No abstract available.
Female ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a potent mediator of brain tumor angio-genesis, vascular permeablity, and glioma growth. This study was designed to study the balance between growth and death signals in different grades of astrocytic tumors. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, the relationship between the expression of VEGF and microvessel count and density were evaluated in 62 cases of astrocytic tumors including 33 low grade astrocytomas, 6 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 23 glioblastomas. In order to determine the apoptotic index (AI), the in situ end-labeling method was applied. RESULTS: VEGF was expressed on the tumor cell cytoplasm. Of 62 tumors, 44 (77%) were weak to strong postive for VEGF, but 18 cases were not reactive. VEGF positivity was correlat-ed with WHO grades of the astrocytic tumors; low grade astrocytomas (52%), anaplastic astrocytomas (83%), and glioblastomas (96%). Mean microvessel count and density were significantly higher in VEGF-positive tumors (75.7 and 4.1%) than in VEGF-negative tumors (43.9 and 2.5%). Apoptotic cells were readily found in the astrocytic tumors; the highest value of AI was observed in glioblastomas (8.6%) and the lowest in anaplastic astrocytomas (1.9%). It seemed that the grade of malignancy was not related with AI values. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that VEGF promotes angiogenesis with tumor cell growth against apoptotic cell death in the human astrocytomas.
Apoptosis* ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Death ; Cytoplasm ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: For evaluation of the growth hormone and cortisol responses to insulin stimuli in children with short stature, the human growth hormone secretion and cortisol level was monitored 30 and 60 minutes after insulin infusion by intravenousely. METHODS: The inclusion criteria of children for this study were that the height was below 3 percentile compare with the same sex and age children, bone age was younger more than one year of chronologic age, and insulin and L-dopa induced growth hormone secretion was below 10ng/mL. There were 10 children compatible with this criteria(group A) and 11 children was selected for control group(group B). Serum concentration of growth hormone was determined just before intravenous infusion of 0.1U/kg insulin and then 30 and 60 minutes after insulin infusion. Serum level of cortisol was determined simultaneously with the growth hormone but skip the level of the 30 minutes after insulin infusion. Serum glucose level was monitored on every time sampling the blood for determined growth hormone and cortisol level. Serum level of growth hormone and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS :The serum glucose concentration were decrease to under 50% of baseline level on 30 minutes after insulin infusion in A and B group. The serum growth hormone level before insulin infusion was 2.5+/-1.78ng/mL and changed to 2.2+/-1.69 ng/mL on 60 minutes after insulin infusion in group A. In group B, the serum growth hormone level alteration before and on 60 minutes after insulin infusion was from 5.5+/-6.67ng/mL to 12.6+/-7.91ng/mL. The serum concentration of cortisol was changed from baseline level 10.7+/-7.10, 7.9+/-3.98microg/dL to 16.7+/-11.47, 26.1+/-3.59microg/ dL on 60 minutes after insulin infusion in group A and B respectively, but some cases in group A show a little increase in cortisol level. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this study, it is suggested that the deficiency of growth hormone secretion is related to cortisol concentration in peripheral blood. But for more detailed assessment of this association, follow up studies will be needed in more cases.
Blood Glucose ; Child* ; Growth Hormone* ; Human Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Insulin* ; Levodopa ; Radioimmunoassay

Various neurotransmitters have been proposed as possible mediators of penile erection. Especially, norepinephrine and serotonin might have a important role in sexual arousal and penile erection. And it could be hypothesized that the psychogenic impotence is associated with the depletion or imbalance of norepinephrine and serotonin from evidences such as the symptomatic manifestation of depression and the antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. The authors investigates the association of norepienphrine and serotonin with psychogenic impotence. The psychogenic impotent group(PIG) consisted of twenty-three patients with psychogenic impotence and the controlled group(CG) consisted of twenty-seven patients without psychogenic impotence. PIG had no organic cause accounting for their erectile dysfunction. The Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were applied to each subject to assess mood, state anxiety(SA) and trait anxiety(TA). Plasma norepinephrine level from systemic blood and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(HIAA) levels from 24-hours urine were measured in each subject. The mean score of BDI of PIG was significantly higher than that of CG(p=0.015). PIG had a tendency of higher TA compared with CG(p=0.054). And also SA was higher in PIG, bud did not show significant difference(p=0.193). The level of norepinephrine was significantly lower in patient with psychogenic impotence(p=0.000). And the level of 24-hours urine 5-HIAA was lower in PIG but did not show significant difference(p=0.494). Although the authors did not exclude depressive disorders in PIG, the present findings suggest that psychogenic impotence might have higher depressive mood and trait anxiety, and be associated with the depletion of norepinephrine in systemic blood.
Anxiety ; Arousal ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine* ; Penile Erection ; Plasma ; Serotonin*

No abstract available.
Muscle, Smooth* ; Relaxation*

PURPOSE: Infants undergo critical and rapid stages of growth. Optimal nutrition during this period is therefore essential. Iron deficiency is especially impotant and common. The aim of this study was to determine the present status and problems of milk feeding methods in infants with iron deficiency anemia and, futhermore, to develop appropriate feeding guidelines for adequate iron nutrition. Latate is the end product of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose. Also we studied the changes of serum lactate level in this patients and calculated correlations between serum lactate level and diagnostic parameters of iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: We studied 42 children with iron deficiency anemia who visited Wonkwang university hospital from February 1995 to July 1996. We analyzed the type and duration of milk feeding method. And we measured serum lacate level and diagnostic parameters of iron deficiency anemia. RESULTS: The mean age was 17.0 months and male to female ratio was 7:1. On the analysis of milk feeding methods the breast feeding, the cow's milk, the mixed feeding were 73.8%, 11.9%, 14.3% respectively. The breast feeding group distributed mainly from 6 month to 18 month and 1 patient showed prolonged breast feeding until 48 month. We checked serum lactate level in 22 subjects. The mean serum lactate level was increased than normal adult level but there were no significant correlation between serum lactate level and diagnostic parameters of iron deficiency anemia (Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, serum iron, TIBC, ferritin). CONCLUSION: The most common problem of milk feeding method in infants with iron deficiency anemia was prolonged breast feeding and some infants fed excessive cow's milk. We need correct and proper education about merits and disadvantages of breast and cow's milk feeding to mothers. The mean serum lactate level in children with iron deficiency anemia was increased but serum lacate level can't use a diagnostic parameter of iron deficiency anemia.
Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Education ; Feeding Methods* ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron* ; Lactic Acid* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Milk* ; Mothers

No abstract available.
Dinoprost* ; Female ; Laparoscopes* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal*

We investigated the acute effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the activity of polymorphoneuclear leukocyte (PMN). We selected 6 patients of growth hormone deficient and 5 normal control children. In both groups, 0.15 IU/kg of rhGH was administered subcutaneously. The plasma growth hormone level were measured by radioimmunoassay on 0, 2, and 6 hours after administration of rhGH. To determined PMN activity, peripheral blood PMN were separated by discontinuous density-gradient centrifigation. Isolated PMN were stimulated hy fMLP and PMA and then respiratory burst activity of PMN was determined. The average growth hormone level of growth horrnone deficient and normal group were increased to the level of 41.6+/-23.7 and 96.3+/-46.5 ng/ml respectively, 2 hours after rhGH injection and decreased to the level of 18.5+/-10.6 and 42.2+/-5.5 ng/ml respectively, 6 hours after rhGH injection. Superoxide (O ) production by PMN which was stimulated by PMA was increased from 9.98+/-5.18 to 38.67+/-19.19 (x 10'cpm) after 6 hours of rhGH injection in control group children. It seemed that administration of the rhGH do not made a any effects acutely on PMN activity in growth hormone deficient group. But in a normal control children, extemal administration of rhGH acutely increased activity of PMN.
Child* ; Growth Hormone ; Human Growth Hormone* ; Humans* ; Leukocytes ; Neutrophils* ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Respiratory Burst ; Superoxides

This study was performed to investigate the effect of kimchi intake on free radical and oxidative substance production in young adults and the elderly. Daily kimchi intake by people in their twenties (n = 93, 20 to 29 years old) and over sixty-five (n = 143, over 65 years old) in M city were surveyed and blood was drawn to analyze the free radicals in their plasma. The average amount of kimchi intake by the subjects was 115.8 +/- 91.7 g. The amount of kimchi intake of those in their twenties (106.1 +/- 80.6 g) was significantly lower than that of those over sixty-five (125.5 +/- 102.9 g, p<0.05). Concentrations of total free radicals and OH radicals were 27 and 33% greater respectively, in those over sixty-five than in those in their twenties, indicating that more free radicals were produced by the older group. The concentration of GSH was not signiacantly different in the two groups, but that of GSSG in the over sixty-five age group was 53% greater than in the twenties group, which resulted in a 35% reduction in GSH/GSSG in the elderly group. TBARS concentration in the over sixty-five group was 26% greater than that of the twenties group. In order to see the effect of kimchi intake on free radical production, subjects in same age group were divided into two sub groups-the mean over and the mean under groups-according to the average amount of kimchi intake, which was 115.8 g. The total free radicals, the OH radicals, the GSH, the GSSG, and the GSH/GSSG in the twenties group were not significantly different in the two kimchi intake groups. However, those in the over sixty-five group were significantly different. The concentration of total free radicals and OH radicals of the mean over group were 21 and 26% lower respectively, than those of the mean ova. group (p<0.05). The GSH and GSH/GSSG of the mean ova. groups were higher by 8 and 12%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the kimchi intake and the total free radicals was -0.1862 (p<0.05) and that for GSH/GSSG was 0.1861 (p<0.05). In conclusion, the production of free radicals and oxidative substances increased with age, and kimchi seemed to retard this phenomena.
Aged* ; Free Radicals ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Disulfide ; Humans ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Young Adult*

It is accepted by urologists that transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) is a golden standard in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia( BPH). TURP is a safe procedure with low mortality rate but the rare, severe morbidity made the need for nonoperative treatment for BPH. Recently, non-invasive transurethral microwave hyperthermia has been applied as an alternative treatment of TURP. As a part of ongoing effort to evaluate the effect of transurethral microwave hyperthermia for BPH, we compared the outcomes of TURP with transurethral thermal therapy(TUTT). In 34 patients treated with TURP, the preoperative peak urine flow rate was 6.61ml/sec, but has changed to 14.33 and 14.64ml/sec at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively. The Boyarsky symptom score was 13.7 preoperatively, but has changed to 4.43 and 4.66 at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively Amount of residual urine was 91.35cc preoperatively. but has decreased to 40.7 and 40.32cc at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively. In 35 patients treated with TUTT. the preoperative peak urine flow rate was 9.24ml/sec, but has increased to 11.83 and 12.39ml/sec at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively. The preoperative Boyarsky symptom score of 12.9 has decreased to 8.58 and 8.97 at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively. The preoperative amount of residual urine was 52.45cc, but has changed to 44.74 and 35.2cc at postoperative 4weeks and 6months respectively. When comparing the parameters between two groups, the improvement of peak urine flow rate was greater in TURP than in TUTT group at postoperative 6months(p<0.01). The decreases of symptom score and amount of residual urine also were greater in TURP than in TUTT group, but not significantly different. In both group, no noticeable complications were encountered. These findings suggest that TURP is more effective than TUTT in the treatment of symptomatic BPH. But our data also raise the possibility that TUTT represents a safe outpatient approach to treatment of BPH, particularly for patients not considered to be candidates for conventional surgical treatments of BPH.
Fever ; Humans ; Microwaves ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate