No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Male* ; Shock, Septic*

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of TSP-1 and -2 in eutopic endometrium of advanced endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29-44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression from eutopic endometrium for TSP-1 and -2 were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of TSP-1 and -2 were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. There were no significant differences in expression of TSP-1 and TSP-2 in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that TSP-1 and -2 had no crucial role compared to other molecules in the regulation of angiogenesis. These findings also suggest that dysregulation of other angiogenic regulators would be concerned in pathophysiologic role in endometriosis development.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger* ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of uPA and uPAR in eutopic endometrium of advanced stage endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29~44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression of uPA and uPAR from eutopic endometrium were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of uPA and uPAR were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of u-PA mRNA than endometrium from normal women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase. There were no significant differences in expression of uPAR in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater u-PA mRNA expression than endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one etiology for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteolysis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at G119-T, G432-C, T449-C, and A453-G were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. RESULTS: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA (reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a major effector of various diseases; accordingly, antioxidants are frequently ingested in order to prevent or alleviate disease symptoms. Kimchi contains various natural antioxidants, and it is known that the functional activity varies depending on the ingredients and fermentation state. Black raspberries (BR) contain various bioactive compounds with antioxidant effects. This study investigated the antioxidant and liver-protection effects of kimchi supplemented with black raspberry juice powder (BJP). MATERIALS/METHODS: BJP-added kimchi (BAK; at 0.5%, 1%, and 2% concentrations of BJP) and control (without BJP) were prepared and fermented at 4℃ for 4 weeks. Changes in the antioxidant effects of BAK during fermentation were investigated. In addition, the protective activity of BAK against oxidative stress was investigated in a liver cirrhosis-induced animal model in vivo. RESULTS: BAK groups showed the acidity and pH of optimally ripened (OR) kimchi at 2 weeks of fermentation along with the highest lactic acid bacterial counts. Additionally, BAK groups displayed a higher content of phenolic compounds and elevated antioxidant activities relative to the control, with the highest antioxidant effect observed at 2 weeks of fermentation of OR 1% BAK. After feeding the OR 1% BAK to thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis rats, we observed decreased glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities and elevated superoxide dismutase activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that the antioxidant effects of OR BAK and feeding of OR 1% BAK resulted in liver-protective effects against oxidative stress.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Bacterial Load ; Fermentation ; Glutamic Acid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactic Acid ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Oxaloacetic Acid ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenol ; Pyruvic Acid ; Rats ; Rubus ; Superoxide Dismutase

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether embryonic stem (ES) cells can be established from isolated blastomeres of mouse embryos. METHODS: Blastomeres were separated from mouse (C57Bl/6J) 2- or 4-cell embryos. Isolated blastomeres or whole 4-cell embryos were co-cultured with mitosis-arrested STO feeder cells in DMEM supplemented with recombinant murine leukemia inhibitory factor and ES-qualified fetal bovine serum. After the tentative ES cell lines were maintained from isolated blastomeres or whole embryos, some of them were frozen and the others were sub-cultured continually. Characteristics of tentative ES cell lines as were evaluated for specific gene expressions with immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: One ES cell line (3.0%) was established from isolated blastomere of 2-cell embryo and one cell line (4.0%) from isolated two blastomeres of 4-cell embryo. And five cell lines (16.7%) were established from whole 4-cell embryos. Both cell lines from isolated blastomere and whole embryo expressed mouse ES cells specific markers such as SSEA-1, Oct-4 and alkaline phosphatase. Marker genes of three germ layers were expressed from embryoid bodies of both cell lines. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mouse ES cells could be established from isolated blastomeres, although the efficiency is lower than whole embryos. This animal model could be applied to establishment of autologous human ES cells from biopsied blastomeres of preimplantation embryos in human IVF-ET program.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Antigens, CD15 ; Blastocyst* ; Blastomeres* ; Cell Line ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Feeder Cells ; Gene Expression ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; Mice* ; Models, Animal

PURPOSE: To report the upper eyelid reconstruction with median forehead flap and Medpor(R) sheet implant following full-thickness eyelid defect resulting from tumor resection. CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old woman was examined at our hospital for a recurrent mass on the right upper eyelid. A wide tumor excision with a 3 mm margin and an eyelid reconstruction procedure were performed after a frozen section biopsy revealed a malignancy. The full-thickness eyelid defect was reconstructed with a median forehead flap as a substitute for skin and muscle and a Medpor(R) sheet substituted for tarsal plate was sutured with a lower conjunctiva flap for posterior lamella. The histopathology diagnosis of the lesion showed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The lower conjunctiva was separated at 2 weeks after surgery, and then the median forehead flap detached from the upper eyelid skin at 8 weeks after surgery. One year postoperatively, there was no evidence of a wound infection and an exposure of the Medpor(R) sheet. The eyelid had a good cosmetic contour and the movement of the eyelid during blinking was natural. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a Medpor(R) sheet as a substitute for a tarsal plate in reconstructive procedures of the upper eyelid defect shows cosmetic and functional success.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Blinking ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Conjunctiva ; Cosmetics ; Eyelids ; Female ; Forehead ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Muscles ; Skin ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: Most of the gastroenteritis due to viruses and some bacteria can be successfully managed by oral and/or intravenous fluid-electrolyte replacement and antibiotic therapy is unnecessary and even harmful. It is, however, not uncommon practice to prescribe antibiotics when acute gastroentritis is suspected. Therefore authors analysed the clinical courses of the patients treated for acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in a university hospital to assess the propriety of antibiotic usage in the treatment of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis. METHODS: Ninty six patients hospitalized at Hanyang University Hospital from September 1993 to February 1995 due to acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis were included in this retrospective study. Fifty six patients received antibiotics (Group I) and the rest 40 patients did not (Group II). Clinical symptoms including dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, temperature, and other clinical courses were analysed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 1) Average age of the patients is 1.76+/-0.24 years old and not significantly different between the two groups. 2) The number of patients with moderate or severe dehydration on admission were greater in Group II compared to Group I. 3) Frequency and duration of diarrhea prior to hospitalization were not different between the two groups. However, more number of patients in Group I compared to Group II suffered from aggravation of diarrhea during hospitalization. 4) Frequency and duration of vomiting were not different between the two groups. 5) Duration of temperature elevation prior to hospitaliztion was not different between the two groups: however during the hospitalization, duration and height of temperature elevation were significantly longer and greater in Group I compared to Group II. 6) Duration of hospitalization, the time from hospitalization to recovery, and duration of intravascular cannulation were significantly longer in Group I compared to Group II. 7) Occurrence of complication was not different between the two groups and rash and paralytic ileus are the ones frequently observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study results illustrates that antimicrobial administration appears not to be beneficial, but rather have harmful effect on the course of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Therefore the overuse of antibiotics on patients with acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis should be restraint.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteria ; Catheterization ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea ; Exanthema ; Gastroenteritis* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Retrospective Studies* ; Vomiting

Two adolescent cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, which has not been previously reported in Korean girls, presenting with right upper-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever are reported here. A careful and thorough inquiry into the sexual history of the first patient, which was not done upon admission, led to a careful reassessment of the dynamic abdominal computed tomography scan revealing hepatic capsular enhancement without evidence of gallbladder or liver disease. Both cases were diagnosed noninvasively and were treated successfully by medical intervention. A high index of suspicion of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome should be implemented in the differential diagnosis of right upper quadrant pain, particularly in sexually active girls, for a prompt diagnosis and rapid cure.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Chlamydia Infections ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Nausea ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Peritonitis ; Vomiting

Two adolescent cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, which has not been previously reported in Korean girls, presenting with right upper-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever are reported here. A careful and thorough inquiry into the sexual history of the first patient, which was not done upon admission, led to a careful reassessment of the dynamic abdominal computed tomography scan revealing hepatic capsular enhancement without evidence of gallbladder or liver disease. Both cases were diagnosed noninvasively and were treated successfully by medical intervention. A high index of suspicion of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome should be implemented in the differential diagnosis of right upper quadrant pain, particularly in sexually active girls, for a prompt diagnosis and rapid cure.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Chlamydia Infections ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Nausea ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Peritonitis ; Vomiting