The clinical role of tumor markers to detect the extent of tumor invasion and recurrence in cervical cancer has been debated. To evaluate the chncal significance of SCC, CEA and TPA as tumor markers in cervical, we studied 744 patients weith cervieal cancer from June 1990 to Mey 1994. The cut-off val ues of SCC, CEA and TPA were 1.5 ng/ml, 4.5 ng/mi and 110 U/I respectively. Followings were the results. 1. The serum concentration and positive rates of SCC before therapy(567 cases) were 3,0+/-7.0ng/ml(40.4%) for stage I,8.7+/-13.9 ng/ml(71.6%) for stage II, 10.8+/-14.7 ng/ml(85.7%) for stage III, 23.9+/-24.3 ng/ml(94.7%) for stage IV, and 13.4+/-19.1 ng/ml(75.0%) for recurrent cancer. It was increased with advancing clinical stage(p<0.01). 2. The seum levels and positive rate of CEA before therapy(627cases) were 3.4+/-4.3 ng/ml (18%) for stage I, 7.1+/-12.3 ng/ml(37.2%) for stage II, 8.4+/-9.6 ng/ml(57.9%) for stage III, 15.4+/-22.2 ng/ml(52.6%) for stage IV, and 10.3+/-16.2 ng/ml(46.4%) for recurrent cancer. It was increased with advancing clinical stage from stage Ito stage III(p<0.01). 3. The serum concentration and positiceive rate of TFA before therapy(301cases) were 51.7+/-53.8 U/l(9.5%) for stage I, 105.3+/-108.8 U/l(32.3%) for stage II, 186.3%+/-159.8 U/l(50%) for stage III, 191.3+/-l06.2 U/I(63.6%) for stage IV, and 135.4+/-117.0 U/l(46.4%) for recurrent cancer. It was increased with advencing clinical stage(p<0.01). 4. In 64 patients{24.2%) with lymph node invasion of 265 patients treated by operation, the mean serum levels of SCC, CEA and TPA were higher than lymph node negative group(p<0.05). 5. The serum levels of SCCand CKA after therepy were 82.8% in sensitivity. 94.3% in specificity, 67.9% in positive predictive value, 97.4% in negative predictive value.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Phenolate type siderophore was produced in Pseudomonas sp. PY002 (P. sp. PY002) which cultured in M9 minimal medium supplemented with 0 to 500 uM of dipyridyl. Pyochelin, a kind of siderophore, was detected as a single broad absorption band (280 nm) at pH 12.0, which is a characteristic of phenolate type siderophore. The 280 nm absorption spectrum of pyochelin was changed to 310 nm at pH 1.5. The pyochelin produced was a structurally unique phenolate siderophore, designated 2-[2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)-2-thiazolin-4-yl]-3-methyl-4-thiazolidine car- boxylic acid on the analysis of infrared radiation and 'H and ""C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, purified pyochelin increased the cell growth rate, like as growth fac- tor. All these results suggest that phenolate type siderophore play an important role in cell growth of P. sp. PY002.
Absorption ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phenol* ; Pseudomonas* ; Spectrum Analysis

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a sonographic morphologic scoting system, the serum CA-125 assay, and a combination of both in patients undergoing laparotomy for a clinically diagnosed adnexal mass. METHODS: In 129 consecutive patients, the morphology of the mass was evaluated and scored by the morphologic scoring system of Sassones using transabdominal or transvaginal sonography and blood samples were obtained for CA-125 assay before planning surgery, RESULTS: The sensitivity of the sonographic morphologic scoring system was 90.6%, the specificity 84.5%, the positive predictive value 65.9%, and the negative predictive value 96.5%, compared with 68.8, 77.3, 50.0, and 88.2% for CA-125 and 96.9, 66.0, 48.4, and 98.5% for the two tests combined, respectively. Only one case of serous borderline ovarian tumor was missed when the two tests were combined. The sensitivity and mean value of the serum CA-125 increased with the stage of ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: The combination of sonographic findings with a serum CA-125 assay was more sensitive, but less specific, than sonography or the serum CA-125 assay alone in predicting the malignancy of an adnexal mass. The serum CA-125 level generally reflected the stage of the disease. We think that it is reasonable to check the serum CA-125 only in cases of ovarian malignancy diagnosed by sonography.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*

Myasthenia gravis is a autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and fatigability of skeletal muscles. The underlying defect is a decrease in the number of available acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junction due to an antibody-mediated autoimmune attacks. The course of myasthenia gravis during pregnancy is not predictable. We experienced a patient of myasthenia gravis associated with pregnancy who underwent cesarean section and transient neonatal myasthenia gravis of the newborn. We present this case with brief review of the concerned literatures.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Myasthenia Gravis, Neonatal ; Neuromuscular Junction ; Pregnancy* ; Receptors, Cholinergic

Various anatomical defects have been described in the surviving co-twin who had stillborn, macerated monozygotic co-twin with disseminated intravascular coagulation. The suggested mechanism was the transfer of emboli or thromboplastic materials of dead fetus to co-twin through placental vascular anastomoses. Multicystic encephalomalacia is the condition defined anatomically by the presence of multiple cavities in the great part of both cerebral hemispheres. The most common pathogenesis is circulatory disturbance caused by neonatal asphyxia during the perinatal period. We experienced two cases of monozygotic twin with deceased co-twin at 26 weeks, 33 weeks of gestation and confirmed the diffuse multicystic encephalomalacia by cranial ultrasonography and MRI in a surviving co-twin. Only one patient has been followed who showed spastic cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. We report two cases of multicystic encephalomalacia in a surviring co-twin with a intrauterine fetal death and its related literatures.
Asphyxia ; Cerebral Palsy ; Cerebrum ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Encephalomalacia* ; Fetal Death* ; Fetus ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Twins, Monozygotic ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Neural Plate* ; Neuroectodermal Tumors*

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of tumor markers level for early diagnosis of ovarian malignancy and for differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined preoperative serum tumor markers level in patients who were going to have an operation due to ovarian tumor in OB & GY Dept. of Chonnam University Hospital from April 1993 to September 1999. RESULTS: 1) The average values of serum tumor markers in patients with malingnant ovarian tumors were statistically higher than those of benign ovarian tumors. among malignant ovarian tumors, positive rate of all serum tumor markers was highest in epithelial ovarian carcinoma group. and among ovarian tumor markers, and positive rate of CA 125 was highest in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. 2) Dermoid cyst and endometioma were correlated to CA 19-9, CA 125 levels respectively. for malignant tumors, mucinous ovarian adenocarcinoma and non-mucinous ovarian adenocarcinoma were CA 19-9, CA 125 levels respectively. 3) Among ovarian tumor markers, CA 125 was the most in sensitivity and CA 72-4 was the most in specificity and diagnostic efficiency. 4) For postmenopausal women with ovarian tumors, elevated levels of at least one of the 4 tumor markers were present in the serum in 85.7% of the women who developed cancer, 62.5% of women with borderline, 27.8% of women with benign ovarian tumors. Conclusion; It is suggested that determination of serum tumor markers in patient suspected of ovarian tumor may be helpful to clinician for early diagnosis, differentiation between malignant and benign ovarian tumors.
Adenocarcinoma ; Dermoid Cyst ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Mucins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor*

PURPOSE: There has been little research regarding the effectiveness of oseltamivir for influenza B infections. We sought to identify the different clinical manifestations between patients treated with and without oseltamivir. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the medical records of 72 inpatients or outpatients from two medical centers diagnosed with influenza B infections by either a rapid antigen test or multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR between January 2012 and July 2012. We compared gender, age, past medical history, admission period, total fever duration, fever duration after hospitalization, post-oseltamivir medication peak temperature, laboratory test, chest X-ray, antibiotic medication, and the presence of concomitant viral or bacterial infections. RESULTS: The number of subjects in our study was 72 who were diagnosed with influenza B pneumonia, acute bronchitis, acute bronchiolitis, croup, and mean age was 3.6+/-2.8 year old. The demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations of oseltamivir and the non-oseltamivir groups, including hospitalization period (4.18+/-2.10 vs 4.79+/-1.49 days, P=.17) and total fever duration (5.32+/-2.07 vs 6.41+/-3.25 days, P=.09), demonstrated no significant differences. Notably, the oseltamivir group did have significantly reduced usage of antibiotic treatment than the non-oseltamivir group (P=.04). When we limited our patient group to patients under the age of three, similar results were seen. The group prescribed oseltamivir within 48 hours of fever onset had less antibiotic usage, in addition to a shorter fever duration. CONCLUSION: Oseltamivir appeared to have no benefit in improving the clinical course. However, if it is prescribed within the first 48 hours of symptoms, it may be more effective.
Bacterial Infections ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Child* ; Croup ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Influenza B virus* ; Influenza, Human ; Inpatients ; Medical Records ; Oseltamivir* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that is induced by Th2 cytokines and inhibited by Th1 cytokines. Oligodeoxynucleotides containing a CpG motif(CpG ODN), as potent inducers of Th1 immunity, are considered promising candidates for immune modulation in asthma. In this study we wanted to investigate the effect of CpG ODN on eosinophilia and cytokines of BALF in a mouse model established airway inflammation and the optimal route(systemic vs mucosal) of CpG ODN. We examined the difference of immunologic responses between CpG ODN and corticosteroids. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice, induced pulmonary allergic inflammation, were treated intranasally or intraperitoneally with CpG ODN and Dexamethasone. Allergen-specific antibody responses, cytokines(IL-4, IL-5, IL-12), and eosinophilic inflammation of the airways were investigated on BALF and splenocyte. RESULTS: CpG ODN effectively induced IL-12 and inhibited IL-4 and IL-5 as well as eosinophilic inflammation when CpG ODN was administered intranasally or intraperitoneally with allergen challenge. Therapy with corticosteroides, while effective inhibiting IL-5 generation, did not induced IL-12 in BALF. CONCLUSION: Systemic or mucosal administration of CpG ODN effectively stimulated the production of Th1 cytokines and suppressed eosinophilic airway inflammation in contrast of corticosteroids and control ODN. Thus, CpG ODN vaccination is a potentially useful approach for immunomodulation of established airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.
Administration, Mucosal ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Asthma ; Cytokines* ; Dexamethasone ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice* ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; Vaccination