OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravaginal administerd misoprostol and PGE2 (dinoprostone) with oxytocin for inducing labor in women with an unfavorable cervix. METHODS: One hundred thirteen patients with indicated for labor induction and unfavorable cervix were randomly assigned and received either misoprostol 50microgram intravaginal with oxytocin intravenous injection or prostaglandin E2(dinoprostone) 3mg intravaginal with oxytocin intravenous injection. RESULTS: Thirty-nine subjects were assigned to misoprostol with oxytocin group and 74 to the PGE2 with oxytocin group. The median interval from induction to vaginal delivery was significantly shorter in the misoprostol with oxytocin group(1274+/-496 versus 1512+/-501 minutes)(p<0.001). No significant difference between two groups were mode of delivery, neonatal and maternal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Intravaginal misoprostol and PGE2 vaginal insert appear to be safe agents for cervical ripening and labor induction. Misoprostol is more effective than PGE2 vaginal insert with oxytocin injection.
Cervical Ripening* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Dinoprostone* ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

In the present study, we examined to determine the development of various lymphoid tissue including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), thymus, lymph node and liver. In order to investigate the relationship between the morphological events and the expression pattern of MIC2 antigen (CD99) during the development of lymphoid system, we performed the immunohistochemical study using DN16, a monoclonal antibody against MIC2 (CD99), on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lymphoid sections in 68 human embryos and fetuses, between 5 and 39 gestational week (GW). Four neonates, an infant, and 5 adults are also included. CD99 has been expressed along the membrane of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells for 10-28 GW, in when the liver the major site of hematopoiesis. In the thymus, CD99 was firstly detected in the presumptive epitheial cells at 10 GW. When the thymus matured and corticomedullary differentiation appeared, CD99 was exclusively expressed in cortical thymocytes. The CD99 expression in epithelial cells of MALT has initiated at 6 GW and 10 GW earlier than that at the onset of MALT development and its expression has been persisted during MALT formation especially 16-25 GW. The finnding that CD99 antigen was expressed in epithelial cells during the development of MALT rnight provide a means to identify a novel epithelial differentiated substance. In addition, endothelial cells that are present in various organs such as liver and small intestine concurrently expressed CD99 antigen and its expression persisted to late fetal period. This point rnight suggest that CD99 antigen regulate the irnigration of lymphocytes from liver, major hematopoietic organ, to thymus or peripheral lyrnphoid organ via the interaction between endothelial cells and lymphocytes.
Adult ; Embryonic Structures* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetus* ; Hematopoiesis ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Membranes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefullness of repeated alcohol sclerotherapy for two days through the percutaneous catheter in the treatment of renal cyst. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Repeated sclerotherapies using absolute ethanol(99.9%) were parformed on 20 renal cysts in 18 patients through the indwelling catheter. The cyst volume ranged from 50 ml to 1000ml(mean, 300ml). Under the ultrasound- or CT-guidance, 6F catheter was inserted into the cyst percutaneously. After aspirating the fluid in the cyst, absolute ethanol was injected. While maintaining the catheter for 16-20 hours, at least 3 times of sclerotherapies performed with total procedure time of 30-60 minutes. Follow-up sonography was performed to evaluate the recurrence or collapse of the cysts at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Among 20 renal cysts, 2 cases were recurred on 1 month follow-up sonography(10%). However, the volumes of recurred cysts were decreased to 40% and 10%, respectively. There was no immediate or delayed complication after sclerotherapy. DISCUSSION: Repeated sclerotherapy for 2 days using absolute ethanol through the percutaneous catheter insertion is a useful method of treatment for renal cyst.
Catheters* ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Ethanol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sclerotherapy*

There is an increasing interest in the epidemiology of children's fractures particullary to the patterns of children's fractures but there is a few available articles about them. We reviewed 398 children under the 15 years of age who were affected by fractures during 4 years and analysed the patterns of children's fractures concerning with the sex, age, seasons of a year, etiology, fracture sites and the types of fractures. The results were as follows : 1. Boys were affected about 2.5 times than girls. Fractures were predominant in between 5 and 9 years of age group. 2. The three highest monthly incidences of the fractures were showed in July, September and October. 3. The major causes of fractures were fall from a height or slipdown, pedestrian traffic accidents and sports injury in decreasing orders. 4. The traffic accidents were occured frequently in children of five to seven year old, and it is occured predominantly in June, July and August(37.8%). 5. The frequent sites of children's fractures were humerus(33.5%), tibia(21.0%), forearm (17.3%) and femur(13.6%). 6. The sports injuries were affected evenly in all age groups except below 3 years old children and the frequent causes were bicycling, exercising on the horizontal bar, Korean wrestling and during football game in decreasing orders.
Accidents, Traffic ; Athletic Injuries ; Bicycling ; Child ; Clinical Study ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Football ; Forearm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Seasons ; Wrestling

No abstract available.
Kidney* ; Nephrectomy*

BACKGROUND: Recentry, the prevalence of HBsAg in children has been gradually decreased in Korea may be due to extensive vaccination. The object of this study is to identify the HbsAg positive rate in 6 to 7 year-old school children in Seoul and to outline the surveilance status of the HBsAg positive subjects. METHODS: We analyzed HBV mass screening results of 120,106 6 to 7-year-old school children in Seoul. For 188 HBsAg positive children who complied with the follow up visit, we tested HBeAg, LFT and interviewed their parents. We also compared the questionnaire results of HbsAg positive group with those of 694 random-sampled HBsAg negative controls. RESULTS: The overall HBsAg positive rate was 0.79%(0.81% in boys and 0.76% in girls). Children in poverty area showed significantly higher rate(1.04%) of HBsAg positivity than those in non-poverty area(0.77%). Among HbsAg positive children, 86.7% was also HBeAg positive and had higher ALT levels than those with negative HBeAg. More than 70% of parents of HBsAg positive children was not aware of their children's HBsAg status before the screening and 28.7% of mothers did not know their own HbsAg status. The complete vaccination rate of the HBsAg positive and HBsAg negative group were 75.5% and 77.4% respectively, which shows no significant difference. Having family history of HBV infection was significantly associated with HBsAg positive status(OR=32. 8). CONCLUSIONS: The HBsAg positive rate in 6- to 7-year-old school children has decreased in Korea compared to the data from previous studies. However in the aspects of public awareness and health care compliance, there are much room for quality improvement. Above all, more rigorous and continuous surveilance system is required for antenatal and postpartum care.
Child* ; Compliance ; Delivery of Health Care ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Parents ; Pilot Projects* ; Postnatal Care ; Poverty Areas ; Prevalence ; Quality Improvement ; Seoul* ; Vaccination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Laryngeal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the various clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and the treatment results in epidural hematomas on posterior cranial fossa. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with posterior fossa epidural hematomas(PFEDH) were managed in our institute from 1992 to 2001. In the same period, 414 patients with traumatic epidural hematomas were surgically treated and among these, 28 cases(6.8%) were PFEDH. Neurological state, findings of computed topography scans, and results of the treatment were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: The patients' ages ranged from 4 to 60 years, with predominance in adolescents. The male to female ratio was 3: 1. Twenty-nine patients presented with occipital trauma and twenty-eight cases had fracture in occipital bone. Fourteen patients suffered immediate unconsciousness and 6 patients with initial alert mentality experienced delayed progressive loss of consciousness. However, there were no changes on mentality in 12 cases. In 14 cases, the hematoma was localized exclusively within the posterior cranial fossa. In remaining 18 cases, the hematoma extended beyond the sinuses to the occipital area. In 13 cases, the amount of hematoma was increased in follow-up computed tomographic scan. All patients, managed with surgery or conservative treatment(4 cases), survived with a good recovery. CONCLUSION: The most important prognostic factor is prompt surgical evacuation of hematomas. For attaining good result, earlier diagnosis with consecutive computed tomographic scans are much important.
Adolescent ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Occipital Bone ; Prognosis ; Unconsciousness

Testicular feminization is an uncommon genetic disorder with considerably familial predisposition and results in total feminization due to end-organ unresponsiveness to androgens. It is characterized by the presence of testes in phenotypically female with adequate breast development, normal extemal genitalia, absence of mullerian structures, and meager or absence of body hair. These patients characteristically have male karyotype(XY) and negative sex chromatin and are at increased risk of undergoing malignant transformation of the undescended gonad. In recent times, the malignant potential of the dysgenetic gonads in the intersex patients with a Y chromosome has been stressed by many authors, but few reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and benign tumors such as Sertoli cell adenomas. In the present study, postoperative pathology revealed that the gonads were Sertoli cell adenomas. The main features of clinical presentation and histological studies are briefly discussed with a review of the literature.
Adenoma* ; Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome* ; Androgens ; Breast ; Female ; Feminization ; Genitalia ; Gonads ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Pathology ; Sex Chromatin ; Testis ; Y Chromosome