No abstract available.

We studied the nonenzymatic glycosylation of lens epithelial basement membranes (LEBM) of senile cataractous lenses of both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The human LEBMs were isolated from surgically removed senile cataracts and purified by osmotic lysis and detergent treatments. Glycosylation assay of LEBMs was done using the colorimetric method of Fluckiger and Winterhalter. The glycosylation value ranged from 16.39 to 92.56 n mol/mg protein overall, with a mean of 63.54 +/- 24.56 n mol/mg protein for the diabetic specimens and a mean of 29.97 +/- 14.48 n mol/mg protein for the nondiabetic controls (P = 0.009). The study confirms our previous observation of in vivo glycosylation of the LEBM and further establishes that diabetic patients have a twofold increase in the amount of LEBM glycosylation when compared to their nondiabetic counterparts.
Aged ; Basement Membrane/metabolism ; Cataract/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*metabolism ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Female ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline/*metabolism ; Male

We studied the nonenzymatic glycosylation of lens epithelial basement membranes (LEBM) of senile cataractous lenses of both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The human LEBMs were isolated from surgically removed senile cataracts and purified by osmotic lysis and detergent treatments. Glycosylation assay of LEBMs was done using the colorimetric method of Fluckiger and Winterhalter. The glycosylation value ranged from 16.39 to 92.56 n mol/mg protein overall, with a mean of 63.54 +/- 24.56 n mol/mg protein for the diabetic specimens and a mean of 29.97 +/- 14.48 n mol/mg protein for the nondiabetic controls (P = 0.009). The study confirms our previous observation of in vivo glycosylation of the LEBM and further establishes that diabetic patients have a twofold increase in the amount of LEBM glycosylation when compared to their nondiabetic counterparts.
Aged ; Basement Membrane/metabolism ; Cataract/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*metabolism ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Female ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline/*metabolism ; Male

In treating young women for gestational trophoblastic tumor ( G.T.T. ), all efforts are made to preserve fertility and hysterectomy is avoided unless absolutely essential. However, in some cases the operation may be lifesaving. During the last 20 years among the 310 cases of G.T.T. treated at Il Sin Christian Hospital, there were 3 cases in which hysterectomy was avoided by the excision of a localized uterine lesion thus preserving fertility.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms

Anterior clinoid process is a small bony structure but it is very important regarding its location and relationships with neighboring neurovascular, dural, and bony structures. Removal of this process has been used in various modification of standard pterional approach. The authors have speculated how much expansion of operative window could be obtained with anterior clinoidectomy, so we measured the lengths of optic nerve, internal carotid artery, and the length and width of optico-carotid triangle(OCT) before and after extradural anterior clinoidectomy 17 times in 10 cadaveric heads. This procedure provided about two fold increase in the length of optic nerve and OCT, and over three fold expansion in the width of OCT. The results indicate that the addition of this relatively simple and easy procedure to standard approach makes the operative field more comfortable and safe than expected. We believe this procedure can be used routinely with or without combination of wide skull base exposure in cases of such lesions as belows: 1) lesions causing optic nerve or chiasmatic compression, 2) lesions encircling/covering the optic nerve and internal carotid artery, 3) lesions arising from or extending into the optic canal, orbital apex, and paraclinoid region, 4) suprasellar/parasellar lesions with limited operative windows(e.g. prefixed chiasm, infra-optic or subchiasmatic locations or adherence).
Cadaver* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Head ; Optic Nerve* ; Orbit ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVES: To compare results of 4 different extraction methods in laparoscopic management of dermoid cyst. STUDY DESIGN: This article is a retrospective, multicenter study for 247 patients with benign dermoid cyst in period of 1995-1998. Dermoid cyst was extracted by Endopouch (99 cases), puncture-irrigation-extraction (69 cases), colpotomy (35 cases), and dermoid cyst as a "pouch bag" (44 cases). RESULTS: We analyzed irrigation amount, operative time, postoperative hospital stay and complications by four different extraction methods. Endopouch extraction method needed less amount of irrigation fluid for cleaning the abdominal cavity and had a shorter postoperative hospital stay (ANOVA, p=0.0001). There were no significant differences in operative times among groups. There were four cases of morbidity in puncture-irrigation-extraction method (6%), three had fever (> 38degrees C) and one intraabdominal abscess. One incisional hernia was noted in "pouch bag" method (2%). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend minimal spillage method for extraction of dermoid and careful irrigation of abdominal cavity to prevent potential risk of chemical peritonitis such as Endopouch, "pouch bag", and colpotomy with the exception of puncture-irrigation-extraction method.
Abdominal Cavity ; Abscess ; Colpotomy ; Dermoid Cyst* ; Fever ; Hernia ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies*

PURPOSE: Sodium-4-phenylbutyrate (Na-4-PB) is an analogue of phenylacetate, which is a well-known redifferentiating agent. In vitro and in vivo studies on this agent have been done and the clinical relevance of Na-4-PB has been studied in other malignancies, but not in thyroid cancer. We investigated the effect of Na-4-PB on cell proliferation and differentiation in thyroid cancer cell lines. METHODS: We used 5 thyroid cancer cell lines: TPC-1, FTC-133, FTC-236, FTC-238 and XTC-1. MTT assay and flowcytometry were used to measure the agent's antiproliferative effects and the cell cycle change. We evaluated the PPARgamma expression via western blotting and the mRNA expressions of NIS, Tg and CD 97 were determined by performing RT-PCR. Troglitazone, a potent PPARgamma agonist, was used in combined treatment with Na-4-PB. RESULTS: Na-4-PB inhibited cell proliferation in a dose and time dependent manner in all 5 thyroid cancer cell lines. By performing flowcytometry in the FTC-133 and TPC-1 cell lines, we identified that the antiproliferative effect of Na-4-PB was associated with an increased apoptotic cell population. Treatment with Na-4-PB upregulated the PPARgamma expression, but the combined treatment of Na-4-PB with troglitazone did not seem to be synergistic for the antiproliferative effect. Treatment with Na-4-PB downregulated the CD97 mRNA expression and it upregulated the NIS and Tg mRNA expressions in both the FTC-133 and TPC-1 cell lines. CONCLUSION: Na-4-PB inhibited thyroid cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. Treatment with Na-4-PB increased the expression of PPARgamma and it upregulated such differentiation markers as NIS and Tg, and it downregulated CD97, a dedifferentiation marker. Na-4-PB should be further evaluated as a new potential therapeutic agent for patients with thyroid cancer.
Antigens, Differentiation ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromans ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Phenylacetates ; PPAR gamma ; RNA, Messenger ; Thiazolidinediones ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Cesarean hysterectomy is associated with high risks of severe blood loss, postoperative complication, and maternal morbidity. This study was undertaken to identify the risk factors of cesarean hysterectomy and to reduce the postoperative complications and maternal morbidity. There were 6,362 deliveries between January 1992 and December 1996 at department of obstetrics and gynecology, Inchon Christian Hospital. 1'he results of this study were as follows, 15 cases of cesarean hysterectomy were performed during this period. Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 10 cases (0.32 %) among 3178 cesarean deliveries and in 5 cases (0.16 %) among 3184 vaginal deliveries. The incidence of cesarean hysterectomy was 0.24 % (15/6,362). The age of patients ranged from 24 to 38 years old. The maternal mortality and morbidity were 0 % (0/15) and 86.7% (13/15), respectively. Indications for cesarean hysterectomy were uterine atony (53.3 %), uterine myoma with pregnancy (20.0 %), placenta accreta and/or increta(20.0 %), and placenta previa (6.7 %) in orders. The associated risk factors of cesarean hysterectomy were prior cesarean delivery (46.7 %) and placenta previa (6.7 %). The postoperative complications were anemia (60.0%), febrile morbidity (13.3 %), paralytic ileus (6.7 %), and wound disruption (6.7 %). We concluded that risk factors of cesarean hysterectomy were cesarean delivery, prior cesarean delivery, uterine myoma with pregnancy, placenta accreta and/or increta, and placenta previa and that sufficient fresh blood and careful prenatal care were needed in risk group of postpartum bleeding.
Adult ; Anemia ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Leiomyoma ; Maternal Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Placenta Accreta ; Placenta Previa ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Inertia ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The in vitro dissolution of intrahepatic stones was evaluated using the various solvent mixtures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty four intrahepatic stones from 16 patients were used. Four kinds of solvent mixtures(No. 1 = basic buffer + EDTA, No. 2=1 + Sulfobetain-12, No. 3=2 + N-acetylcysteine, No. 4=3 + urea) were used. Dissolution rates were determined by measuring the weight loss of stones after 6, 12, 24, 48 hours incubation periods, respectively. RESULTS: The highest dissolution rates in dissolving intrahepatic stones were achieved with No. 4 solvent mixture(1% W/V EDTA/80mM, Sulfobetain-12/1 M, urea, pH 9.5). CONCLUSION: lntrahepatic stones could be largely dissolved up to about 70% of their initial weight after 48 hours incubation period in vitro.
Acetylcysteine ; Edetic Acid ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Urea ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Dental trauma is frequently unpredictable. The initial assessment and urgent treatment are essential for dentists to save the patient's teeth. Mobile-phone-assisted teleconsultation and telediagnosis for dental trauma could be an aid when a dentist is not available. In the present in-vitro study, we evaluated the success rate and time to transfer images under various conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the image quality of cameras built into mobile phones based on their resolution, autofocus, white-balance, and anti-movement functions. RESULTS: The image quality of most built-in cameras was acceptable to perform the initial assessment, with the autofocus function being essential to obtain high-quality images. The transmission failure rate increased markedly when the image size exceeded 500 kappaB and the additional text messaging did not improve the success rate or the transmission time. CONCLUSION: Our optimal protocol could be useful for emergency programs running on the mobile phones.
Cellular Phone ; Dentists ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Remote Consultation ; Running ; Text Messaging ; Tooth ; Tooth Injuries