No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the presence, severity and pattern of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta delivered after preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The relationship between placental histologic finding and amniotic fluid interleukin-8 was examined in 46 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor with intact membranes and who delivered singleton gestations within 5 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 63.0%(29/46) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 17.4%(8/46). The most frequent site of histologic inflammation was chorion-decidua(56.5%, 26/46). The median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section (p<0.05 for each). Three patterns of inflammation were identified in chorion-decidua: non-marginating, marginating, and mixed. Median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the rate of severe histologic chorioamnionitis (grade> or = 4) increased significantly in the order of non-marginating, marginating, and mixed (p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and greater severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-8. A marginating and mixed pattern of inflammation are associated with a higher amniotic fluid interleukin-8. Amniotic fluid interleukin-8 is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-8* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Diagnosis* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Integrin beta3* ; Thrombasthenia*

The present study was carried out to clarify the anatomical changes of lumbar intervertebral discs by aging. Anterior height, posterior height, anteroposterior diameter of intervertebral discs were measured on 512 normal plain lateral radiographs of lumbosacral spine. And the indices of disc wedging and relative disc height were calculated. There was a cephalocaudal gradient of increase in the indices of disc wedging in all age groups. The indices of relative disc height were constant at all lumbar levels. These suggest that the lower disc is more wedge shaped and the height of discs changes in the constant ratio with that of vertebral body.
Aging* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Splints* ; Sterilization, Tubal*

No abstract available.
Sterilization, Tubal*

No abstract available.

The major blood supply to the femoral head is probably damaged by the fracture of the femoral neck especially when it is a displaced fracture. Complications such as delayed or nonuion of the fracture and avascular necrosis of the femoral head are common. Revascularization after reduction and internal fixation appears to be a slow process and in many patients late segmental collapse occurs. Various techniques have been proposed to restore the blood supply or to improve the circulation to the femoral head. Hereby we performed internal fixation and an autogenous muscle-bone pedicle graft composed of the quadriceps femoris muscle in 3 cases of old, neglected displaced femoral neck fracture. The results seemed to be good in regard to bony union in all 3 cases but it would be needed further follow up study for developing of any avascular necrosis.
Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Transplants

Cockayne syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that results in postnatal growth failure and progressive neurological dysfunction. Associated clinical features are gait disturbance, progressive pigmentary retinopathy and other ocular anomalies such as cataracts and optic disk atrophy, sensorineural hearing loss, dental caries and cutaneous photosensitivity. The disease is clinically heterogeneous with a wide range in the type and severity of symptoms. We experienced a case of Cockayne syndrome in 13 year-old male, who had delayed development, hypophasia, characteristic physical appearance, cutaneous photosensitivity, dental caries. We reported the case with review of literatures.
Adolescent ; Atrophy ; Cataract ; Cockayne Syndrome* ; Dental Caries ; Gait ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Male ; Optic Disk ; Retinitis Pigmentosa

BACKGROUND: Do-Not-Resuscitate(DNR) order has been used without specific legislation commonly in hospitals of Korea. We designed this study to assess the current use of DNR order in the emergency department and to make a database for establishing a policy for DNR order, especially in ER. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 164 patients who expired in the emergency department of Severance hospital from Sep. 1996 to Aug. 1997. We evaluated age, sex, diagnosis, specific department involved, whether written orders were made and medical care after decision of DNR. The patients were divided into 2 groups : DNR vs CPR. To determine factors influencing DNR decision, we searched for presence of malignancy, irreversible shock, unconsciousness and chronic illness. The logistic regression analysis was used for statistical significance. RESULTS: We found that 102(62.2%) out of 164 expired patients had a DNR order. But only in 59% of cases, were written DNR order on the chart. Factors which had the most influence on decision of DNR were malignancy and age. The sex, chronic illness, irreversible shock, and unconsciousness were not significant factors. CONCLUSION: We found malignancy and old age as an important factor when DNR order had been made. But further evaluation of other factors may be necessary to establish definitely a policy for DNR order.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies* ; Shock ; Unconsciousness