normal, confirmed PROM, suspicious PROM group) were 30.99mIU/ml(range: 0.32-209.89mIU/ml), 188.61mIU/ml(range: 9.65-2095.00mIU/ml), 69.63mIU/ml(range 4.76-349.56mIU/ml). There was significant difference between normal and confirmed PROM group(p<0.05), sensitivity was 95.00%, specificity 80.00%, positive predictive value 82.60%, negative predictive value 94.12%, and accuracy 87.50%, using threshold value of 60mIU/ml. There was significant difference between normal and suspicious PROM group(p<0.05) but the result of the B-hCG was not used in the obstetric decision. In terms of these results, the B-hCG level in vaginal fluid is a useful marker of PROM during the third trimester. A new technic is proposed to confirm the diagnosis of rupture of the membranes based on the introduction of B-hCG in vaginal fluid.
Amnion ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cross Reactions ; Diagnosis ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Rupture* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trophoblasts

The expression of the c-fos and c-myc oncogenes was investigated by dot blot analysis of total RNA extracted from biopsies of normal skin and psoriatic lesions. Densitometric analysis revealed 6.3 fold and 8.6 fold evevation respectively of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes mRNA levels in severe psoriasis compared to normal skin, and 1.5 fold and 1.6 fold elevation respectively of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes mRNA levels in mild psoriasis compared to normal skin. The ratio of c-fos/c-myc transcripts in normal skin and mild psoriasis was constant compared to that in severe psoriasis. The maintenance of a constant ratio of c-fos/c-myc is believed to be closely related to ordered cell growth and the ratio of c-fos/c-myc transcripts in severe psoriasis suggests a disordered pattern of cellular differentiation. We be1ieve that overexpression of these oncogenes is related to the pathogenesis of psoriatic epidermal hyperplasia.
Biopsy ; Hyperplasia ; Oncogenes* ; Psoriasis ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin

No abstract available.
Amniocentesis* ; Cerclage, Cervical* ; Female ; Labor Stage, First* ; Pregnancy

We sudied, with echocardiography as a main tool, the natural processes of 211 patients with uncomplicated ventricular septal defect (VSD) (incidence, 5.33 per 1,000 live births); 146 (69.2%) had a perimenbranous VSD and 32 (15.2%) had a subarterial, 25 (11.8%) had a muscular type of VSD. Cumulative rate of spontaneous closure was 26.1%. In the closure processes, about three-fourth of perimembranous VSD showed a partial closure or tunnel formation by changes of septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, remaining one-fourth showed a "functional" complete closure. Four of 58 neonates had a partially closed-perimembranous VSD. Rates of infundibular stenosis and Eisenmenger syndrome were 6.6% and 1.4% respectively. Aortic prolapse with insufficiency was detected in 6 patients who were over 6 years of age. Surgical closure was required in 27.5% of all studied patients and in 12% of infants (14 of 177). No natural deaths were observed during the study-periods of recent 3 years. But, 3 of 58 (5.2%) were dead postoperativel (two were early, one late). Doppler color flow mapping is a valuble aid in the diagnosis of VSD and may be on reason for the observed increase in the incidence of VSDs.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Eisenmenger Complex ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Prolapse ; Tricuspid Valve

BACKGROUND: The blunted tip of a reusable with multiple uses can cause problems with the passing procedure in arthroscopic Bankart repair. This study assessed the advantage of Scorpion with a 70° arthroscope in arthroscopic Bankart repair compared to hook typed suture passer. METHODS: Scorpion in 19 patients, the hook type suture passer (conventional group) in 18 patients were used. All patients underwent the same procedure except for the type of suture passer used. Another different point of the procedure were telescopes and the number of portals used; three arthroscopic portals (posterior, anterorsuperiorlateral, and mid-anterior) and a 30° arthroscope in the conventional group, but two portals and a 70° arthroscope as well as the 30° one in the Scorpion group. The surgery time and the surgical complications including an iatrogenic axillary nerve injury were recorded. RESULTS: The Scorpion group showed a significant decrease in surgery time compared to the conventional group. In contrast to the conventional group, Scorpion provided an easy estimation of the exit of suture passing, no iatrogenic labral injury during the passing procedure with straight movement and the sharp tip of the knife installed. Iatrogenic supraspinatus injuries could be avoided when making an accessory anteosuperiorlateral portal due to the 70° arthroscope. CONCLUSIONS: In arthroscopic Bankart repair, the use of the Scorpion suture passer and a 70° arthroscope can reduce the surgery time, avoid unnecessary supraspinatus injury, and avoid iatrogenic axillary nerve damage through the relatively easy and precise suture passing and saving of the anterosuperior portal.
Arthroscopes* ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Scorpions* ; Sutures* ; Telescopes

We describe S100 protein positive dendritic cells (S100+DCs) in various liver diseases including chronic viral hepatitis B and C (20 cases), liver cirrhosis (3 cases), hepatocellular carcinoma (2 cases), hepatolithiasis (6 cases), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) (2 cases), liver allograft rejection (9 cases), bile duct paucity (1 case), and Wilson's disease (1 case). By immunohistochemical analysis, S100+DCs were absent in fetal and normal livers, while they were variably present in inflammatory liver diseases. In chronic hepatitis and active cirrhosis, S100+DCs were most frequently located in periportal area, at lymphoid follicles within the portal tract, and at foci of spotty necrosis within the lobule. Frequency and intensity of S100+DCs were not related to etiologies of liver diseases, but they were correlated with the activity of hepatitis. In PBC, S100+DCs were found between biliary epithelial cells of the septal bile ducts, as well as, the periductal area of the portal tracts. A posttransplantation liver with features of moderate acute rejection revealed many S100+DCs in polymorphous portal infiltrates. In hepatocellular carcinomas, many S100+DCs were scattered between tumor cells. In the case of the Wilson's disease, S100+DCs were not noted. Presence of S100+DCs in various inflammatory liver diseases indicates that they play a central role as antigen presenting cells in immune responses of inflammatory liver diseases.
Allografts ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Bile Ducts ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dendritic Cells* ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Necrosis

Mitral regurgitation (MR) was analyzed by Doppler echocardiography, preoperatively and postoperatively, in 59 patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The ratio of left atrial dimension and aortic root dimension (LAD/AOD) and the maximal velocity of the mitral valve (MVmax) were compared in pre, postop group. The degree of the regurgitation was given to the MR group. In preop MR group (13 of 59,22%), we compared the LAD/AOD by echo and the Qp/Qs by catheterization with non-MR group. The following results were obtained: 1) In preop MR group, about half of them had a grade 1 regurgitation, where as one fourth showed grade 2, remaining one fourth showed grade 3. The later were all changed to grade 2, postoperatively. The whiffle or mild MR (grade 1 or 2) shown preoperatively were slightly reduced in their degrees of regurgitation, but most were not disappeared and persisted to 7th postop day. 2) LAD/AOD and MVmax were significantly reduced at postop state of PDA. 3) In preop MR group (n=13), LAD/AOD was significantly increased. Qp/Qs was higher in MR grade 2 group (n=6). In conclusion, left atrial dilatation could be a factor causing mitral regurgitation in the PDA. The amount of the pulmonary blood flow also related to that. The size of the PDA itself, Rp/Rs and associated cardiac lesions were not related to the regurgitation.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Dilatation ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency*

BACKGROUND: It is known that methylmercury poisoning, Minamata disease is very toxic to human body. But, cardiotoxic mechanism of methylmercury is left unknown, Recent study has been reported that the cleavage of methylmercury produce oxygen radicals as well as methyl radicals, and also these radicals induce the release of excitotoxic amino acids(EAAs). So, oxygen radicals and EAA are regarded as a causative factors in the various diseases such as heart disease induced by toxicity of methylmercury. We studied to know the cardiotoxic effect of methylmercury on cultured myocardial cells derived from neonatal rat in order to evaluate the toxic mechanism of methylmercury. METHODS: Myocardial cells of neonatal rat were incubated with various concentrations of methylmercuric chloride for 1-96 hours. MTT90 and MTT50 values were measured and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. In addition, morphological study was performed by light microscope after cultured myocardial cells that were exposed to methymercuric chloride. RESULTS: MTT90 and MTT50 values were 1microM and 15microM of methylmercuric chloride in cultured myocardial cells of neonatal rat respectively. Exposure of cultured rat myocardial cells to methylmercuric chloride resulted in a significant cell death in a time-dependent manner. In the observation of morphological changes, cultured cells treated with methlymercuric chloride showed decrease of cell number and disconnection between cultured myocardial cells. CONCLUSION: These observation suggest that methylmercury has a severe myocardiotoxicity on cultured myocardial cells derived from neonatal rat by the decrease of cell viability and morphological changes.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Heart Diseases ; Human Body ; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System ; Poisoning ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species