No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Ureter* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate whether the differences of PG concentration in follicular and peritoneal fluid during preovulatory phase exist between the women with and without endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with endometriosis, 8 were stage I-II and 15 were stage III-IV, and another 23 patients without endometriosis were undergone laparotomy during late follicular phase. Peritoneal fluid from 46 patients and follicular fluid from 42 patients were obtained, and these samples were analyzed double times for PGF2alpha, PGE2 and estradiol. RESULTS: The mean level of PGF2alphain the peritoneal fluid was significantly higher in the group with endometriosis than in the control(P=0.0293), especially more significant in stage I-II endometriosis. Although there was no significant difference of PGF2alphaconcentration in the follicular fluid between the groups, the stage III-IV endometriosis group showed slightly higher PGF2alphalevel than both the stage I-II group and the control(P=0.0604). And also, there was significant positive correlation with the level of PGF2alphaand estradiol in the follicular fluid only in the endometriosis group(r=0.4988, P=0.0154), not in the control. However, there was no difference in the level of PGE2 and estradiol in the peritoneal or follicular fluid between the groups. CONCLUSION: Some alterations of PGF2alphalevel exist in the women with endometriosis. These are significantly higher PGF2alphalevel in peritoneal fluid with mild endometriosis and slightly higher PGF2alphalevels in follicular fluid with extensive endometriosis during preovulatory phase, which suggest that PGF2alphamay play some roles in subfertility associated with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Dinoprost* ; Dinoprostone ; Endometriosis* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Fluid ; Follicular Phase* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparotomy

We report two cases of porphyric peripheral neuropathy in a 19-year-old male with variegate porphyria and in a 39 year-old male with intermittent acute prophyria. Clinically, there were sensory, motor disturbance and autonomic symptoms including decreased sweating, urinary and sphinctor distrubances. Variegate porphyria showed facial diplegia and positive family history inherited by autosomal dominent trait. Intermittent acute porphyria was combined-with SIADH. Both cases were expired due to respiratory failure. Nerve conduction studies were carried out in two cases and both cases showed slow motor, sensory nerve conductlon velocity ,and significant low CMAPs(Compound Muscle Action Potentials). Sural nerve biopsy was carried out in a variegate prophyria compared with one normal control. Decreased large myelinated fibers was found. In nerve fiber teased study. 8.5% of nerve fibers showed axonal degenration and only 2.3% of the segmental demyelination. There findings are suggesting that the porphyric neuro might be the axonal type.and severe neuropathy in a sign of poor prognosis.
Adult ; Axons ; Biopsy ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Humans ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Male ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Fibers ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Porphyria, Acute Intermittent ; Porphyria, Variegate ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sural Nerve ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Young Adult

Adrenocortical tumors in children are rare and show various clinical symptoms. We present an 8-year-old boy with peripheral precocious puberty caused by adrenocortical tumor. He showed elevated serum DHEA-S and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and computed tomography revealed an abdominal mass. After surgical resection, he developed central precocious puberty. We report a rare case that showed progression from peripheral precocious puberty to central precocious puberty.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; Child ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious

No abstract available.
Occupational Health*

This study was to investigate the effects of a silk peptide, and prune and raspberry mixture on the body fat, serum lipid composition and fat distribution in Korean women during the time they received these supplements. During the 4 month period of this research (June to October, 2002), 75 women (average age 22.9 yr) were selected as subjects. Their nutrient intake was investigated by use of a questionnaire and the 24-hour recall method. Antropometric assessments of the subjects were investigated by using the SBIA Method (Segmental Bioimpedance Assay, Inbody 3.0). The results were as follows: their mean body weight was 59.3 kg, their mean body height was 161.7 cm and their mean Basal Metabolic Indices (BMI) was 22.7. The status of their dietary fiber intake significantly increased (p<0.05) after use of the supplements. Their body fat significantly decreased following the 3rd stage of supplementation (p<0.05), and their percent of body fat signiflcantly decreased after supplementation (p<0.05). Their triceps and suprailiac circumference significantly decreased following the 3rd stage of supplementation (p<0.05). Their waist circumferences and waist-hip ratios (WHR) significantly decreased after both the 2nd and 3rd stage of supplementation (p<0.05). Their total cholesterol significantly decreased following the 3rd stage of supplementation, as compared to their baseline results and those obtained following the 1st stage of supplementation (p<0.05). Their LDL-cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratios significantly decreased following the 3rd stage of supplementation, as compared to their baseline results and those obtained following the 1st stage of supplementation (p<0.05). Their 4-HNE and total antioxidant statuses significantly decreased following the 2nd and 3rd stage of supplementation, as compared to their baseline results and those obtained following the 1st stage of supplementation (p<0.05). Their 2nd stage supplementation results were significantly negatively correlated with their triceps measurements and WHR (p<0.05). Their 3rd stage supplementation results were significantly negatively correlated with their anterior thigh measurements (p<0.05). The above results show that prune, raspberry, silk peptide and dietary fiber supplementation to a routine diet improves body fat distribution, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. The decrease of abdominal fat and WHR were especially noteworthy. This implies a decrease of risk factors.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Risk Factors ; Silk ; Thigh ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Gemcitabine is the most active agent to treat unresectable pancreatic cancer. The superiority of combining other drugs with cisplatin is still controversial; therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of gemcitabine versus gemcitabine combined with cisplatin to determine the treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2007, we enrolled 60 patients who were treated with gemcitabine or gemcitabine combined with cisplatin for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine 1, 000 mg/m2 (G) was administrated at day 1 and day 8 every 3 weeks. Cisplatin 60 mg/m2 was added at day 1 every 3 weeks to the gemcitabine schedule (GP). RESULTS: Number of G: GP was 34: 26, locally advanced to metastatic ratio was 35% to 65% in group G and 46% to 54% in group GP. Median follow up duration was 29 months. The median number of chemotherapy cycles was 4 (range: 2~11) for the G group, and 4 (range: 1~11) for the GP group. The response rate of the G and GP groups was 17% and 11%, respectively. The progression free survival (PFS) was 4.5 months and 2.8 months, respectively, for the G and GP groups. The overall survival (OS) was 10.7 and 8.7 months respectively, for the G and GP groups, but there is no statistically significant difference of the PFS (p=0.2396) and OS (p=0.4643) between the 2 groups. The hematological toxicity profile was similar (the grade III neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 4.4% and 3.1%, respectively, in G group, and 7.5% and 2.8%, respectively, in the GP group). But non-hematological toxicities such as skin rash, abnormal liver function and nausea/vomiting were observed in 3 patients of the GP group. On the prognostic factor analysis, no factors predicted a longer PFS and OS for both the G and GP groups. CONCLUSIONS: Gemcitabine single treatment might be more tolerable and it had the same efficacy compared to cisplatin combination treatment in this retrospective study.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cisplatin ; Deoxycytidine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Exanthema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Neutropenia ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate C to T substitution at nucleotide 677 of meth-ylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in Korean women, which is genetically homogeneous, with preeclamptic or normotensive pregnancies. METHODS: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes were determined in 63 Korean women with severe preeclamptic pregnancies and 60 controls with normotensive pregnancies, using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis. RESULTS: The methylentetrahydrofolate reductase genotype and allele frequencies in preeclamptic and control women did not differ significantly. The frequency of the T677 allele was 38.1% in the preeclamptic group and 41.7% in the control group, and TT homozygosity was found in 12 preeclamptic women (19.0%) and 10 controls (16.7%). CONCLUSION: It seems like that there is no evidence of association of preeclampsia with meth-ylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism, at least in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Restriction Mapping

OBJECTIVES: This study was purposed to determine the levels of PCBs and DDE in adipose tissue and serum and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. METHODS: We analyzed adipose tissues and sera from 52 gynecologic benign disease patients aged 27-78 years, except hormonal diseases such as breast cancer and endometriosis. We also surveyed age, education, occupation, body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, number of children, and duration of breastfeeding by questionnaires. Tissue and serum levels of PCBs and DDE were measured using gas chromatography. RESULTS: The median and geometric mean levels of PCBs were 48. 29 ng/g, 56. 78 ng/g for adipose tissue and 4. 67 uc/L, 4. 85 m/L for serum, and those of DDE were 142.89 ng/g, 117.06 ng/g for adipose tissue and l. 75 m/L, 2.09 ua/L for serum, respectively. Adipose tissue and serum levels for DDE showed high correlation (r=0. 310, p=0. 0002), but those of PCBs didn' t (r=0.029, p=0.2582). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed adipose tissue and serum PCBs and DDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only adipose tissue DDE levels were significantly associated with number of children (p=0.015), age at first birth (p=0.014) and BMI (p=0.035). In multiple regression analysis, adipose tissue DDE levels were significantly increased with decreasing number of children and increasing age at first birth. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that parity and adiposity were associated with levels of DDE in adipose tissue, and adipose tissue is a better biomarker than serum for evaluating the long-term exposure of organochlorines.
Adipose Tissue* ; Adiposity ; Birth Order ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Breast Neoplasms ; Child ; Chromatography, Gas ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene* ; Drinking ; Education ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Parity ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls* ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

The name "Sung Min Kim" should be "Seong Min Kim" and "Yoon Mi Kim" should be "Yun Mi Kim".