OBJECTIVES: Early diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation is important to ensure optimal monitoring and delivery with the introduction of real-time and Doppler ultrasound systems, a noninvasive method of measuring human fetal blood flow has become available. The aim of this study is to compare blood flow velocity waveforms at the fetal descending aorta and umbilical artery in normal and in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension. METHODS: Using a combination of linear array real-time and pulsed Doppler ultrasound, blood flow velocity measurements were carried out at the fetal descending aorta and umbilical artery in 35 normal pregnancies and 18 cases of pregnancy induced hypertensive patients. RESULTS: The mean systolic/diastolic ratio of umbilical artery and aorta was significantly higher in PIH patients than in normal pregnancies(3.8 +/- 0.81 versus 2.97 +/- 0.52, p<0.05) and to predict perinatal morbidity, umbilical velocimetry is more sensitive than that of descending thoracic aorta. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that umbilical artery velocimetry could be used as a marker to predict adverse perinatal outcome.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Pregnancy ; Rheology* ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilical Arteries

To identify significant prognostic factors in patients undergoing simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer, the records of 45 patients who had taken such a procedure between 1993 and 1997 were reviewed. Overall relapse-free survival and 5-year survival rates were 91.1 and 92.1%, respectively. Factors found to be significantly related to survival were the retrospectively determined stage(p=0.0000), the presence of residual disease(p=0.0001), and cell type(p=0.0000). By multivariate analysis, factor emerging as significantly detrimental to survival was the cell type. The presence of residual disease was a marginally significant factor(p=0.067). The expectations for survival of patients with residual tumor mass and/or with adenocarcinoma after simple hysterectomy appear to be markedly worse than those with others, so radical reoperation should be considered in those patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 gene and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genes are associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: A total of 157 patients with OPLL and 222 controls were recruited for a case control association study investigating the relationship between SNPs of FGF2, FGFR1, FGFR2 and OPLL. To identify the association among polymorphisms of FGF2 gene, FGFR1, FGFR2 genes and OPLL, the authors genotyped 9 SNPs of the genes (FGF2 : rs1476217, rs308395, rs308397, and rs3747676; FGFR1 : rs13317 and rs2467531; FGFR2 : rs755793, rs1047100, and rs3135831) using direct sequencing method. SNPs data were analyzed using the SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, Haploview, and Helixtree programs. RESULTS: Of the SNPs, a SNP (rs13317) in FGFR1 was significantly associated with the susceptibility of OPLL in the codominant (odds ratio=1.35, 95% confidence interval=1.01-1.81, p=0.048) and recessive model (odds ratio=2.00, 95% confidence interval=1.11-3.59, p=0.020). The analysis adjusted for associated condition showed that the SNP of rs1476217 (p=0.03), rs3747676 (p=0.01) polymorphisms in the FGF2 were associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and rs1476217 (p=0.01) in the FGF2 was associated with ossification of the ligament flavum (OLF). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study revealed that an FGFR1 SNP was significantly associated with OPLL and that a SNP in FGF2 was associated with conditions that were comorbid with OPLL (DISH and OLF).
Case-Control Studies ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal ; Ligaments ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; Receptors, Growth Factor

Recently developed flow diverters, such as the pipeline embolization device (PED), allow for safe and efficacious treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms, with high occlusion rates and a low incidence of complications. However, incomplete obliteration after PED treatment may lead to aneurysm regrowth and delayed rupture. Herein, we report a case of a partially thrombosed giant aneurysm of the cavernous internal carotid artery that showed progressive recanalization at 1–3 months after application of a PED. We monitored inflow volume in the aneurysm by computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and computed tomographic volumetric imaging (CTVI). Based on the imaging results, rather than applying additional PED, we decided to make the switch from a dual antiplatelet medication to low-dose aspirin alone at 3 months after the treatment; complete obliteration of the aneurysm was noted at 21 months. Similar to the findings in this unusual case, CTA and CTVI may be useful follow-up methods for optimal management of patients with giant intracranial aneurysms after PED treatment.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Aspirin ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: VITROS(R) 5,1 FS (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, NY, USA) is a newly developed, fully automated analyzer that uses the dry slide type technology to process routine chemistry items, electrolytes, therapeutic drug monitoring and immunity items. We evaluated the usefulness of the VITROS(R) 5,1 FS in the aspect of precision, linearity, recovery rates and comparison. METHODS: We evaluated the analytical performance of the VITROS(R) 5,1 FS for sodium, potassium, chloride, total CO2, BUN, creatinine, glucose, amylase, total protein, albumin, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, calcium and phosphorus. Commercialized quality control material, Performance Verifiers (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, NY, USA), chemTRAK(R).H (Medical Analysis Systems, California, USA) and patient' sera for evaluation of precision, linearity, recovery rates and comparison were used. MODULAR Systems (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) and CX3 (Beckman Coulter, California, USA) were used as a comparative analyzer to evaluate comparison study. RESULTS: Within-run and within-day coefficients of variation (CVs) of all items were below 5%. Between-day and total CVs were less than 5% in almost all items except of total CO2, amylase, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin and phosphorus. The linearities were statistically acceptable (R2>0.99) for all items (P<0.001). The recovery rates for all items were in the range of 96.20 to 111.45%. The comparison study indicated good correlation between VITROS(R) 5,1 FS and MODULAR Systems or CX3, and correlation coefficients of all items were above 0.975 except sodium (0.971) (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: VITROS(R) 5,1 FS showed satisfactory precision, linearity, recovery rates and comparison. Because it has features of one system with many capabilities, we recommend that VITROS(R) 5,1 FS would be used for the emergency laboratories in general hospitals with many examinations or in medium-sized laboratories with relatively small numbers of cases.
Amylases ; Bilirubin ; Calcium ; California ; Chemistry* ; Creatinine ; Drug Monitoring ; Electrolytes ; Emergencies ; Glucose ; Hospitals, General ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Quality Control ; Sodium

The presence of distant metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma decreases the 10-year survival rates of patients by 50%. This is a report of a 61-year-old female with follicular thyroid carcinoma who presented initially with low back pain. 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) demonstrated a hypointensity lesion in the left thyroid gland with malignant uptake in L1 vertebra and magnetic resonance images revealed paravertebral and epidural extension of mass in L1 vertebra. After thyroidectomy, histopathological study showed a follicular carcinoma. We performed L1 total en bloc spondylectomy with expandable cage for long-term local control. The technical details of total en bloc spondylectomy in follicular carcinoma are described herein.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Electrons ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Spine ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value and the radiologic findings of CT discography in the diagnosis of the far lateral disk herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 7 cases of surgically proven far lateral lumbar disc herniation. CT discography was performed for all cases. Four cases underwent conventional CT and three cases MRI as a primary diagnostic imaging method. Far lateral diac herniation was divided into 3 groups by location;Intraforaminal herniation, extraforaminal herniation, and mixed type. We analyzed the findings of CT discography including location and extent of far lateral disc herniation. RESULTS: In all 7 cases, CT discography clearly demonstrated the filling of contrast media in laterally-protruded disc material. Intraforaminal and extraforminal types were seen in 2 cases each, and mixed type in 3 cases. Subligamentous herniated nucleus pulposus was present in 6 cases and extruded disc in 1 case. Far lateral disc herniation was located at L4-5 in 5 cases and L5-S1 in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: CT discography can help establishing accurate preoperative diagnosis for far lateral disc herniation.
Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Mass Screening*

Leiomyoma is rare. Most of patients present with urinary tract infection, hematuria, dyspareunia, or complaint of mass. A case of leiomyoma on urethrovaginal septum in a 36 years old female was presented. The presenting symptom was a protruding mass at the anterior vaginal wall The mass was removed surgically and confirmed as a leiomyoma pathologically.
Adult ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: Although the use of cytology in screening has reduced morbidity and mortality from invasive cervical cancer, there has been limitation because of the low sensitivity and high false negative rate in the detection of preclinical or clinical disease of the cervix. This study was performed to explore the usefulness of Hybrid Capture System HPV DNA test as a diagnostic method of the cervical cancer. METHODS: Cervical cytology and Hybrid Capture System 1 (HCS1) HPV DNA test were performed in 1,023 women who visited Gynecologic Oncology Clinic in Guro Hospital, Korea University Medical Center. HPV DNA were retested by HCS1, HCS2 and Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR), in randomly selected 200 women to compare these DNA tests. RESULTS: While the sensitivity and specificity of cervical cytology in detection of cervical lesion were 71.2% and 89.5%, those of HCS1 HPV DNA test were 63.0% and 86.9% respectively. There was significant difference in detection of cervical precancerous lesions between HCS1 and HCS2 (P<0.05), but not between HCS2 and PCR (P=0.14). And the sensitivity and specificity were improved with combining cytology and HCS1 HPV DNA test(82.2%, 86.9%~). CONCLUSION: HCS HPV DNA test may be considered as a useful adjunctive test with cervical cytology in cervical cancer screening.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA ; Female ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*