No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

OBJECTIVES: To study the distributions of pH and gas values in umbilical arterial(UA) blood of normal newborns following uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal births. Methods: In 457 consecutive normal term infants who were born between March 1995 and June 1998, we examined the UA pH and blood gas values obtained immediately following delivery. Maternal inclusion criteria were defined as an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy and a normal full term spontaneous vaginal delivery. And also neonatal inclusion criteria were defined as a normal intrauterine growth appropriate for gestational age without any malformations and Apgar score of 7 or more at both one and five minutes after birth. Umbilical artery blood samples were collected at each birth and were evaluated for pH, carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), oxygen pressure (PaO2) and actual bicarbonate. RESULTS: Histogram of UA pH value resemble normal distribution curve. The lowest UA pH was 7.04 and the 10th percentile value was 7.23. The median UA pH was 7.31 and 5% was below 7.20. The lowest UA PaO2 was 4.6mmHg and the 10th percentile value was 11.5mmHg. The highest UA PaCO2 was 67.2mmHg and the 90th percentile value was 56.5mmHg. The lowest bicarbonate value was 13.2mmol/L and the 10th percentile value was 18.4mmol/L. CONCLUSION: The distributions of the UA pH and gas values of the collective of normal newborns were illustrated. None of the UA pH was below 7.0.
Apgar Score ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries*

No abstract available.
Arginine* ; Humans* ; Semen*

No abstract available.
Arginine* ; Humans* ; Semen*

OBJECTIVE: The ovarian cycle is characterized by repeating patterns of cellular proliferation and differentiation that accompany follicular development and the formation and regression of the corpus luteum (CL). That angiogenesis may play an important role in this process. Angiogenesis is supposed to be regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The goal of the present investigation, therefore, was to determine whether the expression of VEGF was changed in the normally cycling human ovary. We also investigated VEGF expression in the regressed CL (ie, nonfunctiong CL) of normal term pregnancy to define the association with steroidogenic activity. To our knowledge there is no report available on VEGF expression in the CL of term pregnancy. METHODS: We assessed VEGF expression in ovaries obtained from, 26-42 yr of age, and from patients undergoing hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy for nonendocrinological or nonovarian disorders. Tissue samples from premenopausal women included specimens from follicular (n=4) and luteal (n 4) phases. In addition, we studied ovarian specimens from pregnant women (n=3). Immunohistochemical analysis for VEGF was performed using a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against human VEGF. RESULTS: These data demonstrate a development-related VEGF expression in the follicle and indirectly show that VEGF expression may be up to the existence of LH-receptor. And also, VEGF was overexpressed in the regressed CL of pregnant women compared with the functioning CL of nonpregnant cycles CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the intensity of VEGF expression is not correlated with steroidogenic activity, although both of them are stimulated by LH.
Cell Proliferation ; Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: This study was to evaluate the association of the G1691A mutation of factor V gene with preeclamptic patients in Korea. METHODS: Factor V genotype were determined in 113 preeclamptic patients and 100 normotensive pregnant women. A 267 base-pair DNA fragment of the factor V gene that includes nucleotide 1691 was amplified by PCR. PCR product was digested with MnlI restriction enzyme and the fragments were analysed by electrophoresis using 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: The difference of genetic and allelic frequencies between two groups could not be mentioned because all women were G1691G homozygotes. There was no individuals with mutant allele among preeclamptic patients and control women. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of association between preeclampsia and factor V gene polymor- phism in Korean population.
Alleles ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Factor V* ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; Sepharose

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether some result of hematological examination could be as reference data for health management of welders. METHOD: The authors conducted the hematological examination of 1,018 welders and 531 control workers of a shipbuilding industry in Ulsan using automatic blood analyzer. RESULTS: The WBC count of welders was lower than that of control on controlling the age and the duration of employment, but changes of other blood cells were not observed. CONCLUSION: We could use the results of hematological examination such as WBC counts as an indicator for subtle changes of health status of welders.
Blood Cells ; Employment ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prostate*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prostate*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the clinical efficacy of intravaginal misoprostol and that of intravenous sulprostone for termination of second-trimester pregnancy. METHODS: The patients were assigned to misoprostol and sulprostone group, and the misoprostol group was further divided into two groups according to gestational age. In the misoprostol group, the patients at or before 20 weeks of gestation received 400 microgram of intravaginal misoprostol every 4 hours until labor pain was established, 200 microgram every 6 hours after 20 weeks of gestation. In the sulprostone group, intravenous sulprostone was infused at the speed of 100 microgram/hr after cervical ripening with 3 mg of intravaginal dinoprostone. RESULTS: At or before 20 weeks of gestation, the median time from induction to completion of termination was longer, but the success rate within 24 hours was less in the misoprostol group than in the sulprostone group (18.75 vs. 7.15 hours, p=0.015; 50% vs 92%, p=0.014, respectively). After 20 weeks, there was no significant difference in median induction time or success rate within 24 hours (5.54 vs. 8.0 hours, p>0.05; 100% vs. 100%, p>0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of complication or change of hemoglobin after termination between two groups. CONCLUSION: Sulprostone may be more effective for termination of pregnancy at or before 20 weeks of gestation and misoprostol may be as effective as sulprostone after 20 weeks of gestation. But considering less cost and complication, the efficacy of misoprostol should be further investigated for termination of second- trimester pregnancy.
Cervical Ripening ; Dinoprostone ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Misoprostol* ; Pregnancy* ; Prevalence